Selecting Projects to Photograph for Your Portfolio

Project Selection

There are various reasons to photograph your projects, and your probably have different portfolios for different marketing strategies.

• Ideal Target Market Projects - This is the portfolio with images to grab the attention of clients that you’re targeting specifically.
• Balanced Portfolio - For more general target clients that show the wide-spectrum of capabilities of your firm.
• General Projects - These are more of a documentary of your projects, so you have it for your records and the ability to pull these images for specialized presentations.
• Reshooting Previously Photographed Projects - This is a very under utilized marketing strategy which is a way to keep your portfolio fresh with new images even if they are of slightly older projects. It is also extremely beneficial when you have a strong relationship with one or two photographers in which you can further refine your firm’s entire brand image.

When to Photograph

When every possible we highly recommend photographing a facility before occupancy or opening, or just slightly after. Elements and details of a project are still new, crisp, clean, and fresh and free of the normal wear and tear of a facility over time.

Additionally, if you are considering submitting the images for competitions or publications, the more current the project the more relevant the submission.

Identify Your Needs

Questions to ask yourself.

• What elements of your project best represent your vision and design?
• What are additional elements, concepts or other features do you wish to highlight?
• What aspects of a project do you not want to be photographed and avoided by the photographer?
• Were there any aspects of your design that illustrate creative problems solving by your firm?
• How is the photography going to be incorporated into your marketing plan?
• Display to clients via web site, presentations and portfolios?
• Competitions
• Paid placement advertising
• Trade magazines or book publication
• Internally produced publications
• In-house only reference and documentation?

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com

866-722-9506

R2 to Present "How to Work with an Architectural Photographer" to AIA-KC

Kimberly Blom-Roemer of R2 Photography, LLC will be presenting "How to Work with an Architectural Photographer" to the AIA-Kansas City chapter.

February 25, 2010

12:00-1:00

AIA Kansas City Offices

1801 McGee, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO

This presentation is based on the Best Practices developed jointly by the AIA and the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) to illustrate the fundamental principles involved during a typical architectural photography project. By defining key terms, answering commonly asked questions and using easy-to-follow case study examples, this presentation will guide you through the entire process of working with an architectural photographer:

Topics covered:

- Selecting Projects to Photograph for Your Portfolio

- Selecting an Architectural Photographer

- Understanding the Estimate for a Photographic Assignment

- Preparing for the Location Shoot

- At the Location Shoot

- Post Production

- Controlling the Cost of a Photographic Assignment

- Licensing Photographs for Publication

- Continuing the Alliance

- Preparing for Professional Photography: A Checklist

Since arriving in Kansas City in 2008, your presenter Kimberly Blom-Roemer of R2 Photography, LLC is both an Affiliate Member of the KC AIA and the Vice President of the ASMP-KC/Mid-America chapter. R2 Photography specializes ONLY in architectural photography services. We believe the unique needs of the architectural, interior design, and construction industries absolutely require a 100% focus on this specialty in order to provide the exceptional our clients demand.

Northern Climate Exterior Photography in Winter

I have been suffering from a bad case of déjà lately. I lived in Anchorage, Alaska for 8.5 years, and the last month has resembled life there more than the temperate (relatively speaking) climate of Kansas City.

The insanity of the weather outside does not mean your exterior photography needs to come to a standstill. Some projects honestly can benefit from leafless trees and low directional lighting.

If you have a fair amount of foliage, especially deciduous plants, in front of your project that obscures design elements, to photograph the structure in the winter is the ideal solution. You can capture the entire structure unobstructed, showing off the entire structure.

The low lighting angle of the winter months can also create interesting highlights on your design, emphasizing angles and depth, that otherwise might not be captured during the overhead light of the summer months.

Finally, the massive amounts of reflective light can also enhance both your interior and exterior views in ways only possible when there is a beautiful coating of that white stuff all over outside.

Of course, you always can move forward with your interior photography. There is no reason to delay capturing those views when the facility is new, clean and looking its best. You can always follow up later with the exterior shoot when the weather and season best shows off your designs.

Not every structure can benefit from the unique conditions of winter photography, but in many cases, it can be a rare opportunity. So, just because it is winter, does not mean all your photography needs to come to a halt.

Stay warm and safe this winter!

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com

866-722-9506

2009 Holiday Message

Wow... what a year! With 2009 drawing to a close, I am sure, like everyone in the industry you're looking to 2010 with anxious eyes.

Rather than drone on and on about what you need to be doing to be successful in the upcoming year, let’s take a well-earned pause... sit back… have a virtual cocktail together (clink)… and toast ourselves that we made it through the year. Just making it is an accomplishment.

We’ve seen long-time friends and associates become victims of the economy. We’ve watched pillars of the industry shudder. Some of us are more bumped and bruised than others. But, we are a little older, a little wiser, and, as much as it doesn’t feel like it, our businesses are going to be stronger for it.

