What’s a celebration without photos? Admit it or not, we all live for beautiful memories. And what better way to relive beautiful moments than to have a photo shoot? Nope, we’re not talking about grand photo shoots. We don’t need big cameras and expensive lighting equipment. With just your smartphone, you can do your mobile photo shoot!
To start, follow these simple mobile photography tips. Use your smartphone’s grid lines to guide you in framing your subject at the left or right third of the grid. Don’t use digital zoom to avoid grainy photos. Lastly, use your steady hand to avoid shaky shots.
Now that you know the basics, the next challenge is to find your location. And it’s not just about finding an empty spot. Your site tells a lot more story than you think.
Photo Shoot Locations: Not Only for Background
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Good photos tell a story. You don’t just pick a spot, look at the camera, and trigger the shutter. Each element in your frame sends a message. As you know, most people don’t bother reading extended captions. You have to get the message you want to send even without reading your captions.
Your location will also set the elements of your shots. Here’s why you have to choose the best place for your photo shoots:
Your Location Sets the Tone of Your Lighting
Lighting is essential in photography. It sets the mood and the tone of your photos. That’s why you must decide whether you’d go outdoor or indoors.
Outdoor shoots are perfect for mobile photography. With outdoor photo shoots, you get the best of natural light. If you shoot outdoors during midday, your photos will have a cooler tone. If you shoot outdoors at sunset, your photos will appear warmer. With indoor photo shoots, you have to make use of your camera flash. Using flash photography tends to produce flat images and unwanted glare.
Meanwhile, indoor photography may work if you prefer a darker theme for your shoot. Most photographers choose indoor locations for formal photo shoots.
Your Location Should Complement Your Theme
You have to have a specific theme for your shoot. A shoot by the lake or mountains will be a perfect romantic spot for engagement or bridal photos. For children’s birthday shoots, a colorful playground will give a happy vibe. Meanwhile, if you want to set a reflective mood for your photos, you may shoot at an empty street or park.
Your Location Determines Your Shots and Angles
The space you have in your location will set how wide or tight your shots can go. If you have a wider area like the mountains, you have more elements to include in your photos. Your background can consist of mountains and even clouds. But if you shoot in a small area like a garden or inside a studio, you have limited options for your shots.
Choosing the best spots for your photo shoots is not that hard. All you have to do is to familiarize yourself with the area, then do some quick scouting for the most Instagrammable spots.
Your Location Can Affect the Logistics of Your Shoot
The most important thing here is to check the weather. If you go outdoors, inclement weather can affect your entire photo shoot. The location will also determine which wardrobe or props you need to bring.
DIY Photo Shoots: What If You’re Stuck At Home?
It’s understandable. We’re still in a pandemic. It’s your dream wedding, and you can’t travel for your dream photo shoot. Don’t worry! You can achieve those couple shots, just like how professional wedding photographers do it.
Instead of prioritizing your location, put all your effort into choosing a theme. It can be a kitchen love story, so you can shoot it in the kitchen. You could relate the shoot to your love of books, so choose your home library or around your bookshelves. If you love coffee, you can have your shoot in your living room for something cozier. Your theme will determine the perfect photo shoot inside your home, and it will just be as beautiful.
You don’t need marvelous, memorable locations for your photo shoots. You can choose indoors or outdoors, as long as you capture the right emotions. But make sure you check weather updates so you’re always prepared wherever you choose. You don’t need the latest tech—all you need is your smartphone and find the best locations near you!
