Facilities Access
Princeton is a private institution and many of its facilities are not generally open to the public. There are specific guidelines for members of the media wishing to gain access to commonly requested locations on campus, and all photographers and film crews must contact the media relations staff in the Office of Communications to secure press passes before proceeding to film or photograph.
- Academic buildings and classrooms
- Athletic events
- Dormitories
- Exteriors of buildings
- Lake Carnegie
- Libraries
- Princeton University Art Museum
- University Chapel
Academic buildings and classrooms
Academic spaces are managed by academic department staff. The Office of Communications works with departments to facilitate access for media to report, film or photograph inside academic buildings or classrooms. If a member of the news media asks to attend a class, we must secure advance permission from our faculty to ensure that student privacy is protected and that the learning environment is not disrupted.
Athletic events
Requests for access to athletic events are handled by the University's Office of Athletic Communications.
Dormitories
Reporters, photographers and filmmakers are not permitted in residential areas at any time out of respect for all students, who have an expectation of privacy while in their campus homes. Photographing and filming in common spaces, such as the dining hall, is allowed with advance permission. The Office of Communications works with dormitory staff to facilitate requests to photograph or film in common spaces.
Exteriors of buildings
General access to campus can be granted to photograph and film environmental campus shots and building exteriors. Photographers and filmmakers should be aware of the University's list of restricted images that are not permitted to be used for any purpose other than University business whether they are supplied by the University or taken independently. The images include all or recognizable portions of Nassau Hall, Blair Hall arch, Alexander Hall, FitzRandolph Gate and Lewis Library. Students who appear in images of campus cannot be easily identifiable unless a student has given his or her permission. For filmmakers' convenience, our office has "b-roll" of various Princeton campus scenes available for use in beta format. The charge is $75 per tape, the cost charged to our office of having the tape produced.
Lake Carnegie
Lake Carnegie is University property and is primarily used by the University's crew teams. For news requests to photograph or film at the lake, our office works with crew coaches to secure permission and ensure that photographing or filming does not inhibit team activities. The University's Office of Conference and Events Services handles permissions and scheduling for commercial requests to photograph or film the lake.
Libraries
Photography and filming are generally not permitted inside University libraries, including Firestone Library, because it is disruptive to the research and study engaged in by students, faculty and staff. Our office works with library staff to determine if a photo or film request may be accommodated. As an alternative, we may secure permission for the photographer or filmmaker to use a nonacademic library setting. For copies or images of historical documents, the University's Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library has its own policies for photo duplication services.
Princeton University Art Museum
The art museum has its own photographic services policy. Our office works with staff at the art museum to obtain permission to photograph or film in the museum. For security and scheduling reasons, museum staff may not be able to accommodate a photography or film request, or may charge a fee to photograph or film museum pieces or collections.
University Chapel
The chapel is a place of worship, and photographers and film crews are allowed on a limited basis depending upon the request. Our office works with the Office of the Dean of Religious Life to secure permission to photograph or film in the chapel. Photography and filming are not permitted in the Chapel during nonpublic University events, such as the Baccalaureate ceremony.