Photography in educational institutions plays a crucial role in marketing and branding efforts. High-quality images can attract prospective students, faculty, donors, and visitors by showcasing the institution's strengths, facilities, and achievements. Likewise, professional photos provide a superb marketing tool for school/museum architects and builders to showcase their work.
Photographing educational institutions presents a unique blend of challenges and opportunities, requiring an eye for detail, composition, and storytelling. These institutions serve as centers of learning, community, and growth, whether schools, colleges, or museums. Capturing their essence through photography requires more than technical skill—it demands understanding the institution's ethos and purpose.
Let me show you several examples and how I approach it depending on the client and their intended use of the photography.
This “magic hour” picture beautifully captures the architecture of the building while at the same time creating an allure for those coming to use it.
BALANCING ARCHITECTURE WITH PEOPLE
Photographers must navigate the delicate balance between documenting physical infrastructure—such as school buildings and classrooms—with intangible aspects, such as the energy of student life, the dedication of faculty, and the spirit of innovation. Much of this comes down to the client and their objectives for the shoot. In many cases, an architect is the client, and they tend to prefer a clean, simplified look that focuses on the architecture. Some clients prefer to avoid the cost of models, getting permission/talent releases, and the additional time needed for shots with people. Other clients are just the opposite – they want to include people to show scale and add vibrance. These clients want an emotional response beyond an architectural graphic approach when targeting students, parents, prospects, local government, or other people-centric viewers.
I waited until early evening to capture this building in full light, but with shadows accentuating the architecture.
As a contrast to the image above we see the juxtaposition of people and architecture
This image gives a sense of space and purpose - before the museum doors open and it becomes flooded with people.
SHOOTING SPACES WITHOUT PEOPLE
When showcasing a school or museum, architects generally prefer clean, crisp images of an empty building. Architects and builders want the viewer to focus on the design and workmanship, which can sometimes be overshadowed by the addition of people into an image. The two shots below are designed to showcase the architecture, interior design, and mood of the space.
Sometimes, architecture alone can seem sterile. Furnished spaces like the one below show architecture and interior design complementing each other.
ADDING THE ELEMENT OF PEOPLE
Some clients like to show how the building and architecture work in harmony with the people who use it. People add vibrancy, energy, and engagement, so the objective is to strike a balance between architecture and people. When including people in educational photography, I sometimes stage the shot, but more often, I act as a photojournalist waiting for the right moment.
FLEXIBILITY
Educational photography requires a great deal of flexibility. When shooting buildings, I may need to go back multiple times for a number of reasons. One has to do with sunlight - morning for east-facing facades, afternoon for west-facing facades, and evening for twilight images. Think about how the image directly below would look if the whole facade of the building were in shadow.
It was important to shoot this building in full sun. The tree shadows and unlit facade of the adjoining building add contrast and make the subject building pop.
I returned for this shot when the sun would flood this alcove adding interest and contrast to the image. The light on the floor helps to define the space
TIMING
A shot requiring the school to be neat and orderly could require early morning or weekend photography. Certain rooms or areas may need to be specially timed, for example - a cafeteria shot with all the food laid out just minutes before students arrive, or there may be a specific afternoon that the theater group rehearses with the stage lights and set. In the shot below the architecture and layout of the room would be overwhelmed by a classroom full of students.
Notice that the timing of this shot was designed to allow the sunlight from the windows to make shapes and patterns on the floor and far wall.
This shot was designed to contrast old and new - the contemporary sign and sculptures contrast with this 1900s building, now reborn as an innovation center.
Photography plays a crucial role in marketing to attract prospective students, faculty, and donors by showcasing the institution and what it stands for. Likewise, it is a powerful tool for school/museum architects and builders to help clients visualize their talents and what they may expect.
Photographing educational institutions goes beyond mere visual documentation; it is about telling compelling stories, capturing fleeting moments, and preserving the legacy of learning for future generations. If you are creating school or university buildings or you run a school or museum that needs marketing, let’s have a conversation to discuss how best to achieve your objectives.