Exterior Photographer Bend Oregon | Paula Watts Photography

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!

Architecture | People

Studio Absolute | Professional Photographer, Bend Oregon

ByPaula Watts May 4, 2010July 8, 2012

Yesterday I had the pleasure of photographing imagery for the design and branding firm, Studio Absolute. Russ and Cheryl McIntosh are not only incredible people and good friends of mine, but they are also so talented in their field. They provide high end design solutions and branding to drive the right clients to your business.

Studio Absolute recently moved to a new location in Tumalo, Oregon and needed imagery for their marketing collateral. I photographed the exterior and interior of their new space, as well as some imagery showing the details within their space. In addition, I wanted to do something fun to showcase them around their space, so we worked with some blurred motion within an interior image of their office.

After receiving their images, Cheryl had this to say… “As a branding and design firm, every touchpoint of our business is under the microscope for its ability to reach and inspire the target market. After trusting Paula to tell several of our clients’ stories through photography, we knew she would do a great job showcasing our new studio. She exceeded our expectations on timing and the quality of the work. We keep asking ourselves, ‘How did she do that?'” Cheryl continues…
“We have a good, quality camera and an eye for design, so we had taken a lot of our own shots of the studio. But we were blown away with Paula’s ability to make our space come alive with her creativity and lighting expertise. Just like hiring a designer–it’s well worth bringing on a trained professional verses a skilled hobbyist. We’re thrilled with the results.”

Below are a few examples of what came out of our time together yesterday. Enjoy!