A great location elevates every session you shoot there. Here is how photographers should scout, evaluate, and build a library of reliable portrait locations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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