See your home being used in the film and photography industry
Become a host
List your property on film locations to earn extra income
Start earning money by listing your space
By listing your space on film locations it will be available for thousands of film and photography creatives to hire. They often need a wide range of locations such as private homes, warehouses, shops, cars, farmer fields and loads more.
Direct communication with the producers.
See your property being used in a film/TV production..
Earn extra income on the side.
Get paid in full to confirm the booking.
Host your property with film locations and earn extra money.
Film locations have 30 years of experience working in the creative industry. We have a database or creatives who are looking for spaces for film locations and photography locations throughout the UK and beyond. Your space could be one of them and you’ll receive full payment upfront as well as having direct contact with the client.
Film Locations will be available to support you through the process if you need it. We have an extensive FAQ section to answer any queries you might have.
How to start hosting...it’s easy!
Sign up and add your property
Use our easy sign-up process to list your property. You can list any space.
Add photos to your account
Showcase your space by uploading some great photos. Here is a guide to help you.
Monitor your dashboard activity
Once your location has been selected the client will communicate with you directly.
HOSTS FROM ALL OVER HAVE BEEN ENJOYING THE BENEFITS OF USING FILM LOCATIONS.
Get started by signing up, creating your profile and uploading images of your property. Then you can sit back and wait for members of the creative industry to get in contact to book your location. Have any questions? Be sure to read our FAQs to see how easy it is to earn extra money.
Property Transformations
In some circumstances, a filmmaker may need to change the look and feel of your location. Of course, this will be done with your permission. If you don’t like the changes, they’ll change it right back. Otherwise, you could have a lovely free makeover.
Revamps and new colour themes- Brand new, trendy flooring
- Stylish garden makeovers
Revamps and new colour themes
Brand new, trendy flooring
Stylish garden makeovers
Use my house for a filming location?
There is no limit to the type of properties you can list on the film locations platform. There is a demand for nearly everything in the creative industry. It could be big or small, normal or unusual – filming locations are very diverse. Next time you are watching TV, reading a magazine or watching a film, take a look at the variety of film locations and photoshoot locations used.
What should you consider when becoming a host?
Here are some of the key things you should consider when becoming a host:
- You can list your house even if you live in it as most of our properties on Film Locations are residential homes.
- You can add your entire property or just a single room. There are no rules about how much of your property you can advertise, just remember to specify this in your listing.
- Locations can be used for any kind of TV/Film. From a small student project to a Hollywood blockbuster. The sky’s the limit!
- Every property is good enough. Location scouts are always after fresh new properties for filming – from empty warehouses to country mansions to council flats…you never know, your property could be exactly what they are looking for next.
Frequently asked questions
You’ve uploaded your property to Film Locations, but what happens when your location gets chosen for filming?
As the big day approaches, you might be wondering what to expect. Of course, each project will differ, but here are some general guidelines…
Before the shoot day:
The Recce
There is usually a ‘recce’ to determine if the location is suitable. For a small scale, editorial shoot this is likely to be just one or two people checking out your property and making sure it is right for the project, this sort of recce should be free of charge.
For larger scale projects such as TV commercials and feature films there is usually a ‘technical recce’ which can comprise twenty people, including lighting cameraman, director and technicians. It is reasonable for you to charge clients for these larger recces as they can take hours, so it’s almost like an extra day of filming.
Alert your neighbours
It’s a good idea to let your neighbours know when filming will be taking place. Make them aware of the scale of the project so they won’t get a shock from the numbers of trailers, trucks and people on your street…or wonder why they haven’t been invited to your party!
On the shoot day:
How many people will there be?
This depends on the size and type of the project, which can range from small scale, student shoots to huge blockbuster movies.
- Student shoot. This is likely to be low impact with only a handful of people on site.
- Editorial shoots (this could be for magazines or newspapers and can be a portrait, fashion or even furniture shoot). You can expect roughly 10-15 people on the day (including stylists, hair/ makeup artists etc) as well as props.
