An architectural photographer is a photographer who specializes in working with built environments, which can range from ancient temples discovered during an archaeological dig to parking garages built just a few weeks ago. These photographers can specialize in areas such as retail, commercial, residential, or interior architecture, and they can work on a wide range of projects throughout their careers. An architectural photographer may create works of art, informational photographs, or promotional materials, depending on the nature of his or her work.
Architecture is an art form in and of itself, and documenting it requires special attention. Architecture photographers, like other photographers, are familiar with the fundamentals of photography, such as light levels, focus, texture, and the various printing techniques that can be used to achieve various looks and feelings. They must also consider issues such as image framing and the moods they hope to evoke with a photograph.
An architectural photographer may be hired in some cases to capture images for the purpose of documenting a construction project. Before and after photos of a site or building under renovation, as well as detailed images depicting the outside and inside of the building, are examples of these images. These images must also be placed in context, which forces the photographer to consider how much to include in each frame and whether aerial photography is necessary. Photographing architectural models is another example of this type of work, and the images may be used in promotional publications for the building or architect, portfolios for competitions, or informational packets for governments and people interested in the project.
An architect or interior designer can also hire an architectural photographer to take photos for a portfolio. These images emphasize the project’s artistic nature and may be works of art in and of themselves. Buildings can also be photographed for art exhibitions, with the images being treated as artworks, and these images can be collected in photography and architecture books.
Some architectural photographer training is available through art schools with photography departments, and students may find it beneficial to intern with an experienced architecture photographer to gain a better understanding of the day-to-day work in the field. Some students study architecture in order to gain a better understanding of the structures they photograph. Others may naturally develop architectural photography skills, resulting in a portfolio of architectural images that can be used to attract new business.