Location scouting is included in every portrait session we book. It is not an add-on or a premium service. It is part of the process, because a location that looks good in a Google Maps photograph at noon can look completely different at 18h on a Tuesday in July. We visit every location ourselves, usually at the same time of day as the planned session.
What we are looking for on a scout ¶
Three things, mainly. First, where the light falls at the specific time of day we plan to shoot. Second, where the background is clean enough to not compete with the subject. Third, where the practical problems are: busy paths, construction noise, restricted access. A location that is beautiful in photographs can be unusable if there is a road crew working twenty metres away.
Locations we use regularly around Curitiba ¶
The Jardim Botânico is the obvious one, and it works well in the late afternoon when the greenhouse catches the light. The Parque Barigui is better for sessions that need open space and a water element. The streets around the Batel neighbourhood have good architectural backgrounds for editorial-style portraits. For something more rural, the roads outside Lapa, about an hour south of Curitiba, offer open farmland and very little foot traffic.
When clients suggest their own locations ¶
Often the best sessions happen at locations that mean something to the client. A garden, a neighbourhood they grew up in, a specific street. We are happy to scout any location the client suggests. We ask for the address, visit it ourselves, and come back with a recommendation on timing and positioning. If the location genuinely does not work for the kind of photographs we make, we say so and suggest an alternative.
Scouting for events outside Curitiba ¶
For events in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, or along the Santa Catarina coast, we ask for photographs of the venue and a floor plan or garden layout. When the event is significant enough and the budget allows, we visit in person. For most events, the remote preparation is sufficient. We have photographed events at venues we had never visited before and the preparation made the difference.
If you are thinking about a session in or around Curitiba and want to talk through location options, write to us at hello@duskmontage.com. We are happy to suggest specific spots based on what you have in mind.