Are you looking to book a brand shoot or have already and need somewhere to host it? You’re going to want to read this post! In this blog, I’m going to share 10 location ideas for your next brand shoot.
1. Location House
Location houses are perfect for brand shoots. They have been intentionally designed and built with aesthetics at the forefront. There are lots of options to choose from depending on what style you like and what matches your brand. They’re not just in London either, they are situated all over the UK. It’s the perfect option in the winter too or if it’s likely to rain as you won’t need to reschedule like you would if you were planning to shoot outside. I use different websites to search for location houses, my go to sites are Styled Home Studios and even AirBNB to find affordable, stylish homes to shoot in. Location Houses are in my top 3 of favourite locations to shoot in.
2. On The Streets
You might have seen from my website that I primarily shoot in London as that’s where I’m based. I love all the options that different areas of London offer as each has it’s own style and vibe. Whether you’re looking for colourful houses & cute mews or something more urban & industrial, London has it all.
3. Cafe/ Restaurant
Cafe’s and restaurants can be great places to shoot in, especially if they fit in with your brand aesthetic or would be somewhere you would usually work. Ideally, you’d want to find a space that was big enough that you could shoot without being noticed by other people (staff & customers) but if that isn’t the case then as long as you’re respectful of others and notify a member of staff, usually they’re okay with it. You could also see if your favourite cafe/restaurant has a private function room instead if you want privacy and consent to shoot there.
4. Studio
Studios are a fab option if you’re looking for a space that is a blank canvas. You could use a photography studio, yoga studio, cake studio – you name it. The benefits of using a photography studio is that a lot of them will have their own equipment you can hire to enhance the look of your photos. For example, high quality studio lighting, different coloured backdrops and even props to help bring your photos to life. This is where your creativity can really shine, you can essentially build a set for your photos and have something truly bespoke.
5. Co-working Space or Meeting Room
For those shots of you “at work” whether that’s on your laptop or writing notes, visiting a co-working space or hiring a meeting room are great options to depict this. If you haven’t got the budget to hire a location house, this is the next best thing. You can usually get day passes for access or you can hire meeting rooms by the hour if that’s the look you’re going for.
6. Your Home
Another option for your shoot would be your home. If that’s where you spend a lot of your time working then it would be an authentic option for you to be photographed there. All of your belongings are there so you’d be able to change outfits with ease, find props quickly and feel more comfortable. If your home matches your brand aesthetic and you’d be proud to be photographed in it, it’s a great option.
7. A Friends Home
Maybe shooting in your home isn’t right for your brand photos. Have a think about possible family or friends homes that might be suitable for your shoot. This way, you’ve got a location house for free that matches your brand aesthetic.
8. Hotel
Hotels can be a great alternative to location houses as they can be more budget friendly. I love shooting in hotel rooms that are more like apartments where there’s more amenities than just a bed. I love shooting in Locke Hotels – their aesthetics are spot on and they have really good rates. Try and research hotels that feature your criteria for your session. Think about their space, do they have an interesting lobby or atrium that you’d like to be photographed in?
9. Event Space
Think about your business and where you typically spend your time. Are you a wedding hairstylist that spends a lot of time at wedding venues? Do you spend your time on site? Or do you have a monthly membership to a club that you could use? Perhaps there’s a listed building that matches the vibe you’re going for that you can shoot in. Think about your industry and what locations will help tell the story of your business.
10. In Nature
The beach, your favourite local park, a pretty woodland. You’ve got to get really clear on your brand and what it stands for. What you’re looking to showcase in your images. Is your brand free-spirited, grounded, spiritual? A location in nature will really help depict these descriptive words in your photos.
A good exercise to help you come up with location ideas is to imagine what words your clients would use to describe your brand. If you don’t know, ask them. Once you have this info, you can start to create a list of possible ideas that will help connote these words in your images. Try and think outside the box, get outside if you can and go for a wander. Take pictures on your phone of possible places and try to visualise yourself there being photographed. Then, communicate these ideas to your photographer for their input.
Those are my top 10 location ideas for your next brand shoot. I hope you’ve found this useful and it’s sparked some fresh ideas on where you can photographed. For more handy tips, stick around the blog. If you’d like to stay up to date with my work and see what’s going on behind the scenes, check out my Instagram.