BTS: Shooting on a ‘Live-site’: Problems faced by photographers when the site is pre-occupied.

Architectural photography has a few very essential components that form a crucial part of the frame/shot planning & consideration:

• Architectural component
• Existing props: Both external & internal
• Users of the space

Shooting at a live site might not be the same as shooting at a site that is not in use or is vacated for the shoot. While it has its own charm of being a bustling space, it can get difficult for the photographer & choreographer to carry out their frames.

Personal space & professional space: merging of the frame & the living space

The activity component along with the users might create a hassle to coordinate & frame the shots. Spaces of residential & office use specifically are difficult to manoeuvre around owing to the discomfort of infringing workspace or living space of the users.

Staging problems

Setting up the frame is easy when you are staging it yourself. At real locations, however, when the set is already present, although alterations happen, it can become a bit dis-coordinated.

Props are one of the main contributors to an architectural photography session, especially when it comes to interiors shoot. Prop-management is a difficult task in a space, especially when it is in use.

Communication gap & time delay

With active users, on-site, coordination & choreography of the shoot & frame can get difficult. In case of a communication gap, the architectural photographer might seem to infringe their privacy & space.

Planning & patience can gain great results in such situations. Some precautions can save you time & efforts.

• Proper & timely coordination with the client is necessary. If possible, explain & discuss your session with the users to avoid confusion.
• Visit the site a couple of times before the shoot. Get a hold of the available props on-site & studying the user patterns can give you a better hold of the space & frame.
• Pre-planning of the staging & frame is essential to avoid last-minute issues.
• Backup plan for shots & props, just in case the planned shot cannot happen.