Journal · Planning
How many images do you need from an architectural shoot?
Twenty considered images beats fifty rushed ones almost every time, because the number you commission decides how much time each frame actually gets.
Planning
The number sets the pace
This is the part that is not obvious from a price list. The image count is not just what you receive at the end, it determines how long the photographer can spend on each frame on the day.
Twenty final images over three hours is a considered pace: time to set up properly, wait for a cloud, and get the composition right. Forty over the same three hours would be a different job, and it would look like one. That is why my two rates pair an image count with a time on site rather than selling them separately.
Planning
Rough numbers by purpose
Press release or single announcement: five to ten strong images, one of which has to work as the lead.
Awards entry: usually eight to twelve, tightly edited, arguing one idea.
Website and portfolio for one project: fifteen to twenty-five, covering exterior, interior, and detail.
Leasing or sales brochure: more, often thirty to forty, because it has to cover every unit type, the amenity, and the context.
Full building record or handover: the largest sets, driven by the number of spaces rather than by editorial choice.
Planning
Buy fewer, and buy the right ones
If the budget is tight, the better trade is fewer images shot properly rather than a large set shot quickly. A brochure can repeat a strong image. It cannot rescue a weak one.
Extra images are usually available afterwards anyway. On my rates page they are £50 each beyond the package, selected from the same contact sheet, so under-committing is less risky than over-committing.
Common questions
Frequently asked
How many photos do you get from an architectural shoot?
It depends on the package. Mine are up to 20 final retouched images with up to 3 hours on site, or up to 40 with up to 6 hours. The image count and the time on site are paired deliberately, because the number of frames sets the pace of the day.
How many images does a press release need?
Usually five to ten strong images, with one clear lead image that will survive being cropped to different shapes by different publications.
Can I order extra images after the shoot?
Yes. Additional images are selected from the same contact sheet and retouched afterwards, at £50 each beyond your package, so it is generally safer to under-commit than over-commit.
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