What makes a good location

Location scouting is one of the most enjoyable things that people think I'm crazy for liking. Ok, before you question whether I'm crazy here me out. Walking through streets imagining a story, getting your creative juices on an all-time high, it just gives you an amazing feeling. That's what I love. Just getting the feeling that a certain place is right because you can see the idea you chose and can picture it all happening right before your eyes.

Finding a good location can be hard but if there's one thing I've learnt its that you have to go out with a concept or idea of what you want to see. If you don't know the type of shoot you're doing it becomes harder to find a location to match, meaning that you may be stuck with a location that doesn't fit the style and mood of the overall shoot. For example, imagine the model is wearing a ballgown, you're not going to want to go next to some bins now are you? Actually, you might that could be cool. It would be a cool composition between the two and the shift of old beauty and new. Anyway back to my point, get your idea of the shoot you're doing, then research places to go through things like Pinterest. One of my biggest tips has always been to use places Instagram influencers have taken photos at if you're wanting a less editorial style shoot. As most influencers tag where they take photos, you can get an idea of where you want to look as an area of possible locations.

Now back to that feeling you get. Well, this might just be something yours truly gets because she gets excited a lot, but its a way of knowing if a location is good or not. If you can just feel without testing that a location is good or bad then chances are you're right. Only the photographer knows what they want after all as they can picture the shoot and the photos they want. I find that after a few looks at a certain area I can picture what it can be used for, sometimes not for that actual shoot which is fine. I think its important to not stress out over finding a place to shoot, you just have to keep thinking that sometimes things aren't going to be perfect but we can at least try to get as close to perfect as we can. Many times I have not gotten the right location but it has worked out in the end due to persistence and determination, something I feel like I've developed throughout the years of taking photos. All you have to do is trust in yourself that you'll get the right location in the end.

These pictures were either taken by me or of me as most of the photography skills I learnt were doing jobs as a model.