Find cheap Video Shoot locations for rent near me

About Video Shoots

Video projects require meticulous planning and organization to ensure everything occurs without a hitch. Whether you're a professional or amateur filmmaker, you'll need to carefully plan many aspects during the pre-production process, including scouting for video shoot locations that match your vision for the project. Factors such as location, fees, and on-site amenities all play pivotal roles in choosing a video production studio or space that can help enhance your film shoots.

From the glamorous homes in Los Angeles to the neon-lit alleys of Las Vegas or the eclectic vibes of San Diego, these major cities are popular filming locations for many reasons, such as their scenic landscapes, generous film incentives, strong film infrastructure, and concentration of local talent and crew.

Aside from location scouting, renting out filming equipment, getting all sorts of props, and considering the current trends in video productions are also critical in making sure that your final video will draw viewers. Luckily, there are many production-related businesses in most cities—from production studios to prop rentals—that can help you complete a successful video shoot.

The Best Video Shoot Locations

Keeping a solid theme for your next production helps direct your attention to the perfect space. Whether you need a fully equipped indoor set or outdoor locations, exploring multiple potential locations can add character to your shoot and help you create a multidimensional video project.

Film and Photo Studios
Film and photo studios are classic locations for video and photo shoots. They have all the amenities you need in one location and offer affordable rates. These flexible locations allow small production teams to exercise their creativity, as virtually every aspect of the shoot can be controlled—from the lighting to the props and backdrops. With features like green screens, blackout curtains, lighting rigs, and LED walls, there's nothing that can limit what you can do with these studios. Consider renting out this amazing fully lit white cyc studio for your next photo or video shoot.

Outdoor Locations
Outdoor locations range from downtown streets to natural locations such as mountains, farms, and desert lands. Production companies often prefer outdoor locations, especially when operating larger filming equipment. It’s important to consider each area’s capacity and restrictions, as well as the benefits of natural light for your film crew and creative projects, before finalizing your decision to book an outdoor video shoot setting.

Houses and Estates
Houses have multiple rooms that can be used for different scenes and can help serve as a location for lifestyle photo shoots, documentary films, music videos, short films, or feature films. Finding a house or estate that fits the theme of your video shoot is vital as it can help you connect to the viewers better. Property owners may impose their own rules, such as a limit to the number of crew members allowed, the type of content to be filmed (e.g. no adult filming), or a mandatory cleaning fee, so it's important to ask all the questions to ensure the location meets your production requirements.

Restaurants and Cafes
As filming locations, restaurants and cafes offer a familiar and cozy atmosphere for video projects. A production company can arrange with property owners to either rent the entire establishment during the shoot or only specific areas while the restaurant continues its business, allowing for a more authentic setting. Consider this popular pink cafe in Los Angeles as your next video shoot venue.

What to Look for in a Video Shoot Spaces

Whether you’re an amateur film producer looking for a studio or a long-time veteran in the entertainment industry, it's necessary to think about certain factors before finalizing your decision on a video shoot location. Taking the time to compare locations and what they offer can make the process of filming and editing much easier.

Capacity
Knowing the scope of the video you plan to shoot can help you filter out video shoot spaces that can’t fit your crew and equipment. For larger-scale video productions that involve many people, popular video shoot locations such as warehouses and outdoor locations can ensure that everyone is not cramped up in a small and constricted space.

Safety
Video shoots are often shot with expensive, high-end filming equipment. Renting a space that can be considered secure can ease your worries about theft occurring instead of booking a location that may otherwise put your equipment and crew members at risk.

Accessibility
Accessibility can mean choosing a location that's easy for your crew to find and travel to. It can also mean that the location has many exits and access doors for your crew to move equipment in and out. While finding a hidden gem as a setting can give your video a unique character, it can also be more challenging for your crew to locate.

Amenities and Features
Choosing a location that provides you with essential features can help make the entire process of filming and editing much easier. For example, having Wi-Fi allows you to upload your video to be edited by other members of your crew who might be in another location.

Lighting
Locations that have many sources of lighting, from natural to rig lighting, can make it easier for you to shoot a high-quality video. Avoid areas with minimal or poor lighting as you might have to bring more equipment than necessary. This can make the entire video shoot more tedious.

Video Shoot Inspiration

Whether you aim to advertise products, create educational content, or make short films, choosing an appropriate site is key to making your video shoot unique. Browse through the many options available to find a location that suits your needs and preferences.

Fashion Shoot at a Mansion
Filming in a mansion can really emphasize your brand and make a statement. From Spanish Villas to Mediterranean chateaus, a mansion may just be what you need for your upcoming video shoot, photography project, or extravagant event.

Lifestyle Videos at a Gym
A gym is not just a space for working out. With their natural lighting and active environment, gyms make great studio settings for your upcoming lifestyle or fitness video. These spaces emphasize health and can be used to promote all sorts of fitness products, clothing, or activities.

Cooking Show at a Farmhouse
With a calm, pastoral atmosphere, a farmhouse can serve as an excellent location for a cozy cooking show. With their laidback atmosphere, farmhouses allow everyone on set to act more naturally, which yields better-quality videos.

