TOP 10 Questions #8. Scouting... Why Would I Want to Do That?

Whether you have a scouting trip is completely up to you and your photographer. Scouting can significantly help elevate the chances that the images you receive from the photographer are the images you envisioned.

There are three types of scouting:

• You and the photographer are both present on site. This is the most ideal situation to ensure the exact views and details of an image are exactly what you’re envisioning, but can also be the most expensive.
• You have the only photographer (or one of his/her assistants) go to the site. They take rough scouting images based on a floor plan/site plan with a shot list and angles for images identified. Those images are sent to your office for review, feedback, and approval for the final photography shot list. The margin for error in you achieving exactly the shot you want increases with this option, since you’re not there on site with the photographer.
• You provide rough images. These have been taken previously by yourself or someone on your staff and generally accompany a floor plan/site plan given to a photographer identifying angles and specific details provided. The chances of not receiving exactly what you anticipated is increased further, as the photographer will have never visited the site before the day of final photography and can’t plan for potential issues that may impact the shoot that would otherwise be identified during a scouting visit.

Which type of scouting is also a judgement call based on several factors:

• How confident are you in the photographer understanding what images you want or details to highlight from just a conversation or a floor plan diagram?
• How critical are the images to your portfolio? If these are going to be “flag ship” images, then the more critical it is that you be there to ensure your vision is captured in the images
• Is it a cost effective decision for you to also be at the shoot if it is not local to your firm’s main office?

NOTE: Reshoots are expensive and can be irritating to all parties involved, so, if at all possible should be avoided, and the best way to avoid them is a scouting session.

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

866-722-9506866-722-9506

TOP 10 Questions #7. Another Firm Gave Me These Images from A Project We Worked On Together, It is OK To Use Them On Our Web Site… Right?

Tentatively Yes, if along with the images, they have provided you a written statement from the Photographer either granting you permission, or a statement that the Copyright has been transferred from the Photographer to the firm giving you the images, and that firm is giving you permission to use them.

Typically… ABSOLUTELY NOT.

If you have received photographs from another person or firm, and you have not seen a document providing written permission for you to use them, it is YOUR responsibility to secure licensing rights before using them. When in doubt, contact the photographer before using the images.

Any copying, reproduction, distribution, public display or creation of derivative works of images without specific permission from the photographer is a violation of Federal copyright law. This includes putting them on your web site.

Simply having physical possession of photographs, slides, prints, transparencies or digital files does NOT grant the right to use them.

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

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R2 Photography, LLC

TOP 10 Questions #6. How Long Should The Actual Shooting Take?

A rough estimate, not based on any details whatsoever, each view, each image takes approximately 45-90 minutes to prepare, stage, and shoot.

Whoa... that long? What in the world could take that long?

Survey - the photographer (and potentially yourself as the client) need to look over the scene, find the best angle, evaluate challenges and favorable aspects of each scene.

Set Up - the camera, tripod, and possibly lights need to be unpacked, set up, positioned, adjusted.

Staging - this can be as simple as picking up pieces of paper on the floor, or as advanced as adjusting the direction of every single wheel on each leg of a chair in a laboratory classroom... all 45 chairs, so all 180 wheels.

Final Composing - a myriad of adjustments need to be made in the camera itself, focusing, focal point, aperture, shutter speed.

Final Scene Adjustments - after looking through the view finder additional adjustments most likely will need to be made in the scene, pivoting furniture, adjusting foliage, etc.

Image Capture - generally more than one frame is shot of each view. There are a variety of reasons to do it this way. But depending on the photographer's approach, it can be as simple as having an insurance policy of more than one frame of each view.

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

TOP 10 Questions #5. It’s OK to Give These Image to ______ to Use In Their Marketing, Right?

Absolutely not! And WHY would you do this? You have paid hard earned money for these images. Why would you let someone else get for free, something you had to pay for?

Similarly, you wouldn't want someone taking your design and selling it to someone else, and pocketing the money for themselves? You worked hard on those designs. You deserve to be compensated for them. You might want to pay the other party a commission on the sale, but you created what was being sold, you deserve the money for it.

Any copying, reproduction, distribution, public display or creation of derivative works of images without specific permission from the photographer is a violation of Federal copyright law. This includes putting them on your web site.

Simply having physical possession of photographs, slides, prints, transparencies or digital files does NOT grant the right to use them.

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

Why Is All This Paperwork Necessary? All I Want Is Some Pictures!

As a business person, you know the fastest way for a project to "go south" is for there to be a difference in expectations between the parties involved. Even the smallest detail to one party, can be a major issue to another.

The best way to ensure a project's success is to thoroughly document everything. In the case of commissioning photography, this is achieved via signed Estimates, use of Terms and Conditions, a clear Usage/Licensing statement, Change Orders, and detailed Invoices. The more information you can provide to your photographer, including any prospective layouts the images are going to be included in or intended uses, the higher the odds your project will be a resounding success.

Your photographer is there to work with you, and wants the project to be a success as much as you do. So, if you're presented with documents and don't understand what you're looking at or reading, talk to your photographer. He or she will be happy to answer your questions and explain everything.

So, these documents are there to ensure the success of your project and are a sign you're working with a true professional.

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

TOP 10 Questions #4. Why Doesn't My Print Have the Whole Image from the Contact Sheet?

Simple. Aspect ratio. On your contact sheet I provide the entire image as captured by the sensor in the camera. Aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of an image to the height. an 8x10 image has the same aspect ratio as a 16x20 images (one is exactly twice the size of the other). But both of these have a different aspect ratio than a 5x7. And all three of these have different ratios from an 11x14.

You didn't know you were in for a math lesson, did you?

But what it comes down to, if you want prints of your images, there is a strong possibility that some cropping will need to be done, on the longest side, in order to make the image fit the width of the paper size you have selected. But, you don't have to take equal amounts from each side, you can frame the image in the desired paper size, in the most visually favorable manner possible.

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