7 Ways to Stop Wasting Time on Location (And Actually Come Home With Better Photos)

7 Ways to Stop Wasting Time on Location (And Actually Come Home With Better Photos)

There’s a particular kind of frustration that comes from driving an hour to a location, spending three hours there, and coming home with one usable shot. I know it well. I used to do this constantly before I started being deliberate about how I actually spend my time when I’m out shooting. Most of us aren’t full-time photographers with unlimited days to wander around with a camera. We’re squeezing shoots into weekends, early mornings before work, or the occasional vacation.

Run-and-Gun Documentary Shooting: Gear Choices and On-Location Product Photography Tips from Peter McKinnon

Run-and-Gun Documentary Shooting: Gear Choices and On-Location Product Photography Tips from Peter McKinnon

There’s a specific kind of shooting panic I know well. You’re on location, you have limited time, and you need footage or photos that feel cinematic without a full crew or a trunk full of gear. I’ve been there on travel assignments where I had one bag, one camera, and a client expecting polished results. The question is never really “what’s the best gear?” It’s “what’s the right gear for this job?