It’s a common misconception that interior photography is the last item on a to-do list when it comes to a design project. If it is, chances are the designer has missed a huge opportunity. The successful interior designers I know and work with plan for photography on Day 1 of any new project. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they book the shoot on Day 1, but for great designers, the photoshoot, and its outcome, are top of mind when beginning any project for 3 key reasons. Here’s why:
1.In Order To Appropriately Bid A Project
Great photography is a must-have in today’s world, not a nice-to-have - if you didn’t see it on Instagram, don’t have a portfolio to click through on your website, or can’t pitch it to a magazine, to be frank, the design does not exist. That is why, as a business owner, successful interior designers earmark photography as part of their marketing budget for each project. When a great designer bids a design project, their costs - including marketing costs - are considered. It’s for this reason that successful interior designers think about photography from Day 1 on a project.
2.To Nail The Photoshoot Timing
The best time to photograph a design project is just before the homeowners or business moves in. A successful interior designer knows that after move-in day … well, life happens. For a home, that means moving boxes, toys, clothes, food mess, and more have now taken over the house. For businesses, computers, stacks of files, wires, family photos and paper weights in workspaces now eclipse the space’s design. I’ve had photoshoots where the first hour or two of the day is cleaning up clutter which is simply not an efficient use of photoshoot time for (or budget spent on) the photographer, stylist and other crew on the shoot - nor for the designer themselves. Planning for photography in advance helps a successful designer achieve the best photoshoot and the best images possible. In the event the only time for a photoshoot is after the owners move in, a great designer will often do so during a weekend the owners are out of town and schedule a cleaner the day prior in order to create a more ideal photoshoot environment and maximize photoshoot time spent on, well, the photoshoot.
3.So They Can Take Advantage Of Press Opportunities
A great designer thinks about photography before they even ink a contract with their client. Why’? To make sure their client is on board with photography and press opportunities. Every great designer differs; for some this means a photography provision in their contract, for others maybe it’s a clear conversation with their design client about photography and its uses. I know of a client (an up and coming designer) who had turn down a feature in the New York Times because their client (the homeowner) was particularly private and didn’t want the exposure. The New York Times was dying to run a feature on this designer but it wasn’t possible because they neglected to have an up-front conversation with their client about press for the project. A great designer discusses these outcomes and possibilities in advance with their clients in order to avoid heartbreaks, misunderstandings, and missed opportunities. Remember, people have to see a designer’s work in order for their business to thrive.
