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

R2 Photography, LLC Interviewed by Wall Street Journal

To support their article, The Best Shot_A Photography Lesson for Homeowners, the Wall Street Journal approached me for expertise and insight on how to photograph residential interiors with a target audience of real estate professionals. I was flattered to be asked.


Because of their tight deadline (I could NEVER be a reporter, much less a press photographer) I quickly provided them some essential guidelines that I have developed as part of my "How to Photograph Residential Real Estate" seminar I presents to real estate agents and firms throughout the region.


Because most real estate professionals take their own images with point and shoot cameras, the topics covered in the seminar are easy, general tasks that can dramatically improve the impact of their images, and even more importantly, catch the eye of the prospective buyers. These guidelines discuss points of view, lighting, color casts, perspective, clutter, and lenses.


The article can be found at the following link:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125086600376449445.html

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

Quick Half-Day Downtown Chicago Study

As part of traveling to any destination on assignment, I try to include time to photograph local landmarks.


On August 21st, after leaving 11" of rain in 36 hours and an office flooding, I was in Chicago and had the most glorious weather one could ever hope for to photograph the busting and exciting downtown area. Setting a land speed record, here are a few rough images from my adventure.


The last image, which looks like a bizarre abstract is actually the underside of "The Bean". In it, you can count my reflection at least 13 times.

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

Is Your Project Location Ready to Shoot?

With the significant preparation needed to complete a successful architectural photography shoot, not to mention the costs involved, great attention should be given to how well prepared the location is for the photography day.


Everyone seems to be very busy these days and the importance of this step can sometimes be diminished or overlooked in the budgeting and scheduling process. As our Client, you want your images to look perfect, and we of course want you to be happy with the images. But sometimes, there can be an over reliance on what can be accomplished with photo retouching in post production, and even then, the costs to do so.


The best approach to ensure your images are the best they can be, and your costs (post-production) are kept as low as possible, is review all aspects of the shoot with the property manager and maintenance staff. A simple checklist comes in handy.


Interiors

• make sure the desired furniture and fixtures have been installed,
• make sure all fixtures are operational (no burned out bulbs),
• painting has been completed,
• are any seasonal or event specific items removed,
• desktops, counter tops, or anywhere papers, etc. can be left sitting is cleaned and organized,
• is the facility clean? (you'd be surprised).

Exteriors

• are the green spaces and trees maintained?
• are seasonal or temporary signage or structures removed?
• are other firms/companies, etc. working on site that day?

Sometimes property owners schedule multiple parties on the same day as it's convenient to them. It is often difficult or impossible for each party to stay out of each others way when trying to achieve their goals. Sometime it's inevitable, so try to determine potential conflicts before hand and see if it will affect the shoot plan.

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