Recently I was asked, “Where do you go for most of your photoshoots? I’m tired of going to this park all the time.” I thought, ‘this is a good topic to discuss on the blog!’ When a client and I start talking about their session or event I ask generic questions about location. Such as if they want urban, forest, field, a mix, etc. Then I literally say “Awesome!! I’m gonna scope out some new locations for that in the next couple days and we’ll talk more about that soon!” First of all, this makes them feel special. Like this place is just for them. Second, then I’m not going to the same park over and over and over 🙂
How do I find these locations? Every week I take a drive, or a walk, and just go scope out new areas. Literally drive to no where. Stop. Walk. Look around. Often I take my camera and photograph that spot. Sometimes I come across something amazing that doesn’t fit maybe a specific session I’m looking for but it’s definitely up for grabs the next time around.
When? When do I have the time to do this?! This is where most have told me they get hung up. Time, this takes time and they have other work and family. I hear ya, trust me! Some weeks I’ve had a bit of a rough week and I really just need an hour to myself, to think, let loose, reflect, whatever. My husband usually can tell when I am in need of that and says GO! So I go get a coffee and I drive. Just think, look, experience that location a bit. Other weeks I don’t have the opportunity to go off for an hour on my own. My husband has a full-time job, part-time job and goes to school full-time so most often I don’t have a chance to leave on my own. So my daughter, Cattie, goes with me! Honestly I love this time with her. We just get away from the house for a while. Of course we get coffee. By we I mean me, and she gets and apple cider which comes in a tiny Starbucks cup and she thinks it’s coffee 😉 We drive. We stop. We get out. We walk. There have been many times she says “Let’s stop here!” In my mind I’m like no, there is nothing here we aren’t stopping. But I’ve learned to just listen. We will stop and walk. May only be a few blocks, but we come around a corner and there is an amazing little grassy area with an awesome tree, or the best photo alley I’ve ever seen, etc. And the benefit of having her with me, is that I go out in the evening around when I usually have sessions and I take a photo of her there just to test it out!
Finding new locations is SO much fun. It makes that session, that experience, so unique. I encourage you to just venture out. Breathe in the locations. You’ll be amazed how inspiring they can be!
And, yes, last night we scoped out some locations. This time Strawberry Shortcake came along 🙂
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