Location Ideas for your Brand Photoshoot
Often times as small business owners and creatives we don’t have a space of our own, whether an office or a studio of some sort to have our photos taken in. We work from our kitchen tables and our garages and it’s not always the side of our business that we want to show. Or maybe your office or studio just doesn’t have great light and you need a location that translates to photos better. I get it! Here is a list of some of my favorite places to take brand photos for people just like you! I hope these location ideas help you brainstorm the perfect location that will reflect your brand well.
GRLS Studio
GRLS Studio is my favorite studio to rent in Tacoma because it is basically a blank canvas. It has whitewashed plywood floors and a white painted brick wall and the most beautiful window light! They have some props available from tables and chairs to houseplants. In addition, you can add seamless backdrops to your rental (different color paper backdrops). They are located in Downtown Tacoma in a convenient, central location. The one downside is having to carry props up several flights of stairs to get to the studio 😅 Here are a few photos I’ve taken at GRLS Studio:
2. Other Studios in Tacoma Tacoma
Tacoma Arts Community Center is a big space with white walls and a concrete floor and soft, diffused window light from two walls of windows with sheers over them. Studio 253 has a couple of different walls to choose from including white, gray or black, and a polished mid-tone wood floor. They also have plenty of seamless paper backdrops you can rent with the studio. Below are some brand photos I took at Studio 253.
3. The Pioneer Collective
The Pioneer Collective is actually a co-working space in Courthouse Square (also in Downtown Tacoma) but they have some great light and are photoshoot friendly. You can either book a private room for a day or you can sign up for a monthly membership. They have a mid-century modern vibe with lots of plants, tables, and desks as well as couches in their main room in addition to little office spaces and conference rooms. Here are a few photos I’ve taken at The Pioneer Collective:
4. Coffee Shops
While it can be challenging if it is busy, Tacoma coffee shops provide a great FREE (well, the price of a coffee anyway) location for a lifestyle photoshoot of you working on a laptop or meeting with a client. A few of my favorites for this are Olympia Coffee, Bluebeard, Honey, Lift Bridge, or the newest coffee shop in Tacoma, Lander. Other similar locations that would work well for a small shoot would be Gather Juice, hello, cupcake, Ice Cream Social, and I am sure there are so so many more! Below are a couple of shots I took at Olympia Coffee and hello, cupcake:
5. Rent an Airbnb, Home Studio List, or PeerSpace
This is such a great option if you have the budget for it! I love that Home Studio List actually gives each location a lighting score. Peerspace has both home and studio rentals on it and it’s the way I’ve found a lot of good spots in Tacoma and surrounding areas, including the home in the pictures below! Airbnb is a little different because it’s primarily for vacation rentals, but you can message the host and ask if they would give you a special day rate for a shoot, or just make it into a little vacation after your shoot. Just be sure to ask the host to make sure they are okay with a photoshoot happening in their space first!
6. The Hotel Murano
Whether you have the budget to rent a room or conference room or just use the lobby for free, this is a very versatile hotel with lots of light. In fact, hotels are usually pretty open to having photos taken in them and they often have some fun and unique spots to offer. The shot on the left below was taken in a conference room that we rented for a shoot and the shot on the right was just a behind-the-scenes shot I snapped as we were transitioning in the lobby.
7. Sage interiors
I’ve never actually shot here myself, but I’ve seen others do it, so I know they are open to the idea and it’s BEAUTIFUL in there! I think it would be a great location to shoot in.
8. My House
For real, I do a lot of sessions out of my own home! My kitchen has great light and I’ve got a little sunroom that is good for photos too. Best of all, it’s completely free for my clients. Here are some photos I’ve taken recently in my home (I must take photos of my coffee a lot 😂):
9. Coming soon!
Coming in early 2023 I’ll also have a home studio available in my backyard! I can’t wait to offer this bright space with options for cozy living space and kitchen shoots with bright white walls and a cool toned wood floor. It will have minimal mid-century style furnishings and all the cute props to choose from.
Have some ideas to add to the list? Leave them in the comments! Want to book a photoshoot with me? Click the button below to get started!