Hello! Welcome to my website. I’m Rick. I photograph buildings, nice places and buildings in nice places. And I write about photography on my blog.
I am a professionally qualified photographer based in Dorset. I specialise in architectural, commercial, landscape and travel photography. And that is all!
I am an all round nice chap. Please get in touch so we can create some great photos.
I am going to give you 21 Photography Tips That Will Actually make A Difference in this post. I am talking about things that really work and will genuinley help you. These are things that I have learned over many years as a photographer. These are not quick tips, some of these are ways of thinking about things differently.
Read MoreThis post was republished on Friday 8th March 2019 with a new title and introduction - 21 Photography Tips That WIll Actually Make A Difference.
It took me a while to come up with this title. I wanted to encapsulate this entire subject in one line.
Alternative titles were
20 things I wish I had known when I started my journey in photography
20 pieces of advice for new photographers
20 tips for photographers – things I wish I knew
20 things I have learned which will help you grow as a photographer
I went with the title at the top, which I hope explains what I am going to write about in this post.
These are 20 things that I have learned along the way, which I hope will help you in your journey in photography.
These are all my own opinions, based on my experiences in the last 11 years.
I hope you find them helpful.
A lot of these points are interrelated, and things will get a mention more than once, but at the end I will summarise with 10 key points what I have written about in this blog post.
They are in no particular order, just the way things came out of my head.
Don’t worry about the gear
Second hand gear is fine
Learn about composition
Get off the computer and get out there
Take less photos
Take more photos in interesting places.
Forget layers in Photoshop
Start with Lightroom
Learn Lightroom properly (before trying anything else)
Get honest critiques of your work
Join a professional body
Don’t research a location too much before going there
Practice, practice, practice. And fail. Fail lots.
Choose the people whose advice you trust and stick with them
Listen to podcasts
Start a blog
Buy a tripod
Don’t worry about social media
Follow your own mind, dreams and ambitions
Enjoy it
Get the best gear you can, but don’t break the bank. That is the first general point I want to get across to everyone getting started in photography.
And to be honest this applies to all of us at all stages of our journeys. In my humble opinion there is too much talk about photography gear. Much too much.
I have been using my Canon 6D for well over 4 years now, and it still produces great images. I have images in my portfolio that were taken with my 12 mega pixel Canon 5D. And do you know what – you cannot tell that they were taken with a 10-year-old camera.
My clients are not interested in my gear – all they care about is the images that I produce for them. I have never been asked (other than in passing interest) about the cameras and lenses I use. The only time has been when I was with a client who had an interest in photography.
Don’t worry about the gear – get the best you can and use it.
And another point – don’t take all your gear with you wherever you go.
I have my base gear in my Peak Design Everyday Backpack. This is a small 20 litre bag.
It looks like this.
In it I carry the following
A few other bits – memory cards, spare batteries, a Platypod and ball head, a couple of key filters, grey card, colour card, cloths and wipes.
Manfrotto 190 Go tripod (which fits in a side pocket and is strapped in place) with geared head
Not forgetting my Neewer Loupe Viewer.
And that is the base gear I use 95% of the time.
Peak Design Everyday Backpack on location in Santorini
Canon 6D, Canon 17-40mm lens, Platypod Pro
I have just written an article about this which you can read on the Improve Photography website titled Full frame DSLR photography without breaking the bank – this is how I do it
Read this article on Improve Photography
The first full frame DSLR I bought was a Canon 5D. I bought it from a photographer who had not had it long but had a change of heart and decided to stay with medium format.
That camera worked faultlessly for my formative years as a photographer, and I used this great camera on many commercial jobs.
I have lenses that I bought new, and lenses that I bought second hand. And can I tell them apart? Not really no. Of course, I know which are which, but in practical terms they all produce great results.
And a slight aside here but an important point all the same – lenses hold their value incredibly well.
Again, the last article I wrote on the Improve Photography website talks about this as well, and the gear that I use. I have linked to it above.
Classic lines in this compostion for an architect
This is the number 1 mistake I made for years and years. I was too busy looking at what gear to buy next and taking photos without really thinking about composition.
What happened?
