What Equipment and Techniques Are Used in Architectural Photography?
Architectural photography requires specialised equipment and techniques to capture buildings and interiors accurately. With over 20 years of experience working across Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool, I’ve honed my approach to ensure every project is represented in the best possible way.
1. Camera and Lenses
I use a Nikon D800 full-frame 35mm camera, which provides high-resolution 48MP images with excellent detail retention. My lens choices include wide-angle 17-35mm, 24-70mm & 70-200mm options for capturing entire spaces and details. A good solid tripod is essential with a remote shutter to minimise camera movement on long exposures that are common with interiors.
2. Perspective and Distortion Correction
With architecture there is always a problem of correcting perspective, this used to be achieved using large format cameras which gave the photographer the ability to adjust the lens and the film plane to mitigate these distortions. As digital cameras now have reached the high quality that was previously only available with large and medium format cameras the ease of use and cost saving of using 35mm has naturally taken over. The perspective problems still exist so tilt-shift lenses for 35mm cameras have become popular to help correct perspective distortion. I have used these but actually found that as they have a great deal of limitations and for me gave unsatisfactory results this is most notable with the often seen top-heavy images of large buildings. With the amazing and continuous improvements within photoshop and lightroom I find that much more realistic and accurate results can be made in post production. Rivalling the amount of movement that large format cameras used to give and new tilt-shift lens’ can’t achieve. I now shoot with post correction in mind to refine perspective control, ensuring verticals remain natural and balanced, additional work but creating the right image as opposed to a nearly right image is what I and my clients prefer.
3. Lighting Techniques
I primarily use natural light to maintain an authentic look but supplement with flash when necessary. Balancing interior and exterior lighting is key to achieving a professional result.
4. Advanced Post-Production
Editing is where an image truly comes to life. I perform color corrections, remove distractions like street clutter or blemishes, and enhance details to create clean, polished images. I use a combination of Photoshop & lightroom to process and convert images. This can include blending elements, stitching images for panoramas, removing and adding details, adjusting all colour and exposure including skies which sometimes need to be enhanced or even swapped especially in Grey sky Britain. Again there are the purists that won’t want to do any of these things which is fine but I want my clients to have perfect representations, which ultimately is why they employ me. What they need is the most important thing.
5. Image Delivery for Multiple Uses
I shoot with final usage in mind, ensuring images are suitable for print, web, and social media. Whether a client needs ultra-high-resolution files for trade show displays or optimised images for a website, I tailor the files accordingly.
For high-quality architectural photography with expert equipment and techniques, contact me for your next project in Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool regions and across Shropshire & Cheshire.
+44 (0) 7714 159589