How to Find Perfect Video Shoot Locations

Whether you're an influencer, vlogger, or commercial video producer, this guide will help you scout smarter: how to plan and prepare, where to look for locations, what to check before you commit — from access, lighting, sound, and permissions to booking details — and how to secure a place that fits your shoot. Find our best practices to make it smoother!

What is location scouting

Location scouting is a process of searching for and later investigating the venue for your video or photo project. There are numerous factors to consider. Otherwise, you will just waste your time and — quite possibly — budget.

There are two main approaches. First, you can spot a location and then come up with an idea that fits these exact settings. For example, you see a picturesque medieval castle and envisage a dark gothic music video.

Another option is to go by scenario and a storyboard. That means you create a script first (or at least develop a concept of your future project), and only then look for the video location of your dream.

Video shoot planning and preparation

At this stage, decide on your topic, as it will influence the possible venue choice greatly. Then, define your purposes and target audience. A commercial video and a highly creative project will demand drastically different locations, even with the same subject.

Also, some vlog types just imply certain unique video shoot locations: restaurants for food vlogs, landmarks for travel vlogs, and a dedicated vlogging kit for content creators if you mostly shoot talking-head content, etc.

Don't forget to check the accessibility and infrastructure. The venue may be the best of the best, but if there are no ways to get there, park, or set up needed equipment and lighting — you'd better look for something else.

Last but not least — legal arrangements. Public areas are open, as long as you don't bother other people, infringe on their rights, or shoot their faces without permission. Private venues are a little bit trickier: sometimes you can negotiate and get permission for free or for some service, such as an advertisement on your channel. In other cases, you'll have to pay.

Video location scouting

They say it may not be such a bad idea to hire professional location scouts or find a venue on specialized sites. For example, Scouty, Giggster.

Great location scouting follows the same rules everywhere, but the moment you shoot in Europe, the "where do I find these places" question gets trickier. Permissions, public directories, and pricing vary from country to country, and most searchable websites with locations for rent are built around US cities. So if you are looking for locations in Europe, start with a searchable European location database.

Instead of cold-emailing venues one by one, you can start where owners have already opted in to hosting shoots. Platforms like SetScout let you search apartments, studios, industrial spaces and unusual venues across Germany and the EU by city, motif and shoot type, with rental terms and permissions already set up. That removes the two slowest steps in European scouting: finding a willing owner and clarifying whether filming is even allowed.

If your project is not so elaborate, you can find the proper place by yourself with the help of social media with a visual focus, for example, Pinterest or Instagram, and see how existing shots use ambient light in different locations. Google Maps and Google Earth can also come in handy.

Don't disregard "physical" recce as well: head off on a little hiking trip, investigate places to shoot videos nearby, and check if they look exactly as you need. Photos and even videos may be misleading, after all, and venues tend to change over time.

Video location characteristics

Whether a location comes from a database, a scout, or a lucky walk, run it through the same checklist before you commit:

Sound: If it's an indoor location, make sure your voice will not echo as in a cave. For example, furniture and wallpaper dampen sound and make it softer.

Noise: Listen for recurring noise (traffic, trams, church bells, nearby construction). What if the location is somewhere near the highway or a construction site? Maybe this waterfall looks splendid in the pics, but can you hear a word because of its roar? Think of it in advance. And remember that some locations change completely at dusk, so if you're planning blue-hour scenes, review what blue hour is when you assess potential spots.

Lighting: Natural lighting is almost always the best (if only you don't need some specific atmosphere for a highly creative project). Artificial lighting is also ok, but don't mix! That's the worst solution, as people and objects look unnatural and bluish. Of course, you can edit video colors and light later, during the post-shooting stage, but still. To get the most from your setup, brush up on video lighting tips for shooting better videos and experiment with cinematic lighting techniques vloggers can use before you lock in a location. Also, remember to visit the site at your actual shooting time. For example, European daylight shifts a lot by season, and north-facing rooms behave very differently from south-facing ones.

Accessibility: Just a small reminder: if you succeeded in getting to the location on foot, it doesn't mean it would be so accessible by car, especially if you drive a van. Check if a van can reach it, if there is a loading zone, and whether there are stairs or a lift for gear.

Power and rigging: Make sure you have enough outlets and circuits for your lights, and space to run cables safely through hallways or stairwells.

Permissions and paperwork: Also remember about permissions and licenses, where needed. For private venues, get written owner consent, confirm the production's liability insurance, and agree a location-use contract; for public or council-owned spaces in Germany, budget time for a filming permit.

Neighbors and noise windows: Places vary. In dense European city blocks, a quick heads-up to neighbors prevents most day-of problems.

Venue scouting tips

• Сonfirm the boring details before shoot day, so that not to lose a shoot day because of a detail nobody checked: quiet hours in residential buildings, a courtyard that echoes, a "free" parking spot that needs a permit, or a venue that says yes verbally but never signs.
• Put consent, insurance, and a short condition report (with photos) in writing, and you turn a promising space into a reliable one.
• Check on the place at the planned shooting time. For example, if you're going to shoot at the golden hour — that's exactly when you have to come to the venue before it, to check what the light looks like, where the shadows are, etc.
• Take snaps and notes. Don't trust your memory, especially if the shooting will not take place right the next day.
• Negotiate. Collaboration opens up tons of doors.
• Have Plan B. Who knows what may happen? The venue may be under reconstruction, or it will be taken by someone else, or it will be just raining there on the needed day. Don't waste time on chaotic looking for an alternative, have it already on your list.