R2 Photography LLC

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

SAP Newsletter-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 everyone 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 to discuss 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

Monday, December 12, 2011

R2 Photography Now A State of Louisiana Certified Small Entrepreneur (Hudson Initiative) (SEHI) Vendor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (December 12, 2011)

French Settlement, LA - R2 Photography, LLC (r-squared), one of the regions only photography services that specialized in architectural and aerial photography, is now a Certified Small entrepreneur (Hudson Initiative) (SEHI) vendor for the State of Louisiana.

The Small Entrepreneurship (SE) Program, also known as the Hudson Initiative, is a goal-oriented program which encourages state agencies to contract with certified small entrepreneurships (SE's) as well as encouraging contractors who receive contracts from the state to use good faith efforts to utilize certified SE's in the performance of the contract.

R2 Photography is also registered with the Louisiana Office of State Purchasing (OSP). This registration is on the State of Louisiana Procurement and Contractor Network (LaPAC). Utilizing LaPAC, State procurement officers can easily find information on the services that R2 provides as well as complete contact information.

R2 is proud to be supporting the State's efforts to, "…continue to look for ways to improve existing programs and create new and innovative programs to obtain the best value for goods and services."

About R2 Photography, LLC

Commercial Photographer Kimberly Blom-Roemer, Owner of southern Louisiana-based R2 Photography, LLC, has been photographing industrial sites, architectural buildings, real estate, and construction sites from the ground and the air since the early 1990's.

R2 Photography, LLC covers the Gulf Coast from eastern Florida to Texas, based in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area. However, we have clients and projects throughout the United States and Canada.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Successful Architectural Photography (SAP) eNewsletter-Introduction

One of the things we hear most often from clients is the anxiety of planning to photograph projects. We want to make this easier, so we have created this newsletter series, "Commissioning Architectural Photography." The information 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

Kimberly Blom-Roemer of R2 Photography, LLC has been both an Affiliate Member of the AIA-Kansas City and served as both the President and 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.

Find Us On Facebook!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com
866-722-9506

Monday, October 10, 2011

R2 Photography, LLC Now Registered State of Louisiana Vendor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (October 10, 2011)

French Settlement, LA - R2 Photography, LLC (r-squared), one of the regions only photography services that specialized in architectural and aerial photography, is now registered with the Louisiana Office of State Purchasing (OSP). This registration is on the State of Louisiana Procurement and Contractor Network (LaPAC). Utilizing LaPAC, State procurement officers can easily find information on the services that R2 provides as well as complete contact information.

About R2 Photography, LLC

R2 Photography, LLC covers the Gulf Coast from eastern Florida to Texas, based in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area. However, we have clients and projects throughout the United States and Canada.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Architectural Photographer Kimberly Blom-Roemer and R2 Photography, LLC Have Relocated to Southern Louisiana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 2011)

Kimberly Blom-Roemer, owner and lead architectural photographer with R2 Photography, LLC relocated to southern Louisiana in September 2011. This relocation provides the unique opportunity for firms in the region to work with a leading architectural photographer.

"One thing our clients can always count on is projects completed on budget and on time. We work closely with our clients to ensure their vision of their project is captured with dramatic imagery. And, it is the little additions, the added value of providing basic retouching and image correction as part of our proposed services that sets us apart in the industry," says Blom-Roemer proudly. "Our clients can trust they are working with a professional, from the first phone call through to the final image delivery. We view ourselves as a long term member of your team, and not a project to be nickeled and dimed to death."

We are looking forward to meeting with architects, interior designers, quantity surveyors, building contractors, building services engineers, civil engineers, construction, property developers, land regeneration & development, housing associations, asset management, logistical, industrial, environmental, advertising, design and marketing companies throughout the region.

For portfolio reviewing and further information, you can visit http://www.r2-photography.com. Additionally, we can be contacted at 866-722-9506 or via email at contact_us@r2-photography.com

R2 Photography, LLC covers the Gulf Coast from eastern Florida to Texas, basing ourselves in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area. However, we have clients and projects throughout the United States and Canada.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

TOP 10 Questions #11. The Economy is Bad... My Marketing Budget Has Been Cut - HELP!

There are very few industries and firms out there that haven't been at least "touched" by the (love the PC-ness of this phrase) "economic downturn."

Sadly, belt tightening needs to occur, and in theory, believe it or not, that can actually be a good thing. This positions you to streamline processes, re-evaluate where your marketing dollars go, and revaluate the effectiveness of your marketing. In essence, this keeps us from doing the same old thing over and over, year after year. Sure five years ago the marketing you were doing was cutting edge and really bringing in the clients, but... now, so many things have changed. Has your marketing? Or are you doing the same thing, with different packaging.

Let's get down to it, at the core of your marketing is showing off your latest projects to land new clients. And, how do you do that? Photography. No new photos, no new designs to show off to get more projects. Uh oh.

But wait... your budget has been cut, and that includes your photography budget.

What do you do?

Multi-Party Contracts

Share the costs with your vendors/contractors/clients. Odds on bet they need portfolio photography to land new projects too... why don't you get together with them and share the costs. I personally split the Creative Free evenly between each of the parties what want to sign on to the photography contract. So, if you were going alone, that free may be $2500 for a full day of shooting. But wait, bring in the contractor on the project, suddenly you both now only pay $1250. But wait, there's more. You designed some wonderful lighting in a reception area, talk to the lighting vendor. Now, there are three of you on the contract... your $2500 Creative Fee is now down to... wow... $830. Is that more in your budget?

Please note, each individual party may have separate uses for the images, so their usage costs will be calculated separately. You are just planning on using the images on your web site, so, you don't want to have to pay for your lighting contractors paid advertising usage for their company.

Muti-Project Contracts

When working with your photographer, this can be a great benefit to each of you. You receive a reduced rate for each project, and the photographer has the security of contracted projects coming in.

WARNING. Please be prepared to put everything in writing for each of the projects being included in the multi-project contract. I don't know a photographer alive that hasn't been verbally promised follow-on projects if they reduce the rate on the current one, and, mysteriously the follow-on projects never materialize.

Reduce the Views

In the ideal universe, you could have dozens of images documenting every aspect of your latest project. But, with the economy the way it is, and your budget looking dim, you're going to have to decide, what are the most important aspects of the projects? What will really sell your abilities to a new client? What problem did you solve in your designs? If you prioritize the images you absolutely need, from those it would be nice to have, you can save substantially on your photography.

Timing

Some photographers will work with you on their rates, if you are flexible in your shooting schedule. This allows the photographer to work your projects during slower times. This helps the photographer and his/her crew maintain a more balanced workload. For that benefit to their schedule, they will often work with you on the rate.