Where to find places (locations) to shoot

So my biggest problem is findind places to shoot. Currently I am in the Tampa, Florida area and I am getting tired of using the same 2-3 locations to shoot kids and families in my area.

How do you all find new places to shoot? I see so many examples of people shooting in really cool places but part of me is concerned with tresspassing or even the logistics of getting my clients to a place without walking 1/2 a mile to get there. Parks are nice planes to shoot but I found one time that the grass was not cut on the day I had sceduled a shoot there.

Any tips and or tricks? I know that there quite a few members that are in my area. Any help would be appreciated.

-N-

Might be a long shot, but have you tried going to Flickr and entering "tampa"? you probably know the area and might get some ideas from looking at the various photos that posted. See if you can recognize some good locations, then go scout them out to see what the possibilities are for that location.

Google this:
"Tampa" site : panoramio.com

Click on Images along the top menu.
When you see an image of an area you like click on it then choose "Visit page" to see the site that image is featured on.

I had to put spaces between the site--:--p because the editor wants to change it to a smiley.

rick_reno wrote in post #16270937
Might be a long shot, but have you tried going to Flickr and entering "tampa"? you probably know the area and might get some ideas from looking at the various photos that posted. See if you can recognize some good locations, then go scout them out to see what the possibilities are for that location.

This is an excellent suggestion. I have successfully used Flickr to find places to shoot all around the country; finding some nice places in a well-populated area like Tampa should be a breeze on Flickr.

I believe google earth has tags with photos form places all over the world.

Been to Gator Land in Orlando? Bird sanctuary as well. I'd love to go there again one day.

http://www.gatorland.c​om

These sure go way back.

rockfordhx wrote in post #16270744
So my biggest problem is findind places to shoot. Currently I am in the Tampa, Florida area and I am getting tired of using the same 2-3 locations to shoot kids and families in my area.

How do you all find new places to shoot? I see so many examples of people shooting in really cool places but part of me is concerned with tresspassing or even the logistics of getting my clients to a place without walking 1/2 a mile to get there. Parks are nice planes to shoot but I found one time that the grass was not cut on the day I had sceduled a shoot there.

Any tips and or tricks? I know that there quite a few members that are in my area. Any help would be appreciated.

-N-

A photographer needs to have an intimate knowledge of their area and to know what is available. You may need to turn off the computer and spend a few days traveling around your area and find locations. From having spent time in the Tampa area from Redington Beach to Clearwater and Ybor City and seen the area's causeways such as Gulf to Bay Boulevard, I'd think that there would be no problem in easily finding an excess number of photogenic locations in and around Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Googlemaps, click on photos and look around. But its usualy going to be a long drive

thanks Everyone. I grew up in this area and after awhile you tend to lose the appeal of the natural beauty around you. Going to try all of these suggestions and see what I come up with.

rockfordhx wrote in post #16270744
So my biggest problem is findind places to shoot...I am getting tired of using the same 2-3 locations to shoot kids and families in my area.

How do you all find new places to shoot?
Any tips and or tricks?...

Get in your car and go for a drive...

Sorry if that sounds blunt, but it really is that simple.

Start thinking in macro (not the lens) terms. You only need a space about 15 feet wide. I bet there are some pretty spots in your neighborhood. All you need is is nice porch, a rose garden, maybe a causeway with the city in the background, etc. Tampa is loaded with good sites.

whuband wrote in post #16287642
Start thinking in macro (not the lens) terms. You only need a space about 15 feet wide. I bet there are some pretty spots in your neighborhood. All you need is is nice porch, a rose garden, maybe a causeway with the city in the background, etc. Tampa is loaded with good sites.

THANKS !! Yes I completely understand. I was looking on flickr and other sites and I kept saying to myself "I know that place" but I dont remember there being a good place to shoot. Yeah thinking in macroworks, Got it !! Much thanks. I will be sure to update the thread with a sample pic (with location ) once I have another shoot in a new place.

Please keep it updated; I'm always looking for new locations.

I'll share one that I haven't shot at yet, though I want to: In Brandon, just north of the intersection of Lumsden and Mount Carmel road, there's a grove of pine trees that were planted all in relatively straight rows. They look to be a couple of decades old. Around the golden hour, they make really interesting areas of light and shade. I want to shoot there right before sunrise on a foggy morning, too.

Why go to places everyone is already going? Photographs are everywhere, not just the famous spots (and do we really need another photograph of Antelope Canyon?) Don't go where people have already taken thousands of photos; go where YOU see pictures that others haven't.

Go for a walk. Take a drive. Ride your bike. Lay on your back in your own back yard. Go into your garage and don't come out until you have shot 100 images. Pictures come from how you see, not from where you are.

Think of all the cool places you might miss by not walking the 1/2 mile. I get it if you can't, but a slow walk can reveal a lot.

You don't really need a fancy place to get a 'good' shots.

Check out here:

Vintage Famous Album Covers Photographed in the NYC Locations Where They Were Shot

Finding the Locations of Famous Album Covers

Good luck!