Inside Skyline: Photographing an Award-Winning Affordable Housing Development in San Diego
Some projects stop you in your tracks before you even walk inside.
Skyline is one of them. Developed by Affirmed Housing and designed by AO Architects, this five-story mixed-use development in San Diego sits right at the intersection of affordable living, transit access, and thoughtful design and the photography had to do all of that justice.
The Project
Skyline isn't your typical affordable housing development. Built on a formerly underutilized parking lot adjacent to an MTS transit station and the I-15 freeway, the boomerang-shaped building brings together 100 affordable apartments, 14,000 SF of Class A office space, and community amenities on a 1.2-acre site. Family-oriented units include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes with communal spaces designed to actually feel like a neighborhood.
It won a PCBC Gold Nugget Merit Award for Best On-the-Boards Affordable Housing and after seeing how the project came together, it's easy to see why.
The Shoot
This was a PRO package shoot, which gave us four hours to work through the space. One of the biggest challenges and let’s be honest, one of the most fun parts - was capturing the exterior. With the freeway right there, the best angles came from the air. The drone shots turned out incredible, giving a full sense of the building's unique boomerang shape and how it sits in relation to the transit hub and surrounding neighborhood.
Inside, the courtyard and community rooms were the highlights. There's a warmth to the way the space was designed that doesn't always come through in affordable housing projects - and that was something worth capturing. So much natural light to make spaces that actually feel inviting.
Why Projects Like This Matter
Affordable housing photography is one of those niches where the stakes are genuinely high. These projects compete for grants, awards, and press coverage - and the images are often the first thing a jury or editor sees. Getting the photography right isn't a nice-to-have, it's part of how the project gets recognized for what it actually is.
For Affirmed Housing, this was another chapter in a partnership that's been going strong for years. Watching their developments get the visual attention they deserve never gets old.
Working in San Diego & beyond
San Diego's development landscape is moving fast, and mixed-use affordable housing near transit corridors is a big part of that story. Projects like Skyline are reshaping how communities get built - and having photography that tells that story clearly is something every developer, architect, and housing organization deserves.
If you've got a project finishing up in San Diego or beyond, I'd love to hear about it.
PROJECT PARTNERS
Client: Affirmed Housing
Architect: AO Architects
Engineers: Fuscoe Engineering
Location: San Diego
Photography: Haley Hill Photography – your go-to architectural and interior photographer
FAQ SECTION
What does architectural photography for affordable housing typically include? A standard PRO shoot includes 15-20 fully edited images, two partner licenses for unlimited commercial use, delivery within 10 business days, and a cinematic video reel. It can cover both interior and exterior photography.
Can multiple parties split the cost of the shoot? Yes - that's actually one of the most common setups. The developer, architect, and contractor can each receive full commercial use licenses while splitting the invoice. Check out how it could work with your project here.
Do you photograph affordable housing and mixed-use developments outside of San Diego? Absolutely. I work regularly with developers, architects, and housing organizations across the West Coast region including Southern California, Northern California and Arizona.
How far in advance should I book? A few weeks of lead time is ideal for most projects. For larger or more complex builds, earlier is better - especially if aerial photography or rush delivery is needed.
