Are you really going to photos of your latest and greatest project? After you have put in so much hard work, creativity, and maybe even some sanity on a single design. One that took months or even years of planning and getting all of the details just right. And in the end you come and take some quick snapshots of the final result. Do those iPhone images do your design justice and tell a story of your client’s vision?
Why High-Quality Architectural Photos Matter
So many times I have mentioned that today’s market is a visual market. Most prospects are searching online to find a designer to make their dream a reality. When they come across your portfolio, you have just seconds to catch their attention. Are they going to see cell phone images? Or will they see high quality professional photographs that invoke a feeling?
Using professional images not only gives potential clients an idea of what you can do, but you will also create a brand. Having photos that share a similar quality will allow your portfolio to have a visual flow and harmony. As a result, you will stand out from your competition by only using images that are of a high quality in your portfolio.
Lastly, having an archive of your past projects can allow you to see the history of your firm and some of your achievements. Alternatively, you may want to write you own book in the future showcasing your past work. On the other hand, someone may want to write a book about you, with an archive you can provide them with professional images of your history.
“But I Own a Really Good Camera …”
Photography is more than just a camera and taking the shot. There is an art to the process. A professional photographer knows how to compose a scene, adjust the arrangement, and light the space to make it flow. The goal is to make the viewer feel as they can walk in the space and feel apart of the environment. “Owning a great camera makes one no more a professional photographer than owning a Wolf range makes one a professional chef.” A photographer has studied and experienced many scenarios and will always provide the best results.
Following is an example of a living room photographed by the designer and the same space by Christian J Anderson Photography.
Be the Designer – Not the Photographer
Deep down, you probably understand that you cannot wear all of the hats when it comes to a project. Just as you would most likely hire out parts of a design to specialized contractors to get everything just right; you should also hire a photographer to capture your project as it was intended. Designers who delegate this process to a professional architectural photographer get the best return on their investment. As it is a designer’s goal to make their client’s dream come to life, it is a photographer’s goal to capture the feeling of a designer’s project.