Industrial photography is photographs taken in settings with man-made structures of some kind in them. Concrete, brick, metal, synthetic materials making up urban structures of some form or another create the industrial setting. It makes a raw edgy photo for whatever you want to photograph.
These photos have a kind of contrast to them that makes them fantastic with an equally fantastic range. The background or setting is a very specific style. It’s a hard, tough, unfeeling, objective. Be it fashion, makeup, beauty, culture, lifestyle, it’ll have an edgy appearance to complement and contrast your meaning or point.
If that is what you want or need for a photograph, the place is important. There are a few different ones that you can explore to find just what you need.
There are two kinds of locations. The first are locations in public property that are easily and legally accessible by photographers. For a photo shoot, you won’t have to ask anyone for permission.
- Outdoor and Underground Parking Lots
- Alleyways
- Highways
- Overpasses
- Areas with High Graffiti
- Bridges
- Train Stations
- Road Construction
- Malls
The seconds are some awesome locations that will require permission from the owner of the building or land or property. As a word of warning, be careful in some of these areas. if you need to go on someone’s property then simply ask for permission or find a different site. If it’s private property, you will need permission to use or else it becomes trespassing. Make sure you know the laws in your area regarding both access and photography. Once you get permission for access, these locations are amazing backgrounds for the photo shoot.
- Unfinished Basements
- Storage Units
- Warehouses
- Electrical Rooms of Any Large Building
- Construction Areas
- Abandoned Buildings
- Railway Stations
- Mechanic Garages
If you’re stumped looking for a location in your city. There are always places that you can stumble upon. Head out your door with your camera and scope out your neighborhood. Some good places to start are in the older areas both commercial and resident. The older areas will have more brick and broken up concrete for an aged or even rustic kind of industrial. Newer areas will have steel and glass and fresh concrete for a new age industrial. Another resource is the people around you. Post on your social media, call around, ask your network if they know of any places or have access to any locations that would work for your photo shoot. You’ll be amazed at what you can find.
When you have an idea for your location, it’s best to look for it ahead of time to figure out if the location even works for what you need. While scouting out the location, consider where you want to shoot, what you want in your background and any equipment that you need. This will save you and your models some time and effort.
At the location, take a few shots from different angles and different shots to make the most of your setting. Even if you have the perfect shot in the first go, it’ll never hurt to have extra proofs to show your client.