Locations, are not always what you may imagine...

I haven't posted in 5 days. I am ashamed, I was doing so well. Hope this is a good one! Enjoy!

"Don't you go to the park to take your photos" , "I think we're going to get arrested, it says no trespassing"...

Ahh, gotta love the skepticism of your family, when they're being drug out to a train yard in the middle of nowhere, Ohio. The quotes above provoked a thought in me, that I should share with photographers and friends the types of locations that are BEST to shoot in, because more than likely, they are NOT what you would imagine.

A park is nice, yes. But, when you look at the pictures, it, well, looks like a park. I'm am all for green trees, flowers and flowing streams; but that's not what I want in every session. Sometimes, a local park is too recognizable and I feel like it steals some of the essence from the images. On lookers are registering the location in their brain and familiarizing the setting with their own experience rather than being in awe of your awesome-ness in the photos.

Standing a cute couple up against a tree is all fine and dandy, but sometimes, I'd rather that tree be 100 yards behind you. You've got a nice backyard for your family session, lots of tree and bushes, awesome. But do you have any peeling paint on your 100 year old barn, or how about a wide open grass field and an old chair? That's what I'm talking about!!

So, what are my favorite locations? Well, I like a spot where I can find the grunge, the urban, the rustic and the country all in one walk-able area. So, this tends to mean I go to the outskirts of the 'downtowns' in my area. However, I have been known to, without shame, stop my car in driveways, and have clients stand on stranger's property, I've knocked on doors to ask permission to use a barn, (ahead of time, of course) I've braved 'no trespassing' locations, and have never been asked to leave, yet. The way I look at it is we're not doing anything wrong by utilizing a public space as long as we're out in the open, and non-destructive. Its all God's land, so...there.

Sometimes it may not make sense. Clients and hesitant little brother's may be skeptical of my ideas. "You want me to stand in front of this bright yellow dumpster, uhhh ok?" YES! And I want you to trust me! I know it may be hard to look longingly into your soon-to-be-hubby's eyes whilst standing near a stinky, grimy yellow dumpster, but trust me, it'll be beautiful! I won't be capturing the stink, or the garbage, or the tell-tale signs that give away you're standing in front of a dumpster. I will, however, capture the ambient yellow glow, and the reflection of its light on your skin, or the way the light shines off of it behind you, and the way it makes your outfits pop!!

Your eye sees the scene differently than my camera sees it, so try to be comfortable where ever you are, if you don't like the location of a shot, speak up.

I always want to hear your ideas! --Happy Cinco de Mayo!