The Best Places To Shoot Videos In Chicago

If you’re a content creator in Chicago, you have a huge range of interesting places to film your content outside of a video studio. Aside from the unique vibes of each of the city’s 77 neighborhoods that can give you endless backdrops, Chicago also has so many interesting spots to bring life to your videos. 

This variety is fantastic for content creators and social media influencers, but it’s good to match the scene to the type of video you’re creating.

So before you grab your camera, here are a few tips.

Filming Tips For Chicago Content Creators

• Check the rules. You’ll be fine if you’re doing small shoots in public places, but areas like Millennium Park, Navy Pier, and the Riverwalk may require permits if you bring tripods, lighting, or a crew of people.

• Plan around the light. The early mornings are the best time to film if you want soft light and quieter streets, while the late afternoons are better for warmer tones, especially if you’re filming near water.

• Expect changes. We all know that Chicago weather can change quickly, so if it’s an important shoot, make sure to have an indoor location in mind in case you need to change plans.

• Control the sound. Be mindful of the location, because traffic, trains, and wind will add a lot of annoying background noise to your audio. Use lapel mics with dead cats or think about doing voiceovers later in post.

• Be considerate. Many of these spots are busy with people, so make sure to avoid blocking walkways or disrupting the flow of the space.

What You Need To Know About Filming Permits In Chicago

The City of Chicago requires permits for certain types of filming, but not for all types of filming. You usually won’t need a permit if you’re working with a handheld device or a small crew in public areas without blocking foot or vehicle traffic.

But you’ll need a filming permit if you’re using tripods, lighting rigs, or larger equipment and you have a crew blocking sidewalks, streets, or building entrances. 

If you're filming in restricted areas like Millennium Park, Navy Pier, or on CTA property, you'll also need a filming permit. And of course, if you're filming requires street closures or vehicle scenes, you'll definitely need a filming permit.

You can find more information on obtaining a filming permit at the City's website here. 

Millennium Park – Cloud Gate and Surroundings 

Best use case: Establishing shots, instantly recognizable backdrops, city pride moments
Who it suits: Travel vloggers, Chicago-based influencers, lifestyle brands, tourism content

Cloud Gate, better known as The Bean, is one of the easiest ways to set the scene. A wide shot lets everyone know you’re in Chicago. There are also other areas of the park worth exploring. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion can give you interesting shapes in your background,  and the Lurie Garden is good if you’re looking for a more natural feel. Incorporating both elements lets you capture the urban and the organic without leaving the area.

Chicago Riverwalk

Best use case: Scenic walking shots, conversational interviews, urban lifestyle sequences
Who it suits: Documentary creators, business podcasters, lifestyle influencers

The Riverwalk is an excellent choice for capturing shots of Chicago’s architecture, bridges, tour boats, and the constant movement on the water. This is great when you want the background to feel alive without staging anything. For interviews, frame the subject with the skyline and river, and use morning or late afternoon light to get warm tones on the buildings. Even a short walk along the path will give you several different backdrops.

The Chicago Theatre Marquee

Best use case: Nighttime openers or closers, event promotion
Who it suits: Musicians, entertainment brands, event organizers

This place is a Chicago icon and works best at night when the lights are on. A slow tilt up to the sign is a great way of creating a strong opening shot, and you can use the street activity to add that city energy to your video. Pair this with voiceover or on-camera dialogue, and you can’t go wrong.

Navy Pier

Best use case: Lifestyle montages, travel storytelling, family or couple content
Who it suits: Family vloggers, travel creators, lifestyle influencers

Navy Pier gives you open water, skyline views, and the turning of the  Centennial Wheel in the background. You can shoot some great B-roll near the attractions, capture some of the lake, or frame the skyline from the pier itself. Street performers, food vendors, and boats will add that Chicago city vibe to your shot. Golden hour light here is excellent for both faces and landscape shots.

Art Institute Of Chicago’s South Garden

Best use case: Sit-down interviews, reflective storytelling, product or book features
Who it suits: Authors, educators, personal brands with a thoughtful tone

The South Garden is perfect for creating a relaxed atmosphere in your videos. You’ll have the soft sound of the fountain in the background, and the landscaping provides natural framing for your subject. You have the option of close shots for more intimacy or use wider frames to capture the design. It’s a simple and effective if you’re looking to film a quieter mood without leaving the downtown core.

Pilsen Murals

Best use case: Bold visuals, fashion shoots, music videos, personality-driven intros
Who it suits: Musicians, fashion influencers, creative entrepreneurs

Pilsen’s murals can give your video instant color and visual impact. Wide shots let you show the full scale of the art, while close angles can highlight some of the artwork up close. The streets have character, so you can capture more than just the mural in your frame. Shooting in the morning helps you avoid harsher shadows and busy sidewalks if you need a bit more space.

