ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS

Your Vision & Goals

Great photos transform how the world sees what you offer.

This guide will help you create photos for interior and architecture photography.

 I will work closely with you on your ideas to make sure your vision becomes a reality.

If you’d like to plan out your shoots, below are some tips.

These steps are not mandatory, but can help you create a clearer vision, intention, and actions. 

Consider what photos you want

Here are some guiding questions. 

  • Consider your audience, clients, tone, and message. 
  • What is the story of the property, and how do you sell that story?
    The story can be about what is unique around the property and its history, or it can be about the lifestyle that is possible in the space.
    You can build a story to make your listing newsworthy and attract press.
  • What are the feelings and values you want to express?
  • Where do you want images to be shown (such as listings, social media,  ads, press coverage)?

Try to set an intention, or a mantra for your photography. 

Inspiration Images


To help clarify your photography vision, consider your own unique style and what images hold the most significance for you. ⠀

You can gather inspiration images that you love, which can include your own photos, or photos from inspiring photographers, interior designers, home staging firms, or from magazines, art, brands, advertisements. 

Often a good place to start is a Pinterest search.

Look for different angles, positioning, styling, and lighting that inspires you. It is helpful if you can find examples of angles and positioning that you may want to use in your shoots, because then you will have visual references to help guide you to create what you want.

You can put these inspiration images in a document, presentation (like powerpoint), email, or online album (like Pinterest or Google Photos).  Many of my corporate clients use powerpoint-style presentations.

It can help to group similar photos / poses together (for example: put standing poses together, sitting poses together, etc.).  You can put each group on a separate page, album, or Pinterest board.

“Shots I Want” List

To take this one step further, you can create a “shot list” which is a list of photography ideas or “shots” that you want, listed in terms of priority (most important listed first). 

The shot list is our strategic plan, roadmap, and script that will ensure we clarify and meet your needs and dreams. 

You might not have time for all, so it helps to be clear about which are most important. Consider what you truly need and where you will need to use them.

Please keep in mind that often the more variety, the more time will be spent shooting.

Practical Planning:

Consider Where Your Photos Will Live or Be Shown

Consider where you need to use your images

What will you do with the photos? Who will see them and where?

Consider what types of photos you need for different purposes. Begin by focusing on where you most urgently need photos.

For example: your website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, blog, advertising, publications, articles, press kit, headshots for speaking and consulting, shots for conference websites, keynote slides, affiliate promotions, workshops, retreats, webinars and other promo materials, etc..

Consider photo orientation and dimensions: which images need to be horizontal (such as a “website header” / large image on top of a website) versus vertical orientation? 

For example, if you want to use photos for social sharing of articles, landscape layout is usually what’s used.

For example, if you want to put text on your photos, you can create images with blank space to add “headers," headlines, logos, etc. 

Consider how images can support your message(s) and words / copy.

Write out your key message(s). 

Decide if you want photos to illustrate your message(s), and if so, what kinds of images.

For example:

If you talk about the building history or special features, you may want photos of those details.

If you talk about lifestyle, you may want photos of lifestyle props and activities in the space.

Often my clients will create a media draft (such as website, presentation, or brochure) so they can plan their words and messages, including headlines, taglines. You can plug photos into the marketing materials (website, etc) as placeholders to see what kind of shots make sense with your words.

Note which messages need to be shot with a blank (seamless) background (for example, if you want the text to go over the image) and or in an environment. 

Photography Equipment

You will need a phone or camera and a tripod. I recommend to make sure the tripod is as tall as you, or taller.

You can also get a light, but you do not need a light. You can use the sun as a light or use lights that you already own.