We can't all of us lease San Simeon for our photo shoot, but a little creative thought can save money and help business while pleasing clients and models, too. Comfort, ease and fun are three keys to helping your models do their best, so remember these key components when choosing a location to begin the day's work.
Of course, your home is a place to consider, and only you will know how useful that will be. Do you know the model well enough to be sure he or she will feel at ease? The strong case for your home is the freedom you have to do what you will within your own walls. Something of the same advantage exists when you borrow a friends pool area or other parts of their house. I don't rule out asking the model for ideas, including that of her own house, especially if the model is also the client, and in my work, she often is.
When you think of it, your own garage or living room can be temporarily converted to a studio space with very little work.
Sometimes photographers may miss a good location by looking at a space too broadly. You may find your ideal location will be a very small space, indeed. Try practicing the different ways in which you can create the same idea for an image in a smaller space that could produce an even stronger statement. Consider making small changes to your location like moving a piece of furniture or closing the blinds on the next series of shots. Or, maybe just a few words to the wise here should be sufficient: not all images need to be full-length, and most of your pictures will need post-production cropping anyway!
Think about some of these seemingly simple small spaces:
If you need a much larger area, remember that some communities will have studio spaces available that can be rented by the day or by the hour.
Public parks, beaches, and lakes may be attractive ideas at first. However, I'm sure we don't want to openly violate any local laws. Have fun in the great outdoors, but watch out for the public, families, and especially children. They can be less cautious and more curious than their wards and elders about where you are aiming the lens of your camera.
Once again, it's often better to use your own space, no matter what other options have occurred to you. You then have complete control, 24 hour a day access, privacy and familiarity. Furthermore, you can set things up the night before, and you'll have a lot less worry about forgetting your equipment or that perfect, necessary prop you thought of yesterday.
Follow these general directives, and over time you'll become a master of conjuring sets and forming spaces out of nearly any location.
Of course, your home is a place to consider, and only you will know how useful that will be. Do you know the model well enough to be sure he or she will feel at ease? The strong case for your home is the freedom you have to do what you will within your own walls. Something of the same advantage exists when you borrow a friends pool area or other parts of their house. I don't rule out asking the model for ideas, including that of her own house, especially if the model is also the client, and in my work, she often is.
When you think of it, your own garage or living room can be temporarily converted to a studio space with very little work.
Sometimes photographers may miss a good location by looking at a space too broadly. You may find your ideal location will be a very small space, indeed. Try practicing the different ways in which you can create the same idea for an image in a smaller space that could produce an even stronger statement. Consider making small changes to your location like moving a piece of furniture or closing the blinds on the next series of shots. Or, maybe just a few words to the wise here should be sufficient: not all images need to be full-length, and most of your pictures will need post-production cropping anyway!
Think about some of these seemingly simple small spaces:
A cleared off area of a kitchen counter top
A set of outdoor steps creates the possibility of many different poses
A bed in a bedroom
An unique bath tub space
A part of a small home office
An outdoor pile of logs or firewood
Even a tiny space against a wall
If you need a much larger area, remember that some communities will have studio spaces available that can be rented by the day or by the hour.
Public parks, beaches, and lakes may be attractive ideas at first. However, I'm sure we don't want to openly violate any local laws. Have fun in the great outdoors, but watch out for the public, families, and especially children. They can be less cautious and more curious than their wards and elders about where you are aiming the lens of your camera.
Once again, it's often better to use your own space, no matter what other options have occurred to you. You then have complete control, 24 hour a day access, privacy and familiarity. Furthermore, you can set things up the night before, and you'll have a lot less worry about forgetting your equipment or that perfect, necessary prop you thought of yesterday.
Follow these general directives, and over time you'll become a master of conjuring sets and forming spaces out of nearly any location.