Lawrence Delight

This home was built in 1905 and is located in Lawrence, KS. I'm pretty much in heaven when I get to shoot historic homes. Simply being inside and admiring all the details, nooks, and coziness oozing from every corner is half the fun. On this shoot my approach was a bit more casual. I really wanted to shoot it as-is and not mess around with staging things or do any heavy editing. There are many imperfections, but that's what the spirit of the home is. I had a lot of fun with this one! 

We start on the third floor which has a jacuzzi tub, private bathroom, reading nook, and bed. Next is the second floor with various bedrooms (one with a munchkin door), bathroom, and a beautful landing with fantastic woodwork on the stairs. Then we go to the first floor where the living room, foyer, dining, and kitchen reside.

Pole Aerial Photography Still Alive

Just as drones for commercial use were getting more popular a few years ago I purchased a giant tripod for low altitude aerial photography. The tripod can reach up to 24 feet high. It's a bit ridiculous and borderline impractical. When it's folded up its about 6 feet tall and weighs a solid 27 pounds and isn't very fun lugging it around.

Drones for commercial use have become more regulated since I purchased the giant tripod and I don't regret my purchase. There are no rules, special insurance or licenses I have to get to use it. It's a niche piece of equipment that doesn't get used often.

I recently shot the brand new Liberty Waste Water Treatment Plant for the construction company's PR use. One of the views they wanted a twilight shot showing the plant. I thought the best way to show this would be to get an aerial photo just above one of the pools to show the reflection of the sky for a mirror effect to create more interest.

 

IMG_5829.jpg
IMG_5828.jpg
IMG_5825.jpg
Shot from camera, raised roughly 20 feet up. Remotely fired from iPhone.

Shot from camera, raised roughly 20 feet up. Remotely fired from iPhone.

Alternate view from hillside. 

Alternate view from hillside. 

Thoughts on Portfolio Improvements

A recent discussion in an architectural photography Facebook group prompted me to think about many improvements I can make to my portfolio. So far I've broken it into 4 galleries - Residential, Multifamily, Commercial, and Aerial. Architecture is the parent theme I'm trying to convey in each gallery, as architects and designers are who I'm looking to work with. Within each category, I've selected my favorites and have simply used patterns to organize the flow of images. But according to the feedback from real architects mentioned in the Facebook group, this is probably a confusing way to organize my work and show it to who I'm looking to work with. 

Separate "Architecture" and "Interiors"

The first suggestion is to separate architecture and interiors into their own galleries. The idea is that they are two different markets. Architects aren't interested in fabric details, pillow selection, or curtain colors. Although a bit confusing because they do overlap, this makes sense because each market needs to see how you can create photos for them.

More Sequences

People want to see more sequences of images from the same project to understand a narrative. Many photographers pick and choose their best images, this is common practice. This pick-and-choose-the-best strategy conflicts with the idea of showing a sequence of images from a project. What if they are all not portfolio worthy? I think sequences will force stronger work from each project. Maybe a portfolio should be sequences of projects instead of just the best images. I love this suggestion and plan to add a "projects" section to show more sequences. 

More People

I recently had another discussion with a local architecture firm and the subject of adding people to photos came up. Their position is to include as many people as necessary to each scene to best show the function of their product - people use architecture! At the very least, mixing in people to shots gives more selection on what works best for their portfolio. I have had this same discussion with other companies and very much agree. This is nothing new. It simply needs to be emphasized by the photographer (my job!). I think there tends to be some apprehension when adding yourself to a shot. Common solutions are adding a bit of blur to a moving person (this also adds an artistic, mysterious mood that can enhance the photo), hiring models, or shooting in public places to show public interaction. 

Shot for a furniture company. Although not architecture, people using their product makes for more impact.

I will be making these changes gradually so expect to see more project highlights, people, and a clearer separation of architecture and interior design.

Bold, Eclectic KC Loft

in

Here are some images I captured of a loft owned by a fun couple that took on designing their new loft. The brass colored coffee table was my favorite item throughout. I knew I had to come up with at least one shot that emphasized it front and center.