6 Ways to Keep Your Film & Photo Shoots Sustainable

If you work in the creative world- whether it be fashion, visual arts, or performing arts, you will inevitably encounter film and photography. It’s unavoidable. Visual representation through film, advertisements, magazines, and social media plays a massive role in sharing and promoting our art and passion as creatives. It is an essential part of expressing what drives us.

When using film and photography to share our messages and creations, it’s important to remember that every production decision impacts our planet, no matter how small it may seem. Our choices matter. Here are ways to make your film and photo shoots more sustainable. 

1. Equipment

I promise- there are plenty of cameras, lights,  microphones, and unused film rolls out there. Both your wallet and the planet are asking for you to pleeease, please buy second-hand! Online platforms offer countless opportunities for sustainable exchanges and transactions, allowing your creativity to thrive during your shoots.

Here is a list I have compiled:

+ Facebook Marketplace
I could not recommend this more. If there’s one thing Facebook might be good for, it’s finding secondhand gems here. Do your research. I found my favorite Sony Hi8 camera there. Mint condition, case and cables and chargers and all. Plus, I got to take a long bus ride over to the old Dutch guy’s house who sold it to me. He had a parakeet in his house who liked to repeat words and whistle really loud.

+ Ebay
Same thing here-  you can even place bids on your favorite items. You might find yourself in a bidding competition with someone who wants the item just as much as you do, each of  you adding one dollar at a time until one finally backs down. Keeps you on your toes.

+ Boston Area: Hunt’s Photo & Video
I would suggest Goodwill, but it can be a bit unreliable if you’re looking for tested items that are in excellent shape. If you’re looking for parts, by all means, run over to your nearest location. Otherwise, I suggest heading on over to Hunt’s. It will be pricier- fair warning -but you are getting your hands on some true and tested gear that will not let you down. After all, this is an investment towards yourself and your creations - sometimes the extra buck is worth it.

+ Renting
Let’s not forget that renting exists. You don’t actually have to own all that heavy and space-consuming equipment. Plus, if you’re in school, your school might offer film and photography equipment  rentals of their own. Go check it out!

+ Ask Your Friends!
I know it sounds silly- but seriously. Whenever my friends ask to borrow my stuff, there is no second-guessing. Keep her, she’s youuurs. Post on your story. Text the group chat. Don’t knock it till you try it. 

2. Food & Beverage

+ Vegan Food
If you’re providing food for the cast & crew, keep it vegan, man. Who doesn’t love a hummus sandwich with some fruit and granola bars? You can even add some dark chocolate if you feel like it. If you work closing shifts at a cool cafe, you might be able to save those unsold bagels, muffins, scones, and baguettes to set the next day- allowing you to be extra sustainable and cut down on food waste.

+ Packaging
Plastic, plastic, plastic- everywhere plastic. It’s ridiculous how much of it there is out there. Waste is inevitable during a shoot, no matter what you do. But you can still make more sustainable choices. Ditch the plastic wrap for tupperware. I’m sure you’ve got a secret stash of containers at home from your devious nights out. Or those nice glass tupperware sets you use for leftovers. Bring them on over. 

And in any case, make sure to remind people to bring their own food and snacks from home! And at the end of the day when there are still some snacks left over, pass them around for people to take home! Roommates and family members will appreciate the sharing.

As for plates and cutlery, cardboard isn’t the best option. Once it’s covered in food schmutz, it can’t be recycled anymore. Instead, consider food that doesn’t even need a personal plate. Your hummus or PB&J sammich can be held between two hands. 

+ Leaving the Location the Way You Found it
Easy one. No trash left behind. Littering is so last century. If you’re shooting outside, make sure to disrupt the area as little as possible. The bugs will thank you for it. 

3. Wardrobe

I bet you were expecting this section.

+ Swapping
First things first: you want to find ways to source clothing without any financial transaction. Sustainable Swaps events happen. Every. Single. Month. You heard me. Bring some old garments you want to give a new life to, and create the perfect wardrobe for your cast. Lucky you, it will inevitably be cool- because cool kids swap. You heard it here first.

