Architecture | Paula Watts Photography

Modern Architecture | Photographer Portland Oregon

ByPaula Watts March 25, 2011June 30, 2012

“Talking about love is like dancing about architecture” Joan (Angelina Jolie) in the movie “Playing By Heart” (1998). I am neither going to attempt to dance about architecture or talk about love, but sometimes I even find it hard to put into words my love for modern architecture.

Oregon Home Magazine hired me to photograph this home for their latest issue (in stores now), showcasing the connection between the outside and inside, large use of windows and the playfullness of its simplistic elements with the sophistication of the architecture. The home owner, Corey Martin, was the architect for his beautiful home with amazing use of space and light. Check out his brilliant work at www.architecturepath.com. I loved meeting his family and seeing how they moved around the home’s space, playing with their son Casey, working at their home office, and even baking a chocolate cake (one of my person favorites- thanks Michele). Here’s how the story turned out! Enjoy!

Architecture | People

Oregon Home | Architectural Photographer Oregon

ByPaula Watts March 23, 2011June 30, 2012

I am super excited to announce the new Oregon Home Magazine is now on store shelves! The cover image was photographed by yours truly, featuring Thomas Lauderdale from the famed Pink Martini in the comforts of his Portland residence. Oregon Home Magazine has undergone some incredible changes in the last few months, revamping the look and feel of its publication to a beautiful, new source of architecture and living in Oregon.

Architecture

Trends Magazine Cont’d | Published Work | Architectural Photographer Bend Oregon

ByPaula Watts January 25, 2011June 30, 2012

I am very fortunate to have architectural clients that produce such wonderful work! Last year, I photographed the Mathew’s residence in Shevlin Commons, here in Bend Oregon for clients, Kirsti Wolfe Designs, Scott Gilbride Architect, Dansky Handcrafted, and Greg Vendrame Construction. It was recently published twice in Trends Magazine, once seen below, and once in my last blog post. This home is not just beautifully photogenic (and it is), it is quality and style through and through. This home is modern elegance with a mountain view and I thoroughly enjoyed photographing it. The pleasure and honor to be published in Trends because of this home is all mine!

Architecture

Trends Magazine Part 2 | Published Work | Architectural Photographer Bend Oregon

ByPaula Watts January 21, 2011June 30, 2012

Trends Magazine recently profiled a home I photographed here in Bend, Oregon in Shevlin Commons. With amazing talent such as Kirsti Wolfe Designs, Scott Gilbride Architecture, Greg Vendrame Construction, Dansky Handcrafted, Milo’s Metal Works and Classic Wood Accents, this home shines with modern elegance! (Yes, that was one big shout out to the wonderful crews who made this room possible). I was lucky to be hired as the photographer to capture this room’s overall architecture and appeal with elements such as multiple pocket doors, a captain’s bed, built in custom library, and volcanic metal fireplace. Here is the tearsheet from the magazine.

(To see more images from this home, click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/5sjj3oe for my previous blog entry!) Enjoy!

Architecture

Trends Magazine | Published Work | Architectural Photographer Oregon

ByPaula Watts January 20, 2011June 30, 2012

As an architectural photographer, it’ll never get old to see my images published in an international architectural magazine like Trends Magazine. It just won’t. Not only are my wonderful clients ecstatic that this kitchen won the People’s Choice Award in the Trends Kitchen Design Award, but it’s a great compliment to their work and mine. Hats off to Kirsti Wolfe of Kirsti Wolfe Designs for designing such a beautiful kitchen and getting such wonderful recognition! More published work to come as we were recently published THREE TIMES in Trends!

(please note: the color is not accurately portrayed by the scanning of the magazine for this BLOG post, so I have attached some of the originals for your viewing pleasure)

Architecture | Food | People

Backporch Coffee’s New Digs | Commercial Photographer Bend OR

ByPaula Watts January 3, 2011March 14, 2019

If you still haven’t been to Backporch Coffee Roasters‘ new location, I’m not sure where you’ve been… it’s beautiful. I’m calling it my second home these days, as I love to sip my latte’ while emailing, writing proposal or even blogging. I was hired to photograph images for their advertising collateral, showcasing their snazzy new spot and details such as Ruby, their new baby, the La Marzocco espresso machine. Yes, you heard me, La Marzocco to all you coffee “snobs”… oops…connoisseurs out there.

I wanted to compliment the modern interior of Backporch Coffee with a clean and simple approach to the imagery, which isn’t hard since, let’s face it, that’s pretty much what my photography leans toward anyway. I used mostly all natural lighting for their imagery and focused on clean lines and off-set composition. Here are a few of the images.

