12 Apr How to Plan for Spring Architecture Photography
Rising temperatures, blooming flowers, emerging out of eternal darkness–spring is here. For those who specialize in all things architecture, it is time to start thinking about spring architecture photos.
Why?
The landscaping is fresh, and the foliage is light. The flowers are in bloom, and the daylight is appealing. The spring sweet spot only lasts for a few weeks before storms and haze arrive on the scene wreaking havoc on photography shoots. We had a weird, dry winter this year in the Mid-Atlantic, and spring can be just as unpredictable. If you’re thinking about spring architecture photography, then it is time to get ready. Here are a few tips:
Spring Clean Your Property
Unless your architecture is newly built, you will need a little spring-cleaning action before your photo shoot. You don’t want to receive photo proofs featuring out-of-date signage, minor damage, or messy landscaping. Photoshop is an amazing tool to help enhance a photo, but you can’t rely on it as a magic wand to fix every single problem. We can easily turn brown grass green, but it can be difficult to add plants that appear natural and realistic. A small change before a shoot can make all of the difference in your final photos.
Chances are you already have a spring cleaning strategy in place. Landscaping, cleaning, and repairing are already in the works. Look at your property and your checklist with a fresh set of eyes. What additional changes will make the biggest positive impact on your photo shoot? Focus on those areas that need extra attention. Details make or break a photo, and making those elements as good as possible will pay off in the end.
Know Your Shot List
It’s important to understand which areas need to be photographed and how you plan to use those photos. It’s even more important for your photographer to understand your plan. If they don’t understand your vision, then you may not get the photos you need or want.
Your solution: a walkthrough. Tour the site with your photographer and discuss your shot list. Your photographer will collaborate with you on your creative vision and point out any problem areas. Your photographer will tell you which items need to be removed or staged in advance in order to get the best photo. Moving unnecessary items out of a shot–sometimes multiple times–slows down your photographer; the more time they spend staging, the less time they are photographing. Time is money, and you don’t have either to waste.
Once you have a fully developed shot list, share it with your team and review it prior to your shoot date. Make sure everything is ready to go so there are no surprises.
Don’t have a shot list? That’s ok. Sometimes knowing what you don’t want to be photographed is just as important as what you do want to be photographed. Your photographer will help you develop a shot list to keep things streamlined and efficient.
Photograph a Few Times a Year
We bet your property looks amazing more than during a few weeks per year. Spring architecture photography is beautiful, but other seasons may work for your site. Summer features lush greens. Fall has vibrant colors. Winter skies are a strong blue. Each season has its own benefits, and you may need an architecture photo for each season. For instance, the leaves are lighter (or completely gone) in winter. More of your building is on display. This type of photography may be a home run for your purposes.
You can also use the seasons to send a message to your audience. Fall is a great time of year for educational architecture. When parents and students think of school, they envision fall. Spring is perfect for property management photos because the buildings come to life and the landscaping looks inviting. It’s also a great time to get photos of the pool before it opens for the summer. Use the seasons as backdrops to tailor your marketing to specific audiences.
If you want spring architecture photos, then there are a few extra tips to keep in mind:
Be flexible. The weather is unpredictable, especially in the Mid-Atlantic. Keep an eye on the weather, and schedule a rain date with your photographer. Most clients provide us with open access to their properties during a range of dates. This way, we can seize the weather opportunity when it strikes without adhering to a set schedule.
Communicate with your team. Yes, we already mentioned this. However, it bears repeating. Make sure your property managers, security teams, and maintenance staff know about the photo shoot. They should know your photographer’s name, when you can expect them on site, and which areas they are going to photograph. If you have a larger property or one with certain security expectations (i.e. a hospital or school), provide a letter with permissions and contact information for your photographer to have on hand. We’ve seen photo shoots shut down because the head of security or property manager didn’t know a photographer was going to be on location.
It’s a great time of year to schedule your spring architecture photos. Interested in learning more? Get our e-book, “A Marketer’s Guide to Construction Photography.”