I am new in the city and try to get clients quickly, since I've quit my job for a real estate company who hired me for interiors but who did not allow me to shoot pictures of the kind of quality I wanted to produce. I am currently trying to go out to local hotels, restaurants, bars and coffeeshops with a few printed images, introducing myself and my work to them. Some of them did not have any need for images currently, but still allowed me to capture pictures for my portfolio. So far, it's definitely an exciting experience to always go in and overcome myself. Here's what I'm currently starting with.
Maybe you have some thoughts on how to improve them. And please tell if you think, my pictures are ready to reach out for the architectural and commercial market or not.
Cheers,
Matthias
Even more stuff on my website: https://snapshopped.com/interiors
These shots look very solid. If I was a design firm, I would be happy with these photos. Most are single-point perspectives, which is fine, but many firms will want the isometric shots as well. In addition, many firms won't have projects that look this sexy or contemporary - you're going to want to show how great you can make more "boring" commercial work appear as well. Thanks for sharing, the photos are great!
Thanks a lot for your honest, constructive and encouraging opinion, Rob! You are right, they are one-point perspectives. I've kind of adapted some things from Mike Kelley. So overall I should mix it up a bit more with more diagonals? Is that what isometric means?
Thanks, I'll definitely try to shoot some more "boring" commercial work. I was just afraid when shooting "boring" / "cheap" stuff, to be locked up and limited to this sector. I want to work little and earn big, instead of being cheap and hustling with tons of work for the same income.
Yep - when I say isometric, I mean more diagonal shots. Just show what you can do in spaces overall. Take a look in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Dwell Magaine, etc to get an idea.
As far as marketing to the high-end segment, I completely understand. There's nothing wrong with wanting to shoot primarily high-end projects. Just understand that including "normal" projects in your portfolio does two things for you - one, it gives you clients that you can lean on when the high-end economy dries up. Growth is cyclical and right now we are in the midst of a high-end boom, but in a few years that will cycle back down and we will see more budget-conscious projects throughout the industry. Second, showing how great you can make a "normal" project look through your photography is just like a talk show that does these extreme makeovers on your everyday housewife. Sure, a model can come out and look amazing and people clap, but they lose their minds when a normal person comes out looking like a supermodel, know what I mean?
From a business perspective, I would market to high end clients while building a "normal" design portfolio as well. Be sure that whomever you market to is given the correct collateral - if its a mid-tier space, show them the mid-tier work along with some amazing stuff you've done. If it's the high-end tier, give them the high-end portfolio. Just keep your audience in mind, diversify your clientele and shoot for the moon. You got this. :)
Rob, thank you so much for this fantastic advice. And your encouragement. I really like how constructive everything goes here, other than in the normal community. Thank you so much on that. I'm currently working on more "normal" things. I'll be sharing some of the work soon. Looking forward and hoping for your feedback again.
Have a great day, Rob!
You're very ready. Great work Matthias!
Indeed you have a good eyes of photography. Also I assume you have a luxury camera(s) with few expensive lenses with F1.2 or F2 that ease your takings better than other enthusiastic photographers.
and why not !
Thanks :)
Yeah, I own the Fuji X-T3 + 10-24mm f4 + 16-55mm f2.8. Thats' what I use for those images.
rly? No architecture photographer in this world would ever shoot under f5.6. But good way to waste money...
1. too dark
2. distortion of the couch left side
3. pretty nice
4. also nice
5. room on ground floor is too dark and too warm
6. all eyes goes to a black nothing
7. if you shoot one-point-perspective, get ALL lines straight. Pic tilting to the right
8. pic tilting to the left
9. would be a good real estate pic
I know I'm a bit late to the party with feedback, but here are just a few initial things.
Pull back a bit on the yellows in the first two shots. It doesn't have to be much and you can keep that warm lounge glow, but just a bit will really clean up the space.
Preview your photos in black & white. It'll give you a clearer definition of what photos are too dark or lack contrast. Your first two photos definitely lack highlights.
Do your best to eliminate barrel distortion. The Espresso Lab shot in particular has heavy distortion.
Tighten up your one-point perspectives. There's a world of difference between a perfect one-point and a single degree off.
If you can get any further back in any of these shots and zoom in (or crop in), do it. Many of these images are very distorted/stretched at the edges. Sometimes you just can't get any further back in a room and it's unavoidable, but do it whenever possible.
I wish i could move on from real estate ! Very nice pictures