Resources for Location Scouting & On-Location Shoots
Are you looking for checklists, guides, and other resources that you can use to plan your next on-location photo shoot or video shoot? If so, check out the resource(s) below and stay tuned for new tools in the near future.
Remember to bookmark this post, so you can find the information easily!
Top Six Resources to Find the Perfect Photo Shoot or Video Shoot Location!
Are you ready to start searching for the perfect location for your next photo shoot or video shoot? If so, you’re in the right place!
We’ll focus on the top six resources you can use to find a great space: social media, event calendars, travel sites, search engines, friends & family and location databases.
But First a PSA
Before searching for a location, I would encourage you to plan strategically, which will save you a lot of time! Think about your goal, your audience and the message you want to communicate through your photos or videos. Then, choose a space that fits with your goals, that is attractive and interesting to your audience, and that emphasizes the message!
If you’re interested in learning more about planning strategically, check out my FREE “Top Tips for Location Scouting” course, where I walk you through the strategic planning process and share useful resources, including a Location Scouting Worksheet! Use the worksheet to compile necessary information about the spaces that interest you! Just want to use the worksheet? Scroll to the bottom of this post to access it!
Start The Search
But back to the search for the perfect location! You can either look for information on a specific location (e.g., your favorite coffee shop) or you can search for a location type (e.g., coffee shops in your neighborhood). Regardless of whether or not you have a specific location or a location type in mind, there are six important resources that will help you in your search!
Resource #1: Social Media
If you don’t yet have a location in mind, you can use use specific keywords or hashtags to search social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Yelp to find possible locations. For example, if you know that you want to book a video shoot at an old school video game arcade, use keywords like “retro” and “video game arcade” to find a specific option (true story). Once you have a venue in mind, you can turn to social media again for views and reviews!
Social media is great because it allows you to see what a space looks like before you even consider reaching out to a location manager. Instead of wasting time, you can view the space to see if it would be a good possibility. Social media sites are also great because they provide reviews! It’s important to choose a site that aligns with your values and beliefs; a place that treats their people (both employees and customers) well. Your reputation is one of your most valuable intangible assets and you would never want to damage your reputation, so check out the reviews as you are vetting a specific location. If the reviews are super low, you may want to consider another space.
Resources #2: Event Calendars
If you’ve searched social media, but still haven’t found the perfect place, consider looking at event calendars for interesting events where you could set up your photo shoot. You can find event calendars on Facebook, but you can also find useful info in your local newspaper, on your city’s website, on tourism association sites, in national and international magazines, etc. As you search the calendars, you can learn more about the events, the points of contact, possible setup information and much more!
Resource #3: Travel Sites
Whether you’re looking for venues in your area, in your country or overseas, I recommend checking out online travel sites! The sites send their employees around the world to find interesting places to visit, then they provide that information to you…for free! I’ve used sites like Atlas Obscura and Lonely Planet to find some really unique places.
Resource #4: Family & Friends
You can also ask your friends and family members for ideas. They go places and may have useful suggestions, especially if they are members of your target audience!
And don’t forget that if you’re a member of a Facebook group in a particular city or region, you can also search the group for great destinations or ask group members for suggestions.
Resource #5: Search Engines
I’m sure you’re already using your favorite search engines and keywords to find locations, but I want to emphasize that it can really save time and effort. Depending on what type of location you’re searching for, you may find articles listing the top 10, 15 or 20 options in your area. Instead of having to compile the list yourself, you may find that someone has already done all of the hard work.
Pro Tip: Use Google to see if a location is busy at a certain time. If you need quiet or calm during the photo or video shoot, then book the location during off-peak hours.
Resource #6: Location Databases
Location databases like Peerspace or AirBnb can be useful options. Peerspace is AirBnb for locations and AirBnb is…well, AirBnb. I stayed at an AirBnb while filming the holiday episode of Country Crush – my travel show – in 2018. The space was lovely, so I reached out to the owner to ask if I could capture footage and take pictures. They were happy to oblige and I was able to create fun behind-the-scenes content with my crew!
