Architectural Photography Q+A

As much as it pains me to say this... it depends. Most basic projects of 10-20 images could range anywhere from $2200-$5000 depending on a number of variables including licensing and number of parties cost-sharing.

Both.

Creative Fee: Generally starts anywhere from $1500-$2500 + a per-image rate. This component reflects the time, skill and resources it takes to complete your project. On these shoots, we are setting up each shot together and signing off on each composition. You know exactly what you are getting by the end of the shoot. Depending on the complexity and logistics of a shoot, this rate could fluctuate.

Day Rate: I simply call this a flat fee and I break these into a time slots of partial, half, and full-day shoots. These are designed for either:
1. Budget-conscious projects that need simple documentation for quality portfolio and social media content or…
2. Clients who trust my vision and are comfortable allowing me free-reign to thoughtfully document the space and selections can be made at a later date.

I live a minimalist, location-independent lifestyle and my workflow is designed for travel. Every one of my shoots is a minimum travel time of 2 hours as I am centrally located in the Southeast US right in-between all of my primary service areas. This allows me to easily travel to locations across the country where my clients' projects are located.

I am a frequent flyer, live within 1 hour from 3 different airports and enjoy traveling for work. My clients are located throughout the country so I am available wherever you might need me.

I prefer a minimum of four weeks notice, though the more lead time the better - the schedule fills quickly, especially Spring through Fall, and dates are booked first-come-first-serve. If you have a project coming up, don't wait until it's nearing completion to start the conversation.

Once we're aligned, a signed agreement and 50% retainer are required before any pre-production or planning begins.

Please review my portfolio and get a sense of what my work looks like before you hire me. My work looks the way it does because I am inspired by the environments that I am in and respond to that with my camera.

While I am always open to ideas and suggestions and will often implement those, generally speaking, the personal preferences of those who aren’t photographers can interfere with the creative process. My ask of you should we work together is to share your thoughts and suggestions… but ultimately I need my clients to trust me.

I photograph architecture and interiors across the country, with a primary focus on the Southeast. I regularly work in Greenville, Spartanburg, Charleston, and Columbia, SC; Asheville, Charlotte, Cashiers, Raleigh, and Wilmington, NC; Atlanta, GA; and Nashville and Knoxville, TN - among many others.

Travel fees may apply for projects outside of Western NC and Upstate SC. If you have a project outside these areas, reach out and we'll work through the logistics.

Depending on the scope of your project and the approach we take, shoots typically run anywhere from two to eight hours per day. The number of images needed and whether we're working from a shot list or a more documentary approach will both influence the timeline.

Within five business days of the shoot I'll send a proof gallery of lightly edited images for your review. After you make your selections, final retouched images are delivered within ten business days. During peak season turnaround may extend to fifteen business days, but I'll always communicate that in advance.

When you hire a photographer for a photo shoot, you are not purchasing photos, you are purchasing a license to use the photos that were captured as the photographer retains full copyright to all images under U.S. Copyright Law.

When you hire me for a photo shoot, a reduced licensing fee is built into the rate as either a per-image fee or a flat fee starting at $100/image. With that, you receive a single-party, non-exclusive, perpetual license for standard business use - including regional marketing, print, website, social media, and portfolio use.

This license applies only to the client named in the agreement. Parent companies, affiliates, vendors, collaborators, or other third parties must purchase a separate license before using the images. If additional parties are involved in a project upfront, cost-sharing arrangements are available which would significantly reduce the rates for all parties involved.

Otherwise, parties may license images after the shoot. Prices may vary depending on distribution, but here are what those fees look like and the differences between the type of licensing:

Standard Marketing License: $350/image
For one company to use the images in its own marketing, including website, portfolio, social media, awards, proposals, presentations, and general promotional use.

Product / Distribution License: $750/image
For use where the images help market or sell a specific product, material, fixture, furnishing, or service across broader channels, including retailer, distributor, dealer, catalog, product-page, e-commerce, or third-party marketing use.

Architectural photography focuses on the environment - how light moves through a space, how it functions, and how it feels to be there.

Interior photography tends to focus more closely on the design work itself - the textures, colors, materials, and decorative details.

In practice, a complete project documentation often includes both, and the two approaches naturally complement each other.

Yes. Architectural and interior video goes beyond documentation - it evokes the feeling of a space in a way that still photography alone can't always achieve. A well-crafted film showcases the attention to detail, craftsmanship, and design intention behind a project, and gives architects, designers, and developers a compelling asset for marketing, award submissions, and client presentations.

To me, a good architectural photo helps the viewer understand how a space feels - what it's actually like to be there. It captures an idealized but honest version of the space. It isn't heavily manipulated. It feels natural. And ideally, it triggers a sense of nostalgia or familiarity, even in a space the viewer has never visited.

Prepare as though the most important person in your life is coming to visit for a few days. If you're not the type of person who would prepare any differently - perfect. That's exactly what I want to photograph.

Reality, in my opinion, is far better than sterile, over-manipulated images.

It depends on the project. Early morning and late afternoon light tend to be the most flattering for exteriors - the angle is lower, shadows are longer, and the quality of light is warmer and more dimensional. For interiors, the best time is often determined by which direction the windows face and how natural light moves through the space during the day. Part of my process is understanding that before we shoot.

Yes!

Over the last several years I have been photographing interiors and architecture with both 35mm and Medium Format film.

My cameras are:
Canon EOS Rebel
Canon AE1
Pentax 645
Mamiya RZ67 Pro II

My standard, go to film for interiors is Kodak Portra 800 and for exteriors is 400 - though 800 works for both.