I know the tempting thing when choosing a place to hold a photo shoot is to find an exotic location with all sorts of cute backgrounds.

But I’m here to tell you that cute backgrounds aren’t the most important thing.

These photos were taken outside a strip mall coffee shop during a Starting Out Seminar I taught a couple of weeks ago.

The simple background allowed the relationship between mother and daughter to come out.  There weren’t any colors to clash with their awesome coordinating outfits.  The light that was reflecting off the sidewalk (read: ugly concrete) in front of Evelyn and Ellissa provided awesome natural reflectors.

I can’t imagine I’d have liked this photo any more if had been in front of a fancy-schmancy farmhouse.  Or a mansion.  Or the jungles of the Amazon.  It’s a simple photo about the relationship.

I’m not the only photographer who thinks this.  My photography idols also prove this point here and here.

For more Starting Out tutorial posts, head here.  To book your own Starting Out Workshop, email me at sarah (at) pikkuarkki.com .  (Remember, have work will travel, so if you want a workshop, we’ll make it happen!)

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Tags: Arizona, Chandler, children's photography, family photography, photography tips, professional photographer