Still photography is still used to document locations. That hasn't changed.
Motion picture film was also used, as is video.

Here in Los Angeles there are places that specialize in locations - people
send in pictures of their houses, apartments, office buildings and land to
include in photo albums and on line so filmmakers can see them. Location
managers read a script and then take their still cameras out to take
pictures they will show the director.

I know this happens in Germany, too. I was a camera operator on a TV show
and spent some time with a German location manager who had still
photographs of many different places we could use.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Thanks for detailed response, very much appreciated. Interesting to have found out how things are done in Los Angeles, how still photography is maintained as a medium for documenting locations. I'd definitely like to have a go at the photographic process pertaining to scouting, but for that I will check other forums. Of course, I'd also love to know on which show you operated the camera when you worked with the German location manager. I send you greetings.

Duchan

The show was "Amazing Race" in Nov. 2005.

The location manager worked with the producers for three
weeks before shooting started scouting possible location
and documenting them with photos.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)