+ Borrowing
Next up, ask the people you know and love if they’ve got anything you could borrow. This is an advantage because you likely already know what they have in their closets. I’m pretty sure most of your friends would be stoked to let you feature their awesome pieces in the art you are creating. Remember: borrowing also means bringing what’s already in your closet, and encouraging your cast to do the same!! Having someone wear their own clothes makes them look and feel far more authentic on screen (plus, you already know it fits just right).

+ Thrifting
Once it’s time for you to spend a couple bucks on your wardrobe, hit the thrift stores. Boston has so many places to offer - Goodwill, Buffalo Exchange, Boomerangs (yes, they came back just as boomerangs are expected to do), the Garment District, Vivant Vintage, the list goes on… And let’s not forget about Diversity Consignment! Go get your subscriptions already and get swapping & thrifting for cheeaaap!!

4. Props

Same approach as with equipment and wardrobe: prioritise swapping and borrowing first, then renting, then thrifting. The reason you might want to rent before thrifting is simply because of all the homes the props would have to go to after the shoot - we really do not need more accumulated stuff. Let’s keep things circular.

Extra hot tip: When collecting items for your set, remember that people love to put their unwanted belongings out on the curb (and I love them for doing that). Ride your bike around the neighborhood and scout the scene out, you never know what you might find. If you’re looking for some bigger items, grab your friends and drive around. I myself have found plenty of furniture for my apartment, including a shelving unit, a lamp, and an awesome yellow chair. 

5. Transportation

Speaking of biking and driving, let’s talk transportation.

+ Public Transportation

If you are in Boston, public transportation is so unbelievably accessible and underrated. Yes, the Red Line breaks down every once in a while. Perhaps train schedules are a bit of a puzzle. Buses? Yeah, they run late more often than not. But they will get you from A to B. Plus,, by choosing to take the T, you get to romanticize your life while looking over the Charles River in a moving subway,thinking about how every little decision has led you to this one, particularly touching moment. I get all dewy-eyed just thinking about it.

+ Carpooling
Sometimes, though, you open Google Maps and see that it takes about 3 and a half million years to get to your final destination. And then you see driving takes a mere 23 minutes, including traffic. Lucky for you, you are going to your shooting location, where all the cast and crew are meeting! Before hopping into your own car alone (or booking a cheeky Uber), maybe double-check to see if there’s space in someone’s backseat.

6. Energy Usage

Here is a list of things to keep in mind when it comes to energy consumption on set. These options may seem like small, minute changes, but they could make a big impact on the overall carbon footprint of your shoot. Here are a few things to consider:

+ Lights
Natural lighting should be prioritized if possible. What better than to use the sun as your main source of light, working with natural elements and all? It could even add to the rawness of your shoot. And when you need to use artificial lighting, stick to LED lights. Traditional lighting fixtures can be so unbelievably energy consuming, and yes, the lightbulbs you choose do matter. Shoot days are loooong and a lot of light is needed.

+ Cooling Down
Let’s think about the Europeans in moments like these. Air conditioning is nice, but most of the time, not really necessary. If you have an extra standing fan at home, perhaps you should find a way to bring it with you. Then you can speak into it and hear your voice start to sound like a robot, which is always amusing.

+ Warming up
Layers layers layers! Hot water bottles! Hot tea and coffee in a thermos! Move around and let your body generate some heat! You can even do some warm up exercises to keep the mood high despite waiting times and the cold.

+ Less Printing
I’ll admit it- I love printed documents on set. It makes it all feel easier to track. But it is 2025. Let’s face it, some of those documents just don’t need to be printed. You could pull out your phone and find all the information you need within just a few clicks. Consider which documents really need printing versus the ones we can keep on our tiny screens. 

Alright, that is it. We’ve made it to the end of my endless lists and ideas. I’m clocking out now. I hope this comes in handy for you. And if not, I hope it comes in handy for me next time I find myself prepping for a shoot. Have fun out there in the world, keep on being your creative self, and offering kindness to the planet. Mwah.