Calling on location only photographers!

[sweetypie925]

Hi, since I have no desire to have a studio I was wondering if anyone else makes their business without having a brick and mortar studio or even a home studio. I am interested in doing portraits of children,seniors,engagements and possibly weddings in the future. I had a few questions...

What gear do you have? Do you still use strobes on location or flash?

What is your specialty? What do you usually shoot?

How do you get practice and what do you shoot when its cold outside?

Do you only shoot outside, at events, or do location at a clients home?

What advice can you give for someone starting out?

[jra]

Well, I feel that this is something I can chime in on with some experience. I don't have an actual studio (although I can do a make shift studio in my home) but the vast majority of my photography is "on location". First of all, I've found on location photography to be much more difficult than a studio environment. In a studio, everything is easily controlled. With location photography, I often find myself walking into a location that I've never seen before with the expectation of being able to come up with good ideas for photos and being able to execute with little to no experimentation time. I frequently shoot family portraits, events (such as re-unions and parties) and some weddings. I have a few key locations that I'm very familiar with that I try to suggest to clients. Unfortunately, in the winter months, many of these locations are of no use. In many cases, people want me to come to their home. I've done quite a few home visits and they still make me nervous....I don't know what to expect and yet I'm expected to take charge and create professional photographs in a very short period of time in an environment that I'm not familiar with. My gear consists of quite a large bag...many different backdrops, stands, stools, props and lights....I try to prepare for whatever my client may throw at me. I have some larger strobes with many modifiers that come in handy for more conventional situations but for in home use, several Canon flashes on stands with umbrellas work great. They allow quick set-up and the ability to easily and quickly change things around.
My advice for starting out is simply practice....grab a friend or family member and start shooting. Try going to different locations and use your helper (model) to create a series of photographs. Another suggestion is to spark your creativity by looking at your everyday situations as a photography opportunity....where would you shoot?...how would you set up the lighting?...how would you pose the client?...you get the idea. After doing that for a bit, you'll find yourself starting to look at just about every situation as a photographic opportunity....even if you have no intention of ever taking a picture there. In fact....I often carry my camera with me and if I see an idea, I'll have my wife stand in while I try it out.
The rewarding part of doing location photography is that you're often giving your client a unique piece of work...something more intimate....a piece of their life captured. Something that they could never get from a Wal-mart type studio.
Good luck!

[blackshadow]

You might like to check out www.strobist.com for advice about portable lighting.

[bieber]

I do pretty much all outdoors, with speedlights, and Winter isn't really a problem, thanks to living in Florida ;)

[canuck88]

I operate without bricks & mortar. I prefer doing most shooting with natural light, but for in-home studio sessions I have a huge case that carries 3 strobes (300ws), 2 softboxes, 3 lightstands, and some other stuff (light modifiers, etc). I also have a portable backdrop stand that has a case. When I don't want to lug that stuff around, I have 2x 580ex and 1x 430ex.

I shoot mostly people (portaits, maternity, babies, kids, families, and now getting more into weddings) and corporate events.

strobist.com is a great suggestion.

[tcmers]

I have portable backdrop stands, a bag for the back drops, and two strobes I take with me for on location portraits. I may take along a few simple props depending on the shoot also. If the link works, Here's one I did for a newborn shoot in an apartment with a 4 yr old and 6 yr old running around. We actually had toys behind the back drop. LOL I took the basket, blanket, a few "rugs" and a bag of ABC blocks.
I prefer shooting outdoors, but in Indiana you have to be flexible. I'm considering opening a studio someday, but for now I'm just a part timer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/tcmers/CRW_3618_RJ-copysep.jpg

[jackies35]

I agree with everything you say! i agreed with everything you said!

Ditto!! :oI get very nervous trying to meet the customer's needs in locations I have never seen or worked in.... It kills me:mad::rolleyes::o:(..

I, the amateur, needs a studio where I have total control of everything....

Well, I feel that this is something I can chime in on with some experience. I don't have an actual studio (although I can do a make shift studio in my home) but the vast majority of my photography is "on location". First of all, I've found on location photography to be much more difficult than a studio environment. In a studio, everything is easily controlled. With location photography, I often find myself walking into a location that I've never seen before with the expectation of being able to come up with good ideas for photos and being able to execute with little to no experimentation time. I frequently shoot family portraits, events (such as re-unions and parties) and some weddings. I have a few key locations that I'm very familiar with that I try to suggest to clients. Unfortunately, in the winter months, many of these locations are of no use. In many cases, people want me to come to their home. I've done quite a few home visits and they still make me nervous....I don't know what to expect and yet I'm expected to take charge and create professional photographs in a very short period of time in an environment that I'm not familiar with. My gear consists of quite a large bag...many different backdrops, stands, stools, props and lights....I try to prepare for whatever my client may throw at me. I have some larger strobes with many modifiers that come in handy for more conventional situations but for in home use, several Canon flashes on stands with umbrellas work great. They allow quick set-up and the ability to easily and quickly change things around.
My advice for starting out is simply practice....grab a friend or family member and start shooting. Try going to different locations and use your helper (model) to create a series of photographs. Another suggestion is to spark your creativity by looking at your everyday situations as a photography opportunity....where would you shoot?...how would you set up the lighting?...how would you pose the client?...you get the idea. After doing that for a bit, you'll find yourself starting to look at just about every situation as a photographic opportunity....even if you have no intention of ever taking a picture there. In fact....I often carry my camera with me and if I see an idea, I'll have my wife stand in while I try it out.
The rewarding part of doing location photography is that you're often giving your client a unique piece of work...something more intimate....a piece of their life captured. Something that they could never get from a Wal-mart type studio.
Good luck!