10 ways to prepare like a pro to have your building photographed.
Someone wants to send a photographer to your building. Whether it’s your architect, interior designer, builder, or marketing team, here’s a helpful list of things you can do to prepare for the shoot.
Provide a point person
Designate a contact for questions and to coordinate a scouting walk-through. The scout visit will help identify key areas to capture, best times of day for lighting and best times for your staff - weekends may be best.Let people know and send a reminder
Team members and security personnel need to be aware of the shoot in advance. While they are not typically captured in the images, they want to know who is in the their space and why. People may be interrupted and asked to move out of frame or to sign a release as well.Provide access
When can someone be available to open the building? Are there special access restrictions to the property like locked gates or sensitive secure areas? Exteriors are often done at sunrise or sunset. If meeting at sunrise isn’t possible, leave exterior lights on the night before.Mow the grass
Coordinate the landscaping and cleaning crews to be as close to the shoot date as possible but don’t schedule them on the shoot date. 1-2 days before is ideal. Check landscaping views from interior windows. Override timer on sprinklers.Clean up
Have people clear desks and clean offices. Reduce clutter and remove small items from key areas. Look at interior spaces from the exterior. Are there items close to the windows that need to be moved? Parking lots, especially in large retail centers, can get littered easily. While the photographer may bring a broom, it’s not likely they will have enough time to sweep your parking lot beyond minor spot cleaning.Lights working
Check that interior and exterior lights are working or change bulbs and repair dimmers. Also provide access and instructions for interior and exterior lighting controls. If the blinds are controlled electronically, provide instructions. Typically, for commercial properties, lighting is a part of the architectural design of the space and interiors will be photographed with lights on.Simple flowers.
If adding arrangements for reception and conference areas, bring the day before the shoot and keep them simple. Aim for one species of flower per vase.Move vehicles
This is especially important for early morning and late evening when people aren’t available to move trucks and cars. Move vehicles and equipment away from the front of the building the night before.Expect the photographer will want to move some things
It’s not unusual to want to make slight moves with furniture on site. Aligning the height and arrangement of conference room chairs, scooting tables, moving or removing temporary signage like “now hiring” banners are all good examples and ideally the photographer will make every effort to reposition items as they were found.Be flexible - give 2 or 3 backup date options
Weather changes constantly, so does business. It could be weather, an unexpected customer visit or a construction delay. Sometimes it’s necessary to reschedule. It’s great to already have a back-up day designated. Interiors are less dependent on weather, so it may be that you can proceed with the interiors on Tuesday and come back for exteriors on Thursday.
