What does a photo location cost per day?

Photo locations are booked by the day. Depending on city, floor area and look, day rates broadly range from €500 to €4,000: small rooms usually €500–1,000, mid-size locations €1,000–2,000, large spaces €2,000–4,000. Exceptional locations such as villas, lofts or penthouses sit at the top end, from €3,000 per day and varying widely. The exact price is set by each host in the listing.

How does a photo location differ from a photo studio?

A photo studio is a neutral, technically equipped room with controlled light. A photo location brings its own look, be it an apartment, industrial hall, café or outdoor backdrop, and provides atmosphere rather than empty floor space. Choose a location for authentic, styled scenes and a studio for full light control. Some locations combine both, offering equipped rooms with their own character.

Am I allowed to shoot commercially at a location?

That depends on the host. Many photo and shooting locations allow commercial use, some only for an extra fee or buyout. Before booking, clarify usage rights, whether advertising and brand shoots are permitted, and whether people or logos in frame are subject to restrictions. It's best to get the scope of permitted use confirmed in writing.

What outdoor and industrial photo locations are there?

Popular choices include industrial halls, factory lofts, workshops, warehouses, rooftops, courtyards and natural backdrops. Search specifically for the setting you need, compare locations from their photos and areas, and shortlist suitable candidates to weigh them side by side. For outdoor and industrial locations, pay special attention to the weather plan, power, access for gear and whether the space is cleared for photo and video crews, and always plan a lighting alternative and a realistic window for the best daylight.

How do I find the right shooting location for my subject?

Start from the visual style: soft daylight for fashion and portrait, neutral surfaces for product photography, characterful rooms for editorial and lifestyle. Browse the selection by look, light, floor area and access, and use the images to check whether the mood and logistics fit your shoot. It also helps to look at the floor plans and areas: that shows you how backdrops, routes and set-up space can actually be used on the day.

Are car and product-photography locations included?

Yes. For car and vehicle shoots you'll find large halls and studios with a drive-in entrance, ground-level access and enough ceiling and floor space to light vehicles cleanly. For product photography and still life, neutral rooms with a calm backdrop, clear walls and table surfaces plus power for continuous light work well. Search specifically for the setting, check size and access in the photos and book the space that fits your setup.

What should I check before booking?

Clarify the things that carry your shoot day: permitted commercial use and buyout, the maximum number of people on set, power and free circuits, a toilet, a make-up and changing area, and parking. Also ask about the bookable window on the shoot day and the house rules on set-up and strike, noise, flash and haze. Finally, check that your preferred date is available and that the cancellation terms fit your planning.

Fashion shoot locations in Köln

Find and compare bookable photo locations

Find bookable photo and shooting locations for your next project: browse the selection by look, light and location, compare settings from the photos, save favourites to your shortlist, ask the host and book directly. Instead of generic Instagram spots, we show production-ready spaces with photos, areas and floor plans, from bright daylight rooms for fashion and portrait to raw industrial spaces for editorial and neutral setups for product photography.

What to look for in a photo location

Commercial use

Clarify early whether you can shoot commercially at the space. Advertising, campaigns and brand shoots often need explicit permission or a buyout, so ask before you book and get written confirmation of how the images may be used.

Light and visual style

Look at the photos to see how the room behaves in daylight and artificial light. Big windows, window orientation, ceiling height and the look of the walls decide whether your visual style works there, and whether you need to bring extra light.

Access and arrival

Plan arrival, parking and the route for your gear. An easy-to-reach space with short loading paths, a lift or ground-level delivery saves your team a lot of time and stress on the shoot day.

On-site logistics

Check for power and free circuits, a toilet, somewhere to change and room for make-up or styling. Those small details make a longer shoot far more comfortable and keep the set clear.

Price and booking

Locations are booked by the day: compare the host's day rate and check what it covers from the description and areas, such as how many people may be on set and which spaces and equipment are included. That way you know upfront whether the space fits your budget.

Rules and usage rights

Ask about rules on noise, flash, haze, animals, food and usage rights. Clear agreements upfront avoid friction with neighbours or the host on the day and protect your later sign-off.

What makes a strong photo location

A strong photo location is more than a pretty room: it brings its own character to carry your subject and enough room for several framings. Watch the balance of light, floor area and look, because a space with big windows, a clear window orientation and a few usable corners gives you several setups in a single day without changing location. That's exactly what sets a real location apart from a bare studio: it brings atmosphere with it, instead of having to build it from scratch.

Indoor versus outdoor is the second big decision. Interiors give you control over light, weather and noise and suit fashion, portrait, beauty and product, so here clarify daylight, blackout and power circuits above all. Outdoor and industrial spaces such as courtyards, rooftops, halls or natural backdrops deliver scale and texture, but depend heavily on weather and time of day. For outdoor subjects, always plan a bad-weather backup, a second lighting option and realistic windows for the best light.

Before booking, it pays to clarify a few things concretely: is commercial use allowed and how far does the buyout reach? How many people may be on set, and is there power, a toilet, make-up space and parking? In which window is the space available on the shoot day, and how do the house rules handle set-up and strike? Asking these questions upfront, ideally in writing, avoids nasty surprises on the shoot day and lets you plan your schedule realistically and calmly.

What does a photo location cost?

Photo locations are booked by the day. What a shoot day costs depends mainly on the city and location, the floor area and the look of the rooms. The day rates below are rough guides for bookable locations in Germany, tiered by size:

Small rooms (up to approx. 80 m²): €500–1,000/day
Mid-size locations (approx. 80–200 m²): €1,000–2,000/day
Large spaces (from approx. 200 m²): €2,000–4,000/day
Exceptional locations (villa, loft, penthouse)varies widely: from €3,000/day

Indicative ranges from typical marketplace listings. The actual day rate is set by each host, and photos, areas, amenities and house rules are shown on each listing.

What affects the day rate

City and location, since Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne sit above the national average.
The floor area and size of the usable rooms and the number of possible setups.

Who a photo location is for

Photographers and creators

For portrait, fashion editorial and social content it's about the look: a characterful room with soft daylight and several framings, so a single day yields multiple setups. Check light and window orientation upfront, whether you may bring your own gear, and how large the crew can be.

Brands and agencies

For advertising and campaigns, clear usage rights and buyout, reliable booking and enough room for clients, catering and styling decide the day. Get the commercial clearance confirmed in writing and plan a generous shoot day so approvals and sign-off run smoothly on set.

Product photography and small crews

For still life, tabletop, e-commerce and music videos it comes down to neutral surfaces or the right setting, controllable light and predictable logistics. Look for table surfaces, clear walls, power for continuous light and enough room to rebuild sets between shots.

Found the right photo location?

Compare bookable photo locations visually by look, light and access, or list your own space as a photo and film location and reach productions searching for exactly your setting.

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Fashion shoot locations in Köln | SetScout

Find and compare bookable photo locations