Professional work photography

[Nippychippy]

I have just seen some of my work on Twitter from a builder I have done work for in the past and oh my god it looks amazing he got me in to fit the kitchen ,utility ,doors and all the finishing a I am well chuffed  [big grin]

So this is the reason I am posting this is it worth the time and money to do some photography course and buy a good camera is it some to you can learn or its it like an art form some people have and some don't 

 

[jools]

Looks like a high end catalog shot. Not your usual iPhone stuff that I take. Really does showcase your work at its absolute best. I always leave a systainer, jacket or box of screws in the shot [big grin]! Very nice

 

[aas]

Beautiful job!

 

[jaguar36]

Like a lot of things good photography is a combination of innate skill and learned behavior.  One thing its not though is just buying expensive equipment.  A skilled photographer with $200 with of gear can take a much better picture than a hack with $5000 worth of gear.

In my own experience, I lack the innate skill, but after alot of practice, I'm able to take some decent pictures. Mostly by just copying what others have done.  Learning how to take good professional looking work photographs is pretty easy, and it doesn't take alot of skill since there doesn't have to be much style to it.

 

[tiralie]

So this is the reason I am posting this is it worth the time and money to do some photography course and buy a good camera is it some to you can learn or its it like an art form some people have and some don't

If you like photography and don't mind spending the time and money learning to do it, I think it's worth it.
Digital photography and instant results has made it a lot easier than it was with film to take and produce a good image.
Your vision of your project is very much different than someone you hire.
Learning to compose and shoot a good picture helps train your eye and I think it improves your ability to understand what looks good and what doesn't. It's really design.

Like many things, there are architectural photographers who are good and there are some who are great. For me the great ones are artists.
Tim

 

[teocaf]

i don't believe that is a "professional" shot, but it's better than most and it still does it's job very well of showcasing your work especially when viewed on a twitter platform such as a smart phone screen.  the clean design and lack of clutter also help the shot a lot.
the reasons i don't think it's "pro" is because the verticals are not straight up and down on either side of the photo. the lighting is also a bit on the overexposed side as well.  that's just a technical assessment of the photo and not meant to disparage your work in any way, shape or form.  while it's true that some who make their living with good all-around photography will still take shots like this, those who specialize in interior architecture photography would not. if you look at a glossy interior design magazine, you would never see the "walls caving in"
but yes, it would be absolutely beneficial for you to get some simple gear and learn how to take a decent shot like the one you posted.  it would be fairly easy to get to that level if you have the interest.  showing a portfolio of your craftsmanship to prospective clients is vastly superior to not having any pics at all.

congratulations on the extra publicity, and thanks for sharing!

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Robert

That is a great looking kitchen - well done.

It is not always the camera or even, sometimes, the shooter as a lot can be done after the photo is taken. So if you do this make sure you allow for more than just the camera in your budget.

I have just made a quick adjustment to the perspective which might help.

[attachimg=1]

Peter

 

[jaguar36]

i don't believe that is a "professional" shot

Keep in mind that professional just means the person is getting paid, doesn't mean they are any good or not.  I look at most of the home listings around here and someone was certainly being paid to take the shots, but the majority of them are quite awful.

 

[teocaf]

/ quote
Keep in mind that professional just means the person is getting paid, doesn't mean they are any good or not.  I look at most of the home listings around here and someone was certainly being paid to take the shots, but the majority of them are quite awful.
[/quote]

you're absolutely right--mostly.  to wit:  we do have a number of professional politicians and most, if not all, seem quite awful at doing their job.  yet their income from this profession of theirs, usually far exceeds ours.
but the term "professional" actually has a number of nuanced meanings that depend on the context. in the example you give, the photos are most likely being taken by a professional realtor that has experienced that any snapshot will help him/her make his/her paid job of selling the house more effective than no photo at all.  or perhaps by a professional assistant to the real estate office whose paid job it is to do perform various duties to help the sales force.

my use of the word was in reply to the second response that used terms like "high end" and "absolute best".  i used a definition of professional which the dictionary lists as: "a person who is an expert at his or her work"
but, "antics with semantics" aside, i would not recommend anyone take my inexact use of the language too seriously, because english is not my native tongue, i learned it late and only as a fourth language.

on a more practical matter regarding the OP's concern, I am reposting a link that I found last night.  It has strong ties to the FOG, so most of you have seen it already, but it does illustrate beautifully how a simple portfolio that is not professionally shot can have a tremendous positive impact for a quality craftsman in the trades.
http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/2009/10/01/making-money-built-ins/

and peter:  great job with the photo correction.

