Because I often ask people to take photos of Barber buildings for me, many ask me how they can take good photos. So I put this page together to illustrate some best practices for taking great photos of architecture, particularly short buildings like single-family homes. This might prove particularly useful for any Real Estate agents out there, so do them a favor and point them toward this resource. Reach out if you have specific questions that are not addressed here.
Take a look at the example photos below and my comments on why they are good.
This photo is good because it fills most of the frame with the subject and by doing so, captures the most amount of detail in the process. But it still manages to capture enough of the surrounding context to provide some scale. The photo provides slightly more foreground below the subject (even more would have been better) than background on top of the subject, which gives the photo good proportion. All the vertical elements of the subject are straight and parallel to the sides of the frame. This is achieved by holding the camera level so that the resulting shot is a 2-point perspective, rather than a 3-point perspective. The muted sunlight provides for softer shadows which helps to see details that are in shade. The sky is blue with white wispy clouds which brings out the colors of the subject. And lastly, there are no annoying distractions in the photo like power wires, telephone poles, autos, refuse, etc. Beautiful!
This photo is good because it provides exceptional balance between the subject and the surrounding context. All the color of the home's surroundings allow the colorless subject to stand out as the focal point. The photo provides more foreground below the subject than background on top of the subject, which again, gives the photo good proportion. All the vertical elements of the subject are straight and parallel to the sides of the frame because the camera was held level and pointed horizontally. The bright sunlight is toned down by waiting for the sun to be behind a cloud which again, provides for softer shadows. The sky is blue with white wispy clouds which contrasts the white color of the tower roof perfectly. And lastly, there are no annoying distractions in the photo like power wires, telephone poles, autos, refuse, etc. There is only the beauty of nature, created by God, and the beauty of architecture, created by man. Awesome!
Regarding interior photos, of critical importance is the lighting. Here you can see an even, well lit combination of rooms with all the rich detail of the woodwork prominently featured. Note how well the staircase in the distance is perfectly framed by the columned room divider and the pocket doors are slightly extended to include them in the details. All the vertical elements are perfectly vertical and parallel to the sides of the photo and there is plenty of furniture in all rooms to provide scale and context. The shadows are soft and the ceiling in not washed out. Even the mirror in the far right room, which captures sunlight from outside, is not overpowering. This is a great photo which spectarly captures the character of the space and the details of the architecture.
Here is another great interior photo which perfectly illustrates how important the lighting is when capturing light colored rooms on a bright day. Note that the outside sunlight is not overpowering or washing out the light cream color of the walls. there is still plenty of depth to show the modest contrast between the walls and the white trim. And again, the mirror id not reflecting anything that distracts from the space or the photo itself. Here again, all the vertical elements are perfectly vertical and parallel to the sides of the photo and there is plenty of human items to provide scale and context. The shadows are soft and the ceiling and floor are not washed out. Well done indeed.