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There are many reasons why businesses such as an architecture firm, interior design studio, or construction company utilize an architectural photographer.
But, the fundamental reason is the ability to tell the business's story, vision, and accomplishments across a wide range of digital and visual mediums across the globe. The photographs you use to sell your services must function on two levels: as individual representations of who you are and as marketing tools to help you get in touch with your target client and raise your sales. When hiring a professional architectural photographer, your objective should be to locate a photographer who can take photographs that exceed your vision and give you the best results.
Let's take a look at 15 common questions you should ask yourself when hiring an architecture and interior photographer for your next project.
Starting right off the bat with the first and most common question for Architects, Interior Designers, Builders, General Contractors, and other members involved in the creation of a new building. Do I need an Architectural Photographer?
Simply put, yes.
If you’re a business that is looking to have a competitive edge and have the ability to invest in your marketing strategy, a professional architectural photographer is a great value-add to your business. With digital marketing being one of the main methods to reach your target audiences with the right message at the right time, it's very important to showcase high-end work. Architectural photography will give you the best chance to improve your portfolio, competition ranking, client outlook, professionalism, and internal or external marketing materials.
This depends heavily on the end-use of the photos as each has a different purpose.
If you’re looking for photographs that only need to showcase a home or commercial building and its surroundings, real estate photography may be all you need. If you're trying to show your business as a whole, covering various aspects of your business such as new commercial properties, products, and services, then working with a commercial photographer will be a better fit. However, if you're specifically looking to showcase the architecture and design of the space while receiving the best results, showcase a higher quality of photos, have the potential to be published, and be able to use the photos for competitive competitions, then hiring an architecture photographer and/or interiors photographer is your best option.
Real Estate photography and architectural photography get mixed up quite a bit. So, if you’re still confused about the differences between the two industries of photography, check out this article here for a breakdown of the primary differences. These can be broken down into several sections including:
There are several ways you can find an architectural photographer. Some examples terms to search for on Google, Google Maps, Houzz, or social media are:
Defining your search location will be beneficial as having someone local will provide the advantage of being able to deal with schedule changes, delays, extensions, and be more affordable. If you were unable to find architecture photographers in your area for whatever reason, you can always do a search in a neighboring city, town, or even state! This method will cost extra due to travel expenses but will be worth it to get a professional photographer who understands photographing for architecture and interiors.
The photography process can be complex and requires clear communication from both parties. This means new clients should spend considerable time helping the photographer understand their vision and business goals. In return, the photographer will be able to explain their entire process and find areas where they can tailor photoshoots according to your requirements.
A well-thought-out strategy and effective communication are required before, during, and after a photo shoot for a successful project. For example with this project on Mercer Island, the scouting trip confirmed the need to utilize a drone and receive proper approval a week before the scheduled date. This also ensured we had enough time to plan and create shot list so we did not miss the timing of the sunset.
The number of photos you should expect from an architectural photography shoot will depend on the size of the space, how much time you have, and the type of shots you want.
These numbers can be a good starting point to give you an idea of what can be done but it's also important to realize the importance of patience throughout the creative process. Getting that perfect timing of light is absolutely worth pursuing.
A pre-shoot brief is a document that contains all the information about the shoot. It is usually prepared by the photographer and sent to the client before the shoot. It includes things like location, date, time, what will be photographed, and who will be present at the shoot.
Although it's not required, it's highly recommended that all photographers, architects, designers, and other business owners do not skip this step. This document can confirm that everyone has what they need before a photo shoot. For example, below is one that I use for all my architecture and interior design clients at AB Photo & Video.
While photographing architectural spaces, the significance of conveying its story and beauty is essential.
Being able to tell the story and history of a space is what separates this field from other types of photography. This can be accomplished by capturing multiple perspectives such as taking broad, medium, and detailed shots of the specific space. For example, you can see some shots of a recent project where I worked to build a story with 5 images:
Photoshoots are a time-consuming process. It takes a lot of time to set up the find the correct composition, sync equipment, flash from varying angles, and clean up. But with these tips, you can make your photoshoots more efficient and save yourself some time and money.
● Analyze the property: Think about your own design process, the work involved, the materials used, the number of people involved, etc., and note down general areas you would like to be photographed. A talented photographer will be able to review this ahead of time and come up with a proper plan and schedule.
● Create a shot list: Using the first point above, the photographer and client can also perform a scouting trip. This will give the photographer a better sense of the space, lighting, and potential roadblocks. From there, a shot list can be created to help visualize compositions before the actual shoot date.
● Style the space ahead of time: Prepare the building's interior and exterior about 2 days before the photo shoot. This is also a great time to confirm the style and mood your going for with your interior designer if working with one.
Think about the value that these photos provide but if you break down the costs they account for:
It is important for architects to look for partners to share the costs of a photoshoot to reduce their fees. With the cost-sharing model, each additional party will significantly lower your photography costs. For simplicity, let's look at an example:
For this example, let’s assume we’re an Architect looking to get a full-day photoshoot. If we decided to go in alone and pay for the photoshoot, it will cost $1,250.
However, let’s now assume that the Interior Designer, General Contractor, and Appliance Manufacturer want photos from the project as well. The grand total of the photoshoot will now increase to $2,188 due to 4 parties now being involved. But, here’s the cool part
…
That grand total cost can now be split between all 4 parties, resulting in only a $547 fee for a FULL-DAY PHOTOSHOOT!
This equates to a 56% discount for each party!
When architects, interior designers, or business owners start utilizing professional photography for commercial purposes, it's essential to know what is included in your license.
It's also important to note that architects, interior designers, real estate agents, or other businesses do not have the right to distribute or license the photos to third parties without proper approval from the photographer. If you have any doubts about what you have a license for, it's a good idea to always check with the photographer.
This is an important question to ask before contacting the photographer.
Depending on your end-use, the cost of licensing may vary from photographer to photographer. In general terms, a photograph license typically consists of non-exclusive, unlimited, and perpetual rights to use the content in marketing your brand and services in digital and print mediums (not including print advertisements). This may include websites, social media, competition entries, portfolios, annual reports, brochures, etc. This can also include meticulous editing, post-processing, data storage, and backups.
Under the Copyright Act of 1976, every photograph shot is owned by the photographer. In this case, the photographer grants a license to the client.
The 1976 Copyright Act is a federal law that protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. The Act also protects certain other subject matter such as sound recordings and computer programs.
No, despite social media being photo and video dependent and "less formal", you must request permission from the original photographer, not the person or company who posts it.
In this case, the client paid for the work, licensed to utilize the photos across their website and social media, and provided Photo Credit to @anton_benedikt_photo. Photographers follow the same principles as Architects. For example, Architects will always prefer to have the Firm’s name on a placard, but no matter what, they still expect to be paid for their design work, especially when that work is highly valued across multiple parties.
NO! Only those that took part in the photoshoot! When a third party requests to utilize the images, the client must contact the original photographer. It is deemed Copyright Infringement if it is used without permission, which would result in a far larger legal expense than just acquiring a license.
Whether you are an Architect, Interior Designer, General Contractor, or other business professional these questions will give you a great starting point when beginning conversations with your local photographer.
To summarize, the first thing you should do is determine if using an architectural photographer is right for you and your business (hint: if you read through this article, YOU SHOULD). From there, planning ahead is key for an efficient and pleasant process for all parties involved. Finally, make sure you stay up to date with licensing and copyright. You don’t want to have to pay a copyright infringement fee just because you didn’t know the details!
If you’re located in the Greater Seattle Area and looking for an experienced architectural and interior photographer who can help you through this process, contact me at my website, AB Photo & Video, or give message me on social media at Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
