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When planning a successful photo or video shoot, many variables come into play—creative vision, gear selection, crew coordination, and post-production logistics, to name a few. But one element that often gets overlooked by clients and even some creatives is the timing of the location scout. The time of day you choose to visit a site can drastically influence the outcome of your project, especially when working with natural light or planning indoor-outdoor transitions.

As experienced professionals at St Louis Locations, we know that optimal location scouting goes beyond GPS coordinates—it’s about understanding light, movement, atmosphere, and access. Let’s break down the best times of day to scout a location, depending on your production goals and creative needs.

1. Golden Hour: The Creative Favorite
The “golden hour” is that magic window just after sunrise and just before sunset. The sun is low in the sky, casting long, soft shadows and a warm, flattering glow. This is ideal for storytelling projects, interviews, lifestyle shoots, and any visual where mood, tone, and warmth are essential.

Best for:

Emotional or cinematic video content

Portrait and branding photography

Exterior interviews with a natural light look

Real estate and architectural features with golden highlights

Scout Tip: Visiting your location during golden hour reveals how shadows fall across the landscape or structures. It also helps identify lens flare issues, obstructive elements, and how reflective surfaces like glass or water interact with the light.

2. Midday: The Technical Time
While midday light (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) can be harsh and create unwanted shadows for talent, this time is incredibly useful for understanding a location’s peak brightness, foot traffic, and logistical realities.

Best for:

Scouting urban environments and public areas

Identifying power sources and equipment placement

Planning for diffusion needs or additional lighting gear

Assessing ambient noise, vehicle traffic, and pedestrian patterns

Scout Tip: If your shoot will happen during these hours, you’ll want to check for harsh shadows on faces, glare on surfaces, or reflective challenges that might require bounce cards, flags, or softboxes to manage.

3. Evening and Night: For Dramatic Visuals
If your project involves night scenes, LED signage, city lights, or a creative atmosphere that depends on darkness, scouting after sunset is essential. This is the time to evaluate existing lighting, understand safety concerns, and determine generator or battery pack requirements.

Best for:

Promotional nightlife content

Events or outdoor shoots with controlled lighting

Visuals requiring dramatic contrast or color lighting

Scout Tip: Pay attention to how artificial lighting interacts with your camera gear and color settings. Determine if nearby lighting fixtures (street lamps, parking lot lights, etc.) contribute to or detract from your scene.

4. Early Morning: For Quiet Access and Crisp Light
Sunrise isn’t just for beautiful imagery—it’s ideal for accessing busy locations before the crowds. Locations like parks, office buildings, or industrial facilities are often more available or visually quiet during early hours.

Best for:

Projects requiring clean, empty backgrounds

Establishing shots in urban or high-traffic environments

Drone flights in still, low-wind conditions

Scout Tip: Morning scouting helps identify dew, fog, or ambient sound differences that could affect sound quality and overall production efficiency. It’s also perfect for testing drone flights in wind-free airspace.

5. Why Scouting at Multiple Times Is Ideal
One of the most important strategies in professional media production is scouting a location at the same time of day you’ll be shooting. But in many cases, especially when working on tight timelines or variable lighting setups, it’s wise to scout the same location at more than one time of day.

This allows you to:

Plan for contingencies due to weather changes

Choose backup scenes if lighting is too harsh

Coordinate lighting gear or schedule shifts accordingly

Partner with Experts Who Know the Territory
At St Louis Locations, we’ve been guiding businesses, marketing teams, and creative agencies through location production since 1982. Our decades of experience ensure that every aspect of your visual project is dialed in for success—including strategic, timed scouting.

We are a full-service professional commercial photography and video production company, offering:

Studio and location production with top-tier lighting setups

Drone services, including indoor drone flying capabilities

Custom interview studio builds, camera and sound operators

Post-production, editing, and AI-enhanced services

Support for all file types and media formats, including branded content that’s easy to repurpose across platforms

Our private studio is ideal for interviews and small sets, while our on-location services cover every production need—no matter the complexity or creative scope. Whether you need a tranquil sunrise shoot or a complex indoor drone scene, we provide the right gear, crew, and strategy to make your vision a reality.

