Is Studio or On Location Better for Branding Photos?
What are “In-Studio” Photoshoots?
You probably already know that a studio is a photographer’s workspace to take photos of various subjects. Studios get used for all different types of photography, like portraits, product shots, and even business branding. They’re filled with giant lights, lots of gadgets, and in my case, an excited photographer ready to create images that capture you and your business at your best.
Like everything else in life, in-studio photoshoots come with pros and cons.
Example of studio photography setup for a branding session
Pros of In-Studio Photoshoots
A studio is a blank canvas, which can give your images a perfectly generic background. This is perfect for when you work from a home office that no one will ever see or if want to separate your brand image from the coffee shop where you do all your client meetings.
Using a generic location can create a completely different look and express the story that makes sense to your brand — especially if you are your brand. Studio shoots allow the images to focus entirely on you, because there are no distractions in a studio setup. You choose the background, incorporating furniture and props as you want them.
There’s no dog running off leash in the background to draw attention away from you and no coffeeshop patron sneezing just out of focus to ruin an otherwise perfect picture. That just leaves you as the star of the images.
The studio is a controlled location; you can literally change how everything looks — from lighting and colors to wardrobe and temperature — to fit your brand’s needs. Is your brand light and happy? Bring in more light! Want to give a summery vibe in the middle of February? Crank up the heat and pull out that sundress!
The convenience and control of the location means there are no strangers being weird in the background, horrible weather to contend with, or distraction that makes it difficult to be yourself. And when it comes to branding, you want to look and feel authentic, so the final images reflect your brand story.
The privacy of the studio means it’s just you and the brand photographer, so you won’t be distracted by a random guy watching you pose or people walking through your photos at inopportune moments.
When there are no distractions and you control the environment, you can just be yourself and let the photographer capture your true essence without effort. You need only to think about the story you want to tell. Studio shoots allow you to take control of the story you’re telling about your business.
Studio sessions offer you complete control over the environment and plenty of space.
Cons of In Studio Photoshoots
Of course every benefit has a challenge. The studio is generic, which means if you don’t dress it up properly, the studio photos will look like just that — some pictures you took in a studio. Studio photos are tricky to get right because you’re trying to balance control with authenticity.
It’s important to ask yourself how the studio will be perceived from your client’s perspective. How much of your business story is tied to your business environment?
Sure, you can dress up the studio with available furniture and props, but how many other branding clients will have used the same pieces? Will your brand photos look too much like the photographer’s other clients? And does that matter to you?
You can rent props and furniture to go for a more custom look or achieve a specific style, but this can add significantly to the cost of your branding shots. You’ll need to pay the rental fees, moving fees to have it all delivered and picked up, as well as insurance costs for the process. Those out of pocket expenses can really add up.
And while a studio gives you control, there’s only so much to take control of. There’s no environmental element to express a piece of your brand. Likewise, being out of your environment may put you out of your element and make it more difficult to express your core brand personality.
Studios are very convenient… unless of course it’s inconvenient for you to get there. You’ll be going to the photographer rather than the photographer coming to you or meeting at a central destination. Depending on the photographer’s location, this could be well out of your way.
Finally, studio shoots can be more expensive. Many photographers with a full-time studio have higher overhead than on-location photographer — to cover things like rent, utilities, insurance, etc. — which is likely to be reflected in the price. Studios can be rented hourly, but that cost will be passed on to you, so either way, it will likely be more expensive than shooting on location.
In a studio, neutral backgrounds keep the focus on you, but there is not a lot of environmental personality.
What are “On Location” Photoshoots?
As you might suspect, “on location” refers to photography shoots that happen outside of a photographer’s studio. This could be outside in a public space like a park, outside in a private space like an estate courtyard, inside in a public space like a coffee shop, or inside in a private space like your home office. It sounds very exotic, and sometimes it is!
Let’s dive into some of the pros and cons that come with being “on location”.
Example of an on-location photo shoot in an office.
Pros of On Location Photoshoots
Shooting on location opens both you and the photographer up to a world of options! When you’re working with an existing background, you can use existing elements, vibe, and mood to communicate core aspects of your brand’s personality.
This means that the photos from on location photoshoots have an extra layer of authenticity built into the environment if you choose the right space. You can get amazing visual flare without the expense of props or costly backdrops.
Because you’re using a natural background (even if it’s a hotel lobby or urban graffiti wall) you can create a very unique look. This is especially important for your branding photos which you use in your marketing to help you stand out.
