Some of the most rewarding work we do at dpix isn’t in the studio — it’s out in the world. Location photography throws all sorts of interesting challenges at you: unpredictable light, spaces that weren’t designed to be photographed, and clients who need you to make their building, venue, or product look as good in print as it does in person. We love it.
Over the years we’ve shot on location for architects, property developers, interior designers, schools, hotels, restaurants, and corporate clients. Each one teaches you something new. Here’s how we approach it.
Light is everything — and you can’t always control it
The biggest difference between studio and location work is light. In the studio, we build it exactly how we want it. On location, we work with what’s there — and what’s there changes by the hour. We’ll often scout a location at the same time of day as the planned shoot, just to understand the quality and direction of natural light. A beautiful room with a west-facing window is a completely different proposition at noon versus 4pm.
Where natural light isn’t working for us, we’ll supplement with portable lighting — but subtly. The goal is always to enhance rather than overpower. The best location images look like the place really looks, just at its absolute best.
Who commissions location photography?
The brief varies enormously. Architects need sharp, technically accurate images that show their work in context — the relationship between a building and its environment matters as much as the building itself. Property developers want lifestyle-led shots that help buyers picture themselves there. Interior designers need images that showcase material, texture, and scale. Schools and colleges want photography that feels real and welcoming, not staged.
What all these clients share is a need for images that work — that do a job, whether that’s winning a planning application, selling apartments off plan, or filling a prospectus.
Preparation makes the difference
Good location photography starts well before the shoot day. We talk through the brief in detail — what the images are for, where they’ll be used, what needs to be in frame and what doesn’t. We discuss logistics: access, timing, who’s on site, whether rooms or spaces need dressing or clearing. The more we know going in, the more efficiently the day runs and the better the results.
If you’ve got a location shoot coming up — or you’re wondering whether location photography could work for your project — we’re always happy to talk it through.
To find out more about our commercial photography work, visit our service page.
Related reading: Choosing the Right Location for a Photography Shoot.
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