exterior architectural photographer bend oregon

Belluschi Residence | Portland Oregon Architectural Photographer

ByPaula Watts January 25, 2013January 26, 2013

My last post discussed the importance of lighting for all types of photography. I used a before/after example from my photo shoot at the Belluschi Residence in Portland, Oregon for Oregon Home Magazine. For this post, I wanted to show some of the interiors, including the kitchen, living room, and interior of their beautiful yoga studio.

What is especially unique about this property is that it was originally designed by the famous architect, Pietro Belluschi. Once purchased by Mike McCulloch and Maryellen Horkheimer, they wanted to keep the original feel and space as initially intended, but with some modern updates. Mike being an architect himself, kept the transition seamless. Maryellen is a master gardner and landscaper, and together the home is now not only a comfortable living space, but also a scenic garden retreat.

The marriage of architecture and its surroundings made it feel like there was no distinction between inside and out. The rolling landscape was either in your window’s view or you were enjoying the tremendous space the family built for outside living. I wanted and needed to capture that as the photographer, lighting the rooms, making sure the windows show the exterior view as well as maintaining the warmth of the interiors.

Architecture

Architectural Photographer | Bend Oregon

ByPaula Watts August 24, 2011August 13, 2012

Once upon a time…

Tucked away in a fairytale village far, far away lived a queen and king… okay, so we’re not really in a fairytale, but this home has all the charm to make someone feel like it.

The architecture models the feel of a late 1800’s Jane Austin novel with modern amenities and living spaces. From movie theater to kitchen nook solarium, to Biblical stones laid in the wine cellar, from library to spiral staircases and mountain views, covering 16,000sq ft., Harrison Design Associates designed the home and didn’t leave out a single detail.

It was an honor and pleasure to photograph this beautiful residence.

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

Preparing for a Professional Photographer

ByPaula Watts July 13, 2010July 2, 2012

Following my last post about Finding the Right Architectural Photographer, this is another great article by the good ole people at AIA (American Institute of Architects) and ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) discussing expectations with the professional architectural photographer you choose, covering topics like avoiding un-necessary costs and surprises, as well as giving a helpful checklist in making sure all areas of the photo shoot are covered before the photographer even steps foot on the property.

If you are looking to hire a professional architectural photographer, and just don’t know where to start or what to expect, this article is perfect for you!

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As always, if you have any questions you would like to further discuss with a professional architectural photographer, please don’t hesitate to email at info@paulawattsphoto.com or call at #541-255-5834.