Improving Architectural Photographs

The senior account manager for VOCO Creative, a marketing agency based in Denver, Colorado, Heidi Jewell, former Nashville editor of NYLON Magazine, executes digital and social media marketing campaigns on behalf of clients. A passionate photographer, Heidi Jewell worked as a freelance photographer for several years and now utilizes food photography to compliment her work at the Denver-based company; she also enjoys architectural photography.

Architecture is an extremely popular photography subject, but some individuals struggle with getting their architectural photos just right. The following are a few things that can help photographers take their architectural images to the next level:

Think About Context

A building’s surroundings have a huge impact on the overall message conveyed by an architectural image, so photographers must consider how these surroundings put their image into context. For example, an image of an old building surrounded by modern structures tells a far different story than an up close image of the old building’s unique design.

Be Sensitive to Light

Depending on the light, the same building can have dramatically different looks. Before taking a picture, photographers should be aware of how different levels and directions of light add contrast, shadows, and texture to their subject. This is often best accomplished by observing the building over the course of multiple days. However, if this is not possible, photographers can also try taking photographs at varying times of day or in different weather to get different looks.

Focus on Unique Angles

When looking at architecture, it is often the small details that draw the eye in and make a seemingly plain building much more fascinating. Photographers should strive to capture these small details by focusing on some of the building’s more unique settings, such as window patterns or rivets. Taking photographs from a unique angle also draws attention to a building’s abstract detail and form.