If you’ve ever visited a trampoline soft play area—whether with a screaming, giggling group of 7-year-olds for a birthday party or a friend who roped you into a post-work “adult bounce night”—you’ve probably caught yourself reaching for your phone mid-flip. Maybe you wanted to capture your teen nailing a back tuck, or a tiny toddler’s first unassisted bounce, or even the chaotic, joyful energy of a group of grown-ups fumbling through their first trampoline tricks. But if you’ve hesitated, wondering “Wait, is that allowed?” you’re not alone. As a trampoline soft play supplier who’s worked with dozens of indoor parks across North America and Europe over the past eight years, I’ve fielded this question from guests, park operators, and even fellow play providers more times than I can count. Today, I’m breaking down the facts, the nuance, and why the line between “fun photo op” and “safety risk” isn’t always as clear as you think. Trampoline Soft Play
First, let’s get one thing straight: I don’t make the rules, and neither do the parks. Most trampoline soft play areas (also called indoor trampoline parks, or ITPs) operate under a mix of federal safety standards for recreational play, state/provincial regulations for commercial facilities, and their own internal risk management policies. As a supplier, I design and build trampolines, foam pits, and soft play structures to meet ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) safety standards—specifically F355, the standard for recreational trampolines for commercial use—and ISO 23233, the global standard for indoor soft play equipment. But when it comes to photography and videography, that line is shaped by three big factors: guest safety, privacy, and the park’s ability to keep operations running smoothly.
Let’s start with safety, because that’s the non-negotiable here. Every trampoline soft play area is a high-traffic, fast-moving space. Bouncers are running, flipping, colliding (gently, we hope) into each other, and moving at speeds that can surprise even experienced athletes. If you’re holding a phone or camera in one hand, you’re removing a hand that could be used to brace for a fall, catch a younger kid if they stumble, or keep your balance mid-bounce. I’ve seen this play out in real life: a park near Chicago told me last year about a 16-year-old who tried to film his friend doing a front flip from the edge of a trampoline section. When his friend landed awkwardly, the teen stumbled backward, tripped over a foam pit edge, and dropped his phone. The phone flew into the trampoline mat, bounced into the path of a 5-year-old who was running to join his group, and caused the kid to scrape his knee badly enough to need a bandage and a visit to the playground nurse. The park ended up revising their policy to ban all handheld devices (except for staff, who are trained to secure them in waist pouches) on the main trampoline courts for that exact reason.
But it’s not just the person holding the device who’s at risk. Trampoline mats are taut, and phones or cameras dropped onto them can ricochet at high speeds—fast enough to cause injury to someone else. I’ve also heard of a case in Dallas where a photographer (hired for a birthday party) set up a tripod on the edge of a foam pit. A bouncer landed in the pit next to it, and the tripod’s leg shifted, tipping the whole setup. The camera landed in the pit, and when a 10-year-old reached in to grab it, she scraped her palm on a hard metal bolt sticking out of the pit’s safety liner. That’s why most parks have rules: no tripods, no large cameras that can be knocked over, and no setting up equipment in areas that are part of the active play zone.
Next up is privacy, a factor that’s gotten a lot more attention in the last few years as social media has become a huge part of how people share their experiences. Trampoline soft play areas are for all ages—infants, toddlers, teens, and adults are all bouncing at the same time. When you take a photo or video, especially in a space where people are often in casual, tight clothing, you’re capturing moments that parents might not want shared publicly. I remember a park in Toronto reaching out to me a few years ago because they’d had a major issue: a parent posted a video of a group of toddlers in the soft play area, including a child with a rare medical condition that the family had never shared publicly, to their personal Instagram. A stranger saw the post, recognized the kid, and reached out—causing unnecessary stress for the family. The park had to update their signs to clearly state that photography and videography are allowed only for personal, non-commercial use, and that any sharing on social media must blur the faces of anyone under 13. As a supplier, I now include a copy of this privacy guideline in every equipment manual I send to park operators, because it’s a key part of risk management that prevents legal headaches down the line.