Wicker Park Six Corners

Best use case: Fast-paced B-roll, local business highlights, street interviews
Who it suits: Lifestyle vloggers, shop owners, urban storytellers

Six Corners is one of the most active intersections in the city, showcasing elevated trains, people crossing in every direction, and colorful storefronts. You can set up in one spot and capture a constantly changing background, or move around to mix street-level details with wider, more open shots. This is a great location when you want to show energy and movement.

Andersonville Side Streets

Best use case: Community-centered storytelling, approachable lifestyle branding, product shoots
Who it suits: Food bloggers, boutique owners, neighborhood influencers

Andersonville is a good choice if you’re looking for a small-town feel within the city. There are small shops, historic architecture, and tree-lined streets that make it easy to film scenes that feel warm and inviting. If you’re featuring a product or telling a story about local life, this setting can make your video feel real and relatable.

Chinatown Gate

Best use case: Cultural storytelling, food tours, street market walk-throughs
Who it suits: Travel vloggers, food influencers, cultural brands

The Chinatown Gate is another great place to start your filming if you want your viewers to know you’re in Chicago. The streets are great for capturing movement and color on video. You can film the gate in your opening sequence, and then follow with a walking shot that shows vendors, restaurants, and shoppers walking by. This approach lets viewers feel the rhythm of the neighborhood while seeing specific details up close.

Ping Tom Memorial Park

Best use case: Skyline B-roll, outdoor interviews, wellness or fitness content
Who it suits: Wellness creators, nature enthusiasts, lifestyle brands

Ping Tom sits along the river and has one of the best skyline views outside of downtown. The open lawns give you space for shots with more movement, and the river gives you a backdrop that adds Chicago-depth to your videos. It’s quieter than the main parks, so you can work with cleaner audio and less background interruption.

The 606 Trail

Best use case: Walking or cycling sequences, active lifestyle branding, moving interviews
Who it suits: Fitness influencers, travel vloggers, urban explorers

The 606 is an elevated trail that gives you both greenery and city views. There are long straight paths, which are good if you’re doing tracking shots, and the public art along the way can give your video a lot of visual variety. Whether you’re filming action or conversation, the setting adds instant motion and depth to your frame.

Calumet Park Beach

Best use case: Open lakefront scenes, personal or reflective storytelling
Who it suits: Solo vloggers, wellness brands, narrative filmmakers

This beach is far enough from downtown to feel quiet, which makes it easier to set a more relaxed mood in your video. You can get wide shots to capture the entire lake, or do tighter framing to focus on your subject against the water in the back. It’s a good place to film when you need space or a clear horizon.

Garfield Park Conservatory

Best use case: Year-round greenery, plant-based shoots, educational content
Who it suits: Photographers, sustainability brands, educators

The conservatory offers tropical light and exotic plant life all year round. You can use the paths and glass structures to add lines and patterns to your shots, and the variety of plant life allows you to change the look of your footage without moving far. It’s a strong choice when you need reliable nature visuals.

North Branch Of The Chicago River – Goose Island

Best use case: Industrial backdrops, streetwear campaigns, raw storytelling
Who it suits: Urban brands, filmmakers, music video creators

This stretch of the river has bridges, graffiti, and worn industrial textures. It’s a contrast to the polished look of downtown Chicago, which can help you create a mood that feels raw and unfiltered. By moving between the bridges and the shoreline, you can get different angles without losing that industrial tone.

Why Should You Film In A Video Studio Instead?

Outdoor shoots can be great, but they come with risks like changing light, wind, and unpredictable weather. A studio removes those variables, and keeps lighting consistent, clean audio, and you can move between setups without changing locations.

Studios can also create the look of outdoor or custom environments through set design and lighting. You can film a month’s worth of content in one day, swap backgrounds in minutes, and know that every piece will match in quality.

Location Vs. Studio: Which Is Better For Your Shoot?

Factor	Filming On Location	Filming In Studio
Visual Variety	Real-world backdrops, natural light, authentic city atmosphere.	Customizable sets, lighting, and backgrounds to create almost any look.
Control	Affected by weather, lighting changes, noise, and interruptions.	Total control over lighting, sound, and schedule.
Permits	May require permits for certain areas or equipment.	No permits required, ready to film immediately.
Convenience	Travel time, setup, and teardown add to the day.	Multiple “locations” in one space, quick scene changes.
Sound Quality	Subject to traffic, wind, and ambient noise.	Quiet, treated environment for clean audio.
Cost Variables	Permit fees, parking, transportation, possible overtime.	Flat booking fee, no extra location costs.
Time Efficiency	Slower due to crowd control and location changes.	Faster production with everything in one place.

Looking For The Best Video Studio In Chicago?

Content Club Chicago offers you a great deal of flexibility when it comes to filming your content. We plan, film, and edit so you get content you can use right away. Whether you need a single polished video or a full batch for the month, you’ll have a team that knows how to maximize your time in front of the camera. 

And don’t forget, we can also come to any location in Chicago if you need to capture some outside shots for your content.

Ready to see what you can create when the process is handled from start to finish? Book a session with Content Club Chicago and make it happen.