Architectural photography

At Haley Hill Photography, we use a flat fee that covers everything: time on location, post-processing, and revisions. Licensing is non-exclusive, meaning we still own the images but the client can use them pretty much anywhere, forever. Some photographers use a day rate, others add per-image pricing on top of that. Whatever model you choose, licensing scope matters: where the images will be used, how long, and by whom should always factor into your price.

Real estate photos have a shelf life of weeks. Once the listing closes, those images are done. At Haley Hill Photography, we shoot for architects, designers, and brands who use images for years: websites, award submissions, editorial features, and marketing. The skill set, gear, and time on location are completely different from real estate work. And because the images are still ours, we can continue licensing them long after the shoot. Some of our best-performing images are from shoots years ago and they're still generating income.

At Haley Hill Photography, we shoot with a Canon R5 II, Canon 24mm and 17mm tilt-shift lenses, a Benro Mach 3 tripod, and a Benro geared head. The geared head is underrated: it lets you dial in your verticals and horizontals without fighting the camera. For lighting we use Godox AD300 strobes and a couple of umbrellas. An iPad Pro and CamRanger2 handle tethering so clients can see shots in real time. That said, you don't need any of this to start. A full-frame camera, a wide-angle lens, and a sturdy tripod will get you going. Buy used, invest in education and marketing before gear, and don't buy into the hype around the latest tech. The newest camera body won't book you better clients.

Join local networking groups. In San Diego we have CREW, ULI, NAIOP, ASA, and Women in Construction. The more people you know, the more people know you. If all you have are residential images, offer to shoot a few commercial spaces for free or at a discount. Reach out to local and online publications like Eater and offer to be their photographer. The pay is usually small but the referral potential is huge. We shot for Eater San Diego for years and every shoot built the network. The architect reaches out, then the construction company, then the designer. Each shoot compounds.

At Haley Hill Photography, we shoot a set of bracketed exposures with the lights on, then another set with the lights off. That gives you options to blend in post and work with whatever the space is throwing at you. If needed, add flash shots on top of that. Some photographers gel their flashes to match the color temperature of the existing light sources, which can help balance the different temperatures in the room.

A 3-way geared tripod head is one of the most important tools in your kit for this. It lets you dial in your verticals and horizontals without fighting the camera. Use your camera's built-in level on top of that. For exterior shots, a tilt-shift lens is a game changer for keeping those lines in check right in camera. Get it right in camera so you don't have to worry about it in post later.

When someone hires you for a shoot, ask them if there are other companies that worked on the project who might also want to use the images for their marketing. The architect, the interior designer, the contractor, the landscape architect. The more people involved, the more licenses you can charge for. And the more licenses you sell, the lower the cost gets for everyone. Your client pays less, the other collaborators get images they need, and you make more per shoot. Just make sure everyone is on board before shoot day.

You get to set up your licensing however works for you. At Haley Hill Photography, our standard is non-exclusive licensing, meaning we always keep the rights to our images. That way we can continue to sell them to other companies down the road and keep making money off shoots we did years ago. Just make sure clients know that upfront. If someone wants exclusive licensing, we add a significant fee because at that point we can only sell those images once, so it has to be worth it.

It totally depends on the scope of the project, which is why it helps to have a few different packages that include different image counts. At Haley Hill Photography, our packages are based on a range of images and an estimated amount of hours for that scope of work, with editing and licensing included in all of them. A big mixed-use development might be a full day with 30 final images. A small interior designer shoot, just a kitchen or a bathroom, might be 5 to 10. Having a range built into your packages gives you flexibility without having to reinvent the pricing every time.

This is why it's good to learn flash at some point. You don't have to start there, I didn't, but it can save you when it's dark or stormy and rescheduling isn't an option. A good sturdy tripod also matters here because if you need to keep your shutter open longer to let more light in, you don't want any camera movement. If the weather is just bad, reschedule when you can. Use an app like Sun Seeker to track when the sun hits different areas of the building at different times of day and plan your shoot around that.

