Filming in Washington, D.C. comes with lots of advantages. Great architecture, recognizable locations, and proximity to clients. It also comes with logistical problems that can quickly mess up a production schedule if they aren’t planned for.
One of the biggest mistakes companies make when planning a shoot in Washington, D.C. is assuming timelines will work the same way they do in smaller cities or suburban areas. They rarely do.
At DC Corporate Video, we want to make sure clients understand that delays happen; especially in a place like Washington, D.C.
Here are some of the things that often cause delays:
Load-In Takes Longer Than You Think
In many cities, a crew can pull up, unload gear, and be inside within minutes. In D.C., that is often not possible.
Common challenges include:
- Buildings that do not allow vehicles to stop out front, even briefly
- Security desks that require check-in before unloading
- Limited loading zones with strict enforcement
- Streets where stopping, even with hazards on, risks a ticket
What might be a 10-minute load-in elsewhere can easily turn into 30 or 45 minutes in D.C., before a single camera is set up.
Parking Is Rarely Simple
Many office buildings in D.C. do not have on-site parking. When that happens, crews have to use nearby garages, which have a lot of complications on their own.
First, many garages are designed for smaller cars, not production vans. Tight turns, low ceilings, and narrow ramps can make it difficult or impossible for larger vehicles to enter or exit safely.
Second, parking is often expensive. Daily rates add up quickly, and if a crew needs to leave the garage and return later, it often means paying for another full day. The average parking cost in D.C. is $20 – $30 per day, with some garages charging even more during events or at certain times of the year.
Third, once the vehicle is parked, the work is not over.
Getting Gear From the Garage to the Location Can Be a Project by Itself
Even when a building has parking underneath, there is still the issue of getting the gear from the car to the filming location.
Issues crews regularly run into include:
- Unclear or missing signs for elevators
- Elevators located far from the parking area
- Elevators that are too small for carts or large cases of equipment
- Multiple elevator trips are often required to move all equipment
- Long walks across garages while pushing heavy gear
Each of these adds time and a lot of physical labor due to heavy equipment. Things may get delayed even more when there is a long filming day already scheduled.
Building Rules Can Create Unexpected Delays
Many buildings in D.C. have strict policies that can easily impact filming schedules.
Examples include:
- Limited hours for load-in and load-out
- Freight elevators that must be reserved in advance
- Security escorts required for crew movement
- Restrictions on where equipment can be staged
If these rules are not clarified in advance, a crew can arrive on time and still experience delays that push the schedule back due to building restrictions.
A Real-Life Example from Our Crew
We recently filmed in a building where we needed permission in order to unload. We had to park our cars, find someone who worked in the loading dock, get permission to pull into the loading dock, unload our equipment, then park our cars again in the garage.
Once our cars were parked, we then had to go back to the loading dock to get our equipment, then find someone who could give us access to the elevator.
Finally we could take it up to the room we were filming in.
Even with three people, this process took an hour. Compare this to most buildings in smaller cities where we just pull up in front, unload, and then park our cars, which may only take 15 minutes.
This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s something we deal with a lot, and it’s the reality of filming here in D.C.
Why These Delays Matter
Delays do not just affect the crew. They affect the entire production.
Lost time can lead to:
- Rushed interviews
- Fewer setups than planned
- Shortened b-roll coverage
- Increased stress for everyone involved
In some cases, it can even mean not getting everything that was scheduled for the day.
Planning for Reality, Not Best-Case Scenarios
Experienced D.C. crews build some buffer time into every shoot. That buffer is not because the crew is inefficient or not working hard. It’s because of risk management.
Smart planning includes:
- Scheduling earlier arrival times
- Confirming parking options in advance
- Asking detailed questions about building access
- Allowing extra time for load-in and setup
- Budgeting for parking costs upfront
When delays are expected, they are far less disruptive.
Delays in Filming Can be Managed By the Right Team
Washington, D.C. is a rewarding place to film, but it demands realistic planning. Parking, access, and building logistics often take longer than clients anticipate, and those delays are not exceptions. They are the norm. This is why it’s best to work with a team who understands this and is prepared to change plans, if needed, to get the job done with as few delays as possible.
Planning for these delays from the start protects the schedule, the crew, and the quality of the final video. We do this at DC Corporate Video because we understand the realities of working within the confines of a major U.S. city, and also the needs of our clients.
Though delays are going to happen, quality shouldn’t be affected by that. Reach out to DC Corporate Video to learn more about how we handle these inevitable delays and how we don’t allow it to affect your video production quality.
