Smash Boring Brand Photos: How To Choose The Best Photoshoot Locations
Who else is bored of boring brand photography??
Your brand shoot should tell a story.
And the right location will add depth, personality, excitement, context, and meaning to your images.
Whether you're looking for high-energy city vibes, a peaceful natural setting, or something completely unexpected, there’s a perfect backdrop for you.
Sure, it may involve thinking outside the box, consulting with a brand strategist, and even investing in a business trip you can expense, but I assure you, the more dedication and creativity you put into your brand photography, the more you will get out of it (and the more recognizable your brand will be!).
Remember it's not just about making a splash with the images, it's about celebrating how far you've come in your business and having a fab time finding ways to represent you as a beautiful human and industry leader.
Here are over 30 inspiring location ideas to spark your creativity and help you bring your dream brand shoot vision to life.
Location Ideas for Your Indoor Branding Photoshoot
If you're looking to create a polished, professional look for your brand, indoor locations can help set the perfect tone. Whether it's sleek and modern or cozy and inviting, these indoor shoot locations have loads of potential!
Stylish Café – Warm, inviting, and relatable. Perfect if your brand is all about connection, creativity, or a laid-back but polished vibe. Scout it out ahead of time and pick a slow time of day. Be a customer and, pack minimal gear, and don't draw too much attention to yourselves.
Cozy Home Office – Professional yet personal. Great for coaches, service providers, or anyone who wants to show their “behind-the-scenes” work style. If shooting in your actual home office, make sure there's loads of natural lighting, you've tidied, and packed up all the distractions!
Modern Co-Working Space – Sleek, ambitious, and collaborative. Ideal if your brand focuses on networking, growth, and innovation. You may have to pay for a day pass but the benefit is that these often have a great aesthetic and large windows.
Bookstore or Library – Intellectual, warm, and thoughtful. Perfect for authors, educators, or brands that focus on knowledge and storytelling. You may want to contact a few to make sure they're ok with you shooting in their space. Keep a low profile and perhaps make some purchases as well to balance it out.
Creative Studio or Loft – Artsy, modern, and unique. Ideal for designers, artists, and entrepreneurs who want an inspiring, high-end feel. As always, make sure there's plenty of great lighting and space to shoot a wide variety.
Luxury Retail Store or Shopping District – Polished and stylish. Perfect for fashion, beauty, or high-end lifestyle brands. Shooting in a public space is a practice in letting go of control - make sure you're happy with potential photo-bombers and onlookers, or find a place that's just out of the hustle and bustle.
Recording Studio or Podcast Setup – Professional, engaging, and media-focused. Perfect for personal brands, content creators, or entrepreneurs with a strong digital presence. A podcast studio that delivers visuals should have a professional lighting setup - check in with them ahead of time to make sure you're all-groovy to use.
Retro Diner or Vintage-Inspired Space – Fun, nostalgic, and full of personality. Perfect for brands that embrace storytelling, playfulness, or a throwback aesthetic. These can be fun, just make sure you love everything within frame!
Minimalist White Space – Clean, modern, and adaptable. Works well for brands that want a timeless, high-end look without distractions. Minimalist spaces can make creativity a tad more difficult as there is less to play off of - make sure you go into these spaces with lots of ideas and inspiration - try pinterest!
Outdoor Brand Shoot Location Inspiration
Outdoor locations bring a refreshing, natural vibe to your photos and can reflect a range of brand personalities—from adventurous and free-spirited to fresh and organic. These outdoor settings offer loads of possibilities for your next shoot.
Scenic Park – Natural, adventurous, and fresh. Perfect if your brand is about freedom, wellness, or creativity. Pick a park space that has minimal foot traffic so you can feel free to get as creative as possible without the nosey park-goers craning their neck! Best to do around golden hour as well but if that's not possible, just make sure you avoid the noon-time hours with that powerful, unflattering overhead light!
Vibrant City Street – Energetic, dynamic, and bold. Perfect for brands that thrive on movement, spontaneity, and making a statement. Always look both ways! And make sure you're happy with the surroundings - lots going on in city streets - you'll want to make sure everything suits your brands and your photo needs!
