“Where should we shoot?” is the question people get stuck on most before a session. A place that looks great in a photo and a place where your photos will work aren't always the same. Here are the seven criteria I use to pick a location so the result doesn't come down to luck.
1. Light and time of day
Light matters more than the place itself: the same spot at noon and at sunset gives different photos. Open areas shine at golden hour; narrow streets and shade save you under midday sun. More on timing in the when to shoot guide.
2. Background: clean and colour
Look not at the “spot” but at what will be behind you: a busy, cluttered or over-contrasty background pulls attention off the person. Prefer plain surfaces, calm architecture, greenery, water. The background colour should get along with your outfit.
3. Permits and crowds
Popular spots at sunset are packed — that's stress and strangers in frame. I build in timing (earlier/later) and backup angles. Shooting with a tripod and lighting in parks and museums sometimes needs a permit — we check that in advance.
4. Matching your style and goal
The location should serve the story: industrial concrete for bold fashion, cobbled lanes for romantic love story, greenery and water for easy family frames. Goal and mood first, then the place — not the other way around.
5. Mobility: how many spots per session
In an hour to ninety minutes it's comfortable to cover 2–3 nearby locations — that keeps the series varied without rushing. I plan a route where the spots are close and offer different light and texture, so no time is lost to travel.
6. Weather and season
Outdoors depends on the sky: keep a backup date or an interior option just in case. In winter the sun is soft all day; in summer midday is harsh — the season changes both the time and the spots themselves.
7. Harmony with your wardrobe
The look and the location are one picture. Warm stone streets love muted tones; a minimal studio loves clean silhouettes. How to build the look around the place — in the what to wear guide.
Don't want to choose it yourself?
That's fine — I take the location on myself. I'll pick the place, time and route for your brief, and in Belgrade and Madrid I already have proven spots: Belgrade locations and Madrid locations. Book on the Belgrade and Madrid pages.