Once you’ve made the step of booking your brand shoot, it’s time to plan the details! One of the most obvious details is the location. You may have a location that makes perfect sense, like a brick-and-mortar location or a personal studio or office. Of, you may not have a spot and that’s absolutely okay. But, the truth is that your location matters and here’s why…

Your location sets the tone for your brand shoot. It is a crucial element in reflecting your brand aesthetic and will impact the look and feel of your photos. For example, if you have a bright, clean, minimalistic brand, choosing a space that has black walls and brick won’t give the final images the look you were hoping for. It would be like Starbucks having a hot pink storefront and neon yellow chairs inside – it just doesn’t make sense. Your location can also either enhance your final gallery or hold it back. If the location only has one or two spots that are options for photos, your final gallery is likely going to have significantly less variety than a location that has 4-5+ different spots to take photos. And, variety is one of the biggest things I focus on during a brand shoot in order to maximize your investment and content.

What to consider when choosing your location:

1. Brand reflection: If your business has a shop, for example, it may be a perfect space to highlight both you and your product for your shoot. Brand reflection also includes the color scheme of the space. If your shoot is taking place inside, this may look like the wall colors, furniture styles, decor, and more. If your shoot is outside, this may look like the beach versus the woods, depending on if you want a light and bright look or a dark and moody look.
2. Versatility: Does the space have a variety of places that you can take photos in? For example, if it’s just one room or one small office, there may not be a lot of options. That is still completely okay if it checks off all the rest of your boxes. But, be sure to set realistic expectations for the amount of variety you’ll have in the background of your brand photos.
3. Lighting: If you love a bright, true-to-color style, you want to be sure the location has natural light. You’ll naturally have natural light for outside locations but for indoor locations, natural light comes in the form of windows. Pro tip: the best light comes when the subject in the photo is facing the window. Windowless spaces are still useable but will give a bit of a different look compared to one with natural light.
4. Time of year: Depending where you live, this one can be important. If you’re booking your brand shoot in the winter somewhere that has snow and cold weather, having an indoor location is going to make your time much more enjoyable. If you live somewhere where it rains a lot, you may also want to have an indoor location at least for a portion of your session. The beauty of an indoor location is that it really doesn’t matter what the weather is, the shoot can go on!
5. Distance: Do you have a friend who lives 3 hours away but their house matches your brand perfectly? Don’t immediately veto the idea! Chat with your photographer about how far they’re willing to travel. There will likely be an additional cost for travel but if the spot is perfect for you, theres a very good chance it’ll be worth it!

Ideas for your location

1. Your shop/studio
2. Your house
3. A friend/family members house
4. A rentable studio (check out https://www.peerspace.com/ to see what’s in your area)
5. Coworking space
6. Coffee shop/cafe
7. Rent an AirBnB
8. Clubhouse of an apartment complex
9. Hotel lobby (may have to get permission first)
10. Outside (beach, park, scenic monument, etc.)

The location (or locations) for your brand shoot can be a big opportunity to up-level your brand! Work with your brand photographer to choose the perfect location for you and your brand. This will leave you loving your final gallery because the images will feel like a true reflection of your personal brand!

Now that you know why the location for your personal brand shoot matters, are you needing help nailing down the best location for your shoot? I’m here to help! Connect with me here and let’s chat about it! https://marissaelisecampbell.com/contact

Local to New England? Here’s a few rentable studios to check out: https://thenbptstudio.com/ in Newburyport, MA and https://www.thevalentineroom.com/ in Dover, NH.