I got bored with producing average photos. I bored myself to be honest. And this was when I started to think about my images, what I didn’t like about them, and how I might make them better.
I stopped obsessing about my gear, and instead concentrated on the pictures themselves.
I looked at the work of the best photographers, read books and took the time to critique my work. It was at this time that I submitted my first portfolio submission to the BIPP – that is the British Institute of Professional Photography.
My first submission was a complete revelation – a Hasselblad master called Bryn Griffiths very kindly and patiently critiqued the images I sent him. I had to rethink my submission, and quite a few of the images were removed from my portfolio and replaced with images that worked better.
This was the beginning really of my realisation of what really matters in photography.
Get the composition right and you have a great photo., be it on the best DLSR, a lovely Hasselblad, an iPhone, a point and shoot – any camera.
But a rubbish composition is a rubbish composition, and probably a rubbish photo, whatever the camera.
If you take two things from this I will be happy.
If you are happy to read on, then thank you.
To continue with the portfolio thing and the BIPP, last month I had my second portfolio assessment at the BIPP – this time for my Associateship.
And Associateship is defined by the BIPP as
And all those years on from the initial critique, all I was asked to change by Bryn was the white balance to some of my interior images – that was it.
I have worked very hard on improving the quality of my images, and this is the result.
Composition on a architectural photgraphy shoot
And I got my Associateship – I am now an ABIPP. And one of the points of feedback was the observation that I did not appear to crop many, if any, of the 40 images submitted. I had not thought about this, but it turns out this is the case.
I rarely crop an image. Like I say this is not a deliberate ploy, some attempt at a certain style, trying to be different.
No – this was pointed out to me and is the logical conclusion of the work I have done to date on my composition, and also taking the time and care when capturing images.
I will talk about my professional qualifications later on in this post.
Me on location in Santorini
Another mistake I made. Rather than getting out there taking photos I spent too much time working on photos in Lightroom and then every worse doing nothing with them.
Now I know we all need to practice to learn Lightroom but please give this some thought – apply some structure to your learning and you will progress in leaps and bounds. Do not do what I did, which basically was keep on doing the same things to more and more images, or you will stagnate.
I did.
And whilst learning Lightroom don’t but any plug-ins.
Sunrise on Santorini by Rick McEvoy travel photography
Being out with a camera is a joy that we should all embrace more than we do. I spend more time writing these days than I do taking photos – an occupational hazard – but when I get the opportunity there is nothing I enjoy more than sitting waiting for the sun to rise, or setting up my tripod to take a considered photo of a stunning building.
Even more of a joy when you have a lightweight backpack and are not burdened with 50kgs of back-breaking stuff!
Get out more, take the shots you want, work the scene by all means. And then move on.
It took me a while to realise that I was taking the same scene more than once. On architectural shoots I would work in a logical order around a building, and then at the end if I had time photograph as many things again from the beginning.
I think it was a lack of confidence at the time. And I never used any of the images I took again – the ones I took on the first place were without exception better.
These days when I am working on an architectural shoot I aim to capture as few images as possible. I photographed a very famous persons house the other week, and on the internals I took one or two shots per room.
I took the time to get my composition bang on for the views needed and that was that.
This of course relates back to the point about composition – take the time to get the composition right and you don’t need to move three feet to the left to take the same scene from a very marginally different viewpoint.
And you will thank me when you are going through your photos in Lightroom, or whatever software you might be using.
I love going through an architectural shoot and picking consecutive images as picks to edit. This tells me that I was working at my optimum.
I am not saying get out and photograph the most often photographed locations. For me that would be Durdle Door, which I have photographed twice.
No - get out to interesting places, not necessarily those that would feature in a “Top 10 locations to photograph in Dorset” kind of thing.
Take this shot, which was taken one New Year’s Eve afternoon at my local woods, which to my shame I had never been to before. In that one afternoon I get some really great stuff, and no-one knows or indeed cares where I took the photos. All people care about is the photos themselves.
Delph Woods, Poole - landscape photography in Dorset
But do not restrict yourself to the headline locations. I hear tales of lines of photographers at the headline locations standing shoulder to shoulder all taking the same image!
Go to places others don’t go, find things to photograph. Be original.
