How do you approach scouting a location?
The interviewer wants to learn how prepared you are when heading out into the field. The interviewer wants to learn what variables you take into account and how thorough you are when choosing a location. This speaks to your experience as a photographer and the lessons you've learned along the way.
The goal of your answer is to showcase your experience as a photographer and what you've learned from different situations you've encountered.
Focus on your ability to take multiple environmental variables into account. Then demonstrate why they are important to a successful photo shoot.
When I'm evaluating a location, I think through my approach to the shoot and consider where there might be challenges or barriers along the way. I consider what the existing light is already like. If there is mixed lighting with different color temperatures, it will play into my lighting plan and determine how much access I might need to power. If the shoot involves outfit changes, I will make sure the location has a place for someone to change in private. I also scout the location at approximately the same time of day as the shoot so I'm prepared for any additional variables.