Architecture | People

Knight Residence | Architectural Photographer, Bend Oregon

ByPaula Watts September 28, 2010July 2, 2012

Talk about a “picture perfect” family…. I had the lovely privilege of photographing the Knight Residence and the beautiful family that inhabits it for the Fall issue of 1859 Magazine (on shelves now). Doug and Wendy Knight gracefully remodeled their 1918 American Craftsman home in the heart of Bend’s Drake Park Historical District. “The idea was to be respectful of the architectural style of the era and to do something fresh…” Doug said in the 1859 Magazine interview. And they definitely succeeded.

In photographing this home, I needed to keep in mind what their vision was for their space. Light was a huge driving force for them in remodeling, so keeping the home bright and airy was important. They had so many personal touches as well. Wendy Knight, a brilliant interior designer, added warmth and elegance while mixing some of their family’s personal touches with things like their daughters’ artwork. Capturing those elements were equally important. Below are some of the final images. Enjoy!

Architecture

“Understanding a Photographic Assignment Estimate” | Bend OR Architectural Photographer

ByPaula Watts September 15, 2010March 1, 2019

This helpful and insightful article below has been researched and developed by the AIA (Association of Architects) and the ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) to help guide you through a Photographic Estimate. The examples shown in the article below are specifically regarding an architectural photo assignment, but can easily relate to other photographic areas as well. The article helps explain and break down helpful terms and phrases such as Licensing + Rights Granted as well as help describe the Pricing structures of typical estimates. It also gives other practical time and money saving tips for your photography needs.

If you have any questions or are interested in discussing these concepts with a professional architectural photographer, please don’t hesitate to email or call. Paula Watts Photography at info@paulawattsphoto.com or #541-255-5834.

Architecture

Architectural Lighting | Architectural Photographer, Bend OR

ByPaula Watts August 30, 2010July 2, 2012

Have you ever wondered what makes an image really stand out from the rest? Or, perhaps, how to get your home or space to photograph well for an advertising campaign? Well, I won’t give away all my trade secrets as an architectural photographer here, but I will show you a quick comparison that will help train your eye to see light differently, as well as how to become a discerning client when needing to hire a professional photographer that will make your building/residence/commercial space really shine.

The two images below are the exact same residence, the exact same angle, the exact same day. Sure, you can probably see that. Will it surprise you then to learn that the two images were photographed only 22 minutes apart? A bit more intrigued now?

I photographed these two images to showcase the dramatic difference that lighting can make in a photograph. The first image was taken at the end of the day with no additional lighting equipment used. The sun was still the main lighting source. Because of the nature of the home’s architecture, beautifully designed by Scott Gilbride Architecture, the sun didn’t do a very good job reaching to the inside corners of the patio. In order to compensate for that, the exposure either gets longer, or the depth of field gets shorter (not ideal for architecture) and the sky, then, gets whiter. Indeed, you can see for yourself the overall dull appearance the home had.

In comparison, for the second image, I waited only 20 more minutes for the sun to go below the horizon, (becoming the ambient (or fill) light for the photo shoot). The main light source became my photography lights that I added with strategic placement to add light where needed as well as add a more dramatic feel overall to the photo. The home then became lit from the inside and outside, giving it a warm glow in appearance and a well deserved contrast from the rich blue sky from the dusk evening.

When searching to hire a professional architectural photographer, or even a professional photographer for other subject matters, please remember that lighting ALWAYS matters. It is important to find a photographer that is going to make your product, home, or business really shine, and that lighting is one of the very best ways we are going to do that for you!

Architecture

Shevlin Commons Exterior | Architectural Photographer Bend Oregon

ByPaula Watts August 25, 2010July 2, 2012

Modern comfort, understated elegance, mountain views with high dessert terrain that help showcase its rugged beauty… these are all key phrases that help describe this home, designed by architect, Scott Gilbride. I photographed the interiors of this Shevlin Commons residence last fall (see previous post http://tinyurl.com/26jd6z6) and waited through the winter to get the crisp skis and lively landscaping for the exteriors. Below are a couple examples of the exteriors photographed for my client, Scott Gilbride Architecture taken at dawn and dusk to showcase the juxtaposition of the vibrant blue sky with the warmth of the home’s interiors to the natural colors of the wild flora. Lastly, you’ll notice the last image is of the master bath, with it’s mountainous views. This shot also needed to take place while the landscaping and skis were perfect, to really show the view out the bathroom window and give it the proper attention. Hope you enjoy!