Without Clear Boundaries, You Will Not Be a Successful Photographer
Your phone rings while you're on a shoot. Do you answer? Someone re-posts an image of yours on Instagram without permission. Do you tell them to take it down?
Project of the Week: Tom Blachford’s Midnight Modern Series
Tom Blachford's Midnight Modern project stopped me dead in my tracks. It is essentially everything I love in the universe, wrapped up in one otherworldly series. Mid-century architecture & classic cars, all captured by moonlight.
Do You “Get” Architecture? If Not, The B1M May Help a Little
In order to be a great architecture photographer, one must, well, understand architecture. One of my favorite high-quality resources on the web that has helped me understand our subject matter better is Youtube channel “The B1M,” which bills itself as the definitive channel for construction – and there is plenty of interesting architecture talk to be found there as well.While
On Assignment: Sangha Resort in Suzhou, China in 10 Pictures
I recently returned from a trip to China where I was tasked with photography an epic resort – and I don’t use that word lightly. With hundreds of rooms, private villas, and drool-worthy penthouses, it was an assignment I won’t soon forget. I’ll get around the posting a full trip report when I come up from air after another whirlwind travel schedule, but here is a taster of what’s to come.The
Client Lists, The Disappointing Lowel Gl-1, CamRanger 2: Where Are You?
SD Asks: My question is..if you do a TFP with someone, for instance a museum, would you write that museum on the clients list on your website?
What Tripod Head Should You Buy for Real Estate and Architectural Photography?
Geared tripod heads are some of the best heads you can buy for almost any kind of photography. Although ball heads are useful for particular types of photography and do offer certain advantages, there’s nothing quite like having the precision that geared tripod heads offer.
Project of the Week: James Florio / Cazú Zegers
Patagonia is one of the most extreme and beautiful places on this planet. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit, so lucky for me, the masterful James Florio is taking us on a visual adventure to an incredible hotel there. This week’s featured project takes place at architect Cazú Zegers Hotel Tierra Patagonia.
A Conversation with Architect Eric Reinholdt and Photographer Trent Bell
Photographer Trent Bell and architect Eric Reinholdt recently teamed up to make this video and and the result is a rare insight into both the mind of an architect and a photographer. Eric as designer and Trent as his long time photographer have a great relationship and it shows; and the insight provided by their creative relationship is very valuable.Turns
Photographing the Broad Museum: Making an Architectural Photography Book, Part Four
One of the most recognizable buildings I had the chance to photograph for my book New Architecture Los Angeles was the Broad Museum, a beautiful project in downtown LA designed by Diller Scofidio+Renfro. As it’s literally one of the most photographed subjects in the entire city, I wanted to make sure I created images that were actually different than everybody else’s.
How Can We Improve APA and Make It More Helpful?
I started this blog in an effort to help architectural photographers learn about the business of photography, be inspired by the best work and photographers in the world, and share information about retouching, equipment, and techniques. And even though it's been just a few short months, I want to know what we can do more of to make it a better resource for readers.
Can We Use Your Picture(s) in Our Book? Only If You Pay Me
It’s an email I get weekly. “My name is John and I work for this massive publisher, and we love your image of that thing. We’re creating a book for our client, and want to use your beautiful image as a spread in the book – can we get permission?”I’m always happy when publishers, corporations, or individuals want to use my images in their books.
I am An Architecture Photographer – Ask Me Anything!
I recently participated in an open forum on Reddit, the self-proclaimed “front page of the internet.” The idea of the thread was “ask me anything,” a popular interview-type format where readers submit questions about anything under the sun for the host to answer.
Review: Put Your Camera Anywhere With a Platypod
Over the past few years, my gear bag has been reduced to the absolute bare minimum. This is to make my traveling life easier, to reduce weight so my herniated disc doesn’t flare up every third minute, and to keep breakage and repair troubles far away – after all, the less things there are to break, the less things break.
Project of the Week: Maíra Acayaba / Frederico Sabella Arquitetura
This week we're back in Brazil, but this time with the great Maíra Acayaba. Three hours outside of São Paulo lies the Gonçalves municipality, home to our featured project, Casa Gonçalves by Frederico Sabella Arquitetura. Maíra Acayaba has a stellar body of work as a whole, but Casa Gonçalves is hands down my favorite series. Perched on top of the highest mountain in the Gonçalves region, the house sits among the clouds. Maíra had to split the shoot into two days to combat the fast-moving fog and cloud cover that came and went.
Having Trouble Getting Paid? Here’s Some Inspiration and Help
It’s a struggle that every creative professional deals with all too often, especially early in your career: chasing invoices, non-responsive clients, unauthorized usage of assets, the list goes on. Here I’ve compiled some of my favorite links and videos that will help you light a fire to get paid for your work – and if nothing else, will inspire you to re-write those contracts so you never get yanked around again!1.
Dear Appy: When to Drop the Lawyer Hammer, Pretending to Be Tony Soprano
KH Asks: Can you explain how you handle copyright infringement across multiple platforms including social media? It seems incredibly easy for a business to steal work and use it for their gain. I noticed on your personal website there are no watermarks.
Interview: Architectural Photography Success in a Small Market with Seth Parker
Today we’re going on a ride with Nashville-based architectural photographer Seth Parker. This is a long interview, but one that is dripping with advice that should be shouted from a mountain top. Shooting for clients like Starbucks, Stanley Black and Decker, and ahem…the NFL, he’s got the portfolio (and hilarious tales) to back up his 19-year long career.
Project of the Week: Åke E:son Lindman / Kolman Boye
On this episode of Project of the Week, we’re teleporting you to the Norwegian wilderness. Keeping in line with last week’s moody & broody theme, Swedish architectural photographer Åke Lindman has documented Kolman Boye's Vega Cottage complete with foggy exteriors and soft-lit interiors. The atmosphere of this set renders it worthy of Project of the Week, so let's dive on in!