On-Location Shoots vs Studio Shoots


Location shoots often offer more realistic settings and can make a model feel more comfortable, but the photographer has a greater challenge to control the elements. Given good weather and lighting conditions, a location shoot is easier to pull off, but if the elements are not favorable, manipulating a location shoot is far more complicated than working in a studio. Lifestyle and commercial shoots are often done on location.

Studio shoots can give more fashion feel, but photographers should be able to offer a variety of looks that they can achieve in a studio. A portfolio or comp card will look flat if all the images share the same background and lighting. I find that many of my assignments call for white backgrounds, but I try to create more depth and texture in my backgrounds on portfolio shoots. I also try to use a different technique and background on each outfit to give the impression of more experience for the model.

Samples from magazines are often a useful tool to communicate ideas between the photographer, model and stylist. Setting goals for a shoot helps achieve better results.

Most importantly, the model has to feel comfortable with every aspect of the shoot in order to look their best.


Frequently asked modeling questions