The challenge for the successful architectural photographer is to create images that emphasize the aesthetics of the architect’s design as well as the practical need to market his or her style and services. As an architectural photographer, you can significantly increase the appeal of your images and sell more of them when you consciously apply any of the following 6 techniques.

1. The Magic Hour Moment

The period of sundown into twilight is probably the most magical moment to photograph architecture. The sky takes on a much deeper hue of blue to blue/black and interior, or artificial light, usually has a nice, soft glow since some of the remaining exterior ambient light combines with it. Typically, the “magic hour” lasts only minutes, so you must be at your location early and pre-select camera positions and angles to capture the most images possible during this narrow window of opportunity. During dusk, the light is changing rather quickly, so the best shooting strategy is to bracket with various exposures. The quickly changing light also has a substantial impact on color rendition, so select a color value according to the artificial light and “cheating” toward a subtle balance.

2. The Aesthetics of Symmetry

Your architectural clients are more likely to buy images that emphasize the symmetry of their creations. You must be careful to capture images that have highly accurate symmetry; a slight bit of asymmetry almost always makes a building or structure look unappealing. It’s better to compose an image with pronounced asymmetry than to discover later that you missed by a small miscalculation of camera position or angle. When you are able to frame a completely symmetrical image, consider adding a non-architectural element, such as a subject or object, so the symmetry doesn’t overwhelm the viewer’s perspective, revealing function or a more natural interaction of the structure with the wider environment.

3. Echoes of Design Elements

A successful architectural design will often include repeating elements, such as shape, color, lines, textures, etc. The architect may have consciously included these, but they are often subtle and less likely to be recognized by the untrained eye. This is another reason that it is important to spend some quality time viewing architectural subject matter from various angles and positions and with various lighting before you start shooting, so you see those repetitious elements and can use them to highlight the aesthetics of the structure and provide a powerful connection between viewers and your images.

4. Human interaction

An architect seldom designs a building or structure to stand alone or to be void of opportunities for human interaction or functionality. Consider adding a few carefully positioned people, especially when a building is large or an interior space is vast or it would be difficult to distinguish its purpose without the human element. Including people in images of subtle or low-key architecture can also make it look more meaningful than captured as simply a space. Using human “props” in architectural photography isn’t as easy as it may seem. Without some practice, you can easily overemphasize the people, thus stealing some of the thunder of the design. Be prepared to spend some time planning such shots and moving the people throughout the composition before you find the right balance.

5. Go high or low

A basic compositional technique that improves most photographs, especially architecture, is never frame an image at eye-level, or in a standing position. Buildings and structures are generally very uninteresting from that angle, but they become spectacular when shot from a high or low angle and ones your clients will be eager to purchase. Essential tools for the architectural photographer, therefore, are a stepladder, an angle viewfinder and a tripod with a great range of heights and/or positions.

6. Shoot outside the focal length comfort range

Most architectural photographers shoot with a wide-angle lens of approximately 24mm (used on a full-frame DSLR); however, don’t allow your creativity to be limited by that “norm.” Take the opportunity to try an even wider-angle lens and/or a telephoto focal length to produce a vision of the building or structure that the architect may have never considered and will have a much greater effect on his or her prospective clientele. Exaggerating or narrowing the perspective of not just the whole structure, but also any of its specific elements will provide the architect with images that he or she will want for his or her portfolio, which gives you opportunities to sell more.

Recommended Reading:

Architectural Photography: Composition, Capture, and Digital Image Processing
Photographing Architecture: Lighting, Composition, Postproduction and Marketing Techniques
A Constructed View: The Architectural Photography of Julius Shulman
How To Take Photos That Move Houses
Architectural Photography: Composition, Capture, and Digital Image Processing
Balthazar Korab: Architect of Photography
Extraordinary Everyday Photography: Awaken Your Vision to Create Stunning Images Wherever You Are

Image credit: keithlevit / 123RF Stock Photo

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