Before shoot day, make sure your client has sent you everything you need: the shot list, floor plan, and photos of the space so you know what you're walking into. Send them a prep checklist so the space is as photo-ready as possible before you show up. Confirm all contact and access information for the location. The night before, check that your gear is working, packed, and ready to go. Dead batteries and full SD cards are totally avoidable. If it's a big or complicated shoot, a site scout beforehand is worth it. Just include a scouting fee in your initial quote.

I didn't go to school for this. So much of it was learning on the fly and figuring it out as I went. It helps to have photographed a lot of different things so you understand the basics, but beyond that you just learn it like anything else. There are so many resources now: online courses, YouTube tutorials, workshops with established photographers. Starting in real estate is actually a solid segue into the architectural world because you're already in spaces and learning how to shoot interiors. Just don't stay there if your goal is to make more money and work less.

It depends on the project. Time of day matters a lot more for exteriors than interiors. For exterior shots, I always check the sun path using Google Earth Pro or a sun tracker app to see when the sun hits each side of the building. Sunrise and sunset can give you amazing light but you can't always schedule around that. For interiors with big windows, I check the sun path to figure out when direct light is going to hit the glass and create harsh bright spots or shadows. Ask your client about the direction the exteriors and windows face before you show up. You can usually figure out most of this with the right apps before you even set foot on site.

Reach out to local architecture firms, general contractors, interior designers, and retail spaces and offer to shoot at a reduced rate, trade, or even for free to build your portfolio. If you can photograph a well-known development or recognizable project in your area, even better. Being able to say you shot that building goes a long way. Don't limit yourself to cold emails either. Show up in person, go to networking events, reach out on Instagram and LinkedIn. There's no single right way. If you have friends with cool businesses or houses, shoot those too. And honestly, just walking around your city and shooting exteriors of mixed-use developments, retail spaces, or parks is a totally valid way to start building a body of work.

A good sign that you're ready to raise your prices is when people are booking you without any friction. At Haley Hill Photography, we typically do it around the new year. You can let existing clients know rates are going up and give them a chance to lock in their current rate before it changes, which creates a nice sense of urgency. Or you can just roll out the new pricing quietly as new inquiries come in and focus on what they're getting, not what it costs. Either way, don't just raise your rates without adding value. We never increase our prices without also elevating the client experience or adding something more beneficial to our packages. And if you're not getting many bookings but you are getting inquiries, that's probably not the right time to raise prices.

Honestly, outsource it as soon as you can. It's one of the first things I'd recommend to anyone in this space and something I wish I had done from the start. Post-processing takes so much time and that time is better spent shooting and marketing yourself. Don't wait until you feel ready or until you're busier. Start sooner than you think you need to.

At Haley Hill Photography, we use ClickUp for task management, QuickBooks for invoicing, and Dubsado for contracts and client workflow. For editing, it's Lightroom and Photoshop. Dropbox handles image storage and delivering files to clients. MailChimp for newsletters and Squarespace for the website. You don't need all of this on day one but having a solid CRM like Dubsado early on will save you a lot of time and keep you from dropping the ball on client communication as you grow.

Start by putting together a portfolio of your best real estate work. You already have the baseline skills and some of those images will translate. Then it's really just about finding the right clients: local architecture firms, interior designers, and real estate developers. Use all the ways we've already talked about: networking groups, social media, cold outreach, publications. Reach out and offer to shoot a project at a reduced rate to get your foot in the door. The transition happens faster than you think once you start building those relationships.

Post your work consistently and tag everyone involved in the project: the architect, the interior designer, the contractor, the developer. Follow your ideal clients in your area and engage with their content genuinely before you ever slide into their DMs. I've found that Instagram and LinkedIn are where most architects, designers, and developers spend their time. Build up your presence and your reputation first. Social proof and trust matter in this industry. People are much more likely to respond to an outreach message if they already recognize your name and have seen your work.