Picking Your Picture Perfect Location
Once you've decided to get photos done, one of the most difficult decisions to make is WHERE to have your photos done! (Want a free DFW Portrait Location Guide? I've made one just for you! Click HERE to access it!) There are so many great places to go, which makes narrowing them down so overwhelming. Some people have an idea of what kind of location they are looking for, while others don't even know where to start. Whether you've got a blurry picture in your mind of what your ideal location would be or you have a blank canvas, I'm here to help! I've got some tips to picking your picture perfect location, but first, you've got to answer a few questions:
1. What kind of feel would you like?
This is always the first question that I ask. When you close your eyes and imagine your photos all done and beautiful, what general environment are you imagining? A field? A city? Graffiti? A small town? A park? Trees? A window? Odds are you can give some sort of general answer here. If we can pinpoint the type of location you're subconsciously imagining, we can bring that vision to life! If you don't have a preference, don't worry about it! Answer the rest of the questions and I'll help you decide.
2. How far are you willing to travel?
Travel time will definitely be a factor in helping you find your perfect location. If you have no distance constraints, then the sky is the limit! Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. In fact, most of the time clients aren't able to travel more than a city or two out. That's no problem at all! Set your desired travel radius and we'll go from there.
3. What time of day works best for you?
As a natural light photographer, time of day is everything to me! My first priority in our shoot is always looking for that beautiful lighting for you. If you're a morning person, most locations will do just fine. I enjoy shooting within the first 2 hours of sunlight for the best lighting. Most people aren't out and about that early, and we won't have to worry about shadows getting in our way. For evening people, we may have to get a bit creative to avoid crowds that could be distracting in your photos, but nothing beats that dreamy golden hour right before sunset! If you like the middle of the day (when the sun is high and bright - not my first choice), areas where trees will cast spotty shadows on your face may not be the best idea. Places with tall buildings that can provide great even shade may be a better option for you.
4. Are there any specific shots you're DYING to have?
If you know you want a shot of you silhouetted standing in front of a window, let's find a location with big windows! If you know you want a shot of your long, flowy gown blowing in the wind, an open field would be perfect! Let me know if there is a very specific shot that you want and we'll base the whole shoot around that look. I would hate for you to finish a beautiful shoot but not get the one shot you wanted most. The more you communicate with me, the easier it will be to make your vision come to life!
Once you answer those questions, here are some practical tips for picking your picture perfect location:
Look for light, non-distracting backgrounds.
Neutral colors are your best friend.
Consistent lighting is KEY! Avoid places with crazy shadows that will cast speckles on your face.
Uncluttered is easy on the eyes. Do whatever you can to stay away from cluttered scenes (i.e. people, trash cans, fire hydrants, etc.)
Think about choosing a place that means something special to you. If you don't have a preference, I always have a list of places I'd love to shoot! (Hint: the link is listed below!)
Don't forget to take the weather into account! I want you to be comfortable so that we can capture great photos with ease.
Now take a breath. Relax! Your photo session will be great! I want to help you to make this process as simple as possible. To help you out, I've created a guide of my favorite locations to shoot in DFW. It is available to you for FREE! Simply click the link below to download. I hope it helps you to pick the location that's perfect for you!
Click HERE to access your DFW Portrait Location Guide!
