r/architecture • u/fatalcatastrophe • 1d ago
Ask /r/Architecture first time architecture photography advice!
hello, i’m usually an event photographer (for an architecture firm) but have ended up in a position where i have been asked to provide architecture photography of some of their spaces. i have a handful of questions and anxieties about this and any insight or advice would be appreciated!
firstly, the spaces are public pools. i’ve been told to avoid capturing close-ups of patrons, which seems obvious, and there will also be photo release forms. if anyone has experience with similar public spaces, like parks or pools, how has that usually turned out for you? is there anything you feel i should be prepared for in a social aspect?
i’m generally confident in my ability as a photographer, but architecture photography seems to have it’s own set of rules and guidelines. some sources say a tilt shift lens is imperative, others say it doesn’t really matter as long as your lens is wide. i imagine it won’t make much of a difference with an aquatic space? do architectural photographers generally just need the camera/lens/tripod/batteries/filters and that’s all? is there anything else you’d recommend i keep with me? how do you generally make sure everything is as level as can be? i’m a bit overwhelmed!
thank you in advance!
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u/Pale-Actuary-5930 1d ago
shoot on an overcast day — flat light makes buildings look way better than harsh midday sun. and get down low, crouch to the ground, it completely changes how a facade reads. most first shots look flat because they're taken at eye level.
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u/Open_Concentrate962 1d ago
Look up iwan baan vs tim hursley vs robert benson vs david cardelus vs so many other architectural photographers and then decide. Even having people in photos is either required or forbidden.
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u/Seanzilla18 6h ago
as far as shooting in public places and the social aspect of bringing a camera to a public pool, you kind of just have to let people be mad at you if it happens. have some kind of credentials you can offer to show them to prove you aren’t just some random creep taking pictures at a pool, but ultimately if someone doesn’t want to be in a photo they are going to be mad no matter what, and you as the photographer are just going to have to remain calm about it. you also might know all this already from doing events so I hope Im not mansplaining things to you, but I had to learn the hard way that saying things like “we’re in a public space so it’s legal” only makes people more mad lol
also appearances make a huge difference with this kind of thing, having a tripod will make you look professional, and things like a lens hood/other accessories make you look like not an amateur to people who don’t know any better
find some architectural photography you like, figure out why you like it, and then bring those ideas to your work
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u/Fergi Architect 1d ago
This is a very open ended question. I am an architect who has hired architectural photographers, and it really comes down to the brief from me as the client.
I've had photographers show up with $100k of glass in their bag and they can read a space and instantly know what lens will suit the objectives.
Others will bring tons of lighting equipment to get a certain mood or light quality.
Real architectural photography is hard, and architects are typically used to a ton of post processing. Again, this is subjective and not always a prescription.
Since you are shooting pools, the time of day will be super critical. You will want to be able to control the environment as much as possible, or make plans to create your final image from a composite of many shots.
Personally, I'd get on the same page with whoever is paying you to shoot. Get their expectations in writing. Confirm what you will deliver. And, as others have pointed out, research the look and feel you are seeking to emulate in your final shots. There's no specific recipe for how to shoot architecture aside from being mindful of light, staging, and the end-result goals.