To look positively, we’ve learned creative ways to keep things going, techniques and approaches that, in a good economy, we never would have thought of. How much is that benefiting our businesses now and will be long into the future?

So, in looking at 2010… let’s apply the three P’s… Positive… Productive… and Patient. Or, to borrow from the slogan used in Great Britian during WWII, “Keep Calm and Carry On.” :-D

Cheers (clink)… one thing is for certain, 2010 is going to be an exciting year!

Happy Holidays!

--Kimberly

and everyone on the team at R2 Photography, LLC

www.r2-photography.com

Planning Your Architectural Photography Project

As they say, a little planning saves a lot of pain, and that holds true for Architectural Photography. It isn’t as easy showing up and clicking a shutter. To ensure excellent final images, a thorough pre-planning process can save everyeone from headaches, miscommunication, and surprises later in a project.

Below is an outline of typical planning milestones we have found to lead to a successful team effort with our clients.

Image Requirements Discussion

Before our initial meeting it is important that you and your design team identify views that best represent your designs. Questions todiscuss include:

• Are there any specific concepts/elements/features you want highlighted?

• Are there areas that illustrate creative problem solving by your team?

• Are there specific “must-have” interior and exterior views?

After discussing and listing all the desired images, prioritize those images in order of importance.


Site Visit

The Site Visit is vitally important for several reasons:

• Face-To-Face Discussions. We review your desired shot list and identify them in the facility. Notes are made concerning the specific expectations of individual shots and any challenges or requirements to create your vision. We will also discuss logistical requirements.

• Facility Representative Coordination. We can discuss with them what is happen during the assignment. They can ensure all lights are in working order,undesirable items are removed, landscaping/cleaning, various “housekeeping” items completed, etc. We don’t want them surprised by cases of equipment and several individuals descending on their facility for a day or more. Without their cooperation, it would be nearly impossible to complete the project.

• Technical Preparation. Color quality and light levels are measured and notated to determine technical requirements for illumination and color correcting . Scouting photographs are also taken which will be posted to your private section of our web site for review to prepare for the final photography meeting.


Site Specific Checklist

After the Site Visit we will provide you a checklist of items and details that need to be addressed or corrected prior to the photography.


Final Photography Meeting

Usually performed via telephone, together we will review your online scouting photographs and the Site Specific Checklist. We will agree on specific final views to be performed the day of the assignment.

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com

866-722-9506

AIA and the ASMP-Working Together!

Did you know the AIA and the ASMP have been working together now for over six years to continually improve the working relationships between architects and their photographers?

In 2003, James Dinegar, American Institute Architects (AIA) Chief Operating Officer, and Vicki Allums, AIA Associate General Counsel met with Victor Perlman, ASMP legal counsel and managing director, and Eugene Mopsik, ASMP Executive Director. The purpose of the meeting was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and approve a new permission form regarding use of photographs created by ASMP members submitted in connection with AIA's award programs. This event was the culmination of over six months of negotiations and has resulted in a new and mutually beneficial relationship between ASMP and AIA.

Together they formed a new agreement and permission form and MOU.
Release form PDF
AIA/ASMP MOU Agreement PDF
AIA/ASMP MOU Press Release PDF


Other activities the AIA and ASMP work together on:

• ASMP and the ASMP Architecture Specialty Group have worked with AIA on the AIA Annual Conventions and have had booths at the conventions.
• ASMP works with the AIA in the presentation of continuing education seminars on the relationship of photographers and architects.
• ASMP and AIA have co-produced a checklist for architects to use as a guide to their business relations with ASMP photographers.

As the Vice-President of the ASMP-Kansas City/Mid-America chapter, I believe strongly in the codes of professional standards and business conduct in which the ASMP has established. I see myself as a team member of my clients, and because so much hard work has been done on both sides at the National level, I work with my clients following the framework and guidelines developed at those levels.

Here's information from the AIA Best Practices Library. These documents are freely downloadable and may be viewed on screen or printed on a desktop color printer.

• 06.03.05 Selecting a Professional Photographer
• 06.03.06 Understanding a Photographic Assignment Estimate
• 06.03.07 Preparing for Professional Photography: A Checklist
• 06.03.08 Controlling the Cost of a Photography Assignment
• 06.03.09 Licensing Photographs for a Publication

And from the ASMP:
Working With An Architectural Photographer

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com

866-722-9506

When to Photograph?

When is best time to schedule your photography? This question comes up when planning any project. Often the dates that are most convenient to the property owners or your contest entry deadline are what determine the schedule. However that's not necessarily the best season, day, or time of day to create images that truly capture your design vision.


If you project is in a high traffic area and you don't want cars in your images, choose off peak use times, like the weekend or holiday for an office structure project. Other commercial and retail buildings can benefit from including the public/people in some of the views. However, this requires careful planning, in many cases a longer time to create each image, and a little luck for the right balance of people and light.

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com

866-722-9506