Production services in Yucatán for film, TV and commercial crews
A local production partner in Mérida for foreign and Mexico City crews: crew, cinema equipment, locations, permits and logistics across Yucatán.
If your production is coming to Yucatán, you need someone on the ground who knows the crews, the locations and how permits work here. We act as your local service company: we build the crew, supply the camera, lighting and grip package from our own inventory, scout and lock locations, and handle transport, catering and accommodation so your team can focus on the shoot.
Mérida's colonial center, the haciendas, cenotes, beaches and archaeological sites are all within a few hours of each other. We plan the schedule around travel times, the heat and the light, and we coordinate with the state tourism office and other authorities on the permits each location needs.
A production service company, sometimes called a fixer or local producer, is the team on the ground that makes a visiting production possible: it hires the local crew, supplies equipment, secures locations and permits, books transport, hotels and catering, and manages the budget in local currency. Yucatán Photo provides production services in Mérida and across Yucatán for film, TV, streaming, commercial and documentary crews from Mexico City, the United States, Canada and Europe.
Yucatán is increasingly attractive for productions because it combines very different looks within a short drive: colonial Mérida, Valladolid and Izamal; henequen haciendas; more than two thousand cenotes; the pink lagoons of Las Coloradas; mangroves and flamingo colonies in Celestún and Río Lagartos; Gulf beaches; and world-famous Maya sites such as Chichén Itzá, Uxmal and Ek Balam. Mérida has an international airport with direct flights to several US cities, good hotels and a reputation as one of Mexico’s safest cities.
Our process starts with a script or brief and a list of desired looks, followed by location research, a preliminary budget and schedule, and a permits map that shows which authority approves each location and how long it takes. During the shoot our line producer and coordinators run logistics on the ground, and afterwards we close the budget with receipts and Mexican invoices. Productions can combine our crew and equipment with key personnel they bring.
Equipment we use for this service
All of it comes from our own inventory in Mérida and can also be rented on its own:
What’s included
- Local line producer and production coordinator
- Crew hiring: camera, lighting, grip, sound, art and production assistants
- Cinema camera, lens, lighting and grip packages from our inventory
- Location scouting, contracts and permit management
- Transport, catering, accommodation and fixers
- Budget, schedule and daily cost reports in USD or MXN
- Location research packages with photos, maps and permit notes
- Local casting, extras and talent agreements
- Customs and temporary import guidance for equipment brought from abroad
- Security, medical and set safety coordination
Ideal for
- Foreign film, TV and streaming productions
- Mexico City and international agencies shooting commercials
- Documentary and travel series crews
- Travel and food series filming the Yucatán Peninsula
- Photo and video crews for global brands
- Reality and unscripted productions
How it works
Bid and breakdown
Send your script or boards and we return a local budget, schedule and crew plan.
Prep in Yucatán
We scout and lock locations, file permits, book crew and prep the equipment package.
Shoot days
Our line producer runs the set locally: crew, gear, transport, catering and daily reports.
Wrap
We return locations to their owners, close permits, ship media and send the final cost report.
Frequently asked questions
Can you supply the full crew?
Yes. We hire local heads of department and crews, and we can combine them with the key people you bring.
Which permits are needed to film in Yucatán?
It depends on the location. Public streets go through the municipality and the state tourism office, which acts as the liaison for the Mexican Film Commission; archaeological sites need INAH authorization, and protected areas, cenotes and private properties have their own permissions. We map this out in pre-production.
Do you quote in US dollars?
Yes. We can quote and report costs in USD or MXN and issue Mexican invoices.
What does a production service company do?
It provides everything a visiting production needs on the ground: crew, equipment, locations, permits, transport, accommodation, catering and budget management in local currency.
Why film in Yucatán?
Within a few hours of Mérida you find colonial cities, haciendas, cenotes, lagoons, beaches and Maya archaeological sites, plus an international airport, good infrastructure and a reputation for safety.
How far ahead should we contact you?
As early as possible. Simple shoots can be organized in two to four weeks, but archaeological sites, protected areas and large unit moves can take longer.
Can you work with our own key crew?
Yes. Visiting directors, DPs and producers regularly work with our local crew and equipment.
How are payments and invoices handled?
We agree a budget and payment schedule in USD or MXN and issue Mexican invoices for local costs, with a final cost report and receipts.
Do you help with equipment brought from abroad?
Yes. We advise on temporary import procedures and can reduce what you need to bring by supplying equipment from our Mérida inventory.
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