Ideal for individuals who don’t have a typical office or workspace, because you can use a public space or city landscape to communicate your brand. And if on location is good for individuals, it’s great for groups.
When you’re bringing together a team for a photoshoot, it’s so much easier to coordinate everyone in the office. It’s less disruptive to the work schedule than people ducking out one at a time to a studio location (which often means a whole day winds up spent on photos).
The one thing I love about on location shoots as a photographer is the sheer variety of images I can capture for my clients. You walk away with so many different images, that you really can keep your visual marketing fresh for a full year!
And it might shock you to hear that on location photoshoots are typically less expensive, even with the photographer’s travel costs taken into consideration. While the investment will depend on the photographer, you can get very creative with the location.
In private home or offices, for example, you don’t need to get anyone’s permission, you schedule for whenever is convenient, and you can take as long as you and the photographer want! It makes it the ideal scenario to get the perfect branding shots.
Lastly, just because you’re on location doesn’t mean you can’t get those neutral background photos. Most photographers have some kind of portable backdrop system and can create those basic white, black, or grey background headshots for you in any location!
Shooting on-location is sometimes necessary to tell the story you need to express.
Cons of On Location Photoshoots
Of course, on location photoshoots aren’t entirely perfect. When you’re out in the wild, you don’t have control over as many elements.
It’s harder to properly light the shoots because the photographer has to less control over the environmental lighting. You may have to limit your schedule to specific times of day to get the best lighting.
If you’re in a public space you won’t have much control over much of anything: lighting, environment, what passersby are doing, if there are distractions, and so on. There’s also a lack of privacy, so if you’re an introverted soul, you may feel uncomfortable with strangers watching your photoshoot, which makes it harder for the photographer to capture your brand essence and get you the photos you want.
Private spaces give you more control because you can rearrange furniture, clean up, remove distraction objects, hide off-brand items, and rework cramped spaces. But anywhere outside of a private home or office, you will likely need permission or a permit or both to be able to use the space.
Physical space is also an issue in private spaces such as home offices or rented offices in co-working spaces. Photographers almost always need to introduce additional lighting to any indoor environment for photography. Light stands, lights, and soft boxes take up a lot of space. From a technical perspective, it’s difficult to take environmental portraits in small spaces. The types of lenses we have to use in a small space are suboptimal for portraits and don’t create the kind of depth of field that you might be hoping for in your photos.
Coffee shops, hotel lobbies, office lobbies are great photo spaces, but you do need to take the time to communicate with the owners/managers and find out what they need from you and your photographer to use the space. You can rent private homes for the purpose of creating a very specific look in a photoshoot, but those places will add considerable cost to your photoshoot and may have minimum rental hours required.
If you choose an outdoor location to capture amazing weather or a beautiful landscape, you may have to contend with less than ideal weather: rain, fog, low lighting, strong wind, or just the discomfort of being too warm or too cold. If you have your heart set on sunny outdoor photos and it’s snowing, you also have to deal with rescheduling, your photographer’s rescheduling policies, and changing all your plans at the last minute. And be aware: even outdoor locations may require a permit for use. Many public parks and municipalities require permits for photography in public areas.
Then there are the tricky areas that seem public but are in fact private. Areas such as government buildings, shopping malls, train stations, spaces in front of businesses may require permission or a permit to create photos there. Professional photographers should be aware of local permitting requirements and should lead you to the right decision and appropriate documentation for your brand photo session.
When shooting in public spaces, you don’t have complete control over the environment.
Studio Hybrids
Today, there is another option, which might give you the best of both worlds. You can rent homes and office spaces specifically for the purpose of using them for a photoshoot. You can search available homes to find one that has the aesthetic you are looking for, and hopefully a lot of natural light. Shared office spaces also often rent out spaces to be used for photoshoots. Why would you do this? If you want to have additional space, if you want a certain look without having to rent a bunch of furniture to fill a studio space, or rearrange your home, or if you just don’t feel like your home or office fits your brand, renting a home or office for your photo session might be the right answer. Work with your photographer to find the right location and check it out in advance to evaluate space available, lighting, and additional props you might need to bring to ensure the space speaks to your brand.
As you can see, there’s no right or wrong choice for your photoshoots, but it all comes down to your personal preference and needs. I recommend talking with your photographer about what you want from your final photos, and listen to her recommendations about whether studio or on location would work best for you.
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