Taking project photos, especially in tight interiors, is tricky. But Anice Hoachlander, a veteran architectural photographer in Washington, D.C., offers these tips: Get a good digital camera. A high-resolution, 6.3 megapixel camera and wide-angle lenses are costly, but you'll come close to professional quality -- especially if you use natural light to achieve "depth." Good digital equipment makes it easier to shoot in natural light.
"Scout" first. Examine the project from a prospective client's perspective. What details do you want to communicate? What story do you want to tell? What design challenges can you convey? Show the room when it's used. It's a breakfast nook? Shoot the project with sun streaming in.
Shoot from the right angle. If you were going to render the space in a schematic, what would be the best angle?
Establish depth. Find a foreground, a middle ground, the distance. A small room requires a wide-angle lens for depth. Unless you have depth perspective, photos look flat. Flowers in the foreground, or at the shot's periphery, help convey depth.
Consider lighting. Photographers never aim light at the camera. Using the flash as the only light source makes the photograph appear flat, because the flash fills in shadows. Lights at 15, 45, or 90 degrees off camera rake light into the shot, bringing depth.
Don't just click. Your photo won't have personality. Clean up clutter, bring in color, add interest. Shooting a kitchen? Add red peppers on a cutting board.
