Scouting For New Locations!

At least once per month, I scout for new locations. During the summer and pre-COVID, I was scouting at least once per week. Sometimes I was scouting with a specific place in mind, and other days I would drive around until I saw something promising.

When it comes to finding new places, I typically rely on word of mouth. In Southern Illinois, there are countless areas for a great photoshoot. I typically don’t like to go more than 1 hour because most of my clients live near or around me, so I like to keep in mind how far my clients are willing to go. Also my fiancée, Kevin, usually comes with me and is always willing to be my model. This allows me to visualize what the site would look like with a client. These images are from some of scouting sessions.

This upcoming summer, I hope to add more lakes and creeks to my rotation of favorite locations. I love water and I think clients love it as well. I think this would be especially pretty for maternity sessions.

Another way that I learn about new locations is through Facebook. There are several photography groups or nature lover groups where people share and talk about areas that they have photographed. Here are some more pictures taken while I was scouting: