How do you find interesting locations for portrait photography?

A

Arik

New member
I live in Kearney, NE and there isn't much to this area in terms of compelling locations for portraiture, however that may simply be because I never really looked.

What do you seasoned guys do? Do you just drive around your area? Do you go on photography road trips? Do you ask other photographers?
 
I took some really great shots against a graffiti'd wall and they looked amazing, gritty and a bit edgy. With some great make-up and out of the ordinary hair styles it really can be that simple!
 
I used to leaf through portrait galleries on line, not necessarily to get exact locations, but to get an idea of different places that look good in photos. I live in a rather rural area in Michigan, so access to barns and fields is easy. Cityscape type pictures can be a little harder to come by, anything that doesn't look like redneckville, USA but if one wants to bad enough, you can drive 45 minutes and get to somewhere a little more urban and populated.

I don't drive around specifically to find shooting locations, but I have to drive around quite a bit for my "real" job so I make mental notes about different places, how they look in general and also during different times of the day. When I get a request to do a specific type of portrait with a specific type of backdrop, whether it be in front of a barn or a pond or a fence, I can come up with something in a day or so. You really need a place that looks unique, is safe, with a suitable area to shoot portraits. Typically something without too much distracting background or things that don't fit in with the rest of the background.

Best of Luck to you!
 
I make backdrops digitally using a blank background, perform photoshop 'tricks' to create effects, and use what's comfortable and convenient in the area as well.
Some examples: http://s467.photobucket.com/albums/rr34/GAlanFink/Model%20Shoots/
There are Railroads, overpasses, canals, buildings, patterns... use your imagination girl.
I also travel quite a bit so I can render a background using photoshop when necessary too.
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Since most portraits are head and shoulder shots, really all you have to look for are some places that will give you some amazing, out of focus backgrounds, full of colour or at least hues.

Usually in the course of our work, we find interesting areas to shoot models. I found an old mill last month I will be using as a background in the near future. Some backgrounds lend themselves to a final image in black and white or sepia ... I keep a list of them handy when an model or two break free and we do a day of shooting for their books and mine.
 
Since most portraits are head and shoulder shots, really all you have to look for are some places that will give you some amazing, out of focus backgrounds, full of colour or at least hues.

Usually in the course of our work, we find interesting areas to shoot models. I found an old mill last month I will be using as a background in the near future. Some backgrounds lend themselves to a final image in black and white or sepia ... I keep a list of them handy when an model or two break free and we do a day of shooting for their books and mine.
 
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