Lovely view. Shame about the leaf blower. A location can look perfect in a photograph and give you quite a different experience when you try to record an interview there.

The right location gives you something useful to film: the place a product is made, a team at work, or a setting that suits the idea. Before getting attached to a backdrop, think about what it adds and whether you can actually record the scene there.

Think about where the camera and crew will work, as well as what belongs in the background.

For a film about your business, your own workplace is often a good starting point. A workshop can show the care behind a product. An office can give an interview some context. There are details there that you won’t get from hiring a room with a nice wall.

There’s still plenty of room to go elsewhere. A city street, a quiet landscape or a building with some character might be just what the film needs. Have a reason for choosing it. A spectacular setting can easily become more interesting than the thing you’re trying to show.

And don’t rule out your own space because it doesn’t look like a studio. The camera only sees what’s in the frame. Choosing the angle, moving a few distracting items and lighting it properly can make a big difference.

If the premises really don’t work, a hired space or a customer’s location may be a better fit. For an idea that needs something more controlled, a studio, custom set or virtual environment gives you other options. Bring those into the budget and schedule early.

Go and have a look. And a listen.

A recce is a visit to work out how the shoot will actually happen. Ideally, go at a similar time of day to the planned filming. Check where the light falls, where the camera can go and what you can hear when everyone stops talking. A few things are worth checking:

• Listen for traffic, machinery and other noise that could compete with dialogue.

• Check access for the crew and equipment, and discuss the filming arrangements with the location contact.

• Allow time to prepare the space and move between setups.

• Have an alternative if an outdoor scene depends on the weather.

The arrangements matter as much as the look. Get permission to film, agree which areas you can use and find out what else will be happening that day. If people need to carry on working around the crew, build that into the plan.

If you’re weighing up a few locations, send us the options. We can help you work out which will suit the film and make sense on the day.