Next Steps – Preparing to Request Permission to Shoot on Location
You could spend days, Weeks and MONTHS searching for the perfect location, but I hope that you can use these resources to narrow down your search and quickly find the venue that works for you.
To help you with your search, remember to to check out my Location Research Worksheet, which you can access through my Skillshare course or by clicking the Download button below.
The worksheet includes a list of the information I like to capture before contacting any sites. I’m sure it seems like I’m asking you to record a lot of details, but keeping track of this info really saves time in the long run. You can use it when initially reaching out to a location’s point of contact. It’s also especially helpful when your preferred location is not available or they cancel at the last minute. If you’ve already done the research, it’s so much easier to look at your notes than it is to search through the website again.
Even better, as you research locations you may want to have a list of backup locations ready just in case a space cancels on you. Sometimes, I will reach out to the primary decision-makers in advance and communicate that I am interested in working with them at some point in the future. That way, when I contact them, I’m not cold calling a random stranger to ask if I can use the space. We have developed a relationship and they are generally more likely to approve the request!
Top Tips for Location Scouting: Top 4 Photo Shoot & Video Shoot Challenges!
I love shooting on location! In fact, last week’s blog focused on the seven reasons why you should consider organizing your next photo shoot or video shoot on location! But in all honesty, there are times when it can be really challenging.
So this week, I’m going to focus on some of the issues you should consider when deciding whether or not to book your photo shoot or video shoot at a venue! Specifically, weather, noise, the general public and cost. Watch the vlog below or read the rest of the blog!
Challenge #1 – Weather
If you’re planning an outdoor shoot, always try to check the weather a few weeks in advance to determine if it makes sense to go on location. While the monthly forecast won’t provide information on the exact weather conditions you will encounter, it’s good to have an general idea of what to expect and how to prepare.
Case in point: In 2018, I filmed several of my travel show episodes in and around Ottawa, Canada. I planned to film a few of the episodes outdoors, but three weeks before I was scheduled to travel, I noticed that there was an extreme weather warning in the region. I’d gotten frostbite while ice fishing in Canada (true story), so I knew that a weather warning was no joke!
I started preparing, and by the time I boarded the plane with my crew, we were fully equipped with warm clothes and boots, hand warmers, ski masks, and more. We also had enough time to develop strategies to ensure that we didn’t ruin our expensive equipment in the below freezing weather. We all came back with our fingers, toes, and camera equipment intact!
Challenge #2 – Noise
In addition to preparing for the weather, if you’re planning a video shoot, think about whether or not you need a quiet space. If people are talking, there’s traffic outside or planes are flying overhead, will the noise negatively impact the shoot? If so, you may want to consider shooting in a studio or finding a location that is very, very, very quiet.
But how will you know if it’s quiet? You may have to visit the location on the same day and at the same time as when you plan to film. If you can’t visit the space, you may need to ask the location manager or even people on social media (e.g., Yelp, Instagram or Facebook) to share useful information about the sound levels.
Here’s another example to illustrate this point. I recently launched a free online course on location scouting (Yay!). Originally, I planned to film on location to illustrate different types of spaces. Makes sense, right? I considered the goals of the course and conducted extensive research into many different venues. Unfortunately, all of the locations that really fit with the message I wanted to communicate were too loud or too distracting (and in a few cases, too expensive). To ensure that the students received the actionable information, the space needed to be quiet, with minimal distractions. For the purposes of the course, it didn’t make sense to film on location, so I filmed in a studio. I weighed the location pros and cons, and in this case the cons won! And that’s okay.
Challenge #3 – The Public
Related to the noise challenge is the general public. If you’ve ever taken pictures in public or watched a news anchor reporting from outside the studio, you’ll know that photo bombers are alive and well. There’s (almost) always some random stranger who wants to be featured in your picture or your video.
But, having random people in your video or photo doesn’t have to be a big deal. In fact, having people in the background may add energy and life to your content. However, you do want to make sure that there are no legal concerns (e.g., images of minors). Check with your lawyer to see if there are any issues, and take lawyer-reviewed personal appearance releases with you just in case!
