How to Build a Photography Location Database in Notion
Create a photography location database in Notion with Place properties and GPS export. Track scouting notes and navigate to shoots.
A photography location database in Notion lets you pin exact coordinates, add detailed scouting notes, and export everything to GPS when it's time to shoot. No more forgotten spots or scrambling through notes apps to find that perfect abandoned barn you spotted six months ago.
Every photographer knows the frustration of finding the perfect location, only to forget exactly where it was later. Maybe you spotted an incredible waterfall during a road trip, or a friend mentioned a hidden urban alley perfect for fashion work. Without a system to capture these discoveries, they slip away into the fog of memory. Building a structured database changes everything.
Why Photographers Need a Photography Location Database
Professional photographers often maintain mental lists of shooting locations, scattered across notes apps, bookmarked Instagram posts, and half-remembered conversations. This approach fails when you need to quickly find a location that matches specific criteria—a beach with west-facing cliffs for sunset portraits, or an urban alley with good natural light for fashion work.
A structured database changes everything. Instead of searching through chaos, you can filter by shoot type, lighting conditions, accessibility, or any other criteria that matters to your work. When a client asks for a moody forest location within an hour's drive, you'll have the answer in seconds.
Setting Up Your Database with Place Properties
Start by creating a new database in Notion. The magic happens with the Place property type, which lets you search for locations and stores precise latitude and longitude coordinates. Add a Place property called "Location" and you're ready to start pinning spots.
When you add a new location, Notion's Place property lets you search by address or place name. For remote locations without addresses, you can drop a pin on the map directly. This flexibility is crucial for photographers who often scout locations far from marked roads.
Essential Fields for Every Location
Beyond the Place property, your database needs fields that capture what makes each location useful for photography. Consider adding these properties:
Best Time as a select field with options like "Golden Hour," "Blue Hour," "Midday," and "Any." This helps you quickly filter locations based on when you're planning to shoot.
Lighting Direction matters enormously for outdoor photography. A simple text field noting whether the location faces east, west, or has open sky helps you plan around the sun's position.
Permit Requirements can save you from legal headaches. A checkbox for "Permit Required" plus a text field for details ensures you never show up unprepared for a commercial shoot.
Parking and Access notes are invaluable when you're hauling gear. Document where to park, how far you'll need to walk, and whether the terrain requires special footwear or equipment.
Season as a multi-select lets you note when locations look their best. That meadow might be stunning in spring wildflower season but unremarkable the rest of the year.
Categorizing by Shoot Type
Create a multi-select property for shoot types to organize locations by their photographic potential. Common categories include landscape, portrait, urban, architectural, product, and event. Many locations work for multiple types—a historic downtown might serve portrait, architectural, and event photography equally well.
This categorization becomes powerful when combined with filters. Need a portrait location with golden hour potential and easy parking? Apply those filters and see exactly what matches.
Exporting to GPS for On-Location Navigation
Here's where Notion to Maps transforms your database from a reference tool into a field companion. Export your scouted locations to GPX format and load them onto your phone or dedicated GPS device. When you're driving to a remote location at 4 AM for sunrise, having turn-by-turn navigation to the exact spot eliminates stress and wasted time.
For photographers who work across large regions, exporting to KML lets you visualize all your locations in Google Earth. This bird's-eye view helps with route planning when you're scheduling multiple shoots in a single trip.
Sharing Location Guides with Clients
Some photographers build location guides as a service offering, helping clients choose settings for their sessions. With Notion to Maps, you can create a curated database of client-appropriate locations and share it as an interactive map. Clients can browse options, see exactly where each spot is located, and make informed decisions before the shoot day.
This approach works particularly well for wedding photographers offering engagement session locations, or portrait photographers letting families choose between park, urban, and studio settings.
Building Your Database Over Time
The most valuable location databases grow organically. Make it a habit to add new spots whenever you discover them, even if you're not planning an immediate shoot. Include a "Scouted" checkbox to distinguish between locations you've personally visited and those you've only heard about.
Over months and years, this database becomes an irreplaceable professional asset—a curated collection of shooting locations that no competitor can replicate. Combined with the ability to export and navigate to any spot, you'll never lose a great location again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I track photography locations in Notion?
Create a Notion database with a Place property for coordinates, then add custom properties for lighting direction, best shooting times, permit requirements, and access notes. The Place property stores exact GPS coordinates that you can later export to navigation apps. Add a "Scouted" checkbox to track which locations you've personally visited versus those on your wishlist.
What information should I track for each photo location?
Essential fields include: Place (coordinates), Best Time (golden hour, blue hour, midday), Lighting Direction (east/west facing), Permit Requirements, Parking and Access notes, Season (when it looks best), and Shoot Type (portrait, landscape, urban). Many photographers also add fields for cell service availability, nearest restroom, and reference photos from previous visits.
Can I export my photo locations to Google Earth?
Yes. Export your Notion location database to KML format and open it directly in Google Earth. This gives you a bird's-eye view of all your scouted locations with satellite imagery, which is invaluable for planning multi-location shoots or understanding terrain before you arrive. You can also create virtual tours of your locations for client presentations.
How do photographers organize locations for different shoot types?
Use a multi-select property in Notion with categories like landscape, portrait, urban, architectural, product, and event. Many locations work for multiple types, so multi-select is better than single-select. Combine this with filtered views to quickly find locations matching specific criteria—for example, all portrait locations with golden hour potential within 30 minutes of your studio.
What's the best way to navigate to remote photo locations?
Export your locations from Notion to GPX format and load them into a GPS app like Gaia GPS or your phone's navigation. GPX waypoints work offline, which is essential for remote locations without cell service. For Garmin device users, sync the GPX file through Garmin Connect for wrist-based navigation during early morning or late evening shoots.