Richardson Farm Professional Photography Policy

Richardson Farm is a beautiful, picturesque location for family, engagement, and holiday photo sessions. The spring Tulip Festival features acres of tulip fields and just can’t be beat for a very unique backdrop. Summers feature beautiful fields of Christmas trees, a 36 acre lake, and numerous buildings for indoor shoots or as backdrops. The fall Sunflower Festival is especially beautiful with acres of sunflowers with trails throughout. The fall Adventure Farm has hundreds of possibilities for fun and interesting locations -including the ‘World’s Largest” corn maze. We welcome photographers for client sessions, when it doesn’t interfere with the enjoyment of our other customers. Props may be carried in and set up as long as they do not interfere with our other customers. We welcome film crews of all sizes.

We have had dozens of engagements and we can help with unique ideas if you want! Numerous smaller productions have used the old barns, Christmas trees, corn maze and lakes for film shoots. CBS Sunday Morning Show did a segment here and we were a location for a Jeep commercial featuring Bill Murray in 2020 with specific sets built, fireworks, and over 90 people involved.

To speak to someone about setting up a photography session, email jean@richardsonfarm.com.


  1. A professional photographer is anyone shooting people, animals, or nature on our farm and receiving any type of compensation, such as money, trades, goods, services or other.
  2. Fees: There is a fee of $100 for photographers shooting sessions with one or more families during an approximately 3 hour time period. These times are ONLY available during the hours we are open to the public. All persons, including the photographer and assistants, must pay admission (no admission for Christmas trees). All persons must park in the public parking areas (cars may sometimes drive to the Christmas tree fields Monday – Friday, you must ask for permission). Photo times outside of the public operating hours will be considered and the fee negotiated in advance.
  3. Check-in: Photographers must check-in, register, and pay the fee at admissions during Tulip Festival, Sunflower Festival, and at the Adventure Farm. Register in the gift shop at Christmas season. You will be given a Photographers Identification. Photographers without our farm photographer's ID will be asked to leave.
  4. Fee for photo times outside of the public operating hours will be $250 for approximately a 3 hour time block. You must email info@richardsonfarm.com with your request.

Rules to Remember

  1. All persons must park in the parking lot (except Christmas season, Monday – Friday).
  2. Dogs are allowed but must be friendly with other people and dogs and must be on a leash at all times.
  3. Be courteous and respectful of our property, activities, and other customers. Props may be set- up if they do not interfere with the enjoyment of other customers and must be removed completely. Grounds must be left in the same condition and cleanliness as when you arrived.
  4. Richardson Farm LLC reserves the right to ask you to move, alter a set-up, or leave if you are disruptive or not complying with the farm’s policy.
  5. Richardson Farm LLC reserves the right to alter this policy or refuse photographer access at any time for any reason.
  6. Photographs, subjects, and props shall not have any nudity or offensive or vulgar content. If any representative of Richardson Farm LLC observes or becomes aware of dangerous, pornographic, illegal or negligent practices or activities, Richardson Farm reserves the right to stop the shoot and require the photographer and subjects to leave immediately with no refund given.
  7. Published photos should credit “Richardson Farm LLC, Spring Grove IL”. Richardson Farm welcomes your photo submissions with the assumed permission for the Farm to use the pictures in any media or ad.