Location scouting is an important part of the pre-production process and is critical to creating standout visuals. It involves having a deep understanding of an advertising project’s needs and determining potential advertising shoot locations from those insights. While advertising boards should act as a guide for making production choices, like where to film and shoot, it’s equally important to consider the logistical and financial implications of each location. This is where working with experienced location scouts makes or breaks your production.
Let’s walk through our top tips for finding the best domestic advertising shoot locations for your project.
#1 Look for cities that are also production hubs
Locations that are also known as production hubs can save you a lot of time and hassle. Known production hubs are more likely to be prepared to accommodate permits and usually have better resources for additional crew support or talent. But, proceed with financial caution because, while cities like Los Angeles and New York are excellent production hubs, they are usually more expensive and less flexible to smaller budgetary requirements. Locations like private homes or studios can be costly.
Conversely, smaller up-and-coming cities, like Providence, Rhode Island, or even Austin TX, can offer most of the required production support, along with greater flexibility and enthusiasm for many of the projects that come their way.
Some of our favorite domestic filming locations include:
Los Angeles, CA - it’s always a top-pick location given the access to production resources.
Austin, TX - If LA had a little sister, Austin would be it due to its year-round climate consistency.
Providence, RI - Smaller can be better! Permitting is easier, and landscapes feel European and global. There is also proximity to major hubs like Boston and NYC which makes sourcing easy and worth stepping outside the box.
#2 Consider the needs of your crew
While location scouting, the aesthetic of some filming locations might instantly draw appeal, but it’s critical to make sure the site is actually functional to the needs of your production crew. Sometimes it can be as simple as ensuring enough bathrooms or power sources are nearby. Other times, it is more specific to the size of your crew and ensuring there will be enough space for them and the equipment necessary to support the production.
#3 Make sure the environment is right
The most important part of location scouting is the visual appeal. Nothing is ever more important than how the location looks on camera. Sometimes, finding alternate spaces for the crew, power, parking, and facilities is necessary in order to take advantage of the best shoot location with the most visual appeal for the photographer, director, and client.
Need help with location scouting?
The bottom line is, location scouting involves many factors and is a vetting process that requires diligence, diplomacy, and experience. If you need location and production support, we bring professionalism, strategy, patience, and poise to all sizes of visual production projects.
Here are a few of our favorite location scouts: