Adding People to Architectural Shots

Otto Construction

Project: Riverview Dorms CSUS, Sacramento, California, USA

• 

With careful placement, it’s always nice to add people and structure to the shot. Supplemental lighting was used in the center shot to create a facial glow that pulls your eyes into the shot. The photo on the left looks real, using blur of motion for human interest. By adding people to our shot on the right, gives the photo just the right amount of balance. These building have motion sensors and are normally dark when no one is present. We made certain that we had people in the building to keep the lighting on.

• 

With this project we had a large window to get the photo’s done, many areas were not ready to shoot or gaining access had to be planned around semester break where we would have minimum people and cars for the shots. The shot on the right was done in the winter, with a low sun angle which gave us a warm glow in the windows. Being close to the river we had condensation on the windows and some of the siding. The only way to fix this was in photoshop. The center shot was a grab shot just walking by to get another view of the building and I had to stop and get this one.

• 

The Architect did a great job designing this building. The kitchen and corner areas were designed to take in the views of the river. I particularly like the addition of a person reclining on the couch, adding to the natural, real feeling of the center photo.

We were able to succeed in capturing the photo’s with and without people. Movement using people humanizes the photo’s. Although sometimes difficult to provide people in the shots at dawn and dusk, we were able to achieve this, thanks to Otto Construction. Having the pre production scouting shots done prior to the shoot we were able to know where we wanted people for all of our final shots, no guess work.

Bedding, props, and artwork were not provided in the dorm rooms. Otto Construction brought in all the bedding and props all I had to do is style the shot. I particularly like the contrasting colors of the bedding in these rooms. I added the artwork on the walls in photoshop.

Ed Asmus

Ed Asmus Photography

http://www.edasmusphotography.com

916 996 7560