It was one spooky weekend in Athens, Greece, just a few years back, when I was prepping for a session with a Client. Out of the sudden, all of my (fully charged) camera and flash batteries were going dead, one by one, just like ‘kaput’- and there was literally a *zero* logical explanations why.
After posting the question ‘what’s happening with my batteries, please help’ on some online photographer forums, consulting with ‘tech heavy’ friends, the answer was finally given to me by my sister, (who’s a big fan of those ‘ghost hunter’ tv shows). Apparently, THE GHOSTS deplete batteries and electronics .. for ‘energy’. oooOOOooo… The concierge of the hotel where I was staying only confirmed the worst: “The hotel, Miss, was built on an ANCIENT BURIAL site.” Ahhhh!! What happened later? Read on…..
However, even after this blood chilling and tech-glitching experience linked to a specific place, I still love exploring new lands, having adventures, and finding off-the-beaten-path locations for my Personal Branding Portrait Clients. Locations and places hold MAGIC and add SO MUCH PERSONALITY AND EXCITEMENT to your session experience, and to the visuals!
Only this past year I found a wonderful secret garden in Arnhem, Netherlands with Merel Kriegsman, snuck into the Egyptian room at the Metropolitan museum/ explored the beaches of Laguna with Anu Grace, luxuriated on leather couches of an Uptown NYC Hotel with Megan Weks, had a great laugh with Bushra Azhar on the colorful streets of Madrid and got rained on in a lush vineyard with Chantelle Adams …just to mention a few of my FAVE SHOOTS!
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The SPIRIT OF PLACES can truly EXCITE, FASCINATE your audience, and make them long to know you, hang out with you, and give you their hearts (and wallets). Locations express so much about who you are.
——-> What geographical locations are crucial for your brand?
——->What vibe do you wish to project through location?
——->Where do your ideal clients live?
——->What locations align with the vibe of your business?
——->What locations speak to you aesthetically?
——->What locations will create visual excitement and ‘contrast’ to how you present yourself? (for example, on my portrait shoot I was decked out in a gold Badgley Mischka dress while strolling the abandoned industrial site)…
Have you been dreaming of that luxe hotel lobby with a huge, crystal chandelier? Read on…
Some really amazing locations might not be so accommodating for photography, for example hotel lobbies/upscale lounges (especially in NYC) might give you a bit of an attitude. Botanic/sculpture gardens and museums might require a special permit to photograph there. My advice is to ‘Just Do It’ but be like a guerrilla… use your intuition, improvise, and be low key- as invisible and quiet as possible : )!
Vegas was a perfect photo shoot location, it was so abundant in visual excitement & so friendly. Tons of amazing interiors, full of original artwork… and as long as the casino people are not in the photos… no problemo!
BEAUTIFUL RUINS, Urban city streets, your home, your kitchen, rooftop lounge, your office, your garden, sculpture garden, local house museum grounds, hotel room, hotel lounge, park, forrest, creek, meadow, field, barn with pastures, beach, farmers market, industrial end of town, artsy/ gritty city streets, iconic architecture in the city, AirBnB, by the river, on a boat, exotic animal farm, herb garden, rooftop bar, cafe, orchard in bloom, small town streets, athletic club, by the pool, yoga studio, artist’s studio, manicured garden, nearby estate, winery, friend’s house, spa, desert, botanic garden, library, a lush greenhouse …
As soon as I left the hotel, my electronics were just fine, charging and strong power with no issue. Yes, since then I believe in ghosts!
What location would you want your dream photo session? Drop me a line to brainstorm!
