Why is location important?
I get asked every time a family books a session "What locations do you have?" "Do you have more than one location?" "Where are your locations?"
These are important questions to ask because not all photographers offer different locations, they may only work out of one suburb or they may be willing to travel to you...
To me having a few different locations is important because not all clients want their images taken in a field, they may want a beach or a forest depending on what their family likes to do or they may be unable to travel to that location but can another. I myself have had photographers I've wanted to use say they will only use the one location they have, which did put me off as I felt like I had to fit my family into the type of location they were offering. I do work in the southern suburbs and have three different locations I use regularly but I also offer in home sessions if thats important to you. I have locations that are all very different and not all located in the exact same area for example my forest location is located in the hills making it more accessible to clients who live closer to those areas, the forest I use also has a field which is beautiful to use as the sun is setting. Other locations I use are located more towards the southern beaches of Adelaide, which means I offer a variety of looks depending on what my client is looking for. To me having a range of locations is not only beneficial in terms of travelling for clients but also because it means not all of my family sessions look the same, each location is different and the lighting at each location is different meaning each client gets their own personal look to their images.
Lighting at each location is very important also as the sun sets in different spots at different times of the year, so whilst in summer the forest is perfectly lit up from behind the field giving beautiful back light in winter the sun sets off to the side & the light can be tricky on a sunny day. My country style location has a beautiful sunset all year round as no matter where it is setting there is no side light from where I shoot. Back light is important to me & achieving my style of images so whilst you may have specific location in mind IU will discuss the light & outcome of the images you are looking for to ensure we picks the location best suited to the final look you are wanting to achieve.
Why should you consider which location you choose as being important to the session? Well because if your family never visits the beach and your photographer will only do your session at a beach firstly will you enjoy the session? Will you have fun? Will you want to hang those images in your home if they don't represent your family and what you like to do? If you love adventuring and going camping why not have your session in a forest? If you like picnics in a beautiful field why not have your images in a field? If spending your afternoons at the beach watching the sunset is what you like to do then lets do a beach session! One of my clients had bunny tails in her wedding bouquet so my field of bunny tails location was absolutely perfect for her and her family!
I once enquired about booking a session and I was given no choice in my location rather I was told where it would be and that it would be in the morning. Now I actually wanted a different location to which I knew that photographer offered and I wanted an afternoon, however when I asked if I could have that location the photographer just told me there's a few grasses at that beach I use we will use those. This isn't what I wanted and I felt not listened to at all which meant I didn't go through with the session.
When booking a session with your chosen photographer make sure you are heard and if you don't feel comfortable with something make sure you mention it to your photographer as location is important to making sure you get the beautiful family photographs you are wanting and can't wait to display in your home :) xx
