One of the most common questions I am asked when designing personal brand portrait photoshoots for females entrepreneurs is: what location I should choose for my photoshoot? Indoor or outdoor?
I tend to turn this question into a question around:
Where do you do your best work?
Most of you probably will answer: my desk in my office.
Not a surprise as the end product is created at my desk too but where do you get inspired?
Where do you have your best ideas?
For some of you, it might be while reading a book in your cozy living room, walking on the beach at the sunset or maybe listening to a podcast at the gym?
For others it might be the laptop-friendly cafe or co-working space.
For me as a professional brand portrait photographer, who is a nature lover, it would be the green areas of the Sussex country side, Brighton and Hove beach at the sunset, and local parks and woodlands near me.
Why does the location of the brand photoshoot matter?
Choosing the perfect location for your brand photoshoot will enhance your brand story, show behind the scene of your lifestyle and communicate your values, personality and working style to your audience.
As a brand photographer based in sunny Brighton and Hove, I love mixing it up, indoor and outdoor locations in one photo session.
I put together a list of my top 10 locations to inspire your next brand photoshoot (with me) if you’re a Sussex-based online business owner.
Top 10 locations for your next brand headshot and portrait photo-session:
1. Gardens, local parks, country side and green areas
This is a perfect option as it’s usually free to enter local gardens if you want to keep the budget down.
As an introverted photographer, I tent to avoid peak times as it’s easier find a picturesque spot and to take advantage of bright, yet soft light in the early morning or just before the sunset.
But please do not worry! If your shoot is in the middle the day we can always search for a few shady patches or big trees to ensure softer and more flattering light on your face.
2. Forest and woodland near you
If you’re inspired by nature like me, this location choice is prefect for you.
You might want to check my (my top 5 Sussex green locations for your portrait photo session).
3. Quirky corners of Brighton & Hove city including street art and graffiti
I decided to have my own brand photoshoot by using a wall mural and street graffiti (in Brighton) to showcase the creative and fun aspect of my personality as a photographer.
If you’re a creative entrepreneur and art lover, this is location is for you.
The best time to plan your photoshoot at a wall mural is doing a weekday, avoid the weekends because of tourists.
4. Your favourite local coffee shop near you
One of the reason I love living in Brighton and Hove is the endless number of cute, trendy and cosy cafe’s to choose from.
Whether you are a hot chocolate girl (like me) or coffee loving freelancer, we all incorporate a visit to cafes into our daily lives. Maybe you have meetings or work from a cafe? We can show that in your pictures.
If you’re a little bit introverted like me, the best time to have portrait photoshoot in your local caffe is during off-peak, a few minutes before closing time or just after they open.
5. Your home: from living room to open plan kitchen and more
Since the lockdown we’re all spending more time at home, so it make sense to create brand portrait images at your own home where you feel safe and comfortable.
It might be the easiest option yet! Ask yourself if having a photoshoot at your home make you excited or stressed?
The idea of getting ready for the photoshoot and doing a ton of cleaning and de-cluterrring before the photoshoot might not be appealing for everyone.
That’s ok, you might want to come to my home studio.
Another question is to ask yourself, whether your lovely house has plenty of natural light?
If you’re in love with light and bright images (which is my style) we might need access to a source of natural light (big window) in each room.
6. My professional photography studio in my house
If you’re camera shy and looking for a privacy during your portrait photo session experience, let me invite you to my house which has been specially designed for the indoor brand photoshoot.
We use each room of the house on the day, from the living room, open plan kitchen and dinning room, spare room to even a bath room and garden.
The whole house has plenty of natural light, the best light is from 10am till 2pm. I am based in Brighton and Hove, UK Sussex area.
7. Booking Airbnb for your brand photoshoot
There are so many advantage of renting a stylish Airbnb for your personalised brand portrait photoshoot: privacy, perfect style matching your brand, unlimited time, multiple backdrops to show your lifestyle, brand consistency.
Yet, it involves a financial investment. Plus the time and energy to search for the perfect Airbnb.
8. Beach at the sunset
We are so lucky to have beach on our doorsteps in the Sussex area, aren’t we?
Many of my photoshoots start indoor and finishes on the beach. The beach offers a feeling of freedom, spaciousness and famine vibes to brand images.
You might want to check my top 3 Sussex beach locations for your portrait photo session.
9. Yoga studio, therapy room or gym
Professional female personal brand portrait and headshot photographer near you Sussex Brighton and Hove
If you are wellness business owner then it’s a must to capture you in your element, whether it’s a local gym, yoga studio or therapy room.
10. Co-working office space
Whether it’s your home office or a co-working space, let’s capture where the creative magic happens.
This is the perfect location to get some “at work”, laptop style and client meeting brand images at your desk, comfy chair or meeting room.
Meet your portrait photographer based in Sussex, sunny Brighton and Hove
I hope this blog inspired you to start envisioning your brand photoshoot.
So now it’s your turn.
Which location is most aligned with your brand style? Leave comment below.
I’m Magdalena your photographer
Whether you’re looking to update your profile picture or website, let me help you captured relaxed and soulful brand portraits and headshots.
I am based in sunny Brighton and Hove, often shooting in Sussex and beyond.