Killer Locations in Fort Worth and thereabouts...

[MulberryLane]

I didn't see a general thread on some great locations for shooting outdoor portraits. I'd love to know where you guys are going. For me, I typically use the Gaylord Texan, the Stockyards and the Botanical Gardens. I've heard there are some great botanicals in Grapevine, but I've yet to visit them. Thoughts?

[CaptainTom]

The Gaylord is way outside my budget.
The stockyards are great if they want a warm and cozy feel.
The Botanic Gardens also require a paid permit, but it's cheap enough.
The Water Gardens are supposed to charge a fee, but I've never been approached.
The Museum grounds are available especially on Mondays.
I know a couple of cool Grundge locations.

I've always felt that a good portrait doesn't require an exotic location.
If the client feels better by going to an exotic location, I always suggest Hawaii as my first choice and the Caribbean as second.
In a pinch, I can shoot them in their backyard and get a good portrait unless they require the Castle from Disneyworld.

[MulberryLane]

I'd love to hear about the grunge locations. I'm pretty new to this, and am dying to do some good abandoned building or rusty car shots.

When I shoot at the Gaylord, I only have to pay parking ($12). :)

[texxter]

In a pinch, I can shoot them in their backyard and get a good portrait unless they require the Castle from Disneyworld

+1. If they require the Castle, it can be added in later for an additional fee :-)

I'm with you on this Tom, I have seen the most creative work done in very "normal" places by virtue of lighting technique, pose, creative use of equipment, and camera position. And using your own unique way to creates makes it possible for your images to look uniquely yours - as there are lots of photographers using grunge locations and rusty old cars.

A good example of what I am talking about is this image that Zach Arias posted on his blog - the background couldn't be simpler, but he used his style of shooting low and using light & pose creatively to do something original - http://www.zarias.com/wp-content/upl...ckarias_19.jpg

I sometimes force myself to shoot in a boring or unphotogenic location to bring more of me to the shoot.

Good luck!

[toverman]

There are rusty cars down the street from me on Belknap/U.S. 377 north of downtown (ruckerperformance.com). I have a thread titled "rusty cars" in the transportation section of this forum.

From my understanding, you are not permitted to shoot professionally at the Gaylord without paying the whopping permit fee unless it's of a couple who has booked the venue for their wedding. There are numerous threads about this on here. You don't want to test the waters at the wrong time and get caught with a client. A-W-K-W-A-R-D.

Even the small Grapevine Botanic Gardens has a photo policy that requires an appointment and permit fee to shoot. All such places are pretty, and clients want them they can pay the permit fee (let them know they are doing this). But I'm with the others ... photography is about using great light to produce beautiful images. If you can't shape the light and work most places to your advantage, you're doomed.

[MulberryLane]

Originally Posted by toverman

There are rusty cars down the street from me on Belknap/U.S. 377 north of downtown (ruckerperformance.com). I have a thread titled "rusty cars" in the transportation section of this forum.

From my understanding, you are not permitted to shoot professionally at the Gaylord without paying the whopping permit fee unless it's of a couple who has booked the venue for their wedding. There are numerous threads about this on here. You don't want to test the waters at the wrong time and get caught with a client. A-W-K-W-A-R-D.

Even the small Grapevine Botanic Gardens has a photo policy that requires an appointment and permit fee to shoot. All such places are pretty, and clients want them they can pay the permit fee (let them know they are doing this). But I'm with the others ... photography is about using great light to produce beautiful images. If you can't shape the light and work most places to your advantage, you're doomed.

Oh, I will! Thanks for telling me this.

[Cat L]

I just shot at 1/2 priced books. The books in the back look great. very eclectic and fun if you get there at the right time. It is very busy a great deal of the day. Oh and make sure your model eats. lol

[Ralph Merlino]

The Stockyards is a nice place to shoot.
Also the Dallas botanical gardens.

[CaptainTom]

Here's something that I do on a regular basis.

If I run across a place or store or whatever that I think might be a good location to shoot, I'll stop and go in, find the owner/boss, and just explain that I'm a photographer and I was wondering if they would let me come sometime with some models and do a photo shoot there. If it's a macho guy oriented place, I might hint that the models might be nude or glamorous. If you compliment their place you'll usually be treated like a celebrity.
I write down all the pertinent information and if it looks really promising, I'll send them a thank you note or a nice email.
If I want to shoot there later, I call and ask for "Joe" and remind him of our visit and explain what and when I want to shoot there. They're usually very helpful, or quickly turn me down, and I move to the next place on the list.

[Hogleg 44]

There is always the shores of Lake Grapevine. Maybe you'll luck out and find a sailboat on the water.

'Nash Farms' in Grapevine, up the street from the Botanic Garden, would be ideal for a rural type portrait setting, and I have never heard of Grapevine charging anything for just being on the grounds. (They do rent it out for Special Event type things) It is usually totally empty unless there is an 'event' happening.

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

The Botanic Gardens also require a paid permit, but it's cheap enough.

I thought this was only for the Japanese Gardens. Isn't everything else free?

[island bound]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

I thought this was only for the Japanese Gardens. Isn't everything else free?

The Rose Garden was $25 for 1 hour last time I was there.
Fuller Garden - I think - is more.

The permit office is at the information desk in the conservatory.

[bondarnes]

I have several spots in thereabouts, but I only go into Ft. Worth if the client insists on it.

[J Eddington]

Go around behind the stockyards. and along the river walk. Great grunge spots and the river is great!

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by island bound

The Rose Garden was $25 for 1 hour last time I was there.
Fuller Garden - I think - is more.

The permit office is at the information desk in the conservatory.

Really! I didn't know that. I thought the rose garden was free along with everything else. Thats good to know.