Co-working spaces have become my new go-to location for photoshoots. They can range in price to super affordable to expensive. I did this photoshoot for Workhorse Design SEO in Gilbert, AZ.

Where you have your photos taken for your next photo shoot can make a huge difference in how well they turn out. Since I specialize in branding sessions, my number one priority is to make sure the location you choose puts your brand front and center and tells your brand’s story.

I love locations that take viewers behind the scenes of your business and show them what a typical day in the life of your brand looks like. This might actually be your office, if it’s styled and branded and has plenty of great, natural light, but not always. If you work from home, you might not even have an actual office. If that’s the case, we’ll need to get creative.

You can also choose someplace outside, and I’ve taken some amazing photographs in outdoor locations, but beware…nature can be tricky. Your photographer can’t control the lighting, and the best lighting happens 1 hour after sunrise (which isn’t realistic for most people) and 2 hours before sunset (which can be hot depending upon where you live). Plus, you can’t control the weather and, regardless of the forecast, it could rain or be too windy. So choose an outdoor space if you want to, but make sure you also have a backup plan with indoor space available.

In addition to a totally unique indoor space (like the ones offered by Peerspace.com), there are some great indoor spaces that are probably close to you and free to use.

Here are some ideas for places besides your home or office that you could use to represent your brand during your next photo shoot:

A Model Home -

If you know of a new subdivision nearby that’s got a model home used by realtors, ask if you could use it before they open. These spaces are always beautifully “staged” and offer a myriad of great backgrounds.

Lyndsay Jones is a high-powered real estate agent in Richmond, VA

Your Home -

This works well especially if you’re an interior designer or if your home is beautifully decorated.

Rhonda Larson completely redecorated her historic Denver, Colorado home. She is also the founder of the Heritage School of Interior Design.

A Co-working Space -

I love these spaces. They are diverse and have lots of different options for conversation areas and places with desks. You can even naturally get people blurred in the background of your photos to make them feel even more authentic. Or I can use Photoshop to remove people in the background. The only caveat is that you can’t ask people to move out of your background. I try to use co-working spaces on a Monday or Friday afternoon or better yet, on the weekend so I don’t disturb anyone.

Jenni Kirby is the owner of Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA. I love using Gather’s co-working space. Jenni is always collaborating and supporting other artists so I put the “Let’s Do This” sign in her background.

A Furniture Store -

Again, these are great because just about any furniture you could possibly need is available.

We did Christopher R. Jones, the Authentic Leader at a local furniture store in Richmond, VA

A Retail Location -

Need photos that show a lot of activity? A local mall or other busy retail location could be perfect.

Yedda Stancil has Greek heritage and she felt right at home at Our Life by Stellas in Richmond, VA

A Restaurant or Coffee shop -

Since entrepreneurs often work remotely, this is a great option to show a “behind the scenes” working scenario at a cafe table.

Andrea Garcia is a top-selling real estate agent in the great Phoenix area. We went to a local restaurant that recently opened. They let us use their space for free an hour before they opened.

A location-specific to your business -

Are you a chef? How about a restaurant kitchen or a Sur Le Table kitchen store? Are you an event planner? Use the lobby of a swanky hotel in your area.

Chef Tammy Brawley of the Green Kitchen in Richmond, VA didn’t have her own space at the time so we used Sur La Table kitchen.

A Favorite Mural -

This is a great idea if you’re an artist or possibly your work includes environmental issues. A great mural can make for a totally unique branded photo. Or it can add a pop of color to your scene with your brand colors.

We found a mural right outside of VentureX co-working space for Jennifer Einolf, owner of the Bold Whisper branding session. We wanted to showcase her fun personality.

A Hotel Suite -

If you don’t have a home that works for your photoshoot, you can rent one! A hotel suite gives you the privacy and flexibility to create an environment that represents your brand.

Tanis Roeder, Elevate Your Communication, rented out her favorite hotel suite in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado.

A Photo Studio -

As a photographer, I love working in a studio because it gives me the most control. I control the lighting, background, and it’s private so I can put my client at ease.

Christy S. Coleman is listed in Wikipedia. She is one of the few, and maybe one of the only African American Female Museum CEO’s in our country.

Hopefully, this gets your creative juices flowing. Talk with your photographer about how you’d like to tell your brand story and let them know your ideas for where you can best do that.

Location, Location, Location - Finding the Best One for Your Next Branding Session