2025 Update

The Old Farm has always supported local photographers in their efforts to establish and advance their businesses. To this end, we have allowed use of the property – gratis - for commercial sessions, prior to our seasonal openings in mid-November. This has proven very popular, and as the number of photographers, clients and workload has increased, it has become necessary to formalize policies, provide this information as below, and charge a reasonable fee to compensate for the effort. At the same time, we have retained the opportunity for very-small-scale, startup efforts to visit for a nominal cost.
The following policies will evolve as needed:

Definitions:

• Commercial Photography: Photography done for compensation including cash payment, trade, model call, or otherwise in the regular course of doing business.
  
• Session Photography: Photography of clients including all mini-sessions, and all Holiday or regular Sessions that include a setup, set, or posing of any amount whether they be mini, or full sessions.
  
• Candid Photography: Photography of an individual family as they are regular patrons of the Old Farm Christmas Place, which includes tagging or cutting down their Christmas Tree. Candid Photography does not allow for any props, setups or additional items of any kind, or any posing that would impede the regular flow of business for the Old Farm Christmas Place.

Session Policy:

Pre-Season:

• Session Photography is permitted in the pre-season time, which ends in mid-November when the farm opens to the public.
  
• Pre-Season Activity: Be prepared to share the property with pre-season work crews, other photographers, and seasonal customers.
  
• Photographer Responsibilities: Photographers are responsible for client safety. The Old Farm is not liable for any injuries.
  
• Prop Setup and Removal: Props for commercial photography must be set up and removed on the same day as the sessions, during the time booked. All transport is the responsibility of the photographer, who should be advised that the fields are several-hundred feet from the parking lot.
  
• Facilities: No restrooms are available before the season starts.
  
• Session Photography Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In-Season (mid-November on):

• No Session Photography is allowed during the Christmas tree sales season, which starts in mid-November.
  
• Candid Photography is allowed. Photographers can only take candid, lifestyle photos of a family while they search for, cut down, and purchase their tree. Photographer’s Clients must be actual patrons of the Old Farm Christmas Place business and purchase a tree. (Taking photos of your own family while engaging in cutting down your tree is permitted.)
  
• Photographer Responsibilities: Photographers are responsible for client safety. The Old Farm is not liable for any injuries.
  
• Candid Photography Hours: Regular business hours.

General Policies:

• Parking: All photographers and clients must park in the designated parking lot on the North side. The private driveway on the South side is strictly off-limits.
  
• Restricted Areas: Photography is not permitted at or near the house, barn, parking area, or outbuildings. All photography must be taken in the tree fields, or on the path to the tree fields, but only after the small bridge.
  
• Dog Policy: Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome. Pet owners must clean up after their pets.
  
• Tree Protection: Keep people, children, and dogs out of fields with trees shorter than 4 feet. It is particularly important that photographers insist that clients keep their children out of these areas where small trees may be damaged by roughhousing. Photographer is liable for any damage to young trees.
  
• Property Care: Photographers must prevent any damage to the property or structures.

Session Photography Fees, Booking, and Dates:

• 2025 Rates:
  Half-day (4 hours): $150
  Full-day (8 hours): $250
  Starter Rate: $50 for two or fewer sessions (designed for photographers with a small number of clients).
  
• Booking Dates: October 20 – November 10.
  
• Payment: Cash or check payment is required before clients enter the property.
  
• Booking: Email info@oldfarmchristmas.com to schedule.
  
• Check-In: A staff member will meet the photographer before the session to answer questions.
  
• Weather: In case of bad weather, rescheduling is allowed, but arrangements must be made by the day before the session.

Candid Photography Fees, Booking, and Dates:

• 2025 Rates:
  None
  
• Booking Dates: November 14-22 for tree tagging
• only, and Nov 29 - end of season for tree cutting.
  Booking: Email info@oldfarmchristmas.com with questions
  
• Check-In: Not required

Commercial Photography Fees, Booking, and Acceptable Dates Determined on a Case-By-Case Basis

The Old Farm Christmas Place
1148 Sawyer Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
info@oldfarmchristmas.com