Photography Policies

Visitors to the San Antonio Museum of Art are welcome to take non-professional, souvenir photos and videos of the exterior and interior of the Museum for their personal use. 

• Flash photography, tripods, stabilizers, and selfie sticks may not be used in the galleries. 
• Visitors must stay at least one foot away from artworks and display cases. 
• The Museum cannot authorize photography of artworks in special exhibitions or on loan to the Museum. 
• Videotaping is permitted for personal use only and is prohibited for publication, advertising, promotion, or marketing.
• Subjects must not block walkways, doorways, and entrances or touch/climb sculptures or trees, and wear appropriate attire.
• The San Antonio Museum of Art reserves the right to restrict photographer access during Museum events and activities. 
• Formal, posed group photography is considered portrait photography and incurs a fee. In addition, portrait photography is not allowed in the galleries.

If you are not abiding by these rules or if you are interfering with normal museum operations, you may be asked to stop photographing and/or to leave without a refund.

Photography on the grounds of the San Antonio Museum of Art is available at a daily rate of:

• $30 for professional and amateur photographers taking formally posed, portrait-type, and/or group photographs. 
• $50 for groups of ten or more. 

If a photographer is shooting several different client sessions on the grounds in one day, the fee is charged per client. Please present your pass to the front desk or to the outdoor protective service team upon arrival. Passes must be used within 48 hours of purchase and fees are non-refundable.

Museum galleries and the Great Hall are not available as sitting areas for portraits. Do not touch or climb sculptures or rearrange outdoor furniture. Drones are not permitted. Note that the Museum does not provide changing rooms and that restrooms may not be used as dressing facilities. 

Congratulations! Proposals are welcome on our campus. Professional photography is not allowed in the galleries but you are welcome to use a cell phone to capture the special moment (no flash, stabilizers, selfie sticks or tripods allowed). We are not able to reserve indoor spaces but please reach out to info@samuseum.org for use of outdoor spaces. Note that there may be a cost depending on the scope of the request and that requests are not guaranteed.

Commercial photography and filmmaking at the San Antonio Museum of Art may be arranged with sufficient advance notice. Commercial photography and videography sessions will be supervised by one or more members of the Museum staff. 

Please contact the Marketing Department by emailing info@samuseum.org and provide the date and time requested and as much detail as possible.

Fees for Commercial Photography: 

• $1,000 (10% discount available for Members)
• Full payment of the location fee must be received prior to the start of the shoot.
• Additional Fees May Include:
  • Police/Security (mandatory for large sessions)
  • Overtime: $100 for each additional half hour after two hours
  • Shoots after Museum hours are available on a case-by-case basis and will incur additional fees.
  • If closure of any property is required for a film or photo shoot, additional fees will be incurred. 

All photographers using the San Antonio Museum of Art grounds and/or building exteriors and interiors must acknowledge the Museum in any printed or audio-visual materials. The credit line should read: "Photographed at the San Antonio Museum of Art in San Antonio, Texas."

Members of the media must make arrangements for all photo and video shoots in advance, and must be escorted by a staff member at all times or have permission from Communications and Marketing to shoot independently. To schedule your visit, email the Marketing department at marketing@samuseum.org. Photo shoot requests that cannot be staffed will be declined.

While at the San Antonio Museum of Art, visitors may be photographed by Museum photographers or other authorized parties. These images may be used to publicize the Museum and its activities in print, online, and in display materials and may also be distributed to the media. Attendance on the Museum premises constitutes implied consent for the use of visitors’ likenesses in the Museum’s promotional materials.