Where are you based? Where do you photograph the most?
I’m based in Minnesota and Wisconsin! I mainly photograph on state land like state parks or county-owned parks and beaches.
Why did you become a PLC member?
Over the last handful of years, it seems like parks and public lands get harder and harder to work on for permits. It’s been getting more strict, harder to obtain, and even harder to get in touch with people who know answers regarding the permits. These permits can also be quite expensive if you go outside of where I’m based. I’ve even seen parks getting more strict here in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Rangers are limiting where ceremonies can be held (there’s at least one state park that I know of where you can only have a ceremony in the amphitheater or inside the visitor center).
I think the work that everyone does at PLC is SO needed so the department leaders can have a more clear understanding of what we do as elopement photographers and hopefully be less strict (and more kind). I love that PLC is a space for creatives to also come together and work on this!
Why do you think others should support PLC?
If you photograph on public lands (or honestly, if you just love public lands) supporting PLC is a no-brainer.
You’re supporting the organization to work with government officials that’ll benefit all of us that work on public lands. Not to mention, it’s been so informative to be in the community where we can share what rangers told us, what’s required for permits, etc. You also get to stay up to date on what’s happening in the organization and public lands.
It’s worth it to be a part of an organization like this!! If you’re working on public lands, you need to be joining in to help keep access to them.
What has been your experience with permits as a photographer and/or positive changes you have seen the PLC make?
I’ve been fortunate enough to live somewhere where the permit process isn’t as intense as most other places around the United States, but when a couple of the most visited state parks in Minnesota started cracking down on ceremony locations, it definitely started to worry me. There’s one park in particular that doesn’t allow ceremonies outside of the amphitheater or visitor center (no exceptions), but then they say portraits are just fine and you don’t need a permit for that. The PLC community has answered questions about this, and insight on how to work with the park on this. The most frustrating part of getting permits for any park is the lack of consistency, and it’s been helpful to have PLC to navigate that.
In addition, the impact PLC has had with the EXPLORE act was such a huge win!! If you aren’t familiar with the EXPLORE act, I highly recommend getting to know it.
More from Samantha…
HUGE thank you to Public Land Creatives for everything they do and for helping us keep access to our public lands!
See more of Samantha Burke’s Work:
Samantha Burke, www.sburkephotography.com
