Have you ever thought about using your property as a way to earn some extra money? Find out below whether your property has what it takes to be a successful film or photoshoot location.
What type of location do we want?
In short, every type of house could be a film location. Just think of a typical evening in front of the television and the number of different houses and properties you see. Unless they are standalone sets (like Coronation Street), the likelihood is that they are someone's home. We are always on the look-out for every type of property, especially locations that represent how people live today or how they lived in the past. We have a huge number of enquiries for family houses. If you are wondering if your home is "special" enough, don't worry, not every production needs a palace.
"If you are wondering if your home is "special" enough, don't worry, not every production needs a palace."
Which styles are the most popular?
As a guide, the type of location that does well is typical of a period in time. Period dramas will want genuine Georgian and Victorian houses, say, with untouched interiors. A film set in the 70s or 80s will want as many features of that period as possible - including the avocado bathroom suite! If your house untouched by time, then you may find it is in demand as a film location.
Properties which have a feel of foreign climes are also popular, especially if they are close to London. Limited production budgets often mean that they can't jet everyone off to Miami or the Mediterranean. If your house could pass for a Miami mansion or a villa, or any other type of foreign location, then it could have a future as a film location.
What makes a perfect film location?
Having said that we look for every type of location, not every property will work for filming, just because the logistics can be so demanding. If you've ever seen a film being shot you'll know that filming comes with a lot of crew and equipment, and if they they are not on set they all need somewhere to park and somewhere to go. Film production teams will get around anything for a truly unique and perfect location. Read on to find out what they value when choosing where to shoot:
Location. Filming is expensive and moving crews around can increase costs significantly. The closer you are to the production centre the better. In most cases, this means London or the major studios like Pinewood or Elstree, but increasingly more films are being made in Manchester or Bristol, so being close by can boost your chances of getting selected.
Space. You may have the perfect location, but if there's no room for the crew or even enough space to film, then sadly it just won't work. To be successful in this industry, you need to have big enough rooms for the crew and their equipment, and other rooms available to use for hair, make-up and green rooms.
"You may have the perfect location, but if there's no room for the crew or even enough space to film, then sadly it just won't work".
Parking. Having off-street or unrestricted parking can raise the appeal of your property for any production, just for the convenience factor alone. Location managers have a lot to organise before a film shoot, removing the need for parking permissions makes their lives easier.
Quiet. If you're next to the motorway or underneath a flight path, then filming becomes more problematic at your property. In film shoots schedules are tight and time is money - the crew will want to get through the day with as few disruptions as possible. Hanging about to wait for a train to pass every 20 minutes is not ideal!
What if filming isn't for me?
Even if you have space, the parking and the right location, you may not have the appetite for filming. Let's be clear: filming is disruptive, not just for you and your family but often for your neighbours too - which is one of the reasons why it pays so well. But ruling out filming doesn't necessarily mean that you can't earn money from your property as a location; it may be perfectly suited to being a photoshoot location. Photographic shoots are generally far less disruptive than full-scale filming with fewer people and much less equipment. However, photoshoot locations do come with special requirements - read on to find out more!
What makes a perfect photoshoot location?
We like to think of our photoshoot locations as the super-models of the location industry - ultimately they have to be very photogenic! It doesn't necessarily mean that they have to be perfect (faded grandeur and even derelict properties are both popular photoshoot styles). However, something must appeal to the photographer to make an ideal backdrop to their shoot.
"We like to think of our photoshoot locations as the super-models of the location industry - ultimately they have to be very photogenic!"
Stylish. A lot of lifestyle photography takes place in aspirational homes. Your home could be popular because it has a strong statement style, or it could be for the opposite, a neutral backdrop which can be styled by the production. But a successful photoshoot location usually has that "special something" that sets it apart from the crowd.
Parking. Although the scale is smaller, the ability to park off-road or close by is as essential for photoshoots as it is for filming. There may be props, or wardrobe for the models, or furniture which will all need space to park and unload.
Location. Lots of production companies and clients base themselves in and around London, so many of our most popular photoshoot locations are in or within 50 miles of London. Shoots will go further afield for something exceptional. Don't let being outside London put you off from registering - just be prepared for the fact that you might not get lots of bookings.
Space. Crew sizes are generally smaller than for filming. However, there can still be a lot of paraphernalia and people that accompany a photoshoot. Having the space to put things, plus additional rooms for hair and make-up is always needed.
