Architecture Photographer for Brouchures and such

[Quantum3]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to make some extra money by getting into the architectural photography. I don't have any idea how to do this kind of job, but the equipment I have is enough to start. I have a Nikon D700 with a 14-24mm as I have heard the use of wide angle is for architecture. I have also a 50mm and a 80-400mm in case some of these could be used too. I have just one flash.

This equipment for an start is good, mostly because in my country there is not a developed idea of architecture photography, so nobody here will ask for more flashes or advanced techniques of illumination and most photographers around here are quite bad at this field (and many more) so it's quite easy to make good money for me. In fact, nobody here owns a wide angle to do this kind of job or think it's a must.

HEre are a couple of examples of what's common in the field around here: http://images.google.com.ar/images?s...-8&sa=N&tab=wi and this: http://images.google.com.ar/images?u...=f&oq=&start=0

I'm not mainly looking to do pictures of houses, but of shops and restaurants, that kind.

Would you mind to share with me what should I take into account such as prices and how to price this kind of job? Also how's the workflow?

Many thanks,

Mart

[slash-5]

I do a lot of architectural shooting...

I generally only use a wide angle, but always correct for the lens distortion during the processing. If I am using flashes, I usually use two. If I don't use flashes, I bracket my shots and blend with photomatix.

[Quantum3]

Originally Posted by slash-5

I do a lot of architectural shooting...

I generally only use a wide angle, but always correct for the lens distortion during the processing. If I am using flashes, I usually use two. If I don't use flashes, I bracket my shots and blend with photomatix.

Thanks for the reply, Slash. I also like using Photomatix. Could you let me know how to price this kind of job? I have heard that the price is based in the amount of square feets/metters, but I don't have any clue about pricing this and I certainly need the money achievable through this type of job.

Thanks in advance,

Mart

[slash-5]

For a basic kitchen or bath job, I price at my 1/2 day rate. For more, I price at a full day.

[Quantum3]

Originally Posted by slash-5

For a basic kitchen or bath job, I price at my 1/2 day rate. For more, I price at a full day.

I see... Nothing related to square feets, haha... So, you price per hour?

[slash-5]

Not per hour, per se. I bill in half day increments. If I view a job and I think it will take two days, that's what I bill. Based on my experience, I would consider the average house a full day job. One to two rooms is 1/2 day, three to four a full day. Hotels are tricky, so be careful pricing those. I often do a full day for about 4 rooms, plus a night in the Presidential suite. : )

[Quantum3]

Originally Posted by slash-5

Not per hour, per se. I bill in half day increments. If I view a job and I think it will take two days, that's what I bill. Based on my experience, I would consider the average house a full day job. One to two rooms is 1/2 day, three to four a full day. Hotels are tricky, so be careful pricing those. I often do a full day for about 4 rooms, plus a night in the Presidential suite. : )

I see... I always find harder the pricing stuff than the job itself, haha. I will try a per hour pricing first, then will see what to do next. I see it'¡s more about experience than anything else so time to comit mistakes, lol!

I will not come into hotels yet, or enterprises (too big for a benginner). Will start by shoting small shops and restaurants, which are a lot around my neighborhood and they publish new pictures every time. I more or less know what to do in terms of the shoting, but the pricing is what is annoying me.

Would you mind showing me some of your architectural pictures and estimating more or less the time you spent on the shot? I have to handle the time very well, because in my country, people don't use to spend too much money in these kind of things, you know, they will not pay for a big production, even if they're able to do it, they won't do that. it's a culutural matter.

Thanks again for replying

Mart

[slash-5]

This one took about 20 minutes, but the whole shoot took an hour and a half. I used one flash on the far wall to bring the eye toward the back.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/...24a2eb2828.jpg

This one was done with no flash, it took about 45 minutes to set up and get right:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/...f8cd7d30f5.jpg

This one had two flashes, one on the ceiling...the other in the shower, the room shoot took about 2 hours:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/...8d1c8bb484.jpg

[Quantum3]

Originally Posted by slash-5

This one took about 20 minutes, but the whole shoot took an hour and a half. I used one flash on the far wall to bring the eye toward the back.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/...24a2eb2828.jpg

This one was done with no flash, it took about 45 minutes to set up and get right:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/...f8cd7d30f5.jpg

This one had two flashes, one on the ceiling...the other in the shower, the room shoot took about 2 hours:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/...8d1c8bb484.jpg

Hey, thank you very much for the help! I see the difference between using flash or not using it. Would be nice to use a bounced flash in the one of the kitchen, for example, in order to get ride of the multiple hard shadows, such as the one of the bathroom, which looks pretty nice. I understand why you located the flashes that way also. I did architctural photography about 3 years ago for a friend, and I used to put a 15" shutter speed and runing all around the room with a TTL Flash, lighting all around, haha. Let me see if I find that pic. Here it is: http://picasaweb.google.es/Quantum3S...59225936300370

And did few more for that restaurant. You can see these here: http://picasaweb.google.es/Quantum3S...aArchitecture#

So... What do you recommend in terms of speech. When a potential client phones me, what should I say? That I have to see the place in order to estimate a price? Clients usually like hearing some numbers, even if they're not the final numbers. I will put an add in some magazines about my services this month, so I will need some speech when the phone start ringing! ^^

Thanks a lot for all your help!

Mart

[acsi]

Slash
Why did it take 2 hours to shoot one bathroom?
What takes up most of the time? Setting up the objects or cleaning?
Setting up location and power of flash?
Would a 17-50 f/2.8 OS lens be wide enough?