Where to Find a Location Scout in Chicago

Wondering how to find a location scout in Chicago? Whether you’re shooting a commercial for a subscription dog-toy company or a gritty epic film that captures all the desperation, excess, and tenderness that America has to offer – Chicago is the perfect filming location.

And Chicago is more than just a backdrop. It has everything that America has to offer. Diverse neighborhoods, top-tier restaurants, some of the best universities in the world, incredible architecture, skyscrapers, plenty of waterfront property, art scene, music scene, movie scene, and lights that you can’t imagine.

For a location scout, Chicago is a wonderful place to get lost in. It’s no wonder why the city has some of the best creative companies and freelancers in the country. In this blog, we at Peerspace will tell you everything you need to know about finding all the locations you need for your latest film project.

As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, we understand how important a location is to any production, event, or meeting.

What you should know about hiring a location scout

where was sons of anarchy filmed
Source: Peerspace

Location scouts have a deep understanding of film and basically think like directors, cinematographers, AND producers. This means that they’re thinking beyond just what a location looks like and considering how easy it would be to film there, set up trailers, get electricity and lights, and so on.

Location scouts keep relationships with thousands of location owners and usually act as liaisons between the production team and the owners of each filming location. Pretty much daily, they help smooth out problems.

Ahead, we share a few of our favorite location scout resources that make it easy to find your next production space.

Still curious about this crucial role? Then check out everything you need to know about location scouting.

Peerspace

location scout chicago
Source: Peerspace

Here at Peerspace, we make it absurdly easy to scout for locations yourself. We unlock Chicago’s coolest spaces and make them a cinch to book, taking the grunt work out of finding the perfect place for your photo or film shoot.

Rent a space by the day or by the hour, rather than signing a massive 14, 30, or 60-day lease, and choose from hundreds of loft spaces, warehouses, photo studios, bookstores, sound stages, cozy apartments, and beyond.

And when you find that location that just clicks, the one that makes you say, “That’s it, that’s exactly what I was imagining,” Peerspace makes it easy to schedule the shoot, communicate with the property owner, pay, and move on to the next step of your busy production schedule.

So what types of production locations can you book through Peerspace?

Here are some of our Windy City favorites:

As you can see, our production listings are curated with creatives in mind. They all have copious photographs of the locations from many angles, as well as reviews from actual people who have used the space. Plus, you can reach out to a venue’s host with any questions or requests before you book or anytime after.

You can feel confident that you know what you’re getting when you book a Peerspace.

Production Hub 

Production Hub keeps a list of about 20 location scouts in Chicago. Some of their location scouts upkeep fairly detailed résumés on the site, whereas others pretty much just list their names and phone numbers.

Chicago Creative Directory

The Chicago Creative Directory keeps a list of location scouts and photo stylists in Chicago. They keep a very simple list: just names, websites, and phone numbers, for the most part.

But that’s pretty much everything you need to get started.

Social media

Music Video Locations in Chicago
Source: Peerspace

Location scouts stay busy, always on the move. That’s why sometimes it’s really much easier to find them on social media — especially Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, as we’ll explain.

Twitter is a great place to find location scouts discussing their work, sharing pictures, and tweeting @ people on their social network. It offers a fascinating insight into their daily routines and work habits. 

LinkedIn can help you explore the résumés of potential location scouts and even take a deep dive into their past work to get an understanding of what has influenced them. 

And with Instagram, of course, you get to see their work. Do they have the eye? Do they “get it”? You can tell a lot about how it would be to work with a location scout in this way. And if you like what you see, all of these sites have ways you can get in touch with them.

The City of Chicago’s Film Office

If you still can’t find the right location scout, try giving the Chicago Film Office a call. They can also help you figure out what, if any, filming permits you might need. They’re a very handy resource for Chicago’s location scouts.

Websites for DIY location scouting in Chicago

location scout chicago
Source: Peerspace

If you’re filming an indie film, we know you’ve got to prioritize where you spend your money. There’s equipment, talent, renting locations, and more, and trying to find the cash for it all isn’t exactly “the fun part.”

That’s why we’ve also put together some of the best websites for finding and scouting Chicago locations directly. 

The best place for the filmmakers of Chicago to location scout on their own— aside from Peerspace — are the following:

Chicago Artists Coalition 

Chicago Artists Resource migrated over to Chicago Artists Coalition. Here, you can find dozens of spaces listed for lease. The leases are generally longer leases, but they do offer an interesting variety of spaces.

Chicago Locations

Chicago Locations has an extensive list of public and private Chicago filming locations, along with contacts for each location. If you’re looking to film in a public library or along the shoreline, here’s an alternative starting place.

The caveat is that you must create an account before you even get to scope out spaces.

Here are our favorite camera equipment rental companies in Chicago!

Don’t forget to ask people in your own network

Boudoir Photoshoot Ideas in Chicago
Source: Peerspace

We hope that between the dozens of location scouts and thousands of locations these resources have, you’re able to find the right person and the right locations for your film.

But don’t forget to ask the people in your network.

Even if you’re still fairly new to the game, you might just know somebody who knows somebody. Asking for help saves a lot of time. And working with friends of friends is still how a lot of this gets done.

Location scout Chicago: conclusion

Central Logan Square Secret Garden
Source: Peerspace

Finding a location scout in Chicago doesn’t have to be difficult. With the resources above, you should be able to find the best scout who understands your vision.

And remember, if you’d rather do it yourself, you have Peerspace to provide you with all the amazing hidden gem spaces in Chicago and beyond. In fact, our platform is ideal for busy professionals like yourself.

Simply click a link on this page, hit search, and see what pops up. You can use keywords and filters to narrow down the results to the venues that best match your project, like “warehouse,” “kitchen,” “cyc wall,” etc.

Since each venue has its own dedicated listing with multiple photos, upfront pricing, and user reviews, you never have to question what you’re getting with your booking. Plus, you can reach out to the host through the listing page to ask any questions or make any requests.

Many hosts even include or offer add-on services like catering, gear rentals, props, production packages, and more. With Peerspace, you can be your own location scout in Chicago! And it doesn’t have to be a time-consuming experience. Check us out and see for yourself!

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