There’s a great deal of planning that goes into portrait photography. Once you’ve found the perfect photographer, it’s time to think about things like outfits and props and locations! Here are a few tips to help you decide on the perfect spot for your on-location photo session.

Choose a Meaningful Place

You want your portrait to reflect who you are, whether it’s a photograph of your whole family or just you! The best way to help your photographer is by choosing a location that you have an emotional connection to. It could be a place you like to go to be alone or maybe where you met your spouse. Choosing a familiar location can also help you to feel comfortable, giving your photos a more natural and relaxed look.

Natural Light

Here at All Occasion Photography, we love using natural light to bring out your natural beauty. The sun provides the best lighting just after sunrise and just before sunset, when the sun is lower in the sky. This is the perfect time of day when the sun’s strong rays won’t cast harsh shadows across your face or cause too much squinting. It can also be helpful to choose a location with some shaded areas nearby, just in case the sun isn’t cooperating.

Backdrops

Consider places that have a variety of different backgrounds to pose in front of. This could be a number of things, such as, trees lining a pathway, a mural, an area with large rocks to sit on or tall grass to play in. The more options, the better!

Quiet Areas

It’s important to choose a location that doesn’t have a lot of activity going on so the main focus of the photographs can be you. Too much commotion can be distracting to both the photographer and the subjects posing. For these reasons, a more remote area will likely give the best results for your portraits.
Everyone has a story and it’s your photographer’s job to capture that story. All these location tips can help to ensure that your photographs reflect your unique personality!