residential
It’s interesting how the architect/interior design hat can be shared by many professionals, the two roles are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Take this apartment, for instance, which was a gut renovation by an architect who also designed the home, quite beautifully. The kitchen was opened up, and the kids room was divided to allow for privacy between the two children.
The area around Columbus Circle is continuously getting built up and this address is one of the newer properties in the neighborhood. With high ceilings and plenty of natural light, the lobby to this building is a warm welcome to visitors.
Prospect Lefferts Garden is growing, and 123 PLG is the beacon of change it seems. The massive complex towers the area and has a slew of amenities from rooftop pools, to basketball courts. I used the drone for this one and was able to capture both the rooftop pool with a lovely view of the Manhattan skyline.
When I walked into this shoot, I didn’t realize that I would be doing a two-fer. In the past, I have had interior designers I work with partner up with realtors to help shoot an apartment they designed, that would also be leased or sold. This shoot was a bit of the opposite, where I walked in thinking I would be shooting for a FSBO (for sale by owner) situation, but lo and behold there was an interior designer running around prepping each room for me before I entered. I can enjoy shooting real estate but I far prefer to shoot interior design and it’s a lovely surprise when the two meet.
I’ve never lived in a building with amenities but I’m sure it’s nice. At this property, the buildings resemble townhouse-style bungalows that neighbor and surround a clubhouse with a pool table-laden lounge and a gym. Shooting this on such a terrifically sunny day made the shoot a breeze and allowed the space to shine.
Shooting interior photography is so much like shooting product photography in that it’s important to make sure the hues and saturation of a piece of furniture, or wallpaper, or even floorboard are matching the product’s being photographed. Although I’d like to think that my camera can sometimes enhance the scene it is shooting, sometimes it strips away the minutiae and subtleties of what a client is trying to show. This is why I like to shoot tethered to a computer when shooting these sorts of projects so the client and I can work with making sure we are capturing exactly what they intend to show.
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It’s widely known that a wide angle lens is a popular choice when photographing interiors, but, particularly with interior design, one can easily find some creativity shooting with a longer lens. Details and vignettes are such a key element of shooting interiors - not so much when shooting real estate - that photographing with a medium or longer lens can really elevate the photos and give an alternative perspective on a space.
When photographing interiors, I often try to use a mix of natural light and flash but occasionally it will make sense to turn on a lamp or light, especially if it is a focal point in the frame. I am often debating when I edit if the tones of these light sources should be neutral or warm. Often a warm tone looks more natural but a neutral tone can allow the light in the photo to blend better and be less distracting.
Photographing a ground floor unit is always tricky because the light isn't usually as good as the units on higher floors; however, the designers of this unit placed as many large windows as they could to maximize the light - they also picked a neighborhood where most buildings don't stretch beyond 3 stories.
I had the pleasure (and luck) of shooting the new American Copper building in Kips Bay. The building is a monumental achievement or architectural feats, and is comprised of two towers that are connected via a skybridge. I've always been fond of the antiquated and unfortunately defunct sky bridges that can be seen in Herald Square and Dumbo and it's so exciting to, not only see an active one, but one so ornately decorated and fitted for recreational use. Not only can you walk between the buildings but you can take a seat and watch the sun rise over the East River or even play a game of billiards!
