Stanford
University Communications

Filming and photography on campus

Stanford is a private university dedicated to research and teaching. Its resources are committed to this mission. To avoid disruption and to support its non-profit status, student privacy, and safety, Stanford restricts filming and photography on Stanford-owned lands, including its Redwood City campus and open space areas such as The Dish walking trail. The university reserves the right to refuse or revoke permission to film or photograph on its property for any reason. This policy applies to filming, photography, podcasts and other recording on Stanford land.

 

I. General guidelines

The university prohibits filming and photography that involve:

  • Filming for corporate channels and platforms such as websites and social media or for third-party fundraising.

  • Disruption of academic, research, business or student activities.

  • Filming in student residences, dining halls, libraries, classrooms and laboratories without advance written permission.

  • Damage to or alteration of university property.

  • Equipment such as lights, tripods, cords, and other standing equipment obstructing movement or creating a safety hazard.

  • Walk-and-talk filming on campus.

  • Filming of b-roll on campus.

1. Personal use 

  • Filming on campus by individuals for their own personal use must comply with all Stanford policies and does not require permission. Photo sessions with commercial/professional photographers are considered non-Stanford filming, not personal use. 

2. Stanford filming 

  • Filming on campus by Stanford schools and units, or by vendors engaged by them, for Stanford purposes is at the discretion of relevant Stanford school/unit leadership. All policies and procedures, including Procurement-approved vendor agreements, subject releases, lab safety, insurance requirements, transportation planning, etc. should be observed.
  • Stanford purposes are described in the Name Use Guidelines under Definitions of “Stanford Activities.” Activities by Stanford affiliates, including staff, students, faculty, and alumni, that do not fall under this description are considered non-Stanford filming.

3. Non-Stanford filming 

  • Filming by non-Stanford entities for non-Stanford purposes must be academic/educational in support of Stanford's mission and not for the sole benefit of an outside organization. Filming should be non-commercial, i.e., not created for company-owned channels and platforms including YouTube, social media, or websites. Filming must comply with all university policy-related restrictions below. Requests to film may be approved at the discretion of and under the responsibility of relevant school/unit leadership. Find school/unit communicator contacts here or on this contact list with SUNet login.
  • Stanford, Stanford faculty, or Stanford research/scholarship should be the topic of the film product. Stanford campus may not be used as a backdrop for filming about unrelated topics.
    • If a company is collaborating with a Stanford unit or sponsoring a Stanford event on campus, the Stanford unit should contract with a vendor or Stanford Video to film/photograph the event. Third parties may not film/photograph events on Stanford campus.
      • Stanford schools/units may, at the discretion of their communication offices for leadership, approve select use of the footage/photo with advance review and approval of the copy and context in which it will be shared. These uses must comply with Stanford’s Trademark Guidelines, which do not allow commercial use of Stanford’s name or use that could be perceived as an endorsement. The company’s formal relationship with Stanford, including roles and responsibilities of each entity, should be accurate and clear.
  • Advance written approval to film on campus is required for filming by third parties. This may be obtained directly from the schools or units involved, including those that manage the location where the filming will take place and/or related to the film subject. Find the school/unit communicator contact.
    • A Location Agreement should be executed between the third party requesting filming and the approving school/unit.
    • The university is self-insured. Filmmakers, photographers, and news crews (for planned shoots) must carry appropriate insurance. Risk Management requires that an approved Certificate of Insurance be submitted and approved in advance of filming. Contact: Ash Chaudry, ashcha@stanford.edu, 650-497-1077.
  • Staging shots should be limited to the location directly related to the subject of the film and must be approved in advance by the relevant school/unit managing the space.
  • News media on campus for breaking news may film live spots at the top of the Oval or in White Plaza without advance permission.

II. University policy-related restrictions

  • Commercial activities such as corporate filming or filming for an outside entity’s own purposes are not permitted under Unrelated Business Activity policy 1.5.3. The university's assets and campus must be preserved to further Stanford’s academic objectives, not for the personal gain of individuals nor for outside parties' uses.
  • Filming at events on campus must comply with Stanford Event Policy and must be procured, managed and owned by Stanford. Select third-party use of Stanford event footage for non-commercial, educational purposes may be approved at the discretion of school/unit communicators if it aligns with policy 1.5.4.
  • Stanford’s name, logo, and iconic images of landmarks such as Hoover Tower, Memorial Church, and the Oval are protected under Ownership and Use of Stanford Trademarks and Images Policy 1.5.4 and are reserved for Stanford use.
    • Use of Stanford’s name and other marks by third parties must be approved in advance by the school/unit communicator and may not endorse or seem to endorse outside entities, their products or services.
  • Filming must comply with Stanford’s Political, Campaign and Lobbying policy 1.5.1.
  • Filming involving minors requires a signed release from the minor’s parent or guardian and should comply with Stanford’s Protection of Minors policy.
  • Filming must comply with Stanford’s Privacy Policy.
  • Drone and unmanned flying vehicles by campus visitors is prohibited. See Stanford Dean of Research’s Unmanned Flying Vehicles policy.
  • Filming must comply with Environmental Health & Safety’s photo and video guidelines for research facilities/labs

III. Other filming notes

  • “Person-on-the-street” interviews are allowed only in White Plaza and must respect people’s privacy and safety and follow policies for use of White Plaza.
  • Live or recorded broadcast reports are permitted only at the top of The Oval and may not obstruct pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
  • Professional portrait and wedding filming and photography in the Main Quadrangle and Memorial Court are prohibited. All professional photographers and film crews must have permission to film/photograph on campus, a Location Agreement, and an approved Certificate of Insurance from the relevant school/unit.
  • Contact Stanford Athletics for questions regarding Stanford sports-related photography.

IV. Broadcast facilities

Stanford Video has broadcast studio facilities available to the news media for interviewing faculty and staff. It can transmit by the LTN Global Network for television and by ISDN and IP for radio for live broadcast feeds. For more information, contact Stanford Video.

Updated October 2025