- Music video. This could be anything from a solo artist to the London Philharmonic Orchestra!
- Advertising stills shoot. These sort of shoots are usually larger impact. They will have bigger budgets and involve more people than a magazine shoot.
- TV commercial. Be prepared for a long 16 hour day with 10-50 people. There is likely to be large lighting rigs, catering vans, camera trucks, generator vehicles etc. Often the crew is so large they will base themselves at another location called a ‘Unit Base’.
- TV programme. Again, this will depend on budget and the kind of scene being filmed. For large scale productions, you can expect your day to be similar to filming a TV commercial, think big vans, and lots of people. On the other hand, smaller TV programmes could involve just a few people, a couple of lights and a camera.
- Feature Film. The sky’s the limit! There could be 10 or maybe even 200 people if it’s a James Bond movie!
As a golden rule, you should always ask the producer how many people there will be on the day. This will be a good indication of the impact the shoot will have on you and your home. The greater the impact, the higher the location fee.
How long will the shoot last?
With the exception of TV commercials and feature films which demand longer, the typical working day will be from 9-6. It is reasonable to expect payment for any overtime that may occur.
Some feature films or TV programmes may want your property for an extended period of time. In this instance, you will be relocated for the duration of filming at the production company’s expense.
What should you do with yourself on the day?
In most cases, you’ll have to make yourself scarce while the team gets on with filming. Remember, they are paying for their time there and they probably don’t want to be interrupted, no matter how harmless your intentions. Nevertheless, you should be available throughout the day, either in person or by phone, to answer any queries the crew may have.
Should I provide tea and coffee?
It is unlikely that you’ll get a chance to show off your hosting skills on the day. For editorial and smaller impact projects, it might be nice to provide tea and coffee …but don’t expect to have to wait on them. For TV commercials and large films, catering trucks will be brought in and you shouldn’t expect them to use your kitchen facilities at all.
Should I hide my valuables?
Whilst we trust that our clients will act professionally during the shoots, it is common sense to leave your diamond ring and iPad out of sight while filming is underway.
Reinstatement
Don’t be surprised if the crew move furniture and other items for the shoot. However, they should return things to their rightful places afterwards and pay for any damage caused.
It’s a wrap!
Remember, film sets are exciting places to be, even more so when your home is at the centre of the action, but make sure you have talked through each aspect of the shoot with the producer prior to the day to avoid any nasty surprises.
We receive e-mails from our members all the time asking how much they should charge for the hire of their property or vehicle. It’s hard to give a definitive answer to this question as each property is different, as is each shoot. However, we’ve done our best to put some guidelines in place for you.
Properties
As a rule, the rate should depend on the type of property, type of shoot and the size of the crew. These factors will affect the impact the shoot has on you and your property. Usually, the greater the impact, the greater the fee.
Type of property
In the same way that hiring a huge, country mansion for a holiday would cost more than hiring a bedsit. Grander, more expensive properties can command a higher price point than smaller or less unique spaces. That’s not to say there isn’t desirability for all types of location but it’s important to be realistic with your pricing.
Type of shoot
Editorial stills shoot: These photoshoots usually feature in magazines and newspapers alongside articles or as a stand alone feature. We suggest a charge of between £250-£750 for the day. A shoot day typically runs from 9am-6pm and an average crew would include about fifteen people.
Advertising stills shoot:
The purpose of these stills shoots is to sell a product. For example, an M&S campaign could feature in magazines, on billboards, flyers, posters… you get the picture (no pun intended). We advise that you charge anywhere from £500-£1250 for the day. Again, the day will usually run from 9am-6pm and involve a crew of about fifteen.
Filming:
‘Filming’ is such a broad subject, but as a general rule of thumb, the price should reflect the size of the crew and type of production. Filmmakers will usually work twelve hour days and rates vary between £250-£3000 per day … we know it’s broad, let’s try to narrow it down a bit:
Corporate/ in-house projects. This type of shoot is likely to have the least impact on you and your home so will be at the cheaper end of the scale. It encompasses any filming to be used within small circles such as a training video to be used internally within a company.
