One of the most common questions we get asked before a shoot is some version of: should we do this indoors or outside? It's a great question, and honestly, the answer is almost always it depends. Here's how we think about it:
Our default is always on location
There's something about being in a real environment— your office, your neighbourhood, a park that means something to you— that brings an authenticity to portraits that a blank wall simply can't replicate. The context adds meaning. It tells a story about who you are and where you exist in the world, and that's especially valuable for branding and lifestyle work where the goal is to feel like a real person, not a stock photo.
Toronto in the summer and fall makes this easy. The city is genuinely beautiful during those months and there's no shortage of interesting, photogenic locations to work with. If you're shooting during those seasons and you're someone who's comfortable being out in the world, on location is almost always going to be our first suggestion.
But Toronto has a complicated relationship with the other eight months of the year
Cold, overcast, and wet days aren't doing anyone any favours, least of all your portraits. That's where studios come in, and Toronto actually has a surprisingly great rental studio scene to work with.
On the more stylized end, spaces like Mint Room and Preto come fully dressed with beautiful interiors, props, and even operational kitchens if you're a chef, nutritionist, or food-based content creator who needs a real working space to be photographed in. Archive Studios and Fieldwork offer something more modern and minimal, just to name a few. And there are plenty of more commercial options throughout the city with clean white alcoves where you bring in exactly what you want, build a set, or simply keep things stripped back and let the portrait speak for itself.
The right studio depends entirely on what you're going for. Clean, corporate, and polished? A simple studio environment is going to serve you well. Something warmer and more personal? A stylized space or a location that has actual relevance to your work is going to feel more like you.
There's one more thing worth mentioning.
Not everyone is comfortable being photographed in public. If the idea of strangers walking by while you're trying to relax in front of a camera sounds like your worst nightmare, that's completely valid, and a closed door studio environment might genuinely produce better results simply because you'll feel more at ease. Confidence and comfort in front of the camera matters more than the backdrop behind you!
There's no universally right answer here and ultimately, whatever best brings your vision to life is always what we'll choose. We're happy to talk through it before you book— get in touch here :)
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