Rooftop with a City View – Bold, ambitious, and urban. Ideal for brands that want to stand out and make a statement. You'll definitely want to check out some rooftop bars ahead of time to make sure you love the aesthetic and the view! Especially as locals will likely know where you're shooting - find a place that aligns with your brand.
Botanical Garden or Greenhouse – Fresh, vibrant, and full of life. Great for wellness brands, nature lovers, or anyone who wants an organic, thriving energy. Lighting can be challenging in greenhouses - go in with patience and keep in mind that it may get a bit sweaty!
Dramatic Clifftop – Breathtaking, powerful, and untamed. Perfect for brands that embrace boldness, confidence, and pushing limits. Always double-check your footing and pay attention to lighting - you may not be able to maneuver much so take time with your settings and note that the wind might affect the shot.
Lush Jungle – Exotic, adventurous, and full of life. Ideal for wellness, travel, or eco-conscious brands looking to capture a natural and wild aesthetic. The jungle is a beautiful place to shoot but it can be dark and color-cast green on skin so find a place at the entrance with open sky to use as lighting. Also watch out for stepping into a busy line of ants!
Fresh Beachfront – Relaxed and free-spirited. Perfect for brands that embody adventure, freedom, or a carefree lifestyle. Always stick to golden hour for the best beach images, especially on the west coast, whether it's England or Ecuador.
High-End Exclusive & Luxury Brand Shoot Location Ideas
For brands that exude exclusivity and sophistication, your photoshoot location should match the upscale image you want to project. These locations represent luxury, aspiration, and a healthy mindset and will help establish a premium vibe for your brand.
Yacht or Boat – Sophisticated, adventurous, and exclusive. Perfect for brands that evoke luxury, freedom, and a high-end lifestyle. Being on the water creates lighting issues if the sun is brightly reflecting off the waves so best to stick to golden hour.
Private Jet – Ultra-luxurious, aspirational, and global. Ideal for brands that cater to top-tier clients or want to showcase success and limitless potential. Finding a private jet might be challenging, but doing a content swap on one is well within reach using Koactt!
Boutique Hotel or AirBnB – Sophisticated, stylish, and full of character. Great if your brand is all about luxury, creativity, or an elevated lifestyle. Sometimes hotels REALLY look like hotels - which is great if that's what you're going for - if you're trying to pass it off as your house - the built-in headboards with the integrated lights usually give it away so find ways to work around that.
Theater or Concert Venue – Bold, expressive, and creative. Great for performers, speakers, or anyone with a brand centered around storytelling and stage presence. Get in touch with a few options that will hook you up with access to their lighting controls and think about what props would help tell the story - a big stage could look empty and lonely - how do you combat that?
Luxury Car Showroom – High-end and expensive. Ideal for brands that want to exude success, ambition, and luxury in their imagery. Maybe you can even contact some of the car companies to sell the images...
Unique Brand Photoshoot Location Ideas
Sometimes, you want a photoshoot location that’s unlike anything else. Whether you're looking for something quirky or unexpected, these unique locations will set your brand apart and leave a lasting impression.
Airport or Train Station – Dynamic, fast-paced, and global. Ideal for brands that emphasize travel, movement, or working from anywhere. Airports might be a tad hard to shoot in unless they're private but train stations are super easy, especially if they're local ones - take your tripod, open the shutter, and have your client hold really still to capture the motion of the train.
A Working Artist’s Studio – Creative, vibrant, and raw. Perfect for artists, designers, or anyone who wants to showcase the behind-the-scenes process of their work. Shooting in an active studio opens up loads of creative opportunities! Dive in and embrace the chaos.
Industrial Warehouse or Loft – Edgy, modern, and urban. Perfect for brands that want a raw, artistic, or high-fashion feel. Warehouses can be super fun to shoot in but they can also be very dark, so check it out ahead of time and come equipped with lighting options.
Global Brand Photoshoot Location Inspiration for International Brands
Ready to go global? If your business is aiming to establish an international presence or already has one, your brand photoshoot locations will help tell that story. Here's some exciting ideas!