Challenge #4 – Cost
Since I mentioned expensive locations in passing, let’s briefly talk about cost. A venue’s cost is sometimes THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE to shooting on location. Some locations require you to pay a huge fee, while others require you to get film production insurance, which can cost thousands of dollars(!!!). Please ensure that you consider the cost before deciding whether or not to shoot on location. But, please stay tuned, as I plan to share strategies for how NOT to pay for a location. It’s all legal. It’s just involves highlighting the benefits. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest, where I’ll share more info in the coming weeks!
Next Steps
These four challenges can complicate your shoot, so it’s important to think about how you might address them before you decide to shoot on location. If the cons outweigh the pros, then you may want to film in a studio. However, if you’ve done your research and decided that finding a location outweighs the challenges, then great! It’s time to start searching for the perfect location.
And please remember to use the subscription box below to subscribe to this blog, so you will receive a notification when I post the next one! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest, where I’ll take you from searching for the perfect location to what to do after the shoot ends…plus everything in between!
Top Tips for Location Scouting: Top 7 Reasons Why You Should Shoot on Location!
Welcome back to the “Top Tips for Location Scouting” series! Today, we’re going to focus on the top seven reasons why you should consider organizing your next photo shoot or video shoot on location. So, let’s get to it!
Side note: Reason 3 is the BEST reason…in my humble opinion!
Reason 1: Product/Service Demonstration
You can highlight a service you provide or demonstrate a product. For example: If you sell camping equipment, it may make sense to film a ‘how-to’ video at a campsite. That way, your clients will better understand when and how to use the product. Check out this video for more info!
photo shoot or video shoot can work for you.
Reason 2: Display Authenticity
You can also provide a behind-the-scenes view of the product creation process, your business operations or even your personal life (as appropriate). Consumers appreciate authenticity and real connection, so as they learn more about who you are and why you do what you do, a behind-the-scenes look may move them from general customers to supporters or even advocates!
can help you to connect with your customers!
Reason 3: Differentiation From the Competition
Finally, you can differentiate yourself, your product, service or overall brand from the competition. There are so many people filming and photographing the same content in the same places. So, if you can shoot in a new, eye-catching, visually engaging place, your content will stand out. You can reach new customers and set yourself apart from the competition! Check out this video to learn more!
your company or your brand from the competition!
Reason 4: Highlight Experts & Positive Experiences:
In addition, you can use on-location interviews to build credibility by introducing your audience to your experts or even satisfied clients who use your product or service.
Reason 5: Amplify Your Message
Organizing or attending a live event? You know this already, but it’s important to film and take pictures at the event to provide your target audience with valuable information.
Reason 6: Increase Curiosity
If you always film in a studio, shooting on location can pique your audience’s curiosity. Getting out and about can increase their interest in your brand.
Reason 7: Serendipitous Encounters
When you’re shooting on location, sometimes you happen upon interesting people and situations that you would never encounter in a studio!
What Do You Think?
Do any of the reasons above describe why you might search for a location? If not, what are some reasons that you might want to try location scouting? Feel free to share them in the comments section.
Next Steps
Interested in learning more about how to find stunning locations for your next photo shoot or video shoot? Then, check out my FREE online course on Skillshare: Top Tips for Location Scouting. Spend just 15 minutes learning how to plan strategically for an on-location shoot, plus learn how to find great venues! Just use this link: https://skl.sh/36fZ4yI.
Please remember to use the subscription box below to subscribe to this blog, so you will receive a notification when I post the next one! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest, where I’ll share step-by-step guidance, taking you from searching for the perfect location for your on-location shoot to what to do after the shoot ends…plus everything in between!
What is Location Scouting?
Welcome to the “Top Tips for Location Scouting” blog series! Today, we’re going to focus on a new definition of location scouting! Check out the video below or keep reading to learn more!
If you’re a content creator, the traditional definition of location scouting probably doesn’t work for you. You’re not necessarily trying to make a film or work for a film studio. So, I’ve developed a more relevant definition of location scouting. Check it out!
Definition: Location Scouting is the process of finding a suitable location in which to film or take photos. By suitable, I mean that the location chosen helps to emphasize the message of the video or photo. It also helps to communicate the tone of that message.
