How to Make a Boring Location Look Cinematic

There will come a time — likely more than one — where you have to shoot in a dull location. While this can be disheartening, it's manageable if you know how to make it look more appealing. In this video, see behind-the-scenes of a shoot and how one cinematographer transforms any space.

I can't speak with any authority on cinematography, but so much of this informational video is applicable to photoshoots that it can be useful to most readers. I have spoken a number of times on the topic of how working in professional photography has challenges when it comes to locations. In fact, I would say that in my particular line of work, I shoot more in boring locations than I do interesting ones. Unless you're tremendously lucky, most paid jobs in photography are not high-budget and crazy locations; they're refined and more common.

How I transform a boring space is heavily dependent on the results I am aiming for, but I have two go-tos. If it's an editorial-style shoot, I will transform spaces with lighting; this might be color through gels or RGB LEDs, or it might mean light modifiers, but you can make almost anywhere look interesting with the right light. If it's an environmental or corporate shoot and the location is plain, I usually opt for narrow depth of field and thoughtful angles. Essentially, your mission is to sell the space as something it isn't.

When you shoot in boring locations, what do you do to overcome its limitations?