5 Tips For Scouting Outdoor Photography Locations

one part of creating successful outdoor portraits is choosing the appropriate location.  not only do you want to choose a location that is going to provide great light, but you also want your location to fit the style of the people you are photographing.  when scouting outdoor photography locations, your location should give you a variety of options when it comes to photographing, allowing you to move throughout the space during the session and allow you to get the most out of your surroundings.  and most importantly, your location should showcase and allow your clients to shine instead of be distracting and drown your clients out.

so how do you find the perfect location for your clients with all of these amazing qualities?  it is easier than you think.  the next time you are scouting outdoor photography locations for your next session, be sure to keep these 5 tips in mind when you are narrowing down your perfect photography spots.

to read more about client posing, check out my post on how i learned to pose my photography clients.

5 Tips For Scouting Outdoor Photography Locations

5 Tips For Scouting Outdoor Photography Locations | bethadilly photography

1.  look for textures.

as you are walking around your potential location, note the textures that surround you.  textures like soft grass, wooden buildings, brick walls, leafy trees or cobblestone walkways can all add interesting elements to your photographs.  also be aware of the tones that surround the location.  is it a city street full of neon signage or is it a muted field full of calming tones?  either are fine, but you will want to be aware of the style of the setting so you can be sure your client will naturally fit within the scene instead of stick out like a sore thumb.  locations can be great, but they also need to be great for your clients!

5 Tips For Scouting Outdoor Photography Locations | bethadilly photography

2.  framing opportunities.

look for opportunities where you can frame your subject within the surroundings.  framing opportunities can be found in doorways, around trees or on stairwells.  framing your subject is a great way of both respecting the subject and their surroundings within the same photograph.

5 Tips For Scouting Outdoor Photography Locations | bethadilly photography

3.  open shade.

one of the most important things to do when location scouting is to check out your location during the time of day that your session is scheduled.  if you are searching for a location for a client who wants to meet at 9:00am, be sure you are looking at locations during that same time so you can check out the exact light you will be working with.  when looking at light, it is important that your location has a lot of open shade where you can place your subjects outside of the harsh sunlight to avoid glare.  if you are working with younger clients, be sure you have a lot of open shade so they have room to move and run within it.  if your clients are older, you can get away with a location that provides limited shade because older clients can take instruction better and will allow you to pose them exactly where the light is right.

5 Tips For Scouting Outdoor Photography Locations | bethadilly photography

4.  give your clients room to go!

my lifestyle portraiture style has my clients being candidly themselves, which often involves moving within the frame.  because movement is important, i like to make sure my locations have enough room for my clients to move about without feeling restricted.  good things to look for when you want to incorporate movement are walking roads and open fields with plenty of open shade or ideal light.

5 Tips For Scouting Outdoor Photography Locations | bethadilly photography

5.  provide a variety of styles.

because all clients are unique, it is important to have a variety of locations available for your clients to choose from.  i have two main locations that i provide to my clients, one being more rustic and full of nature and the other location has a more urban style with charming city streets.  the locations that you provide will depend on the area that you live and the clients that you attract, but it is always good to provide your clients with a small variety of choices of locations to use so you can ensure that they are comfortable within their surroundings.  and when your clients are comfortable and can feel like themselves, you will have a more successful session.

with the right lighting, the freedom to move within the space, and fun textures to make your photographs even more intriguing, having the perfect outdoor location can really make or break your session.  next time you are scouting outdoor photography locations to host your client session, be sure to keep these tips in mind and you are bound to find a location that is a gem!

are you on my exclusive email list?  be sure to join so you can receive my latest photography tips + tutorials.  plus, it’s free!

to follow me on my daily journey with photography, be sure to join me on instagram!  and to see more of my professional photography, be sure to check out www.bethadillyphotography.com.

7 comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

Menu