How To Scout For Portrait Shooting Locations

When you are planning a portrait shoot, your location make a lot of difference. It can be mere background, something that serves as a place to meet and take photographs but nothing else; or it can almost become another character in the scene. Scouting location is very important, and if you do it correctly, the result can be very impressive indeed. Here’s how to get started.

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Simplicity

It’s only natural to seek for beautiful and expensive locations to utilise as photographic locations. However, one issue with these locations is that they are overly ornate, and while they are interesting to shoot on their own, they do not function well as a setting. This is because they distract attention from your main subject, your model. For location settings, simple spaces seem to work best. These parts should have a basic theme or feel to them that complements rather than distracts from your subject.

Universal

While you should always keep a wide number of prospective photographic locations on hand, keep in mind that not every site will work for every shoot. The bulk of the locations you choose for location photography should have an almost universal appeal, allowing them to work with practically any assignment. If you exclusively employ specialised locations for your shoots, you’ll surely run into a situation when none of your locations will work. I’ve discovered that keeping a few stereotypical location photography places, such as railway tracks, a “downtown” area, an open field, and a little forested region, as well as certain specialty settings, such as an industrial area, a distinctive alley, a train bridge, and even a run-down structure, is beneficial.