Previewing locations

So this week, I had a portrait photoshoot with the wonderful wedding and event planner, Alison from Plans and Presents.


Alison was one of the first wedding suppliers to make contact with me and that's something I hold in high regard - friendliness is what you practice.

The downside with any shoot in Scotland is our weather climate. Arranging a photoshoot in advance by more than a few days is a bit like a photographic roulette. A week prior to the shoot, I was constantly checking the BBC online weather, which predicted heavy showers throughout the day. This meant that I needed a plan B, with potential indoor locations sourced.

I managed to find a couple of fall-back locations, who were willing to help out.

Normally when I'm organising a shoot, I have an idea of where I want to go, and start sourcing potential venues and locations almost immediately. Reccie's are an important part of my photography - making sure that a location is usable. I usually try to go a few days before, but no more than a week in advance. In the space of a week, anything can happen, including building works, scaffolding, repairs, which can transform a gorgeous location into a less photogenic building site.

Indoor locations are occasionally harder than outdoor ones - simply for seeking permission to use premises, and trying to fit around any busy periods. Some locations might request something in exchange, money, photos, services. Others might allow a photographer to work there, but forbid flash photography, or the use of tripods. Depending on the location, I might forgo flash, but in those circumstances it's near impossible to work without a tripod. 

In the end, I didn't use them, as it turned out the BBC weather forecast, even on the day of the shoot, had been hopelessly wrong about the weather. No rain, those high winds were little less than a gentle breeze, and a blue sky just glowing with sunshine and small fluffy candyfloss clouds.

The above photograph is taken from the reccie in the cloisters at Glasgow University. This location is very popular with wedding photographers, the combination of those lovely arches and pillars and vaulted ceiling with a bride in a white dress and floaty veil usually works beautifully, creating a gorgeous classic combination, worthy of canvases on lounge walls.

This was one of the locations we used during Alison's portrait shoot - it works well in any weather and any season. The sunshine poured between the arches, creating large pools of light across the floor, adding to the drama of the location.

Within a small area, the west end of Glasgow is a rich oasis of photographic locations, which is mostly why I chose it for this particular shoot. Want a wild countryside look? Head to the river Kelvin and walk along the banks under trees. Want something a little more tame? Botanic Gardens is a perfect location with its manicured lawns. For an urban setting, wandering around Byres Road and Great Western Road offers a wealth of options; for cobbled streets and artisan craft shops, Cranworth Lane is an outstanding location.

I'll post some of the photos from Alison's shoot later in the week when she's had a chance to view them (and hopefully she'll like them).