Location Photo Shoot Top Tips

All images © Charlotte Elizabeth Brown Photography.

Shooting on location for the first time can be a pretty daunting experience. As well as the pressure to get great photos, you also have a lot of planning to do before the event to make sure it goes smoothly. Here, Charlotte Brown, who recently graduated with a 2:1 in Contemporary Lens Media at Lincoln University shares her top 10 tips for a successful on location photography shoot based on what she's learned in the process. 

Tip 1

Always look for backup locations 'A B C and D' as you will most likely have problems with time management and things going wrong. That person you contacted about the perfect location may turn around last minute and change their mind, so always be prepared for disasters and by having backup locations you will be on schedule for your final shoot date.

Tip 2  

Try and pick a practice location / use the studio to act out your lighting so on the day you feel comfortable with it all as there is nothing more nerve-racking than trying to sort your lighting in a new location!

Tip 3

Always get help - Get your friends to assist you carrying lights and setting up etc. It makes things run a lot more smoothly on the day!

Tip 4

PLAN! I can't say this one enough. Have a notebook with ideas and print off your influences and poses etc. Keep referring back to your brief to make sure you hit all the points you need to get across in the image. Plan dates and times and stick to those.

Tip 5 

Checklist - Write a checklist of all the equipment and props that you may need on the day (I always forget something!) and be organised.

Tip 6

Check out the location before you get there without equipment. Take some test shots so you can refer back to them the day before the shoot. Also remember to look where the power source is for your lights. If there isn't one you need to figure out how can you get power.

Tip 7 

Always shoot RAW and make sure this is the first thing you check when switching on the camera. Also, check focusing points as when you get home you may find some out of focus areas which would be a disaster!

Tip 8

Hire professionals for the shoot (if you can). They will be easy to work with and you will achieve great results! Also, it's great for networking to get to know people in the industry.

Tip 9

Be polite, it will get you a long way. Also, during the shoot, remember that the details matter. All this added detail will show in the final images and make them stand out.

Tip 10

After the shoot – Review all the images and be proud! Even if you did not photograph as well as you thought, you still have completed a large photo shoot. This was the first time I have worked with 3 models and it was very challenging. I went into the shoot with a positive attitude of being happy with whatever the outcome was! 

Shoot information:

Shoes - Irregular Choice
Photographer - Charlotte Elizabeth Photography  
Models - Amber Tutton, Emily Ford and Alice Ward 
Hair - Helen Sutcliffe - Hair Stylist 
MUA - Make Up By Jenni
Clothing - Newlook Lincoln
Location - Browns Cafe Bar and Bistro Newark
Assistants - Lucy Barnard + Adam Deakin Photography 
Hat designer - Lucy Barnard 
Red crown - Crowns by Liv