Architectural photography tends to include shots of the exteriors and interiors of domestic and commercial structures, as well as records of the development of cities and towns. However the main area of work for a freelance architectural photographer will be obtained in showcasing new builds.

How to break into Freelance Architectural Photography

The marketplace for professional architectural photographers is quite good. Business has been doing well for a while in residential and commercial construction therefore house builders, property management organisations, construction companies, magazines and real estate enterprises all have a need for architectural photography.

Building a portfolio is that important initial stage in starting out as a freelance architectural photographer. Once you have a portfolio, you should network, find industry contacts and showcase your work to as many people as possible in the industry; such as architects and builders. It is a case of establishing your portfolio, making contacts and persevering until you get that all important first commission.

Who hires Freelance Architectural Photographers?

Any architect, builder or designer is likely to hire an architectural photographer as they will want to obtain the highest quality images to record their buildings. The quality of the architectural photography they have commissioned to represent their designs is a reflection of an architectural firm’s standing and quality.

What to Charge

If someone hires an architectural photographer, the average fee can be $150 each photo, or about $2,500 per day. For magazine or campaigns, the cost can differ from $200 each photo to $3,000 for a complete days shoot.

Tasks Expected of a Freelance Architectural Photographer

As a freelance architectural photographer, you are expected to shoot photographs of building interiors and exteriors based on your hirer's requirements. Your job is to create well produced photographs that can highlight the architectural qualities of the building.

Skills of a Freelance Architectural Photographer

Freelance architectural photographers need to pay great attention to the details of the building they are shooting. They will need to have broad knowledge of light effects on buildings and how best to display the building both internally and externally at its best.

Equipment used by a Freelance Architectural Photographer

You should aim to purchase the best equipment you can, so to get you started you should have a decent camera, a tripod plus one or more lenses. It is vital to purchase a tripod since building photography will require a very small aperture on dull and overcast days; therefore the shutter speed can be several seconds. The tripod does not have to be expensive as tripods that you can purchase for around $60 will be perfectly adequate. A decent specification PC is also very useful so that you can crop and touch up photos using products like Photoshop.

Where to look and apply for jobs

The best way is to advertise your services and portfolio is on a website.
Many people will select a photographer for their job based on samples of the photographer's previous work so building up that decent portfolio is very important. Networking and making valuable contacts is very important in this industry as most project work is awarded based on word of mouth recommendations.

However there are organizations, such as the International Association of Architectural Photographers (IAAP). Membership of IAAP provides discussion centers for photographers can swap experiences and ideas; but more importantly it advertises job opportunities for their members.

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