We have been off to a running start this year. Currently, we are prepping for a campaign for a cell phone company to be shot in Los Angeles. My producer and I have been busy going over the details including selection of the locations. Google Maps’ Street View has been amazing at enabling us to see the surrounding streets of our locations. We have been looking for some particular details to shoot. Using Skype’s screen share function we are “driving” around the locations looking at other buildings and sidewalks, etc for possible additional location opportunities. We will still have to send a scout to take up-to-date photos but it’s a real time saver when looking for locations. I envision a day when Google will have HD video of the streets. The scouts job will be to preview locations for us by “driving” us to the location.
Google Mapping and Scouting
Advertising Photo shoots, Behind the Scenes: Anatomy of A Shoot