European-Style Café (Think Paris or Rome) – Elegant, timeless, and effortlessly chic. Perfect for brands that exude sophistication, creativity, or a love for travel and culture. Take time while you're there to watch the world go by!
Tropical Beach (Bali, Maldives, or the Caribbean) – Laid-back, free-spirited, and aspirational. Ideal for wellness coaches, travel brands, or anyone promoting a relaxed, abundant lifestyle. Check locations on IG to get inspiration for specific spots on the beach you may not have thought of. Do your research and find out when golden hour is and if there are set to be any events happening while there.
Historic Landmark or Iconic Cityscape (New York, London, or Tokyo) – Powerful, ambitious, and worldly. Perfect for brands that want to showcase an international presence and a fast-paced, modern energy. Check to make sure there are no copyright issues with landmarks in the cities, like there were in NYC.
Desert Dunes or Canyon (Dubai, Arizona, or Morocco) – Dramatic, bold, and adventurous. A stunning choice for brands that embrace resilience, strength, and pushing boundaries. Take extra care of everything in these super sandy spaces (including your eyes).
Cozy Nordic Cabin (Sweden, Canada, or the Alps) – Minimalist, peaceful, and nature-driven. Great for wellness, sustainability, or brands with a calming, intentional approach. Some of these places experience loads of light in the summers - double check you're happy waiting til golden hour if it's nearing midnight like when I shot in Iceland!
Creative Street Art Area (Berlin, Melbourne, or Brooklyn) – Edgy, artistic, and rebellious. Ideal for brands that break the mold, stand out and bring a unique, modern flair to their industry. Check if you're required to credit the artist - and make sure to have a good look at the art before shooting - you'll want to make sure there aren't any hidden messages that could be misconstrued.
Quick Tips for Choosing the Right Brand Shoot Location:
Ok so now that you've got LOADS of options to sort through, here's what to keep in mind as you're narrowing down your brand shoot location options (some of these might not make sense with where you're shooting, so take what's helpful and leave the rest!):
Go for good lighting – Natural light is always flattering. If shooting indoors, pick a space with big windows. Outdoors? Golden hour (right after sunrise or before sunset) gives that dreamy, soft glow.
Avoid busy, crowded places – Too many people in the background can be distracting (and awkward to work around). If you’re set on a popular location, aim for quieter times of the day.
Minimize distractions – A clean, simple background keeps the focus on you. Think neutral walls, minimal clutter, or subtle textures that complement—not compete with—your brand.
Consider the mood – Does the location match how you want your brand to feel? A busy street has a totally different energy than a calm park or a cozy home office. Choose what aligns with your vibe!
Think about brand colors – Your surroundings should complement your brand aesthetic. If your colors are soft and neutral, a minimalist studio or a natural outdoor space might work best. If you love bold, vibrant tones, a colorful café or street art wall could be perfect.
Check the rules – Some locations (like certain cafés, hotels, or coworking spaces) may require permission to shoot. Always double-check ahead of time to avoid surprises.
Bring a backup option – If you're shooting outdoors, have a Plan B in case of bad weather. A covered area or an indoor alternative can save the day.
Make it personal – Your brand photos should tell your story. If there's a space that holds meaning—like your favorite coffee shop, a studio where you create, or even your own home—incorporating it can make your photos feel even more authentic.
Get creative – Even if you've got the coolest location, fight the urge to go with mainstream posing - take up space, keep it moving, and make it specific to you!
When you pick the right location, you’ll feel more comfortable—and that confidence will shine through in your photos.
Final Thoughts on Choosing the Perfect Photoshoot Location for Your Brand
Remember, your brand photos are an investment in your business and your future. They’re a chance to celebrate how far you’ve come, capture the essence of your brand, and create visuals that help you attract the right clients.
So, don’t be afraid to think outside the box, take some creative risks, and choose a location that feels 100% you.
If you’re ready to plan a brand shoot that truly stands out, let’s chat! I’d love to help bring your vision to life.
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Check out what's involved in Personal Brand Photoshoots reach out when you're ready to learn more!
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