Seriously. I don’t use layers. I have a couple of times for sky replacements, which I try to avoid doing, but apart from that I don’t get layers.
I process all my images in Lightroom. I only go into Photoshop to remove things that I can’t remove in Lightroom. I have spent hours and hours trying to learn Photoshop – the problem was that I did not have a need for Photoshop, so I was trying to learn something I did not actually need.
All I use in Photoshop is the following
Clone stamp tool
Patch tool
Healing brush
And I resize images if I need them printing at specific sizes
Here is why I can get away with only doing these things in Photoshop, and why I don’t need layers.
I do as much work as possible in Lightroom – when I need to go into Photoshop I select Edit in Photoshop, and Lightroom sends the image to Photoshop. Once I am done I hit save and the image appears next to the original image sent to Lightroom.
The new file is a brand new Tif file, the original Lightroom file is exactly as it was before being sent to Photoshop.
I therefore do not need to worry about undoing the work I have done in Photoshop, as it is so minimal I can just do it again and produce another new Tif file.
This is why I don’t need layers, and why it doesn’t bother me either.
Adobe Lightroom Classic 7.3 on my PC
Start with Lightroom. Don’t try anything else. Use Lightroom to organise your photos – the Library Module is incredibly powerful, and as far as I am concerned is the best software to use to catalogue your photos. I have been using Lightroom for over 10 years now and can honestly say that the latest version of Lightroom Classic is the best.
And once you have done this why edit your photos anywhere else?
I do as much of my editing as I possibly can in Lightroom – if I can edit an image in Lightroom and not go anywhere else to do more work I am a happy person.
A point of digression here – I have just upgraded the RAM in my Dell PC to 16GB from 8GB and it has made a massive difference to Lightroom. In the Lightroom Classic 7.3 upgrade performance improvements were added, but you needed 12GB or more to benefit from these improvements.
I started using Lightroom, and at the same time discovered the wonderful world of plug-ins. I bought the following
Photomatix Pro
Topaz Labs
On One Perfect Suite
Nik Collection
PT Gui
There are probably some others I bought which I can’t even remember.
And I played around with them, without ever mastering any of them.
And this was at the same time as trying to learn how to use Lightroom.
And when I got an iPad Pro I got even more stuff
Now I am working as a professional photographer what software do I use?
Lightroom
And when needed Photoshop
And Lightroom Mobile
Lightroom Mobile is an essential tool, which syncs with Lightroom Classic on my desktop.
I mean people who know what they are looking at. I don’t think that family members are the best people to critique your work – they love you after all (well I hope that do) and will not give you an honest critique.
Social media is a minefield, and not to be relied on for feedback on images. You have to remember that people scrolling through endless photos are probably liking your photo in the hope that you will see this and like one of theirs. And they have liked many other photos, giving each one equal time, care and attention – a second if you are lucky.
Find someone who you can trust to critique your work. I use the BIPP for this, and I write about this elsewhere in this post.
And when you have had a critique from someone who knows what they are talking about it is very very important to act on that critique.
This is another important point – learn something, then make sure you act on it. If you don’t act on something you learn you might as well have not bothered learning it in the first place!
I am a firm believer in professional bodies and professional qualifications. I have been a Chartered Member of the CIOB, the Chartered Institute of Building - MCIOB. This is the benchmark professional qualification for construction management professionals.
I was a member of the SWPP for some time – this is the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers. Not an obvious choice for me, but this was in the early days of my journey into professional photography.
Now I am sure there is nothing wrong with the SWPP, but I left having not got a lot out of my membership.
I came across the BIPP – the British Institute of Professional Photography. I applied to join the BIPP, and to do this I had to submit a portfolio which was critiqued, rejected and worked on quite a lot before it was of a standard for entry level membership, LBIPP – Licentiate of the British Institute of Professional Photography.
This qualification is described by the BIPP on the qualifications page as
“Entry level qualification, showing an established professional level of skill and competence”
It took me a while to get a set of images to this standard and was the first professional critique I had experienced.
Last month I managed to gain my Associateship, ABIPP. This is defined by the BIPP as
It was much easier to select the images for this submission. I tried to do this a couple of years ago, but I was not happy with the standard of my work.
