Google Earth Location Scouting for Landscape Photography
By Max Rive Photography | Published: 2026-10-18
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to find unique landscape photo locations using Google Earth. This step-by-step guide helps you plan shoots and build a standout portfolio.
Quick Answer
Google Earth is a powerful tool for scouting landscape photography locations before you ever leave home. By following a structured process, you can find unique spots, assess light conditions, and plan your shoot with confidence.
Why Use Google Earth for Location Scouting
Relying on popular social media locations often leads to overcrowded shots and a portfolio that looks like everyone else's. Google Earth lets you explore terrain, water features, and access points from your computer, giving you the freedom to discover lesser-known spots that align with your creative vision. This method saves time, fuel, and disappointment on the ground.
Step-by-Step Location Scouting Process
- Define Your Vision and Terrain Preferences: Start by deciding what kind of landscape you want to photograph—mountains, coastlines, forests, or deserts. Use Google Earth's search and layer tools to zoom into regions that match your criteria. A common mistake is jumping into random areas without a clear goal, which wastes time and leads to scattered results. Checkpoint: Save a list of 5–10 candidate regions before diving into details.
- Use Historical Imagery to Assess Seasonal Conditions: Google Earth's historical imagery feature lets you see how a location looks at different times of the year. This is critical for understanding water levels, snow cover, and foliage changes. Many photographers forget to check this and arrive to find a scene completely different from what they expected. Checkpoint: Compare at least two different seasons for each candidate spot.
- Evaluate Light Direction and Composition Virtually: Use the 3D viewer and sun-dial tool to simulate light at different times of day. Tilt the view to see how shadows fall across ridges and valleys. A frequent mistake is assuming the best composition from a flat top-down view; always check the 3D perspective to confirm foreground interest and leading lines. Checkpoint: Note the time of day when your chosen spot receives the most flattering light.
Learn from a Pro: Max Rive's Tutorial
- Google Earth Location Scouting Tutorial: Find amazing and unique landscape locations with this Max Rive’s in-depth Google Earth Location Scouting Tutorial. Finding landscape photography locations yourself is essential in order to create a unique landscape photography portfolio – especially nowadays when unique locations are more scarce with all the social media sharing opportunities. This tutorial shows you the exact techniques a working professional uses to find and evaluate locations, helping you skip the trial-and-error phase and build a more original body of work.
