All young photographers share a love for their craft. They get a thrill out of creating the perfect picture, and will spend hours taking multiple shots until they’re satisfied. One of the most difficult things for a photographer to do is to prepare themselves for shooting on location.
Whether you need to climb a mountain or travel overseas, use the following tips for shooting on location:
Pack Only What You Need
Over-packing is something that every young photographer does. If you’re only going to be gone a few days, don’t pack a huge suitcase with two weeks’ worth of clothing. Similarly, if you plan on spending much of the time hiking to your location, you want to travel light.
Some essential items that you do need are snacks, water to keep you hydrated, an additional battery for your camera, small strobe light and small umbrellas. A couple of hard camera cases (such as a Pelican or Shell-Case) will also do your camera justice, especially if you’re worried about breaking your $1,000 telephoto lens.
Research the Location
Research is your friend, especially if you don’t know exactly where you’re planning on doing the photo shoot.
If you have a general idea, look at some of the top locations within a day’s drive that match your preference. To make it easier on the crew, choose a spot that doesn’t require a significant amount of hiking or rough terrain for driving. The closer to civilization the better. If possible, avoid locations that require some type of permit to do a photo shoot, or avoid such areas until you can do your job without someone bothering you.
If the location is overseas, make sure you have enough shipping cases to pack all your expensive photography equipment.
Be Discreet
Photographers often shoot in areas inaccessible to the general public. Some of these locations may be on government property, on historical sites or in abandoned buildings.
Discretion will be your most trusted friend. Regardless of where you plan to shoot, being discreet allows you to operate without outside distractions and affords you protection from those who might be following your photography work or the subject of your project on social media.
Keep Kids Covered
Outdoor photos of kids can make for a great family treasure, but make sure kids are properly covered to keep them protected from the elements. Kids are less tolerant of temperature changes, and fair-skinned children can be thoroughly sunburned in just a few minutes of direct sunlight.
To see these principles in action, check out Morgan Maasen’s Tahiti Shoot.
The most important thing about shooting on location is to have fun. Photography is one of the rare professions that allows the freedom to choose where and when you want to work, and who you want to work with.
