Scouting Holiday Photoshoot Locations
If you’re a photographer, it's time to start thinking about photoshoot locations for your upcoming holiday sessions. Some general tips to improve your sessions include shooting during golden hour, checking the weather leading up to the shoot, and scouting the location beforehand. Here are 4 sites to consider and what to look for in these places.
Tree Farms
Tree farms make a great spot for photoshoots because they are widely available in most locations during the holidays. These trees are shaped perfectly on pathways for your clients to walk down, making for the perfect shot. This location also has an added benefit for your clients. They can pick out a tree to take home with them after their session! It is important to note that if you decide to conduct sessions at a tree farm, you should verify that they allow photoshoots. You may also want to find out when the farm is busiest to avoid having strangers in the back of your photos.
Woodsy Wonderland
The woods can be an excellent location for a photoshoot during the holidays. If you are doing a session in the woods, you want to pick a time when the leaves are vibrant and full of colors. The leaves are a bonus because you can help your clients choose outfits that coordinate with the woodsy background. Depending on where you live, you might not get proper seasons where the leaves change colors, but don't worry! You can still implement edits to pull color out of the rocks and trees themselves. Even if the plants or foliage are dead, they can add beautiful, warm undertones to any photo.
White Christmas On The Beach
We don’t all live in a location where we get snow during the winter, so the beach can be a great place to create that illusion. Timing is critical when conducting a photoshoot at the beach. Early in the morning or right before sunset are your best options. When doing a beach session, you want to ensure you have an open space where beachgoers won’t be in the way. Some good props to bring to get your clients into the holiday spirit include a mini Christmas tree, some mugs of hot cocoa, or maybe even a red wagon for the kids to sit in!
Farms
The best thing about shooting at farms during the holidays is that they offer variety. Variety can make sessions easier for you and more fun for your clients! During the holiday season, farms typically have a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, open fields, and barns. Most clients like an extensive collection of photos to choose from, which is why having one location that offers many different backgrounds is so important. Farms also provide big open skies, which can easily enhance a photo. The sky can act as negative space, allowing your subjects to stand out.
If you would like more photography help beyond picking locations, check out my mentorships. These are one-on-one sessions where you can learn about lighting, camera basics, editing, and much more!
