Architectural Photography

Architectural Photography

I love architectural photography, it allows you to be creative as you want in order to get the shots you need to show off the design of the building, you get away from the wide-angle 14-20mm real estate shot and you really get to look at angle and light differently. Generally, a longer focal length is more key to shooting architectural shoots. You normally would use somewhere in the region of 24-70mm on interiors if the shoot interior calls for it 19mm.

Light is even more key and timing is crucial as the light would really give the feeling you or the client needs for the room/building you are shooting. either sunset, blue hour or a beautiful blue day really would set the mood. It can make or a photo.

Being a photographer that lives so close to London, the London skyline is on the doorstep for me, I have some of the best architecture in the world right under my nose and I haven’t been taking advantage of it. I always walk past the building I’ve posted below and this time I stopped and took 10mins to shoot it.

Netherstowe House, Netherstowe Lane, Lichfield, Staffs.

This shoot was so different from my usual shoots, meticulous planning in the smallest detail before I had even arrived on site. I knew it was going to be dressed but there was a whole team on hand from handymen, cleaners, manager of the site and the owner of the site. Fantastic each shot I took an average of around 25mins to set up so many options I had to choose from.

There were multiple artworks to choose from to hang on the wall with various colours and patterns. A whole bunch of pillows to choose from, all sorts of props. The idea was to make sure we didn’t over clutter the room and made it feel like you were already there or somebody was staying there.

From the hospitality i received as the photography was anything to go on, the guest will be very happy and it was a very comfortable and relaxing environment. There is a long driveway into the estate which really gives it a prestige luxury country feel. A really special place to pull up to and the service they provide supersedes the awe the driveway will give you.

I’ve included a few photos from the shoot so you can see what I mean about the spaces available.

Estate Agents Drive Me Crazy...

This is going to be a little bit of a rant so bear with me…

I’ve been photography properties for around 5 years now and in the last 2-3, I’ve really found my feet with the style I like to shoot. While I have a style I love to shoot there is a time when certain techniques and the feel of the property doesn’t match the style I shoot. I maintain my style while adapting to the lighting conditions and keeping either the completely ambient and multi-layer flash images within the look I like. There are some properties that have huge window letting in a ton a light so much so that they only have small lamps or reading lights. on the other end, there are places that are basements and have little to no window light which means they (hopefully) have a tonne of daylight balanced LED spotlight and lamps dotted around the apartments.

With that being said I do like to keep my clients happy and if they would like certain images a little brighter than id like it I will happily oblige. However, ( Rant begins :D) I’ve been shown another agent's photos while discussing the shoot with certain agents and they say’I want the images to look like this’. I do my best to politely and discreetly decline to make the photos like the same way and talk about how my photos won't look like that which is a great thing and point out flaws that I personally find within the photo. They tend to then let me get on with it. Until delivery then they start requesting for me to re-edit some shots as they need it to look more like other agents shots. to which I reply with a slightly more confident wording of basically no that what you get when you book me.

I think the worse part of it all is they love my photos when they book me and first see me, they can't give me higher praise and compliments 🤭. It is frustrating because I have no problem is not shooting for people who I don’t click with I learnt this from doing wedding photography, if there spark isn’t there I can't shoot for that person, nothing personal I just can't do the best job I can. Which makes me feel like this agent hired based on my price. I’m very open and honest when talking to new clients about my shooting style an can only assuming because we are talking at this stage that you want the work I’m showing you via my website, www.Garyaskewphotography.com or my Instagram, instagram.com/garyaskewphotography. Unless the client tells me they want a certain look. I’m all for client satisfaction which is why is good for me to decline some agents because I can give them what they want.

I believe that my photos have a different look to 90% of what out there and I believe my work stands out to the typical real estate photographer so please agents when hiring a photographer to accept the style you the photographer you choose has and stand out or blend in by wanting the same thing your competition has!

I’d love to know what from an agents perspective and other real estate photographer thoughts on this.

Has it happened to you?

did a photographer display something different to what they delivered?

What is involved in taking interior photograph's?

How much does it cost? 🤑🤑🤑

I believe that people strongly feel like they are getting ripped off or scammed when they are hiring a profession photographer when they hear the price. What alot of people ont understand is actually 80% of the work actually happens in secret, when no one is around while they are tucked up in bed. The photographer is most definitely up editing the photos. If they are like me then they will be because they are more excited the the client to finish the images and get the final product. While it could take 2-4 hours to photograph a interior, depending on the size, it could take 3-4 times longer to edit the images together.

What are you paying for you may still be asking. firstly, you are paying for the photographer to be on site, either by the hour of by the number of photos you may of requested. For me at least the cost it largely related to the time and effort editing the photos together after the shoot has taken place. I typically take less than 24 hours to deliver as I editing into the evening.

Probably the reason people don’t understand the most is that interior photographs need more TLC, you tend to refine the room at the time than refine the photograph later. It takes 5 seconds to adjust something and a headache later on if it the time hasn’t been taken to make it as right as possible in the camera. This all being said Its the gear we use for these types of shoots. I always bring a portable studio flash for interior shot to ensure and 100 % i get accurate colour every pop of the flash. It always mean i will have more than enough battery power to flood the room with flash for blending later. I do always carry my speed light too so that i can get a bit more directional light with the speed light. I also might need to shoot tethered which can be with the Nikon wireless Wi-Fi connection or cam-ranger, something along those lines. A gear head is ABSOLUTELY required and if you can a tilt shift lens. This all cost money which we invest in so we need to make money on our investments as every body can relate, and agree too.

As you can tell there is alot of involvement, even down to planning to the time of day you can shoot so you have the best most flattering light.

How long does it take?⏳⏳

It really comes down the each individuals workflow, I personally for interior jobs, like to wait til i can use my workhorse of a PC at home so i can get accurate colour, and the best possible blend of the layers I’ve taken while on site. It also allows me to concentrate more on the job at hand and kick back with some music maybe a tea. This is my personal optimal environment. On the job I try to be as efficient as possible and i really focus on the details of each property and the little things the designer has done because those are using what brings the whole style together. The hardest part of all it to get them in a interesting composition, the designers has a reason why everything is in a place and has a place so the last thing i want to do is insult the design by moving things too much to create the composition that shows the property off in an immaculate way.

feel free to look at my work; www.garyaskewphotography.com

Feel free to contact me regarding shooting your space.

Shooting the Nell Gwynn house on Sloane Avenue, London.

Working with a great client of mine with quite a substantial portfolio of property. This a huge job and it was 2 day job, shooting many different styles of apartments and studio pods. If it’s luxury you light then Nell Gwynn house is definitely the place to stay when visit London. Being a London photography its rare luxury isn’t ever not part of the shoot.

This building was stunning from the moment you see the building, to walking through the rotating door, with the porters waiting for you in the lobby to guide you to the right place. It’s reminiscent of a 5 star hotel at a fraction of a cost.

It took a longer than I expected it to take, but it was so much fun each room presented it’s own challenges as some had more light than other, some had the smallest windows right at the top of the room. The bulbs in the lights, some were orange some were white. Complete nightmare, but it was a challenge I appreciated as it helped me learn a new editing technique. Most jobs i always learn something but i learnt a lot from this job in particular.

Take a look at some of the photos I’ve taken, for more information and to book a room at the Nell Gwynn, Sloane Square, Chelsea, London. You can visit William Hemming Associate.

www.Garyaskewphotography.com