5 of the Best Places to Film in Tampa Bay: A Local Video Production Guide
Tampa Bay gives video productions a lot of variety in “best places” without requiring a lot of travel. Within the region, you can find downtown skylines, waterfront parks, marinas, nationally recognized beaches, modern urban environments, and lush tropical settings. As a locally based production company, HR Video & Drone works throughout St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Sarasota, and the surrounding Gulf Coast area. Here are five locations worth considering for your next production. 1. Downtown St. Petersburg Downtown St. Pete is one of the most versatile places to film in the region. Within a compact area you have: That variety makes it useful for corporate videos, commercials, social media content, interviews, tourism campaigns, and lifestyle shoots. You can move from a polished downtown environment to parks, waterfront scenery, and marina views without relocating the entire production across town. For clients looking for a recognizable Tampa Bay setting without going straight to the beach, downtown St. Pete is usually one of the first places we consider. 2. St. Pete Beach If you want the classic Florida look, St. Pete Beach delivers it. White sand, Gulf water, palm trees, hotels, pools, and sunsets make it a strong location for hospitality, tourism, real estate, lifestyle brands, products, and social content. It also has the reputation to back it up. St. Pete Beach was named Tripadvisor’s No. 1 beach in the United States in both 2012 and 2021. It has appeared near the top of national beach rankings multiple other years as well. That can add real value when a national brand or tourism company wants its production associated with a recognizable Florida destination. The main considerations are timing, crowds, wind, weather, and sunlight. A beach shoot at noon and the same shoot at sunset can feel like two completely different productions. 3. Clearwater Beach and Pier 60 Clearwater Beach offers another strong Gulf Coast option, but with more of a resort and tourism feel. Between Pier 60, the wide beach, large hotels, restaurants, boats, and waterfront activity, there are several looks available within a relatively small area. Clearwater Beach has also earned major national recognition, including being named Tripadvisor’s No. 1 beach in the United States in 2016, 2018, and 2019. For hospitality campaigns, tourism content, social media, lifestyle brands, and commercial work that needs an energetic Florida backdrop, Clearwater is an easy location to consider. Like any popular beach destination, the production needs to account for crowds, parking, weather, and permissions before shoot day. 4. Downtown Tampa and the Tampa Riverwalk If the project needs a more modern city environment, Downtown Tampa and the Tampa Riverwalk give you a completely different look. The area offers: This works particularly well for corporate videos, technology companies, professional services, commercial campaigns, tourism content, and brands that want Florida without necessarily looking like they filmed a beach advertisement. The Riverwalk also gives producers plenty of visual variety within one relatively connected area, making it easier to capture multiple backgrounds during the same production. 5. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota For something greener and more tropical, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens offers a very different visual environment. The Sarasota location combines lush tropical vegetation with landscaped gardens, palm trees, pathways, architecture, and views of Sarasota Bay. It can work especially well for: What makes Selby interesting for production is that it creates an upscale Florida atmosphere without relying on another beach or downtown backdrop. As with any managed property, commercial production should be coordinated with the location ahead of time. Choosing the Right Tampa Bay Filming Location The best location is not necessarily the most famous one. It is the location that fits what the finished project needs to accomplish. Before choosing where to shoot, we consider things like: A great-looking location can still create problems if it does not work for the actual production. Local Knowledge Makes Production Easier This is where working with a local Tampa Bay production company can make a difference. HR Video & Drone understands the different environments throughout St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Sarasota, and the surrounding area. We know that a waterfront shoot has different challenges than a downtown interview. We understand how quickly Florida weather can shift, how wind can affect audio and drone operations, and how dramatically a location can change depending on the time of day. Whether you already know where you want to shoot or need help choosing the right location, HR Video & Drone can help with professional video production, photography, FAA certified drone work, crew, and local production support. If you’re planning a shoot anywhere around Tampa Bay or the Gulf Coast, tell us what you’re trying to create. We’ll help determine the best place to make it happen. Learn More about HR Video & Drone: Our Services Our Portfolio Blog Contact Us Find us on social media: Instagram Youtube Harrison Ralph’s LinkedIn
