Hi, I’m Lydia. I have a problem and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

I’m addicted to scouting for locations.

When I’m driving, I constantly look for interesting family photography locations near me. On bike rides, I send pins to myself when I pass a location with flowers or gorgeous trees. I scroll around the area on Google Maps, looking for evergreens, creeks, rivers, lakes, and beaches. I explore the back corners of parks, nature preserves, and grass trails on foot. I seriously never stop looking.

That’s why I love it when my clients ask me to choose the location for their photos. I have a long (and getting longer) list of locations. And having total flexibility to choose means I can find the perfect spot for each family.

Why you should let your photographer choose the location

Iowa has all four seasons, and the landscape changes throughout the year—as a result, there’s no such thing as a perfect location that looks good year-round.

RELATED POSTS: How to hire a photographer
Part 1: editing style
Part 2: posing style
Part 3: digitals, prints, turnaround, and backup plans
Part 4: editing expectations
Part 5: wardrobe and styling

Wild flowers bloom in May, and daisies in June, but both are gone quickly. Sunflowers hang out for just a couple of weeks in late summer. My favorite shallow creek is only accessible in June (the path is blocked by huge weeds the rest of the summer). And fall leaves dazzle us only in October.

The best family photography locations in Iowa change throughout the year, and it’s my job to know what looks amazing at any given time.

That’s why I finalize locations one week prior to the session, giving me time to scope out each spot, and ensure it’s ready for its close-up.

These two photos were taken in the same meadow just a few weeks apart, at the same time of day.

Green leaves in photo 1, golden leaves in photo 2. The same meadow just one week later was down to bare branches.

Sure, there may be a few “unicorn locations” that look amazing from April to December, but they’re rare (and probably overrun with other photographers who’ve discovered the same unicorn).

What to look for when hiring your photographer

Ask them about the locations they typically shoot at, or better yet, look at their portfolio to see how much repetition there is. Variety is good!

There’s a very popular photo location near me, in the beautiful Kent Park. It’s a huge stand of pine trees on the park’s eastern edge, and its beautiful texture and light have made it ubiquitous among local photographers.

My first year of photography, I used that exactly location over and over. I didn’t have a roster of locations to go back to, so I relied on the popular ones. Most days I had to work around one or more other photographers shooting there, too.

The following year, I vowed to avoid the pines completely and find my own locations, and I did exactly that.

Nowadays, I steer clear of the popular spots, and instead find locations with beautiful texture, light, and backgrounds that aren’t as well-known.

These off-the-beaten-path locations mean I can offer my families privacy and unique settings they won’t see on anyone else’s Christmas card. Bonus: no randos wandering into frame while I’m shooting.

What if you have a family photography location in mind that’s meaningful for your family?

This is the exception to the “let your photographer pick the location” rule.

Last fall, a client requested a specific lakeside area near their home, next to a boat ramp. They were planning to move soon and wanted their photos at a location near and dear to their heart. I scoped it out ahead of time to ensure the light was good, and the evening of our session, we had the most gorgeous pinky-purple autumn sunset and perfectly still reflective water.

A meaningful location is a wonderful thing—when it works. Your photographer is the expert on light and location, and they should let you know if your chosen location will make for beautiful photos.

Keep an open mind when suggesting a location. If the lighting is poor, the background is overly cluttered, or some other deal-breaker exists, trust your photographer’s judgment when he/she advises you to choose a different spot. You’ll be glad you did.

Did you miss any of the other installments in the How to Hire a Family Photographer series? Get caught up!

RELATED POSTS
How to hire a photographer
Part 1: editing style
Part 2: posing style
Part 3: digitals, prints, turnaround, and backup plans
Part 4: editing expectations
Part 5: wardrobe and styling