My Process
My philosophy for photographing architecture is to invoke a mood that complements the design with each picture, rather than making a perfect photocopy of the space. I draw from a wide range of compositional, staging, lighting and post production techniques to make my pictures dynamic and compelling to match the thoughtfulness of the subject matter.
What goes into a final image?
First, I scope out the angles to choose a composition that depicts what it really feels like to be in the space. Then, for interiors, I stage the furniture for balance and breathability from the camera’s perspective. I plan my photoshoots to best take advantage of the natural light over the course of the day. In many cases the available light is stunning, and only needs minor shaping with black cloth and shims. Sometimes I’ll subtly add artificial light to bring out depth and textures in the scene, and sometimes, when the schedule does not work with the sun, I’ll need all the lights in my bag to get things looking just perfect. In post production, I blend aspects of the many photographs captured onsite to create an image that is balanced, and draws the eye into the space as though you were walking through it. I also remove minor (and sometimes major) blemishes and unwanted objets.
When shooting, I tether my camera to an iPad to display the photos as they’re captured. This allows me to work with you as I shoot to best translate your vision to imagery. I’ll change the angle, reposition furniture and adjust lighting to produce final images that are exactly what you had in mind.
What does a typical photoshoot look like?
Most of my shoots are one full day, which consists of 10-12 hours of shooting, and typically yields 8-12 photographs. In the morning I conduct a full site walkthrough with the client, and plan a shot list and schedule that best take advantage of the changing position of the sun throughout the day. This is ideal for capturing a project in a diverse range of lighting conditions. Most of the shooting day occurs during daylight; several images can be taken during the “golden hour” window prior to sunset, and one image can be taken at twilight as the sun is fully setting.