Do You Need Particularly Beautiful Locations for a Photo Shoot?

This is often a source of hassle for photographers: finding locations for photos.

A quick clarification, I’m talking here about photo shoots with a human model. Of course, for landscape photography, beautiful locations are necessary, but in this article, I’m focusing only on photography with models.

I have the impression that there’s a kind of way of thinking, almost bordering on (bad) myth, among beginner photographers, which involves believing (and saying) that to get started in photography, it's better to begin with landscape photography. Granted, it’s somewhat easier when you’re starting out, because you don’t have to juggle as many elements at once. However, for those who want to focus on human photography, I tend to discourage this method.

Starting with landscape photography, in my experience, mostly leads to bad habits for future photographers who want to shoot humans (fashion, portrait photography, etc.). And the worst of these habits is the tendency to think that in order to make great photos, you must always find exceptional locations for the photo shoots. In doing so, they fail to focus on the main subject: the person.

Not to mention that with landscape photography, you can take your time, not worry too much about the background or foreground, and maybe even be a bit careless with shutter speed, aperture, and so on…

Landscape Photography Doesn't Teach You How to Communicate.

One of the more difficult aspects of human photography is communication!

Directing your model, suggesting poses, expressions, explaining why certain things should or shouldn’t be done, positioning them according to the sun or light, suggesting specific outfits or accessories—these all require deep thought beforehand. I've found that photographers who started with landscape photography often struggle in these areas.

Of course, there are those of us who “let the model do whatever she wants,” but personally, I find this method too random to be satisfying. After all, when a photo turns out well in this way, it's a bit like luck, not a genuine effort.

That’s why, in my photography workshops, I’ve developed an entire chapter on "how to direct a photo model," because in reality, it’s neither innate nor easy.

Photos in a Shopping Center Parking Lot.

To illustrate my point, here are some shots of my model and friend Vicky, whom I asked to pose in the parking lot of a Carrefour, in a setting that’s absolutely unremarkable, to show that what really matters is the work between the photographer and the model.

Would you like to learn how to take photos like this too? Don’t hesitate, contact me now to book a photography lesson. I offer individual lessons, no mass production, no generalities—I adapt to your level and we build your learning experience in a personalized and tailored way.