There’s also the commercial angle that many guests don’t think about. A trampoline soft play area isn’t just a place to jump—it’s a business. The operators pay rent, salaries for staff, maintenance on equipment that gets hundreds of bounces a day, and liability insurance that’s tailored to the space. If someone posts a video of a park that shows a safety hazard—like a loose trampoline spring, a torn foam pit liner, or a staff member not enforcing a rule— that could damage the park’s reputation, lead to fewer customers, or even be used against them in a liability case if someone gets hurt. That’s why many parks ban commercial photography or videography entirely—even if you have a fancy camera, if you’re not a guest there for personal use, you need to get written permission from the park owner before shooting. I’ve had a few events teams reach out to me asking to film promotional content at a park, and I always tell them to check with the park first: most will allow it if you work around active play hours, set up in non-play areas, and get a release form from all the people you’re filming.
Now, before you think this all sounds like a “no”—let’s get to the good news: most trampoline soft play areas do allow photos and videos, as long as you follow a few simple rules. The key is to check the park’s posted policy before you arrive (most have them on their website or posted at the front desk) and stick to what they allow. As someone who’s helped dozens of parks write these policies, here’s the standard set of rules I recommend that most facilities follow:
First, keep your device secured and hands-free if possible. A lot of parks now sell cheap armbands or lanyards at the front desk that let you strap your phone to your wrist, so you don’t have to hold it while you bounce. This eliminates the risk of dropping it, and still lets you snap a quick pic of your kid’s first flip or a group shot with friends. Second, avoid active play zones if you’re filming. The edge of a trampoline court, a quiet corner of the soft play area, or the designated party photo booth (many parks have these now, with mats and backdrops set up away from active bouncing) are all great spots for photos. I designed a few of these photo booth zones for parks last year, with non-slip mats and clear sightlines, so guests can capture memories without getting in the way of people playing. Third, blur faces of anyone under 13, and don’t post content that makes fun of someone or that includes someone’s personal information (like a kid’s medical device or a tattoo that a guest didn’t consent to share). Fourth, never use flash photography—trampoline soft play areas are often bright, but flash can distract bouncers, especially on the main courts where kids are moving fast. I’ve seen a park in Atlanta ban flash photography entirely after a 12-year-old flipped into a foam pit mid-flash, because the bright light temporarily blinded them.
I also want to address a common myth I hear all the time: “If a park doesn’t say no to photos, that means it’s okay to take them anywhere.” That’s not true. Last year, I worked with a park in Houston that had a problem with teens sneaking photos of other kids in the changing rooms, which are connected to the soft play area. The park updated their policy to clearly state that photography and videography are only allowed in the active play and party zones, and that any photos taken in changing rooms, restrooms, or private areas are strictly prohibited. That’s a rule I 100% support—guests have a right to privacy, and parks have a responsibility to protect that.
Another thing to keep in mind: if you’re attending a birthday party or a group event, the rules might be a little different. Most event hosts will hire a photographer to capture the party, and parks usually allow that as long as the photographer stays out of the way of the kids. I always recommend that event hosts confirm with the park a week before the party, though—some parks charge a small fee for a third-party photographer to come in, because they have to make sure the photographer isn’t running into any rules or interfering with other guests.
As a supplier, I’m not just selling trampolines and soft play structures—I’m selling a safe, fun space for people to make memories. I’ve talked to hundreds of guests over the years who’ve told me about their favorite trampoline park moments: their kid’s first back flip, a company bounce night that turned into a team bonding event, a date that involved sneaking extra jumps after closing. Those moments are what make trampoline soft play areas special. The last thing I want is for someone to miss out on capturing those moments because they were worried about breaking a rule, or to get hurt because they were holding a camera while bouncing.
At the end of the day, the rules around photography and videography in trampoline soft play areas are there for one reason: to keep everyone safe and make sure the space is fun for everyone. If you’re ever unsure about what’s allowed, just ask a staff member—they’ll be happy to walk you through the policy, and might even give you a few tips on the best spots to take photos without getting in the way.
If you’re a park operator looking to update your safety or photography policies, or if you’re interested in learning more about the equipment that goes into a safe, compliant trampoline soft play area, feel free to reach out for a conversation. We can talk about your needs, answer any questions you have, and help you create a space that’s fun and safe for all your guests.
Jungle Soft Play References
ASTM International. Standard Safety Specification for Recreational Trampolines, F355-21.
ISO. Indoor Play Equipment for Soft Play Areas, ISO 23233:2019.
National Safety Council. Recreational Play Safety Guidelines for Indoor Trampoline Parks, 2022.
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