5 Tips For Finding Locations for Instagram Pictures

Since coming to BYU, I have actually found that a photoshoot is a huge stress reliever for me. Weird. I know. But it is. I get to spend time with friends, hype each other up, and get good pictures out of it. However, living in one place for a prolonged period of time requires a lot of creativity when it comes to backgrounds and locations. In this post, I am going to talk about a few tips for finding locations and the best ways to take the actual picture.

1. Build Around a Wall

Colored Wall in Provo, UT right behind to the Provo City Center Temple

You can easily look on Pinterest or type in a simple Google search for any colorful walls near you. If there are none, simply find any brick wall! With wall pictures, it is usually easy to find a hidden wall so that you aren't in public view, and if there is a colored wall, most of the time other people will be taking pictures there too! Make sure to not trespass into private property though. There are murals around every city as well, so it can be a really fun adventure with friends to find walls to take pictures at.

With wall pictures, my greatest piece of advice is to focus on your outfit. Make sure your outfit, hair, or makeup pop against the wall and create contrast. Walls are also great because you have time to experiment with your poses and get that picture that you really love. I have way to many pictures in front of patterned walls so I only put two in this but scrolling through my camera roll...wow. It's a lot.

2. Touristy Spots Can Be Everything

I feel like most people would fight me on this and argue that taking pictures in touristy spots are incredibly annoying both to the people in the photo as well as the people around also trying to get pictures. But that is just it. Everyone is trying to take pictures too. So most of the time, they are willing to wait a couple seconds so you can get that picture you want.

With these types of spots, I recommend going into the shot with your ideal picture in mind. Meaning, figure out how you want the picture framed, the pose, and your camera ready. Nothing is worse than waiting for you to get your picture taken and you freeze up and end up hating the photo. Instead, take a moment to know what you want, get in, take it, get out, and move on. Knowing your default angles and poses will help you in these stressful touristy situations and well make everyone around you appreciate it as well.

3. Sometimes You Gotta Be THAT Person

So recently, I have had to go a little outside the box when it comes to finding locations. And I got a lot of criticism from being super extra for choosing these places to take pictures at, but honestly, these are some of my favorite pictures of myself. Yes, I went to In-n-Out for pictures. Yes it was kind of extra. Do I regret it? No. It was honestly so fun and the pictures turned out great.

Just be that extra person. If you want to take pictures somewhere. Do it. Some of my most liked pictures have been taken at random stores. As long as you aren't kicked out or are breaking any rules and be respectful, I think it's totally fine to be that person, take it there, and get that artsy picture you want

4. Take Everyday Places, and Make it Work

Take places that you go to everyday, and make them Instagram worthy. It is actually pretty fun to see how creative you can be with random locations. A popular challenge that has gone around the Internet last year was the "Ugly Location Challenge". Most people went to gas stations, stores, or even dumpsters and were challenged to use the locations and take pictures they would actually post. This is also a fun thing to do with friends because you can get some amazing pictures, but a lot of funny looking pictures as well.

My biggest tip for this would be to get crazy with your location. In this picture, I chose a tennis court at this super sketchy park. I have also done photoshoots in Target, Home Depot, sketchy alley's etc. It may feel weird in the moment taking pictures, but the results often are promising.

5. Stop & Park Your Car

Worst comes to worst, stop and park your car and just take pictures there. Parking lots can actually look really cool if you frame them right. The lighting inside a lot itself can create a mysterious and eerie feel, while being on top of the lot can provide natural lighting, sunsets, and a great urban scenery.

Parking Lot along Center Street in Provo (Photo By; @em.co_photography)

With these shoots, I would just recommend people's privacy and property. Do not stand in the middle of a busy parking lot and block traffic. Use a small corner of the lot and be respectful of people's cars. Also, if you don't like the first parking lot you go to, go to another one. Each lot has their own style as funny as that sounds. Some have big columns in the middle, others have railings and gates you can play with.

Overall, the trick to finding good Instagram locations is to keep your eyes peeled, and do research. Whenever you see a cute location on Instagram, bookmark it or write it down. Location is all about framing your subject. As long as you do that well, you can make almost anything look good. Some of my favorite photographers that do this are Brandon Woelfel, Mark Singerman, and Jordan Matter. They all take random locations and use their own styles to make them look magical.

I hope that you all learned something about photography, or at least won't judge people when they take pictures in random places as much. I have been judged a lot for taken pictures in public and I really don't care anymore. If I want a picture, I'm going to get it. People might stare yea, but what is the worst that will happen. They silently judge you. So just go for it, and "do it for the gram".

-Alena