What is a Construction Photographer?
Story of a Building
Buildings can take from months to years, or even decades from putting spade to ground to completion. That’s a long time to wait to talk about a project. From a PR and communications point of view, construction photos or video is an opportunity to keep the project relevant and noticed on your social media channels.
It’s also keeping track of how your projects progress, for investors, for any magazines or journals, and for future bids to help explain how projects come together, in a tangible demonstrable way. The images can also be gathered in the final posts and articles, to get a rounded picture of what’s changed, and the value that you have added to a project or site.
It may go down in history
The Milennium Dome, or O2 Arena was meant to be a temporary structure, but is now a permanent part of the city and skyline. It’s a visually stunning construction image that is of value aesthetically, historically, and socially. Obviously all buildings don’t hold the same level of cache, but you never quite know what the future will hold.
Millenium Dome construction. Photo by Grant Smith
What will it capture?
As with many things, whatever is needed.
Practices send Architects to sites constantly to keep track of progress, and track any snags or issues. I aim to capture both the progress and stages, alongside construction processes, workers on site, and capture these elements in a coherent, visually appealing package.
The workers are particularly important in my opinion, as it’s the human efforts, both behind a desk, and boots on the ground that make projects happen. And that deserves celebrating and capturing for posterity.
Who Needs it?
Ultimately, no-one and everyone.
Architects and designers don’t offer an end product. They offer a suite of skills to take their client to a desirable end point, making places that are functional, comfortable and valuable. Showing how you do things, rather than just a finished build helps inform decision making, explain problem solving and how you approach challenges and plan to avoid any unexpected surprises.
Who actually uses it, and what for?
I’ve worked with:
TP Bennett on a progress video for Stonecutter Court, a new office development. To bring attention to the project, and the services they offer on large projects.
Morgan Sindall (below) on Woolwich Leisure Centre. To record the process, show to stakeholders and keep for future bids.
Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands on One Pool St, UCL in the Olympic Park. For recording the process, and keeping the
Avison Young and Peldon Rose on their new offices, in the Met Building. To document the momentous occasion of redesigning and moving their office.
ING, Lendlease, and others on the Acre, near Covent Garden. For a Construction News article.
Basha Franklin on 25 Hanover Square. Recording the mock-up facade process as part of their rigorous services.
Bloom Construction Group, on 5 Elstree Way. To bring attention to their process and services.
Final thoughts
Construction photography builds a fuller picture of the services and process you offer, and helps keep interest in the project via social media. It can also help inform the direction you may want to take the final photography, capturing the ‘before and after’, and also serves as a ‘recce’, informing the photographer what times of day, and what locations might make the best images.
