There are many factors that you should consider when choosing the location for your photo shoot. It might be easy, but sometimes, there are many factors and the problem that can pop out when you have already prepared everything (or at least you thought so). That is why choosing the right location for your new photos that will fire up your Instagram feed is crucial. Here are 6 things to look out when shooting pictures.
The Story and The Location
When you are making the photo shoot, you need to make sure that you have a theme. Same as your Instagram feed or a blog, your photos have an aesthetic that you need to follow. For instance, if you like boho style, and you are planning to do shooting in long, floral dresses, then you should definitely consider long yellow fields and some open space. Let the space match with the theme that you want to follow. You can also ask your friends and family for the ideas.
Sun or Shadow?
If you are making a photo shooting outside, the sun should be one of your main considerations. How much sun do you need, and how much sunny images you want – these are the questions you should ask yourself. For more colors and vibrancy you will need full sun. However, if you’re going to shoot in the shade, your photos will look more diffused.
Choose the Time of The Day aka The Golden Hour
Along with choosing the full sun or shadow for your photo shoot, you need to pick the right time of the day to avoid crowd as well as burning sun. If you choose the midday, there is always a danger of not be able to control the shadows. Golden hour happens twice a day – hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. If you want warm, yellowish tones, then you should pick these two periods of a day.
Environment Colors Change Photograph
Green locations, as well as sand and blue sky are warm and very fresh looking. They are perfect for shooting family portraits. On the other side, when photographing jewelry on your hands, you should pick someplace with grey stones and cooler tones.
Access to The Place (Privacy, Safety)
The thing that you definitely shouldn’t overlook is location access. Also, make sure to check if you are even allowed to take photos there. Believe me, you would be surprised to know in which places photographs are forbidden. Not all of them are open spaces, so if you are going to some private lot, you will need to ask for the permission.
If you are using abandoned places for photo shoots, like old building or houses, make sure to check safety first.
You should decide if you want your photoshoot locations to be somewhere where is crowded or deserted. This is very important because if you choose the first option, there a few things to pay attention to. People can feel unconfident when they see the camera, even if they will be blurred at the end of the process. You shouldn’t shoot in places that are full of children – some parents will not even allow it. Watch out for your equipment – in crowded areas, nothing is secure enough.
As you can see, location scouting is more than just charging the batteries and bringing your clothes with you. However, I hope that after this guide you already have some locations on your mind. Just go through your researches – sun, shadows, location theme, and access to the place are some things that you should pay your attention to.
