Commercial Photography In DEVA Update

[GowerGulch42]

One should refer to the official park regulations before filming for anything beyond personal use. Here they are:

(from the Park Website)

All commercial filming* requires a permit (36 CFR 5.5 referencing 43 CFR 5.2).

*Commercial filming means the film, electronic, magnetic, digital, or other recording of a moving image by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience with the intent of generating income. Examples include, but are not limited to, feature film, videography, television broadcast, or documentary, or other similar projects. Commercial filming activities may include the advertisement of a product or service, or the use of actors, models, sets, or props (43 CFR 5.12). 

That is the entirety of film regulations at Death Valley. The Foundation Document and General Management Plan, which guide all legal park activities and management plans, contain only four mentions which boil down to [paraphrased "commercial filming requests from advertisers are increasing" and "increased video/social media posting is a threat to natural and cultural resources".

Effectively, anything to the contrary is rumor or anecdotal. If your YouTube channel is big enough to require tax filing (many larger channels have LLC status), that's a commercial use and should be permitted as such. That is, however, almost entirely unenforceable.