How to find location for photography (LOCATION SCOUTING)

Photo location scouting: Whether you are a professional landscape photographer, an aspiring artist just starting out, or maybe just a passionate traveller searching for a beautifully composed moment – the craft of taking a photo always begins with one essential question: how to find location for photography.

Finding the right place for a photo is often the difference between a decent shot and an unforgettable image.

For a photographer, every setting holds potential – but knowing how to approach, research, and evaluate it is what elevates good photography to great. Whether you’re scouting for a personal project, for a photography assignment, or simply for a new adventure, the process of finding a location is where the story begins.

At this time, we are actively location scouting for the upcoming Slovenia photography tours, making it the perfect opportunity to break down the full process.

In this post, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step approach to location scouting – exactly how it’s done by a professional landscape photographer and a leader of numerous photography tours, both across Slovenia and in other breathtaking photography locations beyond his home country.

Initial part of a thorough location scouting session starts behind the screen. Of course, you have to start with intent.

Define what you believe would make a location unique. What is your photography style? How much equipment are you carrying with and are there any limitations your equipment or you have? Are you going alone or will you be a part of a group?

As the leader of the Slovenia photography workshop, Luka Vunduk always has to be thoughtful of the many different people that join, so the location for photographers has to be fairly accessible, but still intriguing enough.

And of course – what do you want to take pictures of? Nature has a big set of different scenery variations for photography – from mountain views, to lakes, rivers and stunning waterfalls, deserts, forests and all sorts of woodlands, canyons and cliffs… You have many options to pick from.

Once you have your idea thought out, you can move onto the actual location scouting part for photography.

Are you asking yourself how to find location for photography? Start by looking into certain communities. Different enthusiasts have different points of view, have discovered different parts of the world and overall have all sorts of intel about experiences and location scouting.

The perfect example are facebook groups. There are communities that know how to get around terrain and know how to appreciate landscape, you just have to find them.

In our case, location scouting for a location meant as a part of the Slovenia photo tour, the location scouting included finding different slovenian nature enthusiasts, which include different hiker and backpacker groups, biker and van life groups – even horse riding groups and then also drone enthusiasts that have flown in the area, mountain climbers, kayakers and other outdoor adventure groups.

You really have to take your time with this step, because the internet is a pool of posts, blogs and conversations, and you may not always find your answers immediately.

After finding a lead, first do a few searches to find as much information as possible, so you don’t miss any important notes and details. Don’t forget to read about bad experiences too, to save yourself from any possible mishaps.

There are many digital tools you can use to prepare yourself before going on the location – also known as figuring out micro photography locations. Apps like Google Earth, PhotoPills, Google maps and Gaia GPS are an amazing help when starting to plan your adventure.

You can scan terrain directly from your screen, identify elevation, find out what the sun and moon movement is like and you can even look at crowdsourced images.

However, you have to note that with these, you most likely will not find your perfect photography spot, because the truly untouched perspectives and hidden gems will not be pinned on the map.

That is also why during our Slovenia photography workshops, we emphasize on-location scouting.

First and foremost, it is our homeland, which we know, so it is easier to get around, and exploring it in person feels special – and secondly, Slovenia has so many gems that are not captured on satellite images – at least not from perspectives that we would want to capture.

Once all digital options are exerted, it is time to pack your bags!

This digital part also includes figuring out the logistics for your departure, stay and making out all other details of your trip, including what to wear and bring with you, what the weather is going to be like, to look for if you will you need any extra equipment and such…

Never take this part lightly, because you want to be prepared as best as possible, to have a full experience on the location.

After the virtual planning, there is still nothing like standing in the location yourself. This is where all your plans and vision will meet reality and will give you the best experience of a lifetime.

Whatever you find – document it. Many locations that we include in our tours started that way – as personal discoveries saved and documented over time and years of personal explorations.

Documenting your findings includes GPS tagging, notes, and behind-the-scenes shots and videos.

Many of the photos included in this post are behind the scenes shots from our latest location scouting session at Peričnik Waterfall, and are also serving as location documentation.

You can join our Slovenia photography tours to see what discoveries this scouting session resulted in.

Before going on location – and when you are there, you will have to adapt to weather conditions (or embrace them), so here are some useful apps to help you with that:

– Windy: It is a powerful weather visualization app, which gives you highly detailed information and detailed maps showing the weather around the world. To get the most accuracy from it, consider upgrading to the paid version, which uses more accurate weather models, ensuring you will be informed of the forecast properly.

– Clear Outside: It has detailed forecasts for more remote locations. It was developed by First Light Optics, primarily tailored for astronomers, but equally useful for you, when out and about, trying to capture perfect moments.

Pro photographers know, sometimes scouting at midday or bad weather has its advantages. You get to see the accessibility of the location properly, you can sense potential hazards, and you get to save the more precious morning or evening hours for a time you will come already prepared for a proper photo session.

Some trails in Slovenia are difficult to travel through in low light. That’s why during our Slovenia photography workshops, we often scout during non-optimal light to plan our perfect return.

You should as well think seasonally. A location is never the same and it changes with seasons, so you should think about returning often, to see what time of the year compliments your location most.

Talk to people from the area, but don’t ask for tourist spots.

Scout around and find out if anyone knows a secret spot – and assure them you won’t be going around telling the whole world about it, but rather just show the beauty of it with a level of privacy.

Tourist spots are NOT your location. The moment you see a group of people standing in a place, pointing and shooting at the same scene, you should recognise this is not what you are looking for.

The standout during our scouting at the Peričnik waterfall showed up the moment we stepped away from the crowd, to some trails that are not necessarily open for tourists, climbed behind the waterfall and looked out from the complete opposite side.

Sometimes you should think about what it would be like standing in the place you are trying to take a picture of now, and photograph from that direction.

As some settings are labeled as perfect for certain scenery, you should still experiment. As we were standing at Peričnik waterfall we thought it was important to point out just how important details are in some cases.

In our situation, the waterfall had a level of beauty that only showed when we backed away from the classic “silky water effect” and let some water drops shine individually through the camera lens.

Note that no number is “ideal” in every situation. Remember to observe with your eyes too as well as through the camera.

Try to think of what the scene makes you feel, and what would make the photo come as close to that moment as possible. Create your own “ideal” numbers.

Scouting is more than just a step before taking a photo – it’s a mindset that reshapes the way you connect with your surroundings.

For photographer, it can be the right approach that transforms an ordinary scene into something truly unique. It’s not only about finding the perfect composition, but about discovering locations that you experience on a personal level.

What you find along the way can make your photo not just visually strong, but emotionally powerful.

Some locations can also have a personal meaning – as a story, a memory, or a quiet moment of connection. That’s when your photo becomes more than an image – it becomes a reflection of what that place felt like with you standing there.

These experiences can be unpredictable, spontaneous, and deeply rewarding. You can find the most interesting frames when you’re not chasing perfection, but paying attention.

That mindset can also have a lasting impact on how you approach your work long after the tour ends.

So take notes. Look behind the obvious. Find the perspective that no one else noticed. Create your own moments, your own angles, your own story. The best scouting isn’t always about the location – it’s about how it speaks to you.

Discover hidden gems, try out your new scouting skills, and shoot side-by-side with a professional, multiple times awarded, Canon ambassador photographer Luka Vunduk on our next Slovenia photography tour – who will help you find the right compositions, unlock creative angles, and elevate your photography to the next level.