Corporate Videos at Offices
Offices serve as the perfect location for shooting business ads, work scenes in film projects, and all sorts of corporate-themed videos, including training videos, executive interviews, and corporate party videos. This modular office in Culver City looks clean and modern—perfect for a presentation video.

Music Video in a Derelict Warehouse
Warehouses are usually considered high-capacity venues that are perfect for music videos. With bare interiors, they allow you to get creative with your sets. Because they offer very minimal amenities compared to fully-equipped studios, they are an affordable venue option for producers on a tight budget.

Supamotionstock.com // Shutterstock
Written by: Cynthia Rebolledo

What to know when renting out your space for film shoots

"Art has its consequences!" Christopher Doyle told the British Film Institute during a 2019 interview. The Australian cinematographer recounted what happened as the crew for "Chungking Express"—now a must-watch film in Hong Kong New Wave—was shooting in his flat while he still lived there. "There was a scene where we flooded the place. Then we left. I guess I went on to another film. Two or three months later, I came back and the people downstairs were going to sue us. We're on the third floor and it flooded through every apartment downstairs."

While not every shoot will include such drastic consequences, it is a cautionary tale in the world of movie-making: The unexpected happens, and property owners who are looking to make additional income by renting their spaces need to also be aware of the cons before diving in.

On the other hand, your home could be the next silver screen icon, such as the De Vere House, now the second-most photographed doorway in the U.K. behind 10 Downing Street, where the British prime minister resides. The home has been immortalized for its role as Godric's Hollow, where Harry Potter's parents lived while he was still a baby.

For the most part, it seemed as if the owners had a front-row seat to movie magic in the making. "The crew arrived without actors and filmed both the front and the back in the height of summer," owner Tony Ranzetta told the Telegraph in 2012. "They then used parts of the house like pieces of a massive three-dimensional jigsaw, cutting and pasting them to form the streets of Godric's Hollow."

Whether you own a small studio or period-piece home, listing your space can be a great way to achieve that additional revenue stream—but one that comes with trial and error or possible risks.

Ever wonder what it takes to be a host? Giggster compiled a list of pointers for renting out your space for film shoots to guarantee a successful experience, using tips from property owners and various sources.

Know the value of your listing

Make sure to do some market research. How much you'll earn from renting out your property will be based on multiple factors: your home's location, its appearance and features, and the production company's budget. Most websites that aggregate film locations for rent also advertise their hourly rates, making it easy to compare a venue's offerings with yours.

The average homeowner on Giggster earned $2,027 per booking in 2019. Homes that have hosted at least one shoot earned an average of $3,945. These prices are only a barometer, and as a host, you have the freedom to discount your price or increase your rate based on the shoot.

You can also use an adaptive pricing scale to account for different production budgets and crew sizes. Photo shoots and video shoots are very different and require different fee additions.

Offer additional services to maximize your earnings

Some hosts can get an edge over potential clients by offering add-ons like water, ice, package delivery, and the use of the house indoors or outdoors—but don't forget to reflect that when setting your price.

Each film shoot is a unique situation, from feature films with a cast and crew of more than 80 people to filming a weekly series or a commercial. Make sure your listing description and contract state that guests may be charged additional fees associated with their use of a space or various services.

Negotiate a price that factors in the time required to prepare and clean up the shoot. In the case that you allow for it, follow the industry standard around charging productions roughly half the price of a normal film day when a shoot goes over its allotted time.

Posting great photos pays off

When it comes to listing your space, great photos matter. Taking great photography of your space will ensure bookings. This is your opportunity to show off the natural lighting in your house, various rooms, interior decor, and features such as pools, gardens, and the backyard.

In addition to the look of your home, practical details are just as important. According to the Los Angeles Times, ​​filmmakers are looking for a location with enough space for their crew and equipment—something else worth highlighting in your photo gallery.

Vet potential renters

Dani O'Dell, owner of a ranch-style production house in Tustin, California, advises that hosts vet all potential inquiries before accepting their bid. "There have definitely been some companies and projects that would not have worked well at my home. You have to think of neighbors, disruption to your daily life, and how they will conduct themselves in your home."

O'Dell suggests looking up the inquiring company's website and even social media platforms. "With this simple step, you can learn a lot about the standard of care they deliver with their work."

She also advises property owners not to be afraid to ask questions and really take the time to see whether this particular project is a good fit before rushing in.

Set house rules

Seasoned hosts will all attest to the importance of setting one's boundaries from the get-go. Experts say the listing is a great place to be overly descriptive and to be sure that you are clear on what your house rules are with filmmakers.

While working on the stipulations for shooting at a 150-year-old Philadelphia property, Alex Capozzolo, co-founder of Brotherly Love Real Estate, told Apartment Therapy that his client was able to include additional rules that protected their space. They restricted the number of film crew, added requirements for damage insurance, and included a clause that no changes be made to the interior or exterior of the house.

O'Dell said the recurring advice she was given before listing her property was to "not be soft" if asked for extra time. "I could not understand why this came up in so many conversations before I began listing my home—then it happened to me several times. People with tight budgets will try to squeeze in extra time."

An 11 p.m. wrap-up time could easily turn into midnight—or worse, as late as 2 a.m.—because film crews typically need to clean up after a shoot as well. "Just remember to stick to your hard boundaries if you need to," O'Dell advised.

Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.