5 BIGGEST Myths of Hiring an Architectural Photographer

1. I can get it just as good by shooting it myself, or by getting somebody else cheaper.

Just about every Architect has been found to compose very well in the viewfinder of the camera, then shoots a whole lot of film, and maybe might get something good.

The reason to commission a Professional is because of the wide knowledge base of materials and methods used to produce Film or Digital Images on demand, every time without mistakes.

The Photography Schools (e.g. Brooks, Art Center, Otis), have 1 or 2 weeks (out of 2 or 4 years) where they cover Architectural Photography. Students who graduate are very well qualified to practice wedding, advertising, or stock photography. Fresh out of school, and “hungry”, these Photographers will say that they are Architectural Photographers, when in reality they are not.

The reason to commission an Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer to make Images of Projects in the Design and Construction Industries, is that the Design and how Materials go together are understood, and thereby translated onto film in a much less haphazard way.

The reason to commission an Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer who is also a practicing Architect, is that the purpose for the Images are understood much better by the Photographer without exhaustive explanation needing to be given by the Client, in addition to all of the other advantages.

Start well in advance of your deadline if you want to experiment with taking the pictures yourself, or commissioning a lower cost photographer.

Avoid the wasted time and resources by commissioning an Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer at the outset.

Quality Control by the Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer is less costly when sufficient time remains before the deadline must be met.

2. Digital is much better than Film.

Camera Manufacturers extol the virtues of how many megapixels they offer in all of their advertising. This is really not much better when cameras are hawked with all of the Automatic and Programming features their film cameras have.
It is not the camera, or how many megapixels that makes Quality Photographic Images. It is the heart, soul, creativity, understanding of the materials and lighting that the Professional Architectural Photographer has that makes Quality Photographic Images.

Digital and Film Cameras are tools of the trade. Like every other tool in any other trade, each has its advantages and disadvantages for use to solve a specific problem.

The Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer is accustomed to both Digital and Film techniques, using the “Right Tool for the Right Job”.

- Shoot Digital when all Usage required is Digital.
- Shoot Film when Photographic Prints is required Deliverable.
- Shoot Digital when Time is short not allowing sufficient time behind the camera.
- Shoot Film when full perspective control without cropping is critical, especially when photographing in tight urban streets.
- Both Digital and Film can be Digitally Retouched, with final output of Transparencies or Fine Art Inkjet Display Prints.

3. You just point and shoot, don’t you? It doesn’t take very much time.

Setting up a complex camera, capable of recording the Quality Perspective Controlled Imagery expected by the Client involves much more equipment, adjustments, and readings to be taken than the consumer camera used every Sunday by amateurs to take pictures of the kids.

Arranging all of the Elements in “Set Dressing” whether Interior, or Exterior requires much Study and attention to Detail be given.

Waiting for the right time of day for the Sun to be exactly at the right location for optimum Lighting and Shadows, or Setting-up Supplemental Lighting (Strobe or “Movie” Hot Lights) requires patience and precision.

The amount of patience required to produce High Quality Architectural Photography on demand is astonishing, and is usually not truly understood until the Client actually stands out on Site with the Photographer throughout the day(s) of the “Shoot”.

- Allowing the Photographer sufficient time to work, both behind the camera and after the photographs have been taken (Post Production), will yield better results for less cost.
- Be prepared to pay premium “Rush” charges when last minute emergency photography services are required of the Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer.
- Plan ahead.

4. How much will it cost us for you to make us some photographs?

Well, how much does it cost to Design or Build a building? It depends, doesn’t it? Would the Client charge for their services the same for an 80 Story Office Building as for a Cute Little House? Not likely.

In order to accurately Estimate the Charge for Quality Architectural Photography Services, all of the “Scope”, and “Requirements” (e.g. Usage, Deliverables, Location, Quantity, etc.) of the Assignment must first be known.

We have specific “Rates” and “Unit Costs” which we use as a basis to prepare detailed “Estimate(s)” for the entire Job. However, these “Rates” and “Unit Costs” are meaningless without applying the “Selected Quantities” based upon the actual “Scope” of the Assignment.

If the Total Cost of the “Estimate” is not within range of the Client’s Budget, then the “Scope”, and/or “Quality Expectations” need to be reduced, and/or the “Schedule” needs to be extended.

Client should pick two from “Fast”, “Cheap”, or “Good”
Fast and Cheap (Quality will not be very good)
Cheap and Good (Will fit it in to my schedule when I can)
Good and Fast (Won’t be cheap)

Good Quality work, for reasonable prices takes time to produce.

Reduce costs by planning ahead and commissioning the Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer at the outset.

Reduce costs by commissioning several projects (i.e. larger quantity) over the course of several months, or a couple of years, under a single Agreement.

Purchase only the Usage Rights, for the Period of Time, you actually will need.

Establish and keep a good working relationship with the Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer. Give-and-Take on both sides results in lower cost, or extra services without Change Orders.

Request a written Estimate for the entire Assignment, based upon specific determination of the Scope required. Verbal “Rough” amounts quoted over the phone are almost always inflated, or woefully under priced, both of which will likely lead to unnecessary problems.

5. I can use the photos for anything I want without having to pay anything more.

Ask yourself whether you think that it is fair for anybody to use anything that belongs to another person, without permission or having first paid to use it.

Photographers are in the one profession that everybody has as a hobby. Few people recognize that the Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer on Site is “at his desk, in the office, producing valuable work”.

Professional Architectural Photography is a business, just as is a Doctor, Attorney, or Financial Specialist. Would you expect any other Professional to Charge for your first consultation or service, and then not charge for any other time you came back to his office?

The Photographer becomes the “Creator”, thereby owning the “Copyright”, the moment the camera shutter release has been pressed. “Usage” is “Licensed” by the Photographer on the Invoice, and Rights are not Transferred to the Client until that Invoice has been Paid in Full.

The Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer has bills to be paid, children to feed and clothe, and needs to keep a roof over his head, just like anybody else.

Making prints or other reproductions without the Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer’s involvement will yield less than optimum results. As the creator of the Images, and with the knowledge of best practices in reproduction including color and contrast adjustments available, the Experienced Professional Architectural Photographer is the one most qualified to ensure that reproductions are of the highest quality required to WOW your prospective clients.
Identify the collaborating parties early that will be commissioning the Photographs, so that costs can be shared, and to prevent future problems caused by Unlicensed Usage by other organizations.
Reduce costs by purchasing only the Usage Rights and Time Period actually required.
Be aware that commissioning the photographs does not give anybody the right to assign Usage to any other Party (e.g. Contractor can not use Images commissioned by Architect without express written permission of the Photographer).

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