Taking photos in ugly locations

A few weeks ago I was driving in the car with my kids and I spotted some beautiful tall grasses. The surroundings weren’t the best, however, the grasses themselves and the trees behind them made a great spot. This gives us a great example of to take beautiful photos in ugly locations as long as you know what to look for. Thankfully, one of my kids was decently dressed and had been wanting me to take some pictures of her with her new doll.

We pulled the car over and hopped out. This is what we saw when we first drove by. Definitely nothing you’d think would be magical.

ugly photo locations

At first glance, this doesn’t look like much, however, those tall grasses are a neutral backdrop and the pine trees in the background were diffusing the setting sun. This little patch as just across the street from District 850.

photos in ugly locations

There was garbage on the ground and cars passing by, but I saw potential. I placed my daughter in one spot that was free from trash. The grasses and pine trees were behind her and we took these photos.

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The part of the vacation session no one talks about enough: outfits.

I've seen both ends of this, and honestly, both can trip things up before we even start.

The first version: everyone travels from different cities, nobody coordinates ahead of time, and things end up looking scattered in photos - especially when you can't lay it all out together before the day.

The second version: matching outfits. I know the intention is good. But coordinating everyone in the exact same thing - jeans and white shirts being the classic example - tends to look flat in photos. A little stiff. Less like your family and more like a catalog.

The fix is simpler than most people expect.

Lean into neutrals and denim tones. These photograph beautifully in natural light, they work together without being matchy, and they hold up in a timeless way that won't look dated in five years.

And when you book with me, I send you Pinterest boards I've put together specifically for this - coordinated looks that feel cohesive and genuinely beautiful without anyone having to stress about it.

One of the simplest things you can do to make sure your images look as good as the moments they're capturing.
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Mom post here:

I am teary eyed as I type this. Today was the last Elementary Chapel for this 5th grade class (my son’s class). During this “Legacy Chapel” they passed the leadership plaque down to the 4th graders as they prepare to be next year’s lower school leaders.

I am so proud of our current 5th graders. This class has navigated more than anyone would have ever imagined and they have a unique bond amongst each other on this side of those collective pains. They started Kindergarten the year of the pandemic and have seen firsthand the hurt of sickness and death in this fallen world. 

Still, they are joyful, playful, hard working, and compassionate in a way that constantly surprises me. No doubt that God has great things in store for them; and our school community is beyond blessed to have each and every one of them and their families as a part of it.

Class of 2033, let’s go!

Memberships and Affiliations

Sarah Gray Photography | Professional Photographer of America Member
Sarah Gray Photography | The Motherhood Anthology Member

Sarah Gray creates timeless and joyful images that are designed for living room walls and photo albums. A tallahassee photographer, Sarah Gray also serves Thomasville, Crawfordville, St. Marks, Gainesville and throughout the panhandle of north Florida and south Georgia.

email us | sarah@sarahgray.com

telephone (850) 321-0208

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located in tallahassee, florida