Texas State Park (TPWD) is forcing photographers to to get authorization through a form of leased concession contract and saying our commercial permits we purchase for each session at each park isn’t good enough. It’s ridiculous to ask for a concession

This would allow them to be able to tell us what we can/can’t charge and make a cut from our profit made. 
If you’re declined a lease form then you will NOT be able to shoot in any Texas state park  

This goes against our first amendment right of being restricted in the parks as well as permit rules.

Two years ago I had a meeting with superintendents to make sure we did everything by the book and legally. I was told  we only needed to fill out commercial permits. We have done everything from getting certified in LNT (leave no trace) all the way to educating our clients while out in parks. 

This is not okay and the commercial permits should be enough, as they were enough until recently. This is too much control over land that we already pay for. 

If we don’t speak up and get this changed, put it in front of our state representatives, it will forever change the lives of photographers/videographers who use state parks to shoot sessions in. It will force you to find other ways to put food on the table and hang up the beauty of state parks for our clients. 
This is heartbreaking for those of us who really abide by the rules, leave no trace and the love of the land. The Texas land is beautiful and each client deserves to have the best landscape we have.