Video Production

Something that we have been doing more of over the last several years is video production.  Good video production.  Many don't realize it, but we were involved commercial video production before we began shooting commercial and architectural photography.  The two fields really blend well together in our realm of work as we are already shooting for some of the finest Interior Designers, Builders and Architects in the World.   

It’s really beneficial for our clients to feature videos on their websites.  This not only give the prospective a good look at their portfolios, but also a glimpse of the creative professional’s personality.  It’s a wonderful way to break the ice so to speak.

 

Video that introduces oneself and their profession can have project features and highlights.  They can be edited down and used in social media such as Instagram, You Tube, Facebook etc.

This is an excellent way to broaden the scope of your advertising reach. 

Our production team is prepared to travel on-site, covering events & projects throughout the country.  The next time you’re looking to have your project photographed, ask us about doing videos whether in studio or on location to include among your marketing arsenal. We would love to work with you.

Below are a few iPhone shots in studio while working with Marietta Calas of Expressive Interiors.  

    Team members Mary Beth, Ronny and Marietta in pre-production meeting 

                                          Mary Beth setting a production outline with Marietta

                                             Marietta on-camera shooting a project spotlight video

                                                                    Marietta on-camera waiting for cue

Great Lenses:

I thought I would start doing a series on my favorite lenses, realizing of course that I will be scrutinized the entire way.  We all have our favorites, and many are brand dependent.  We need to face it, there are so many good lenses to choose from.  But here, I want to talk about those that have character, meaning that you can easily pick it out from another brand of the same focal length, speed and type because of its unique palette.  

I personally want my photography to be beautiful.  For me that means that the scene is sharp and looks natural and is always appealing to the eye.  For portrait work, I am not looking for the most accurate color rendition, I am looking for a lens that flatters the subject and plays with the colors and bokeh.  Something timeless.  I find that while many modern lenses are razor sharp and render accurate color, they are also very clinical and cold to me.  

 

My favorite portrait lens for example, is a war-time era Zeiss Sonar.  It’s simply magic.  I hope to get to all of my favorite lenses over time. So check here over the next few days as we kick off a series on Great Lenses!  Email, and let me know yours and why?  We might just include it.

 

See you soon,

 

Norman

Creative Spotlight - Level Construction - Boston

Took a quick trip to Boston a couple of weeks ago to shoot commercial/industrial space that has been repurposed by Level Construction Chicago. The work included an extensive upgrade of all the building facilities including the parking lot, curbing and fixtures.  As with everything Level does, the project work was first rate. 

We also had the opportunity to do a 1900’ drone shot to show the scope of the 175,000 square foot warehouse, offices and parking lot.  

 

If you’re looking for a commercial/industrial builder anywhere in the United States, contact Level Construction.  With offices in Chicago and Houston, they can service any area.  Their project portfolio is extensive. 

Traveling is part of our regular production routine so keep that in mind when you have a long distance project you need photographed.   Below are just a couple of highlights from the shoot.

Product Photography:

Though we primarily shoot architectural images for Hospitality, Architects, Builders and Interior Designers, we do at times get a call to shoot product.

We have a studio within our suite of offices and here we can do head shots, small groups, models, video and product photography for catalogs, ads and cut-sheets.  

 

We also take assignments on location to photograph product that is too large to easily be transported to our studio.  On these occasions, we set up a temporary studio and shoot onsite.  

 

Over the years we have photographed everything from jewelry to large industrial motors.  If you find that you need high quality product shots, give us a call.  We would love to help.  

Who can tell me which of these images is shot on film?  

Creative Spotlight: Debby Hill, Director of Design, Key Interiors, Inc.

I had the opportunity this year to shoot a traditional office designed by Debby Hill of Key Interiors, Inc. Debby is one of those amazing designers that can handle any type of design theme and here she clearly demonstrates that.  

As usual with all of Debby's design, form and function are first rate as is the build-out.  The clients were so happy to find someone who could incorporate truly modern features in such a traditional layout.  Below are a few of my favorite shots.

Great Cameras: Sony A850

Announced in late August 2009, the Sony A850 was a variant of the top-of-the-line Sony A900.  The cameras are essentially identical with the A850 having the software image buffer-rate programed slower than the A900.  Translation, it will only shoot 3fps, whereas the A900 will shoot 5fps. (You can actually have your camera repairman load in the A900 software and then the cameras are identical).   

The other advertised difference is the view finder coverage.  The A900 is advertised as 100%, and the A850 is 98%.  When they were released, I held both in my hands and looked through each view finder.  I couldn't see one bit of difference.  Neither could the salesman.  We chalked it up to marketing.

In any event, the camera boasted a stellar 24.6-megapixel full frame image sensor and delivered the best images I had ever seen from a digital camera.  They are phenomenal images!  Not being a 'sports' photographer, we selected the A850 over the A900 as I could care less about shooting a rapid secession of images and neither was particularly fast anyway.  

The A850 is one of the most over-built cameras I have ever used.  It is exceptionally strong and robust. The all-metal frame construction is evident in the feel of the camera.  You don't have to be especially gentle with it either.  It's made to endure heavy use.   The weight is substantial, you know you are handling a very serious camera when you pick it up.  

Lens selection is incredible.  You can use all of the very fine Minolta A series lenses, Sony's A series lenses including the Grand Master and Carl Zeiss A series as well.  Of course, there are a host of lenses from third party manufacturers  like,  Vivitar, Tokina, Tamron, Sigma, Cosina and adaptors to let you mount Canon, Nikon and Lecia's lenses.  

This is without question my favorite DSLR.  Everything is logically laid out.  The menus are super easy to understand and navigate.  The controls all have a solid-well-made feel to them.  They turn with positive actions and detents.  The camera body is extremely well sealed against wet environments.  

 

The Sony A850 is always in my camera bag and is my camera of choice when shooting Architectural, Lifestyle and Product photography.   I am constantly comparing the images from the A850 with the newer cameras that come our way.  I have yet to see better.  

As a working professional who shoots every day, the Sony A850 has just been perfect.  I have two A850 bodies.  One stays in the camera bag, the other in the studio.  My main A850 is nearly 13 years old and has well over 150,000 clicks without ever giving me a problem.  That’s serious build quality. Exactly what you want from a professional camera.

Staging the Scene:

One cannot say enough about the effect that proper staging can have on a photoshoot. Case in point; we were asked to photograph a fantastic custom home in Michigan on the lake.  The homeowners were away for a few days, which provided the opportunity to stage the shots that the client wanted. 

This custom home was built by Schmidke Construction & Contracting a family-owned business headed up by master craftsman Joshua Schmidke and his wife Brianne.  Brianne as it turns out could start a second career in home staging.  This is no easy task as one has to remove most of the homeowners' personal belongings and transform a lived-in home to one staged for photography and then of course put everything back so that it appears that we were never there.  

 

The objective of fine architectural photography for a custom home builder is to accentuate the fine aspects of the build.  Therefore, one has to use substantial restraint when staging a scene for photography.  You want to add just the right detail to complement the room.  A splash of color here, a warm accent there, a stack of books, a bottle of wine etc., setting the scene to make the viewer want to step into the photo and enjoy the space.  Brianne hit this one out of the park!  The rooms were all perfectly set and never took away from the incredible floor plan, vaulted ceilings, or meticulous craftsmanship.   

 

If you are looking to build a custom home in Michigan, give Joshua and Brianne a call.  You can't do better.  Below are a few of my favorites.