Location tips

MartinaJo · Nov 14, 2012

I'm just starting out in my business.. and don't have a lot of location ideas. How does everyone find all these neat places to do photo sessions?

MLeeK · Nov 14, 2012

Those "neat locations" are nothing but a very small portion of a much larger picture-and usually it's not nearly as awesome as it looks. IN fact, most of my favorite locations are pretty nasty.
THis one is along a back road (there really was a whole session to go with these)

Falling down shed:

Porch of our storage shed out by the pond

Middle of our former horse pasture

Nasty back alley behind a bar

Military base entrance

Next door neighbor's crumbling out building

Middle of a parking lot on the military base

Abandoned 1970's ugly church across the street

More of my neighbor's crumbling out building:

tbarnes · Nov 14, 2012

A lot of what she said! Most of my photos are in the most random places. My favorite field to shoot in is at the corner of a Home Depot and Waterpark! Everywhere I go my eyes are open to just the smallest parts of a huge and sometimes busy area! You don't have to always see the whole scene!

KmH · Nov 14, 2012

* Thread Moved *

I kept a notebook in my car and when I was out and about I noted locations that had potential. If I had time I would stop and shoot some test shots.
When time permitted I made sure to take different routes in my local travels, or to just wander around some, so I would be sure to see new locations.

There are people that get paid to scout locations for production companies. Location scouting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

tirediron · Nov 14, 2012

One method that's helped me find a LOT of cool spots is Geocaching! Very often when I'm out looking for a geocache ('though I rarely have time any more) I'll come across a great photo spot. Aside from that, what Keith said about keeping a notebook and writing down spots as you see them.

orljustin · Nov 15, 2012

MartinaJo said:
I'm just starting out in my business.. and don't have a lot of location ideas. How does everyone find all these neat places to do photo sessions?

Walk around. Use your eyes. Read local magazines.

"Just starting out"? Sigh.

bellmear · Dec 20, 2012

Im a beginner for photography, but Im using these tips.
I Visit your local junkyard when want to add a bit of grit or contrast to your image?
I just take a walk downtown sometime and find the many cool places.
One of my favourite places to go is this field nearby with tall grass (in the autumn everything is golden and adds a nice warm touch)

xposurepro · Dec 31, 2012

Depends on where you live. I live near a metro so there's a lot to explore. I average about 8 thousand miles a year just on location scouting alone. Sometimes, I will explorer an area between sessions. I will also jump on google maps and open a location relatively close to another one I use. Scan the satellite view and use the street view .. virtual driving style looking side to side. I make a note of a wall, park, alley, etc. that looks promising. Once I have enough checkouts on my list I physically go to the area and investigate it.

What I DONT do .. is look at local resources, including magazines, photographers, etc. Photographers are like cockroaches. One of them finds a good location and it becomes a breeding ground .. photographers and clients scurrying around every corner .. you go to your favorite old building with the colorful roughed up garage door and find out you have to wait in line for your turn to shoot it. Offering what everyone else is offering doesn't make you stand out of the sea of shooters.