Location Scouting for Photographers: How to Find and Evaluate Portrait Locations
A great location elevates every session you shoot there. Here is how photographers should scout, evaluate, and build a library of reliable portrait locations.
What to Look for When Scouting a Portrait Location
1. Light Direction
The most important factor in any outdoor location is how the light falls at the time you typically schedule sessions. Visit the location at golden hour and at midday to understand the difference. Look for open shade — areas shielded from direct sun but with a clear view of open sky — that gives you usable light for midday sessions. Identify whether there is a clear eastern or western horizon that gives you backlight options at golden hour. A location that looks beautiful at noon can be completely unusable an hour before sunset, and vice versa.
2. Background Variety
A great portrait location gives you multiple distinct looks within a short walk. Three to five different background options — an open field, a line of trees, a textured wall, a body of water, an urban element — means you can vary the gallery significantly without relocating the entire session. A location with only one background gets repetitive quickly.
3. Subject-to-Background Distance
Can you position subjects far enough from the background to create separation? At wide apertures, distance between the subject and background is what creates the blurred, out-of-focus backgrounds that characterize professional portraits. A location where the subject must stand close to the background limits your ability to create depth in the image.
4. Permit Requirements
Many public parks, beaches, and landmarks have restrictions on commercial photography. A permit may be required, and shooting without one can result in you being asked to leave mid-session. Research permit requirements before booking clients at any public location. Many parks offer commercial photography permits for a modest fee — factor this into your session pricing.
5. Parking and Accessibility
A location that requires a half-mile hike may be impractical for families with infants, elderly grandparents, or clients with mobility limitations. Check the walking distance from parking to your shooting area, the terrain (stairs, uneven ground, hills), and whether accessible parking is available.
6. Seasonal Changes
Most outdoor locations look very different across seasons. A location with beautiful fall foliage may be bare and gray in winter. A field of wildflowers may be dried grass by August. Build seasonal notes into your location library — which months is this location at its best?
Where to Find Photography Locations
Start with tools you already have access to:
- Google Maps satellite view — zoom into your city and surrounding areas to identify green spaces, bodies of water, architecture, and open fields you may not have noticed from the road.
- Instagram and Pinterest location tags — search your city name plus "portrait photographer" and look at where other photographers are shooting. Follow photographers in your area and note their locations over time.
- Drive new areas — when you have time, drive neighborhoods and rural roads you have not explored. Some of the best locations are not famous — they are just fields, roads, or buildings you happened to drive past.
- Connect with other local photographers — many photographers are willing to share location information, especially if you are not direct competitors. Photography communities, Facebook groups, and local meetups are good venues for this exchange.
Building a Location Library
The goal is to have 5 to 10 reliable locations in regular rotation, each with notes that reduce decision fatigue on booking day. For each location, document: best light times, parking instructions, permit status and cost, seasonal best months, and accessibility. A simple spreadsheet or notes app works — the format matters less than the habit of capturing the information when you visit so you do not have to re-scout each time you book a session there.
Do I need a permit to photograph in a public park?
It depends on the park and the municipality. Many public parks allow personal photography freely but require a commercial photography permit for paid sessions. Requirements and fees vary widely. Contact the parks department for your city or county directly, or look for a permit application on their website. When in doubt, get the permit — the cost is usually modest and avoids the risk of being removed mid-session.
How do I find unique portrait locations in my city?
Google Maps satellite view is one of the most underused location-finding tools — zoom into your area and look for green spaces, bodies of water, and interesting architecture you have not explored. Instagram location tags for your city also surface locations other photographers are using. Driving unfamiliar neighborhoods and rural roads on your own time often turns up locations that are not well-known and therefore less crowded.
How far in advance should I scout a location?
Scout at least one to two weeks before a session to allow time for permit applications and to plan your session flow. If you are booking clients at a location you have never visited, scout it at the same time of day you plan to shoot so you can evaluate the light accurately. Never send a client to a location you have not personally visited.
Can I charge clients for a specific location if it costs a permit fee?
Yes. Permit fees are a legitimate business expense that can be passed through to the client as a location fee, built into your session pricing, or listed as a separate line item. Be transparent about it — tell clients during booking that certain locations require a permit and explain how you handle the cost. Most clients appreciate the professionalism of knowing you have taken care of the logistics.
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