How I Scout Photo Spots Before Every Big Trip
In 2023, I planned my first international trip since the pandemic — a return to Tokyo after more than 10 years away. A lot had changed, and I wanted to make sure I came back with stunning photos. So before boarding the plane, I did serious research.
What I didn't realize at the time was that the scouting process I developed for Tokyo would become my go-to blueprint for every major photography trip since.
Step 1: Build an Instagram Collection
Start by creating a saved collection on Instagram — I called mine "Tokyo Photo Spots." Whenever you come across a compelling shot, save it to that collection. Here's where it gets powerful: the more you save and like, the more Instagram's algorithm learns what you're looking for. Soon, your Explore page starts surfacing similar images organically.
Pay attention to which accounts keep appearing. Visit their profiles, dig through their feeds, and save the best shots to your collection. You're essentially training Instagram to become your personal photo research assistant.
The same approach works just as well on Pinterest.
Step 2: Find the Exact Locations on Google Maps
Once you've built up a solid collection, it's time to play detective. For urban landscape photography, photos almost always include identifiable landmarks — storefronts, bridges, rivers, intersections. Search for these in Google Maps and save each one to a dedicated list (e.g., "Tokyo Photo Spots").
Google Maps is remarkably powerful for this. Using Street View, you can often pinpoint the exact vantage point a photo was taken from — and even pre-visualize your own version of the shot. For a fast-changing city like Tokyo, it's also a practical way to verify that a location still exists before you make the trip.
Step 3: Spot Patterns and Plan Your Route
With your locations saved, zoom out and look at the map as a whole. You'll start to see:
Which spots are close enough to visit in a single outing
Neighborhoods with a high concentration of photo opportunities
Locations that might require extra travel time or planning
This clustering view is invaluable for building an efficient itinerary — especially in a sprawling city where logistics can make or break a shoot.
On the Ground
With your map ready, you can move through the city with purpose. When the light is right or you have a free window, you already know exactly where to go.
This system won't guarantee perfect shots — that's still up to you — but it means you'll never waste time wandering without a plan. And more often than not, you'll end up exactly where the best images are waiting.