St Louis Locations is more than a location scouting service—we’re your creative production partner.

Mike Haller
4501 Mattis Road
St. Louis, MO 63128
stlouislocations@gmail.com
Studio 314-892-1233
Cell 314-913-5626

When planning a professional photography or video production, one of the most critical steps is securing the right location permits. Whether you’re shooting in a public park, a historic site, or a private property, having the appropriate permits in place ensures a smooth and legal production process. Failure to obtain the necessary permits can result in fines, disruptions, or even legal action that could jeopardize your project. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about location permits before you start your shoot.

Understanding the Importance of Location Permits

A location permit is a formal authorization that grants permission to film or photograph in a specific area. These permits are typically required by local government agencies, property owners, or regulatory bodies, depending on the location and type of production. They help regulate productions to ensure public safety, prevent disruptions, and protect property rights.

Without the necessary permits, your crew may be asked to leave mid-shoot, or worse, your company could face legal consequences that impact future projects. Whether you’re filming a commercial, a corporate video, or a marketing campaign, understanding permit requirements is essential for a seamless production.

When Do You Need a Permit?

Not all locations require a permit, but here are some common scenarios where permits are necessary:

Public Spaces: Parks, sidewalks, city streets, and government-owned properties often require official permission.

Private Property: Even if you have a relationship with a business owner, securing a formal agreement or contract is advisable.

Drone Filming: The FAA requires special authorization for commercial drone operations, especially in restricted airspace or near populated areas.

Large Crew or Equipment Setup: If your production involves large setups, tripods on sidewalks, or extensive lighting rigs, a permit may be required.

Special Effects or Public Interference: If your shoot involves pyrotechnics, smoke, loud noises, or street closures, additional permits and safety measures are often mandated.

Steps to Obtain a Location Permit

Research Local Regulations: Different cities, counties, and states have unique permitting processes. Contact the local film commission, city hall, or parks department for specific requirements.

Plan Ahead: Permit approvals can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Start early to avoid delays.

Submit an Application: Most applications require details such as shoot dates, crew size, equipment list, and potential disruptions (e.g., street closures).

Secure Liability Insurance: Many permit offices require proof of insurance to cover potential damages or accidents during the shoot.

Pay Permit Fees: Costs vary based on location, production size, and the type of shoot. Some cities charge a nominal fee, while others require substantial payments for high-impact productions.

Coordinate with Local Authorities: If your production involves street closures or special effects, you may need additional approvals from police, fire departments, or local officials.

Obtain Property Owner Permission: If shooting on private property, secure a signed location release form from the owner or management.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Last-Minute Permit Issues: Always apply for permits well in advance and confirm approvals before setting a shoot date.

Unexpected Fees or Insurance Requirements: Budget for extra costs and have a flexible contingency plan.

Permit Denials: If a location is unavailable, consider alternative locations or adjust your creative vision to work within permitted areas.

How St Louis Locations Can Help

At St Louis Locations, we specialize in securing the right locations and permits for your commercial photography and video production needs. As a full-service professional photography and video production company, we have the right equipment and creative crew service experience to ensure successful image acquisition.

We offer full-service studio and location video and photography, editing, post-production, and licensed drone pilots to accommodate diverse media requirements. Our expertise in repurposing photography and video branding ensures your content gains maximum traction. Our team is well-versed in handling all file types, media styles, and accompanying software, making us the perfect partner for your next project.

For small productions and interview scenes, our private studio lighting and visual setup provide the ideal controlled environment. Our large studio space allows for creative set designs with props, while our custom interview studio setups ensure the highest quality production. Need sound and camera operators? We’ve got you covered. Looking for indoor drone footage? We can fly our specialized drones indoors for unique perspectives.

Since 1982, St Louis Locations has been the trusted partner for businesses, marketing firms, and creative agencies in the St. Louis area, providing top-tier marketing photography and video production services. Let us take care of the location details so you can focus on creating compelling visual content. Contact us today to discuss your next project!

Mike Haller
4501 Mattis Road
St. Louis, MO 63128
stlouislocations@gmail.com
Studio 314-892-1233
Cell 314-913-5626