I always keep in mind locations the client requests, usually because it holds a meaning or value to them like the restaurant they went to for their first date or the park where he proposed. Besides client requests, I have a list of locations I frequent for sessions, but I challenge myself to look for new locations with every session! When location-scouting, there are several factors I look out for. First things first, let me just say this: location is important, but it isn’t everything. I have been in locations with not-so-great lighting or interesting backgrounds and still managed to capture photos the client loved! So location isn’t everything. However, finding a great location does make it easier for me to find great light that complements the client and makes for timeless photos!

With that said, I will delve into the specifics of what I look for in a location!

Lighting is key

Lighting is my number one priority in location-scouting. It’s the deal maker or the deal breaker for any place! Why? Well, I typically shoot a couple hours before sunset or right after sunrise because that is what is commonly referred to as “golden hour”; that soft, gorgeous, liquid gold light that sets fires to the sky and surrounds your figure with a glow that seems to naturally emanate from you. This is the best lighting, not only because of its golden light, but it also casts long shadows. Remember learning about sun dials in ancient times that would tell them approximately what time it was based on the shadow? Around noon is when the sun is at its peak directly above you and vertical to the Earth. It casts the shortest shadow while later (or earlier) the sun is more horizontal to the Earth and casts the long shadows. I shoot in long shadows because it makes for even light that doesn’t look harsh on the skin whereas direct sunlight can cast hard shadows and wash your skin out or, on the complete opposite of the scale, make it Jersey Shore orange (none of which we want!).

When it comes to finding a location with good lighting, I’ll ask myself, “Does this place cast long shadows? Or am I in an open area with no shade and in direct sunlight?” If there are long shadows where I can take portraits with even lighting on the skin, I am more likely to choose that location!

That isn’t to say that I can’t shoot in direct sunlight; sometimes, especially during wedding party portraits, I have no choice but to shoot in direct sunlight! And that’s okay because a professional photographer knows how to work in direct sunlight. In fact, this portrait was taken not in shade; Jacqueline was in full sun! Yet it is in one of my favorite photos from her session!

It’s not ideal, but we’re good at turning the situation so you get the beautiful portraits without worrying about when the sun sets and the wedding day timeline! For portrait sessions, there is a little more control over lighting so it’s the factor I consider the most in scouting locations!

neutral colors highlight natural skin tones

It’s no lie that I love neutrals, but I don’t choose neutral backgrounds because I like the colors; it actually helps the camera capture your natural skin tone! If you remember, color is just a small spectrum of light we see; basically, color is light. Light reflects off surfaces and color can affect the light reflection, casting a colored tone on everything else. Same concept goes for skin tones! Light will reflect from surfaces and whatever color the surface was will reflect back to your skin! If I choose a neutral background, neutral colors are going to bounce back and the neutrality will help keep your skin tone look natural and even! If, on the other hand, I chose a bright green background, the light will reflect off the green and back to your skin so your skin will appear greener than it does in real life. It doesn’t mean your skin actually turns green; there is just green light reflecting on your skin! Sometimes, there isn’t an obvious difference (I promise you won’t look like Shrek!). But even the smallest change can make editing a little bit harder or the slightest color cast can make an image almost impossible to fix, and I want your images to look as true-to-life as possible!

I don’t always look for neutral backgrounds though. More important than the background, I like neutral grounds! I’ll oftentimes pose clients on a sidewalk or right at the edge of one so in the image, they’ll see a colorful background, but the light reflected from a neutral sidewalk will even out the skin tones. A patch of dirt does well too because it’s still a neutral color! If I don’t have a neutral ground, I’ll unfold my reflector and place it in front of clients so the light bounces off the reflector and back to the clients’ faces!

Mia, Sam, and their two pups were standing in grass for this image and I had my reflector on the ground in front of them to reflect neutral light back into their face so there wasn’t a green cast from the grass!

There have been occasions like this photo where I didn’t have my reflector or I was taking wide shots and it was in the frame. In these cases, I may spend extra time editing to make sure skin tones are true-to-life and the reflected light isn’t casting an obvious color on the face! Neutral grounds isn’t the most important factor, but it does cut down on editing time!

multiple settings in one location looks like multiple locations

One park with a trail through a wooded area, a small body of water, and prairie grass next to it. This is technically one location, but with all the variety of settings this one place offers, it looks like we had a session at multiple locations! The best part? We didn’t even have to drive elsewhere! A location that showcases different scenery adds variety to the images and saves time from having to drive to different locations. Although this factor isn’t make-or-break, it’s definitely a bonus to find somewhere that has different kinds of settings and is something I keep an eye out on!

Now you know what I look for when location-scouting! I carefully choose each location and you can be confident to know that lighting is the number one reason for my selection with neutral ground and multiple settings as other factors that played in my choices! Hope this is helpful for you whether you’re a photographer and struggle with finding locations or you’re a client having a difficult time thinking up of locations for your session!