TV shoots range from small impact documentaries such as an interview for Panorama or large scale, large budget programmes such as The Apprentice. You’ll know what sort of programme the shoot is for and charge accordingly.
Commercials are usually high impact, high budget shoots which include lots of people, as such you can charge more for this sort of shoot.
Similar to commercials, movies will be high impact due to the long filming hours and large numbers of people – think James Bond.
If you would like to view our Terms and Conditions please do so here
It depends on your financial circumstances, your local tax office or accountant can advise you on this.
This is a rare occurrence, however, all clients should have PLI (Public Liability Insurance) as standard to cover any loss or damage on the day. If you need any further advice you can always contact us via live chat or email support@film-locations.co.uk.
If you do not own the property, we advise that you check with the registered owner or landlord before listing the property with Film Locations.
Clients can pay you direct via the Film Locations platform.
To enable them to do so you will need to set up your payment profile and add the bank account you wish to be paid into.
The reason we ask you to create a payment profile is so that our clients can pay you direct with either a credit or debit card. This both protects owners and our clients from any illegal activity such as potential fraud. Stripe (who provides the service) will ask you for your details and will cross check this with government records ensuring that you say who you say you are. No money is taken from you.
If any booking is processed offline this will result in the removal of your account as neither the owner or producer are protected by our contracts.
Film Locations takes 10% commission from any shoot successfully booked through our platform.
Tips to improve your photography skills
Getting the right photos of your property is key for success on film locations
You should begin to think about the story you want to tell. Before you pick up the camera, think about which spaces are critical and how you want to express them. Map out an action plan and take it step by step. You should also think about composition. Before you start shooting, spend some time rearranging furniture and use your camera to line up different views of the same space to create a balanced image. Wonky photos aren’t a good look. So pay attention to the horizontals and verticals within the space and aim your camera parallel to these.
Make sure you de-clutter. Especially in kitchens and bathrooms, put away the washing up and hide your Herbal Essences. A cluttered room can distract viewers from the space itself. Whilst it is important to portray the character of the property, producers need to be able to visualise the possibilities that the space offers for their own project. Make it easy for them. Be sure to photograph the details that make your property unique! The more your property stands out, the more bookings you are likely to get.
How can you improve your photography
- Keep a steady hand. Try to hold your camera straight, be careful not to tilt it up or down as this can distort the image. Blurry and distorted photos aren’t clear and will make your listing look unprofessional.
- Take ‘low shots’. When the camera sits lower than eye level, your photos tend to have more perspective and depth, adding a professional edge to your listing.
- Avoid using the flash. Photograph your property during the day and use natural light where possible.
- Take a range of images. Try to photograph all the areas of your property that may be of interest to potential TV and film producers. Include interior and exterior images to give an overall impression of the space.
- Don’t rush. Try out different compositions, angles and camera settings, take a few shots of each room and choose the best one. A potential client may ask to see more photos of your property so it’s always helpful to have a few extra images to hand.
- Expose for the room, not for the garden. If you’ve got an iPhone, tap once on the screen to set the camera focus on that spot, it will automatically adjust the exposure to get the best image possible. This can be useful for photographing rooms with lots of windows. To avoid the space appearing dark make sure you focus on the room not the window. If you have a digital camera, aim your lens towards a darker area of the room. Press and hold the shutter button halfway down to allow the camera to focus and then move the camera into the desired position. Push the button down fully to take your photo. Voila!
- Show a continuation of space to help potential clients visualise the layout of your space. Don’t ‘box in’ rooms; If you only capture a narrow scene your room tells less of a story.
- Edit your shots. If you didn’t manage to get quite the right brightness or composition in your photos, you can make final adjustments to your images off camera. Photo editing is now easier than ever, (most smart phones allow you to modify images, as well as free online software such as Pixlr) it’s great for making last-minute tweaks to image size, brightness and colour. That said, make sure you post an honest representation!