Can an architectural photographer come in and shoot on the same day? Of course. Should they? Absolutely not. A photographer who doesn’t want to familiarize himself with the subject first is a sign that they lack experience. But more importantly, without that walkthrough, the quality of your photos will suffer. Here are just a few ways a walkthrough can turn a photo shoot from good to great.
Looking for the Light
One of the most critical parts of photography is the lighting. Not only how natural or artificial light sources light up a building or room, but also how they interact. A fully furnished room might not want sunlight stealing the show, while light and shadow can add interest to an otherwise empty room.
Finding Flaws
It’s important to also find what will need to be fixed, finished, or even shot around when it comes to the subjects. If landscaping isn’t done, construction is ongoing, or if there’s damage that needs to be repaired, concealed, or kept out of the shoot, it’s important to know in advance of photography day.
Attention to Detail
Sometimes it’s also the little things that help bring an area to its best potential. These are simple but significant changes made before the shoot that can really improve the end result. This could be fixing overstuffed shelves in schools, hanging up corridor wall art, magnets off the fridge, adding in furniture, or even just turning on the monitors in medical facilities.
Meeting the Key Staff Members
During a shoot, I really like to meet the key people who are “on the ground.” These are the general managers to write up a to-do list, head of maintenance to make sure the right lights are on, or even the head cook to make sure to food is ready to go right before the shoot.
Finding the Perfect Time to Shoot
Lastly, it’s important to find the perfect time to shoot. This could be related to the schedule, like planning a shoot right before the open house. This could be related to lighting, to catch the perfect shot. This could even be the season, where certain times the landscape and lighting – north facing exterior surfaces are poorly lit during the fall and winter – aren’t ideal and need alternative shooting solutions.
The bottom line is a walkthrough is a sign of a professional photographer and that of professional photos to come. If you’re looking for a specialist in architectural photography in the Boston area, please consider reaching out to Shupe Studios.