A question that I answer frequently is, “How do you find your locations?”
One of the things I enjoy most about photography is that the creative aspect of it is neverending, especially the search for the burst of inspiration that comes along with finding unique, new locations. It’s no secret that I hate shooting in the same place more than once. In my spare time, you can find me driving around town and in rural areas looking for new spots that catch my eye. That usually means never going to the same place the same route more than once! For me, continuously searching for new visually appealing spots is one way that I can continue to grow and evolve as an artist. If I ever become stagnant in my passion and inspiration, then my photography work is going to reflect that… so it’s important to me to be on top of my game!
Here are a few things that I look for from my locations.
Interesting Composition | I always look for textures, contrasts, and interesting compositions at my locations. These can include junkyards, piles of stuff (tires, old crates, etc.), old buildings, overgrown weeded areas, and the list goes on. I like photographing in places that you would least expect beautiful imagery to come from…
Lighting | A photographer’s best friend is light. Lighting is everything. It determines the composition and mood of the photo. Lighting can make or break a photo… If the photographer has incorrectly executed the settings in-camera, it can ruin the photo for post-production. That’s why I strive to shoot as precisely as possible at the time of the session, so that I’m not limited when it comes time to edit…
Proximity to Other Backgrounds | As a photographer, I understand how important it is to keep up the energy during a session. This means that I need to work fast and efficiently, especially if you have little ones who have short attention spans. When looking for new locations, I always strive to look for spots that have 3-5 different visual backgrounds that are in close proximity to each other. Usually, I will try to include a “greenery” scene, using grass, trees, weeds, or flowers as the background, as well as some type of building that can appear as more of an urban setting.
{The photo below is with the client sitting on a bed of rocks by a curb. The next photos are shot within walking distance at a local park.}
Safety | I always keep my clients’ safety in mind when it comes to choosing locations. If I see any kind of potential issues, I will address those issues immediately (bringing bug spray for you if we will be in a weedy area, being extra careful with younger children in downtown locations where there could be glass, etc.) Safety is top priority, and I would never choose a location that may be dangerous to you. (However, this does not apply to MYSELF, as I am a klutz and fall off my stepstool at least once during my session!!)
Permission | I will always attempt to contact the owner of a location if it is questionable whether or not it is a publicly accessible or safe area. For example, a fruit orchard can be a fun place to take photos; however, if the owner has recently sprayed pesticides, they may not be comfortable with exposing my photography clients to the area until a later date. I never like to assume anything and so I choose to ask permission. Also, if I am photographing clients’ pets, I will make sure we are in locations that are suitable for their personality type as well (i.e., for more aggressive/hyper pets, keeping them away from public areas with lots of people and distractions)…
So there you have it… just a few of the things I look for when choosing session locations. As you can see, I put a lot of thought and effort into finding locations that will be perfect for the time I have with my clients. I am always willing to look at locations that clients suggest as well… so if you know of any perfect spots you think I should take a look at, shoot me an email and let me know!
//A blog post on Locations: Part 2 is coming soon, using example photos from a recent session that I put together specifically for these posts… Come back and check it out! //
Have a great day!
~Jen
no comments