DJI Osmo Pocket 3
$499 - $669
Travel vloggers and solo creators who want smooth footage with the least kit possible.
Skip if: Fixed wide lens
Use the retailer for the current price after the kit still fits the rule constraint.
US City
St. Louis
St. Louis has no general film permit; you register with the film office and pull department-specific approvals only when a shoot impacts streets or parks.
Verified Jul 1, 2026 2 sources
Permit: conditional
Shoot decision
Depends on setup
Small personal or low-impact work may be fine, but commercial, staged, exclusive-use, tripod, light, or crew-heavy work can cross the permit line.
Permit: conditional
Permit line
Conditional, St. Louis Film Office (at Explore St. Louis), coordinating with individual city departments
Public space
Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
Drone layer
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107; local property rules add restrictions
Guidance, not legal advice
Rules change and enforcement varies. Confirm with the issuing authority before you shoot. Drone law depth lives at Drone Authority.
Before you go
The field order that prevents wasted trips
Work in this order. Each step answers a different risk, and skipping ahead is how a simple shoot turns into a permit, flight, or gear problem on site.
Confirm the permit answer
Use the official permit page before you schedule, invoice, or bring a larger setup.
Open permit pageBuild the shot sequence
Turn the rule answer into a route, frame list, and completion checklist before you are standing there.
Build shot listSeparate photo rules from flight rules
If the plan includes a drone, check the flight side separately before you pack batteries.
Check Drone AuthorityKeep the kit easy to explain
Keep the setup handheld or shoulder-bag small unless the job truly needs stands, cables, or blocked space.
Match field gear
Aperture workflow
Plan the city shoot
Permits are only one part of city work. Plan the route, support gear, and backup frames before a sidewalk turns into a bottleneck.
Field kit
Low-friction kit for city rules
City permits often hinge on whether your setup looks like exclusive use. Keep the kit small unless the job truly needs stands or production gear.
9.0
Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L V2
$100 - $130
Minimal shooters carrying one body and a prime.
Skip if: Limited capacity
Use the retailer for the current price after the kit still fits the rule constraint.
Product links may earn a commission at no cost to you. Verify the rules first, then buy only what keeps the shoot practical.
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: St. Louis Film Office (at Explore St. Louis), coordinating with individual city departments
Cost: No general permit fee; department-level permits (streets, parks, police) vary, see the film office
Processing: Contact the film office ahead of the shoot; department approvals add lead time
As a general rule you do not need a citywide filming permit in St. Louis. The film office asks productions to register and then routes you to the right department: the Street Department for restricting street or sidewalk traffic, the Parks Department for filming in a park, and the Police Department for driving shots, simulated gunfire, or emergency vehicle activity. Handheld and personal photography needs nothing. Verify specifics with the film office.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107; local property rules add restrictions
Local takeoff, landing, and park restrictions sit on top of FAA airspace rules. For Part 107 and drone law, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
Private property sets its own rules regardless of city law.
Practical notes
- The Gateway Arch and its grounds are a national park (Gateway Arch National Park), so NPS commercial filming rules apply there, not city rules.
- Forest Park shoots go through the city Parks Department, not the film office.
- Missouri has no state film permit either; the Missouri Film Office confirms most cities in the state work the same way.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: