Scoping Out Locations Like a Pro

Today I'd like to give you a few pointers about how to scope out locations like a professional photographer. No matter where they are, professional photographers are constantly evaluating places for photographic value. When you walk into a room, you may notice the color of the wall, the artwork, or something else that makes the room look unique. Professional photographers, on the other hand, immediately begin to think about the available light, ceiling height, background tones, and other elements that make for a perfect photo composition.

The key is to approach every situation with the end photo in mind. It doesn't matter if you are shooting candids or planned portraits; your mind should automatically start thinking about how to compose the perfect shot. Below are a few questions to ask yourself to start training your brain to scope out locations like a pro:

Outdoor Photography
For techniques for shooting outdoors, let's use the example of photographing kids at a park. What background works best with the clothes they are wearing? Where is the sun? Remember, unless it is late afternoon, you never want the sun aiming straight people's faces -- especially kids -- otherwise they may squint. Is there open shade if the sun is not working as a light source? Is there wind to mess up the children's hair (keep the end shot in mind; messy wind-blown hair may work great for candid shots but not for planned portraits). Is the location private, or will you have to worry about clutter or distractions in the background? Is the ground wet, and if so, should you avoid asking the kids to sit in wet grass? What is the weather like; is it sunny or overcast? An overcast sky provides soft, diffused light, while a sunny sky provides bright, intense light. Overcast is preferable in most cases. Finally, what are some ways you can create levels in the shot? In other words, what can you use in your surroundings to enhance the composition? All of these questions are what a professional photographer thinks about as soon as he or she arrives at a location.

Indoor Photography
When you enter a room with your camera, here are a few questions to ask yourself immediately: Will you use a flash or the available natural light? If you will use a flash, will you use the built-in flash or a bounce flash (a bounce flash is an external flash that bounces the light off the ceiling)? If you use a bounce flash, how high is the ceiling and what color are the walls? Both will affect the outcome of the shot. If you are using the available light, how strong is the light coming in from windows or doors? If the light is not very strong, you may need a slower shutter speed, and possibly a tripod to avoid blur. What is the room size? Is there a lot of ambient light? Pay attention to the background tones and objects too; you don't want to shoot an incredible portrait and later look back to realize that there is a statue sticking out of the top of one of your subject's heads!

Remember: always keep your end photo in mind when you are scoping out locations and taking pictures. Evaluating your situations may not come as second nature like it does for professional photographers, but with a little bit of work, you can definitely train your mind to look for elements that can help or hurt your pictures. Now grab your camera and give it a shot!

Ritz pix: digital photography

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