 

[them700project]

speaking as a "hack with 5000 worth of gear." You have it or you dont you can spend the money buy nice stuff and have a good time with it and never be good, classes definitely help, they will get you to the point of understanding how the equipment works. From what I have learned i have the nice stuff but I just wait till my wife points out what to do with the camera.

 

[Paul G]

Hi Robert

That is a great looking kitchen - well done.

It is not always the camera or even, sometimes, the shooter as a lot can be done after the photo is taken. So if you do this make sure you allow for more than just the camera in your budget.

I have just made a quick adjustment to the perspective which might help.

[attachimg=1]

Peter

Good edit.

Anyone who wants to get serious about architectural photography would do well to get a shifting lens, tilt is less important but can be helpful on exteriors. It's important to understand the relationship between focal depth and f-stop, and knowing color temps will save you a lot of grief. That's all part of the science, the art is in composition, styling, lighting, etc. Understanding the science of it will help you make a respectable visual record of your work, the art of it will evoke emotional responses. For example, a picture of a kitchen island can show them a shade of granite next to a particular stain, paint or door style, or the image can get them thinking of great family time making holiday cookies with the kids. Same kitchen but two very different objectives and viewer responses. The former is an idea guide, the latter puts the space into the context of life. The two together is often amazing.

 

[kelauben]

Awesome shot and great work.  I'm interested in the doors in the picture.  What details can you share?

Thanks.

Karl

 

[greg mann]

Nippy,

I think you have received just about the best collection of responses I have ever seen to an OP. I can't add a thing without being redundant and Peter"s manipulation is exactly what teocaf was referring to. Great responses all.

 

[SMJoinery]

Hi Robert

Absolutely stunning "top drawer" work.
Not so long ago we messaged back and forth about you setting up on your own and picking up this type of work.
I'm so glad you decided to go it alone and you should be very proud of your achievement.
Good luck and continued success in the future.
Scott

 

[Cheese]

[member=18793]Nippychippy[/member]
First off the kitchen looks great and I really like the 2 contrasting doors. Contrasting in both color & texture with the rest of the kitchen materials.

Secondly I'd encourage you to pick up a decent DSLR or mirrorless camera and start to become familiar with it . And as you can see from Peter's post, with a little software program (maybe Photoshop) you can correct many deficiencies in digital images. Most of the current generation mid-range cameras are "good enough" for you to start taking quality images of your finished work and assemble them for use in a work portfolio book/iPad format.

Also as Tim suggested, you're vision of the important design elements is a lot different than someone else who's taking the picture. By taking pictures yourself, you can control what's shown and can also show the details of of difficult installs. Nice job & good luck. [big grin]

 

[Nippychippy]

Hi Robert

That is a great looking kitchen - well done.

It is not always the camera or even, sometimes, the shooter as a lot can be done after the photo is taken. So if you do this make sure you allow for more than just the camera in your budget.

I have just made a quick adjustment to the perspective which might help.

Thanks for the advice peter i had to have a couple of looks to see what you did. Very good you fixed the caving in walls

[attachimg=1]

Peter

 

[Nippychippy]

Hi Robert

Absolutely stunning "top drawer" work.
Not so long ago we messaged back and forth about you setting up on your own and picking up this type of work.
I'm so glad you decided to go it alone and you should be very proud of your achievement.
Good luck and continued success in the future.
Scott

Cheers [member=25539]SMJoinery[/member]  it was great to speak to someone local and give me some advice.It was the best decision i have made in a long time but so nerve wreaking i seem to be getting there not looking forward to my year end still haven't a clue about the stuff butt i got a good accounted. thanks for your help hope to meet up with you soon
Cheers robert

 

[Nippychippy]

Awesome shot and great work.  I'm interested in the doors in the picture.  What details can you share?

Thanks.

Karl

Hi Karl i can't say i made these doors one day maybe they were from a kitchen company.But what i do know is that they are just 18mm mr mdf with a finger pull routed into it and sprayed the colour is anthracite grey

 

[Nippychippy]

Thanks everyone for the very helpful advice i am going to look into it bit more and see what courses there are in my area  and see what the funds can stretch for the best camera i can afford. This was the first time i went proper wow [drooling] to my work and thats saying something i put 110% into my work and i am proud of everything i do or i won't do it ,and it was the way i found it it was on twitter of all things

cheers Robert

 

[kelauben]

Awesome shot and great work.  I'm interested in the doors in the picture.  What details can you share?

Thanks.

Karl

Hi Karl i can't say i made these doors one day maybe they were from a kitchen company.But what i do know is that they are just 18mm mr mdf with a finger pull routed into it and sprayed the colour is anthracite grey

Thanks, but I guess I should have been specific. I didn't mean the cabinet doors.  I meant the veneered doors with book matched veneer.  Did you do those?  If not, any idea where I might find them?

Thanks.

Karl