Photography at the Museum
You and your camera are welcome at the Kansas City Automotive Museum. In accordance with the Museum’s mission, we encourage photography of our collections, exhibit spaces, building facilities, and exterior.
Social Media
We encourage you to interact with the Museum through social media. You can share images from your visit on social media as long as they are not used for profit or marketing purposes. Use the #kcautomuseum hashtag to share your experiences at the Museum and to connect with others. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Equipment
Members of the press/media and students doing class assignments are welcome to take pictures using handheld equipment. If you need to use a tripod or other equipment, please read the Terms for Special Requests for Photography section below and complete the form. If you need to interview a staff person, please contact marketing@kcautomuseum.com at least 5 business days before your deadline.
Visitor Photography Guidelines
Photography is allowed inside the Museum galleries and other public spaces any time the Museum is open to the general public.
Please follow these guidelines:
- Do not use external lighting of any kind.
- Do not photograph any areas with posted “No Photography” signs.
- Do not touch, lean, climb, sit, or place items on the vehicles, exhibit platforms, interpretive panels, display cases, or walls.
- Only use hand-held equipment. Tripods, monopods, extension cords, etc. are prohibited.
- Do not use selfie sticks.
If you do not comply with these guidelines, the Museum reserves the right to deny further permission to photograph in the Museum and to request that you leave the premises.
Use of Images
Photos taken at the Museum can be used for personal, non-commercial purposes.
Copyright and Publication
The Museum does not own copyright of images taken by a non-staff photographer. Whenever images of the Museum or our collections are published, we ask that the photographer identify the Museum as “The Kansas City Automotive Museum, in Olathe, Kansas.”
Commercial Photography
Permission to film or photograph the Museum’s exhibit galleries, facilities, and collections for commercial (for-profit) purposes is only permitted at the discretion of the Marketing Department. Each proposed commercial project must be reviewed to determine its consistency with the Museum’s mission and the appropriateness of the project’s association with the Museum.
Giving Photographs to the Museum
If you are interested in giving the Museum originals or copies of your photographs, please contact the Marketing Department at marketing@kcautomuseum.com. This offer is considered a donation and objects must be free of any restrictions or conditions.
Terms for Special Requests for Photography
In addition to encouraging day-to-day visitor photography of exhibit galleries and public Museum spaces, we also support special requests for photography. Subject to certain criteria, the Museum accommodates any reasonable requests to:
- Photograph objects not on public exhibit,
- Photograph in non-public Museum spaces,
- Photograph objects using flash or lighting equipment, and
- Photograph using additional equipment (e.g. tripods, monopods, extension cords, etc.).
The Museum also possesses thousands of professional images of collections, exhibits, and facilities that may meet your needs. Please contact the Marketing Department marketing@kcautomuseum.com for more information.
Submitting a Special Request for Photography
To make a request for special photography, please complete the Terms for Special Requests for Photography.