Architectural photography is one of the most interesting types of photography out there. Some people consume these images to see monumental places they’d love to visit in the world, while others use them for wallpapers. Businesses like real estate firms utilize photos to showcase their properties and attract more clients. Therefore, architectural photographers operate under very high expectations. Sometimes so high that it can feel overwhelming.
This guide will give you six practical tips that any photographer, advanced or newbie, should use to take better architectural photos.
- Shoot Under Different Weather Conditions
Don’t join the group of photographers who never think beyond a clear sky. Explore other weather conditions like storms, rains, overcast sky, etc. You’ll be surprised at just how dramatic a shot can get. As you can tell, this tip requires you to visit the same structure multiple times during different seasons. Therefore, it needs proper planning and can be a bit of a headache, but the results will definitely impress you.
- Shooting At Different Times Of The Day
Everyone loves the golden or magic hour which is okay because it does produce some amazing shots. However, you cannot afford to miss out on some possibly stunning pictures that you can only take during the daytime. This is even more important if you want to capture the atmosphere surrounding a building. A daytime photo can show how an iconic building stands out in a metropolis buzzing with activities.
- Add Some People
They call it architectural photography because it involves a structure’s interior and exterior but doesn’t limit yourself to the buildings alone. Add humans to some of your shots and see the results are better.
People can improve building photographs in several ways. One, they show the relationship between the piece of architecture and humans. Humans can also make a photo look more lively. Therefore, if you’ve captured several images and all seem sterile and unsatisfactory, try to include some people. You can utilize people to show how monumental a structure is. This works really well with libraries, museums, and other massive buildings. Humans will give your shot some scale.
Note that you can enhance your photographs by blurring people. This is ideal when you want the human element, but you don’t want the distraction it can bring. Just increase the exposure to blur them.
- Learn About The Structure
Perform a background check on the building before going for the shoot. As Chad Chenier of Chad Chenier architectural photography explains, one of the things you should look into is the history of the structure. This can influence your approach and help you portray the building from a perspective that shows its antiquity.
Something else to research is the presence of any unique architectural features. Most buildings have interesting features that are usually overlooked. The background check should help you identify these elements.
- Try Finding A Unique Angle
This is your chance to try and recreate an amazing shot you saw somewhere. It is also the perfect time to channel your inner creativity and find a unique perspective. Experminetating with different angles does not just support your creativity, but it is also very entertaining. Break free of the standard angles and have fun exploring new possibilities.
- Explore The Finer Details
The temptation to fit an entire structure in a single frame is usually very high. However, many fine details can get lost in such shots. Try coming up close and capturing some of these details.
- Take Advantage Of Post-Processing Software
Post-production is an excellent way of tweaking your photos into telling a particular story or showing a specific atmosphere you were targeting. Expert editing tools can transform an image into something natural yet dramatic. Don’t overlook the importance of these tools.
Photoshop, Lightroom, and Capture One are the most popular photo editing software, but beginners will probably have to go through a course before they can utilize them properly.
While post-production is critical, a smart architectural photographer should know when or where not to use the editing software. For instance, making drastic edits to an image that’s going to be used in regulated competitions or awards is usually not acceptable. Additionally, people generally expect photographs to be an accurate representation of the real thing. Making changes that considerably misrepresent the structure can be interpreted as cheating.
That said, you are free to try different edits and make your shots as artistic as you want if you’re creating your own portfolio.
Creating stunning architectural photographs doesn’t happen overnight. A lot of effort and investment goes into it, but the results are very satisfying.