Lauren Gibson
Here’s an example of how the word “suitable” might impact the location you choose. If you own an educational services company and want to reach out to parents of students who are struggling in school, would you use a construction site as a location? Probably not…unless the location helps you to illustrate how your company helps those parents to “build” educational strategies.
You can always get creative and be clever or unconventional. Just be sure that the venue you choose makes sense, that it’s going to be relevant for your audience, and that even if you don’t say a thing, the location will help the audience to understand your message. It’s not going to distract them.
The updated definition of location scouting is incredibly simple, but be sure to keep that word “suitable” in mind as you develop visual campaigns. Search for and choose locations that will fit with the message you (or your clients) want to communicate!
If you are interested in learning more about how to find stunning locations for your next photo shoot or video shoot, please check out my FREE online course on Skillshare: Top Tips for Location Scouting. Spend just 15 minutes learning how to plan strategically for an on-location shoot, plus learn how to find great venues! Just use this link: https://skl.sh/36fZ4yI.
Finally, please remember to use the subscription box below to subscribe to this blog, so you will receive a notification when I post the next one! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest, where I’ll share step-by-step guidance, taking you from searching for the perfect location for your on-location shoot to what to do after the shoot ends…plus everything in between!
The Location Scouting Struggle…and how you can avoid it!
Welcome back to the “Top Tips for Location Scouting and On-Location Shoots” series. Today, I want to share my story with you so you know that you’re not alone in the struggle to search for great locations and to organize on-location shoots in the United States and overseas. I’ve been through it too and have a lot of great lessons learned to share through this series!
Just so you know, I’ve been on both sides of the location scouting equation. I’ve managed a space that was in high demand, and I’ve also organized video and photo shoots at over 50 unique locations in Asia and North America. So, I am excited to help you to take the guesswork out of location scouting and on-location shoots!
But first, let me back up a few years….
The Dream
…it was 1990-something, and I was the weirdest kid in the neighborhood. I listened to classical music, read Shakespeare (and anything else I could get my hands on), knew the lyrics to many top 40 hits (from the 1950s), lived for the Oscars, and couldn’t get enough of studying cultural practices in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome. I knew I was a strange kid, but I still intended to make my mark on the world in some way or another. In fact, at the age of nine or 10, I remember signing my friends’ birthday cards and telling them to hold onto the cards. Why? Because my autograph was going to be worth something one day.
I was SUPER DRAMATIC. I wanted to be a performer, any kind of performer. Maybe an actress? A dancer? Then I thought, why not be a travel show host. I could be on camera introducing audiences to other cultures and ways of life. But reality set in and I gave up all of my dramatic dreams for the sake of cold. hard. cash. I couldn’t see myself as a starving artist, so I decided to go to school for business; for international marketing. A fascinating field, absolutely, but definitely more of a behind-the-scenes career.
The Passion Project
Now, let’s fast forward a bit to 2016. I was living overseas and at the time, I was looking for a fun hobby, and finally the stars aligned. All of my “weird” interests came together! By that time, I spoke a few languages and I’d studied cross-cultural communication at the undergrad and graduate school levels. So, I finally decided to launch a travel show that featured unique people and locations in Asia.
Side note: I was a complete video production newbie! I had to teach myself how to develop and host a travel show from scratch. That’s a story for another course…. Let’s just say that the process involved a lot of experimentation, and I now have a lot of SOPs for creating an online show. But what I also learned is that when passion coupled with vision and community is a recipe for success.
The Struggle
But back to the story: I had no idea how to create a travel show, but I was confident that I could figure it out. I wasn’t scared to try something new, but what really scared me was putting myself out there. I knew that I wanted to film at interesting locations, but actually asking for permission was a little bit TERRIFYING! What if they rejected me because I was a travel show amateur?!? Would they judge the grammar in the emails I wrote or think that the content I created was low quality?
I was so nervous about contacting people and would read my emails over and over again. Sometimes, I would sit on an email for a few days before sending it out. But then one day it hit me.
