Filming, Photography, and Media Usage

Professional and commercial filming and photography on Museum property are permitted only by securing permission through our Communications Department prior to arrival. A member of the Communications staff must accompany film crews at all times while on Museum property. For all Museum visitors, please follow the Museum's building policies.

Please read the guidelines below and contact any member of the Communications team with any questions or to make arrangements to film or photograph on Museum property.

When Filming and Photography are Allowed

Professional photography or filming in our exhibition spaces is permitted before the Museum opens at 10 a.m. Arrangements cannot be made for after hours. Filming elsewhere in the Museum during visitation hours is possible, but must be supervised by a member of the Communications staff.

Professional photography in non-exhibition areas of the Museum, our Hall of Witness and Hall of Remembrance, may be completed without securing advance permission from the Communications Department and need not be supervised.

Photographing or Recording Artifacts

Images of artifacts, photographs, and other visuals from the Museum’s exhibitions must be properly captioned and credited. Please note that many of the photographs in the Museum are copyright protected. Written permission must be secured from the copyright holder before photographing or filming these items. Communications staff can provide contact information for copyright holders of items displayed in exhibition spaces.

Interviews at the Museum

Museum employees and volunteers may only be interviewed after making arrangements through our Communications Department. Museum visitors may not be interviewed onsite.

Requesting Archival Photographs and Still Images

Please go to collections.ushmm.org and search for images you’d like to request. Then, contact photoarchives@ushmm.org to receive the archival photos and still images. Orders will be filled in the order in which they are received. Please allow up to three weeks to complete any request. If you need an image sooner, please contact Communications staff.

Requesting Film, Oral History and Recorded Sound

Please go to collections.ushmm.org and search for the archive film or recorded sound you’d like to request. If archive footage, oral histories, or sound recordings are in the public domain and have no copyright restrictions, the Museum can supply digital video files directly by a share file / FTP service. Staff will upload files and share a link with you for downloading. Materials that are not in the public domain must be cleared with the rights holder by you before duplication. Consult filmvideo@ushmm.org for details on specific items and review the procedures for ordering copies. To obtain copies of interviews conducted by the USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive, you must contact the USC Shoah Foundation directly.

Requesting Copyright or Permissions

If you have specific questions or information about copyright or permissions, contact the Permissions Office at permissions@ushmm.org.