The Shoot: Part I - Locations
You’d be surprised at how much strategy goes into shooting for Instagram.
Creating quality content for Instagram is not an easy task. While it might seem that we simply take a camera and shoot pictures of our outfits, the process is actually a complex and time-consuming one. The following series of posts will hopefully give you an idea of the lengths to which influencers can go to create visually-appealing images (and, honestly, there are many influencers who put much more effort than I do into their photoshoots).
It is also important to note that the act of creating content is constantly evolving. For instance, there is a world of difference between the way I shot outfits for Instagram about 2.5 years ago and how I shoot them now. Even now, I have scrolled back on my feed and noticed that my shooting style can change on a monthly basis. Nevertheless, I’ll try to touch upon the fundamental elements that constitute good shooting conditions. First up— what does it mean for me to find a good shoot location?
Location Planning: An Evolutionary Process
Over the past year or so, choosing the right location to shoot has become an incredibly important consideration. When I was beginning my Instagram account, I only cared about lighting conditions and what I was wearing. As a result, it was completely acceptable to shoot on my apartment’s balcony or just outside my building.
However, after shooting together with other experienced bloggers, such mediocre choices are no longer acceptable. Nowadays, I plan blogger dates in advance with regard to locations. For instance, is the weather good enough to shoot outdoors in an uncovered location? Would a neutral or colourful background work best for our outfits? Are the locations somewhat near to each other or convenient to access? Planning such details beforehand is key to staying efficient and not spending unnecessary time looking for the right location.
Note: It might be important to note that I often shoot anywhere between 2-4 outfits on a single blogger outing.
How Do We Find Them?
In terms of finding these locations, I have to give credit to my fellow bloggers for many of them. Prior to shooting with other influencers regularly, I usually settled for easy locations (i.e. the apartment balcony) as the husband was/is definitely not down to go somewhere just to shoot.
As well, I was unaware of how to find good locations in Vancouver until I started noticing how my closest blogger acquaintances would search for them. While walking around to find locations can work, it is often time-consuming and inefficient. As a result, we will often notice where other bloggers shoot and find the exact spot ourselves by 1) asking that blogger or 2) finding it via Google Maps. The second option is something that my close blogger friend excels at— I honestly have no clue how she does it but I am very impressed by her prowess.
Currently, my preference for location choices tend towards neutral backgrounds as they create a clean canvas to best showcase the colourful ensembles I often like to wear. More specifically, any wall colours ranging from white to cream are acceptable. However, it’s nice to throw in the occasional scenic background to change things up (for example, some pretty beach scenery).
Rules and Restrictions
When choosing locations for a shoot, it is important to be aware of any rules and regulations that might apply to that area. At times, photography might not be permitted due it being private property or by the perceived disturbance such activities might bring. For instance, many local bloggers used to take photos on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery at the centre of downtown Vancouver. However, the art gallery recently put up big signs (and even tape blocking off the area) around the steps to discourage all individuals from using the steps. (However, I think that some bloggers still take pictures in there regardless.)
Surprisingly, some commercial properties don’t seem to mind bloggers snapping on the premises. For example, Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew, which are two high end department stores in CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver, do not seem mind that numerous bloggers shoot inside their stores (especially when the weather is disagreeable outside).
Geographic Challenges
As a Vancouver blogger, it’s become glaringly obvious how difficult it can be to find original and agreeable locations in our city. When visiting certain cities such as L.A., we have discovered that there are streets upon streets of Instagram-worthy backgrounds and spots.
In sharp contrast, Vancouver is a relatively young city and therefore is behind larger cities in terms of street art and fashionable districts. Additionally, our climate dictates that we must suffer through at least 10 months of rainy weather a year. During the winter, we often only have decent light until 2 or 3 pm; as well, we must struggle to find a good spot that provides some coverage from the rain.
As a result, good locations in downtown Vancouver are hard to come by— often, we will stumble across other bloggers when we visit the more popular spots. To make things even more fun, some bloggers have made it a contentious matter to post an outfit post at the same location if they were not shooting together…
Surprised? I would be too.
If you are not an influencer, are you surprised at how much detail goes into location planning? If I compared my thought process from two year to now, the differences would be astounding.
If you are an influencer, what are your best methods of finding the best locations for your shoots?
Best,
Debbie (The Stylish Wordsmith)
