The first question we get asked the most as brand photographers is “What do I wear?” Read our 4 best practices here. The second most-asked question is “Do you have any good recommendations on locations?” Well, yes actually, we do. 🙂 No matter the client, no matter the business, we always start with these 3 rules for finding the perfect brand shoot location.
Rule #1 – Find Locations Where You Actually Work
This might sound like a no-brainer, but when we suggest this to our clients for the first time, they’re often surprised they didn’t think of it. If you’re a creative, having your brand photos where you do your creating gives your audience a real glimpse into your actual work space. We encourage artists to let us shoot in their studios, even if we’re just doing a few scenes, because the tools, art supplies, and other artwork are already set up. Plus, it makes process shots and behind the scenes shots super easy to create.
As with our client Megan Welsh, a mountain landscape artist, we wanted to capture her in her home studio as she mixed paints, worked at her easel, and assembled her framing. But it was also important to show the initial part of Megan’s process as an artist, which is drawing inspiration from hikes and being surrounded by scenic mountain views. So as part of her full brand session, we incorporated a day trip to the NC mountains so that we could achieve those important scenes of hiking, taking in her surroundings, and enjoying plein air.
For our clients Julie and Keith, a local wedding singing duo called Beauty and the Blues, showing a glimpse of their writing process, as well as playing in different venues were top priority. They had a certain feel they wanted to convey in their imagery: collaborative and comfortable; approachable and artistic; elevated yet easy-going. We knew the right locations would really help us achieve these important attributes. We chose the primary location to be The Belle Crane Inn, a wedding venue that we could easily set up to create a scene that looked like they were singing at an actual wedding. This same venue had a gorgeous wrap-around screened porch, which was perfect for their cozy, collaborative song-writing scenes.
Since playing gigs and booking clients are also important aspects of their work, we chose two secondary locations to create more options. The Artisan’s Palate, a restaurant where they often play anyway, was great for showing a more casual gig scene. And The Frame, a large, natural light studio, was perfect for capturing headshots and additional artistic scenes.
Rule #2 – Find Locations Aligned with Your Brand Vibe
But what if most days “going to the office” looks like getting comfy on the couch while you crank out website copy? Or it just isn’t feasible to have cameras in your space; maybe that’s not the kind of imagery you need. This is where finding locations that align with your brand’s vibe is essential.
Our client Kassidi works remotely as a web designer and brand expert for non-profits, so we needed to be creative in finding the right locations for her brand session. We wanted to show her fun and approachable personality with moments of color and quirkiness, while also highlighting her professionalism and attention to detail. For imagery around client calls and working remotely, we started at Summit Coffee, a local coffee shop Kassidi already frequents. Since it’s part of her normal work routine, it was easy for her to feel comfortable and get into “work mode” in front of our cameras.
Next, we headed over to Camp North End, which was the perfect backdrop for Kassidi’s playful, fun and creative personality. With lots of different background textures, color opportunities, and an overall artsy vibe, it was a great way to get the imagery we needed without feeling limited or restricted.
For calligrapher and wedding signage rental owner, Stefanie, finding a space that could serve as a blank canvas was important because we were shooting several different scenes. We needed to set up a mock engraving event, create multiple headshot scenes, as well as have a few options for other aspects of her business, like working from home and her mentor program. The Frame was, again, the best choice for creating these scenes and was our primary location for this brand session.
We also followed our first rule, Find Locations Where You Actually Work, and chose the Ballantyne Hotel bar as our secondary location, since Stefanie often delivers her rented wedding signs to this venue. This was a great way to show her sign delivery process, as well as showcase her gorgeous product in a way that her clients could visualize for their own wedding day.
Rule #3 – Find a Friend or Client With the Right Location
Still stumped for that perfect spot for your photos? Try asking a friend! When I first got into product photography several years ago, I had a few friends who were my go-to home locations when I needed a large kitchen or picturesque dining room for a shoot. They were happy to offer up their homes because we’d shoot during times when the house was empty, and we always left it more tidy than we found it. We’d also leave a little bouquet of flowers or yummy treat as a thank you to the homeowners.
For anyone in home design or real estate, the best location will always be a beautiful home showcasing your design or expertise. Bonus points if it already has shades of your brand colors incorporated into the decor! A plush living space, a light-filled open kitchen, or an organized office can all be great options for various scenes and can often act as secondary locations.
Interior design firm Wright Design Co. wanted lots of process and behind the scenes shots, so having several scenes in their office was important. This also provided great opportunity to highlight owner, Melissa, in various stages of her design process. The secondary location was a recently finished home build, to highlight the client experience, as well as offer more options for headshots and group photos.
Jennifer Harvey, a designer specializing in customized renovations that homeowners can do themselves, also chose a recent client’s home for a shoot location. Not only was the decor aligned with Jennifer’s brand, but the day of our photo shoot was her first time seeing the completed project she’d designed then handed off to the homeowner for completion. Jennifer’s reaction to seeing the finished space was 100% natural and helped show the genuine connection she has with her clients.
Fun fact, another location for Jennifer’s session was our very own Lori Ellen’s lovely home! Lori Ellen’s neutral yet cozy decor was the perfect backdrop to Jennifer’s easy and timeless style, and served as a beautiful “home office” setting.
Things To Keep In Mind
- Make sure you’ve got permission and don’t shoot when it’s busy. A hotel bar or local restaurant are usually fine with photos being taken, as long as you’re there during slow hours or before opening to the public. And always tag the establishment anytime you post the images.
- Find out if there are any fees involved. Some locations require a photo fee, so always double check that before shoot day. If a fee is required, that should be included in the cost of the brand session.
- Check if there is room for hair and makeup to happen on site. Whenever possible, we try to have an area on site for hair and makeup at the primary shoot location. This eliminates our client having to arrive photo ready and we can chat together while we’re setting up scenes, which builds further connection and helps ease any anxieties about being in front of cameras.
- When shooting in a friend’s or client’s home, remove family photos and anything personal, like decor using the family’s name or initials. Set up a scene, take a shot, then check the image to make sure nothing personal is in the background before continuing with the shoot.
Scrolled to the end just looking for the highlights?
Finding that perfect location for your brand session is easy when you follow these 3 rules:
1. Find locations where you actually work
2. Find locations aligned with your brand’s vibe
3. Find a friend or client with the right location
At Harmonie House Images, we create gorgeous brand imagery for women-led businesses to elevate their online presence. From headshots to our signature full day brand sessions, we deliver high-end photos and videos that captivate, connect and convert.
+ view the comments
