When it comes to capturing stunning visuals outside of a controlled environment like a studio, it’s essential to ensure you’re equipped with all the right gear. From unpredictable weather and changing lighting conditions to limited access to power sources and the need for portability, shooting on location provides a unique set of challenges for any creative.
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, having the right gear makes all the difference between a successful shoot and a logistical nightmare. In this guide, we’re going to take you through all the camera essentials that every creative needs when shooting on location. Keep reading to discover the best portable tripods as well as tips on how to protect your important equipment.
What is location photography?
Whether you’re filming or capturing the moment with a photograph, on-location shooting refers to capturing scenes in a real-world setting rather than in a studio, using a green screen or a built set. This can include anything from rocky mountain terrain or bustling cityscapes, where you’ll likely find yourself shooting on uneven ground and in windy conditions - meaning you’ll need the right type of equipment to help make on-location shooting a breeze.
What you need for shooting on location
When heading out and about, capturing the perfect shot requires more than just a basic camera. You need to be prepared for a wide variety of weather conditions and scenarios, and consider how this may impact your shooting. To make sure you have everything you need to capture the moment and nail the perfect shot, below we’ve included a list of all the gear you need for smooth on-location shooting.
A tripod
Unlike a studio environment where you might have access to heavy-duty support systems, location shoots demand tripods that strike a balance between sturdiness, portability, as well as ease of set up. Whether you're capturing long exposure landscapes, conducting interviews, or shooting time-lapses, a reliable tripod ensures sharp, consistent shots by eliminating camera shake and providing essential stability.
This Karoo 3-in-1 Photo & Video Tripod Kit offers all that and more, with a blend of portability and stability - it’s great for location shooting. This tripod seamlessly integrates creativity and versatility, featuring a triple-action fluid video head perfect for both photography and filmmaking. The removable centre column transforms into a 4-section monopod, reaching a maximum height of 137cm, meaning you can enjoy a photo, video and mono tripod all in one compact travel companion.
Karoo 3-in-1 Photo & Video Tripod Kit - £79.95
Lighting
Lighting is one of the most critical, and often most challenging, aspects of shooting on location, where you're at the mercy of constantly changing natural light and unpredictable conditions. Your lighting needs will vary depending on where and when you’re shooting, from late-night shoots to underground locations, you’ll need to make sure your shots look dynamic and well-lit.
There are many different kinds of lighting solutions for your location shoots, but we recommend the Kenro Macro Ring Flash. With effortless attachment to the end of your camera, the flash can light up photos for those dark outdoor shoots and is easy to carry around. Designed to enable shadow-free, close-up/macro photography, if you're looking for a simple way to elevate the lighting for your outdoor shoots, then you’ve found it!
Kenro Macro Ring Flash for DSLR - £149.95
For lighting larger surface areas, however, the Kenro Smart Lite Bi-Colour LED Light Panel will provide a better lighting solution. With some batteries, it can be made portable and taken wherever your next shoot takes you. It’s designed for diffused illumination. It boasts 1-100% control for brightness and a fully adjustable colour temperature range for complete control over the lighting in your shot.
Kenro Smart Lite Bi-Colour LED Light Panel - £149.99
Outdoor lighting can be unpredictable and change in an instant, which isn’t ideal for photography or filming. So we also suggest grabbing yourself some reflectors for your shoots. Reflectors are incredibly useful for outdoor shoots because they allow you to control and manipulate natural light without the need for bulky or powered equipment, perfect for those looking to save on space.
For your reflectors, you’ll need a stand to effortlessly position and hold the reflector in the right place. This Nissin Carbon Fibre Reflector Holder makes it easy to handle and adjust your reflectors, even without an assistant on your shoot. It’s complete with a ball head for easy adjustments to make location shooting a breeze.
Nissin Carbon Fibre Reflector Holder - £79.95
Camera filters
Camera filters offer photographers and filmmakers more control over lighting, colour, and exposure in unpredictable outdoor environments. Filters can provide a variety of effects, including turning up the contrast, reducing haze, and avoiding flare.
One filter we always recommend for outdoor use is the DHG Lens Protect Filters. Offering that little bit of extra peace of mind, these filters protect your lenses from dirt, scuffs and scratches so you can feel confident your delicate equipment is safe, whether you’re venturing into the wilderness or the cityscapes.
DHG Lens Protect Filters - £6.47
Neutral Density (ND) filters are particularly useful for the outdoors; they reduce the amount of light entering the lens without affecting colour balance, allowing for slower shutter speeds to capture motion blur or wider apertures to achieve shallow depth of field, even in bright daylight.
Take this DHG Variable Neutral Density, which allows you to create different densities by rotating the filter in the same way as using a Polarising Filter. The filter enables the photographer to use lower shutter speeds under very bright sunlight, meaning that no matter how sunny it is, it won’t affect your shots.
DHG Variable Neutral Density (VND) Filters - £38.60
Power solutions
A critical consideration for anyone looking to get creative outside of their home or studio environment. Access to traditional power outlets on location is often limited or nonexistent, so you need to plan beforehand how you’ll keep your equipment charged and ready to use.
Power banks are a great solution and should be taken with you, as well as ensuring everything has a full charge before heading out, but for your battery-powered equipment, we suggest this Kenro Universal Battery Charger (New Stock Arriving soon). Incredibly versatile and charges the majority of standard batteries, as well as battery-powered devices that charge via USB, meaning you won’t have to worry about flat batteries or dead equipment, allowing you to shoot with ease throughout the day.
Kenro Universal Battery Charger - £23.99
Protective camera gear
Protective gear is an often-overlooked yet vital component of any successful location shoot, especially when working in unpredictable or rugged environments. The equipment we carry is often sensitive and highly expensive technology, so ensuring that you’re taking all the right precautions to protect your gear will ensure a smooth shoot.
Everything down to the weather, and not just the rain but the heat as well, can damage equipment. So to ensure your tech is protected during your next project, we recommend the following:
Equipment stabilisers - Wind can easily knock over your expensive equipment. Stabilisers are made to hold your equipment down and prevent it from getting tipped and damaging your gear.
Equipment bags and cases - Not only do they make your equipment easy to carry, but when not in use, bags and cases will keep your equipment protected from damage and unpredictable weather conditions.
Waterproof covers - Get waterproof covers for each piece of equipment. Most cameras, monitors, laptops, and other items have tailored covers readily available. While they obviously help to protect your equipment from rain, they will also protect it from dust and sunlight, helping to prevent any further damage.
Be prepared to take your camera outdoors with Kenro
Shooting on location can be one of the most rewarding experiences for any photographer or filmmaker, offering dynamic environments, natural light, and real-world textures that are impossible to replicate in a studio. But to take full advantage of these opportunities, it's crucial to come prepared with the right gear.
Here at Kenro, we supply a wide range of photography equipment to elevate all of your creative projects. Whether you’re after camera filters to make shooting outdoors easier or studio lighting to create a dynamic shot, we’re here to help you take your photography and filmmaking to the next level.