It was okay to be afraid as long as I didn’t allow the fear to hold me back. I had to take action, so I took baby steps. In some cases, I contacted people I knew or knew of. Friends of friends, people I met on dates, even my neighbors. In other cases, I made a list of the benefits to the location and included the points in my email. I also quickly learned to take the pressure off of myself. If they “rejected” me, I reminded myself that it was okay. Maybe it was about me or maybe they had other things going on at the time. Either way, it wasn’t a big deal and it definitely wasn’t something to stress about. There were other great places where I could shoot. I just had to keep looking!
The Realization
At the same time as I was getting over my fear of rejection, I realized that I had some useful experience to rely on! Before launching the show, I’d managed a great location. My team and I and received a lot of requests from a variety of organizations. As we reviewed the requests, there was a pattern. The sites that provided clear information, described why they wanted to use the space, and aligned with our location’s mission were really easy to approve. It was apparent that they had done their research and tailored the requests to the services that our location could provide. However, the requests that were unclear or did not fit with our mission were a lot harder to justify.
As I began to reach out to location managers, I applied all of these lessons. I overcame my fear of rejection, made a conscious decision to be at peace throughout the process, and developed strategies for how to effectively communicate with the location managers.
The Journey
Over the years, these lessons have served me well. While I haven’t always received a “yes, please,” the yes’s definitely outweigh the no’s. In the end, I was able to convince many other location managers to allow me to shoot in their amazing spaces!!
So, to demonstrate the different types of places where I shot on location, check out this highlight reel from my show Country Crush!
When people check out my show, one of the questions I get asked the most is how I got so many locations to allow me to shoot on location. My goal in this course is to share my knowledge of the process and insights with you!
The Why
You’re probably asking yourself why I want to share this information with you, right? Well, when I searched for information on location scouting, it was impossible to find any information that applied to me and my unique situation. I wasn’t trying to make films. I wasn’t trying to work for some big motion picture studio. I didn’t want to study location scouting. I just wanted to easily (and quickly) learn how to find locations and how to shoot on location!
If you’re reading this post, you probably understand the frustration of that search for information, especially when you’re trying to focus on spending time and resources on expanding your business. I totally get it. So, I’m here to help take some of the guesswork out of the process.
The main goal of this series is to answer your questions about location scouting and on-location shoots, so that you can successfully secure an appropriate location!
What’s Next!
Please use the subscription box below to subscribe, so you will receive a notification when I post the next blog! You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest, where I’ll share step-by-step guidance, taking you from searching for the perfect location for your on-location shoot to what to do after the shoot ends…plus everything in between!
Welcome to the “Top Tips for Location Scouting and On-Location Shoots” Blog Series!
Welcome to the “Top Tips for Location Scouting and On-Location Shoots” blog series! I’m Lauren Gibson, a communications strategist, travel show host, self-taught video producer, and guess what?
I’m here to help you to take the guesswork out of location scouting and on-location photo shoots and video shoots!
Unlike a lot of other resources on the market, this series will answer your location scouting and on-location shoot questions. It will take you from searching for the perfect location to what to do after the shoot ends…plus a whole lot in between! Keep reading to learn more!
Is this series for me?
Yes, this series is for photographers, videographers, social media influencers, small business owners and anyone else who is looking for guidance on finding great video or photo shoot locations. It’s also for those who want to plan strategically to create amazing visual campaigns that will set them apart from the competition!
What can I expect from this series?
You’ll have access to articles with detailed, step-by-step guidance on a variety of topics, including:
- Why you should shoot on location
- When you should shoot on location
- How to plan strategically to set yourself apart from the competition
- How to search for locations
- How to successfully request permission to shoot on location
- What to do if a venue says no
- What to do if a venue says yes!
- What to do if a location cancels!
- How to plan for domestic shoots
- How to plan to shoot overseas
- How to plan for the unexpected
- The do’s and don’ts of on-location shoots
- And much more!
What Should I Do Next?
Please share your email address below to subscribe, so you can receive immediate notifications about new posts in this series! Can’t wait for the next post? Then, get ready for the launch of the Top Tips for Location Scouting and On-Location Shoots course on Teachable!
You can also follow me to Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or Pinterest!