This week I was pleased to be on a panel discussion at the BSA (Boston Society of Architects).

The Marketing & PR Wizard’s and the Architectural Photography Network met jointly to talk about how to best achieve a successful photo shoot. Here are some of the topics that were addressed:

• Do you fully document a project through images, or still carefully select your “wow” shots?
• If it’s OK to edit out an “Exit” sign, can you remove a building during digital post-production?
• How many parties can ideally share in the costs and direction of a photo shoot?
• What are the top five issues that every architectural photographer would like us to know before starting a photo shoot?
• What are the top five issues that every Marketing Person would like photographers to know before starting a photo shoot?

Here are both groups top 5 photo shoot concerns.

Marketer’s Top 5:

1. What is the story we want the photos to tell about the project?

2. Can the photographer work well with humans in the photo?

3. How amenable is the client to disruption during operating hours?

4. Have all the permissions been secured?

5. What does our $XXXX buy us in terms of deliverable’s and rights?

Photographer’s Top 5:

1. Concept of the project

2. Lighting/orientation of space

3. Communication/organization with the client/on site contact

4. Scheduling/control of the space (room use, parking, people etc.)

5. Styling/cleanliness

It was great to see that the marketer’s and photographer’s lists where very similar! Do you have any to add?

Join the BSA Marketing/PR Wizards Linked In sub group.