THE PHOTO SHOOT
One of the many great experiences I’ve had the pleasure of participating in was assisting with a photo shoot for one of FDG’s incredible properties! A stunning apartment complex along the outskirts of downtown Fort Worth became my office for the next two days.
Fighting an army of nerves, I met with one of FDG’s top-notch Directors of Design, Claudine, and my fearless leader, Michelle, at the beautiful Broadstone on Fifth. We were able to explore the community with the office managers and one our talented photography partners.
Sporting my own Sony RX10, I was ready to learn the secrets behind FDG’s unique approach to architectural photography. We first reviewed our “Shoot Plan,” provided by FDG’s marketing guru, Kristene.
Before each photo shoot, we’re given a list of shots requested by our team and the property’s team as well as layouts with every angle of shot mapped out on the floor plans to give the photographer an idea of what is being photographed and how. Preparation for these photo shoots is immensely important as we set a very limited time to complete pictures for an entire complex from poolside deck chairs to business centers, and everything in between.
The shots are strategically taken and every detail must be perfect for us to portray the space the way the designers imagined it.
In fact, the designers accompany the photographers on each and every photo shoot specifically to make sure everything is in tip-top shape and looks correct through the lens. Claudine spent a great amount of time working each space to get the perfect shot, to find the perfect angle, and to pick the perfect table decoration for each shot. Through designing the interiors, Claudine has an impeccable eye for how the space should come together in a photograph executed with precision and innovation. She was even able to include one of the canine residents as a model to show the property as pet-friendly.
Plus, the photographer took great time and care in showing me the ropes of what I need to know for architectural photography, including lenses, angles, and depth of field. While my camera wasn’t the best for shots of a large area, it was perfect for those beautiful details hosts, which show off the decor of each space and detail of each design.
My favorite camera by-far on the photo shoot was the drone camera, used for taking aerial photos or great exterior shots. The drone, like others, has four propellers that allow it to soar into the sky. The camera is remotely controlled by an app you can download on most tablets. The application allows the photographer to move the camera in any direction to get the best shot.
The drone itself moves all different ways too! I heard cautionary tales about being aware of the drone’s surroundings when moving it. Without an object detection system, the drone can be prone to running into buildings. I was even told that one drone had gotten attacked by a bird and plummeted from the sky. It’s important to practice in safe locations. Safety always comes first.
Still, it was cool to see exactly what the drone was seeing in real time, hearing it whiz by so fast that sometimes I didn’t even spot it in the sky. Overall the photo shoot was incredible, the photographs I took were incredible, and the team I had the pleasure of working with was - you guessed it - incredible. While I’m still in the process of editing my own images, the photographs we received from our photographer were spectacular.
I was appreciative to learn how much work goes into preparing those photo shoots and ultimately, out of four hundred pictures, you may only have a handful of excellent ones. It was great to be in an environment that helped me prepare for the challenges everyone experiences on a day-to-day basis and what wonderful feats come out of those challenges.
It was an amazing experience that I won’t soon forget!
Don’t forget to join me for my next post. As always, let me know what you want to read about!
