What To Look For In A Location // Light & Airy Photography

The location you choose plays a hugely important role in your final images. If your goal is that light and airy look, then your backgrounds matter! While we definitely want pretty backgrounds, not all pretty backgrounds are created equal. It takes some time to learn to "see" with a photographer's eye, but that is why, not only do I educate, but I also make suggestions to clients and tell them why a certain place is not the best idea! While I'm always happy to offer locations, if you are thinking about some spots you'd like to take photos, here are some things to look for.

(Note: this post is for those who are after a light and airy look. If that is not your style, that's fine, but you probably won't find this post very helpful.)

These two photos are of the same path and tree, just from two different sides. The first image is where I would place clients if I were photographing them in this location. They are in what we call "open shade" and there is nice light coming through the tree branches. It allows us to achieve the look in our images that we want! The second photo would have you squinting and would just not be a good experience all around. (Fun note: if it were cloudy, I'd pose you on the side you see in the second photo! Where I pose clients depends on the light!)

In the spring, we love to take photos with flowers!!! I love them and you love them but the same rules still apply! This bush was lovely because it was standing by itself, which means that you can work from whatever side you need and you still have lovely light that can filter through the branches. Compare that to the image below...

This bush has small, pretty, pink flowers and you would think it would be a perfect spot but I would never put a client there. I took this photo at about the same time of day as the others you see above. You can sort of tell that it is a sunny day way in the background there, but you have barely any light getting through the trees and bushes. It's dark and heavy and doesn't allow you to get the look you really want. We want to stay away from trees and bushes that have grown together thickly and trap light. We want trees and bushes that filter the light and give us a nice, bright glow!

Next time you're out and about and you think, "this would be a great portrait location", take another look and see if you think that just because it's pretty or does it actually have what we need to get that light and airy look?

The great thing about locations is that, within an area, there are typically good places for light and airy photos. Also, a specific place might be a great location at a certain time of day, but not work at another time of day. So if you have a place you're dying to shoot, I'm sure there will be lots of spots that will work. The only time we might run into trouble is if you really wanted to shoot at one specific spot and the greenery is too thick or it's the wrong time of day. But I will always do my absolute best to give you the images you want in the places you want!!!