Not only do I get qualifications and recognition of the level of my work, the BIPP provide great information and the magazine they produce I read cover to cover every month. And I don’t read much else thinking about it.
Join a professional body – one that is relevant to you and the photography work that you want to do or are doing. Embrace that professional body and gain the qualifications available – it pushed me to a higher level of work and can do the same for anyone.
Another controversial point of view. There are many Apps you can get that will show you all the great images from a location, so you know exactly what you are going to get when you arrive at that very spot.
And if you pick a really famous spot when you get there you might be shoulder to shoulder with lots of other photographers.
This sounds like an absolute nightmare to me. So bad I have mentioned this twice in this blog post.
What is the point of going to a location and taking the same photos everyone else already has? And more to the point are doing at the same time as you?
And even worse, do you want to go to a location with photos others have already taken in the back of your mind?
I don’t.
I do not research a location other than the headline research that tells me that there is interesting stuff there to photograph.
I will give you an example here.
I was treated (by the wonderful Mrs. M) to a 5-day photographic trip to the wonderful Greek Island of Santorini. I had wanted to go there for years. I did no research at all.
The only thing I did work out was where the sun rose and set each day, and where that fitted in with the geography of the island. And what time of course.
Apart from that my research was all done out on location. I basically walked around potential locations on arrival and chose my spot for the first sunrise.I didn’t come across another photographer anywhere. Apart from one coach party that arrived too late for the pre-sunrise wonders that I witnessed.
Santorini by Rick McEvoy ABIPP travel photographer
The first sunset was basically us sitting on the terrace at our hotel – it was that easy. But sunrises were about getting out and about early.
Santorini sunset by Rick McEvoy ABIPP - Travel Photographer
OK it was not by luck that this was the view from our room!
This is an easy one. The more you practice the better you get. This is just a fact. There is the 10,000-hour thing – that is the amount of time it takes to become proficient at something.
I have probably spent 10,000 hours in Lightroom – I don’t suggest you do that by the way.
I am taking about getting out and taking photos.
Practice any type of photography that you find interesting. Don’t restrict yourself to landscapes. Try other things. If you don’t like them fine.
Here are 14 quotes about failure from the inspirational James Dyson, which I have extracted from the website Logo Maker
“I could buy companies, tart up their products and put my name on them, but I don’t want to do that. That’s what our competitors do.”
“I made 5,127 prototypes of my vacuum before I got it right. There were 5,126 failures. But I learned from each one. That’s how I came up with a solution. So I don’t mind failure.”
“The key to success is failure… Success is made of 99 percent failure.”
“We’re taught to do things the right way. But if you want to discover something that other people haven’t, you need to do things the wrong way. Initiate a failure by doing something that’s very silly, unthinkable, naughty, dangerous. Watching why that fails can take you on a completely different path. It’s exciting, actually. To me, solving problems is a bit like a drug. You’re on it, and you can’t get off.”
“Enjoy failure and learn from it. You can never learn from success.”
“Anyone can become an expert at anything in six months, whether it is hydrodynamics for boats or cyclonic systems for vacuum cleaners.”
“You are just as likely to solve a problem by being unconventional and determined as by being brilliant.”
“I learned that the moment you want to slow down is the moment you should accelerate.”
“Everyone gets knocked back, no one rises smoothly to the top without hindrance. The ones who succeed are those who say, right, let’s give it another go.”
“It is said that to be an overnight success takes years of effort. So it has proved with me.”
“We always want to create something new out of nothing, and without research, and without long hard hours of effort. But there is no such things as a quantum leap. There is only dogged persistence—and in the end you make it look like a quantum leap.”
“In business you will be wrong, by and large, 50 percent of the time. The trick is to recognise when you have gone wrong and correct the damage—not to worry, at the moment of making the decision, whether it is the right one.”
“In order to fix [something], you need a passionate anger about something that doesn’t work well.”
“Risk aversion is a hapless approach for a company that’s hoping to develop new technology. It’s tempting in a downturn. But long-term research and development, expensive and often filled with failure as it is, is the only route to discovering it. By taking the cautious path, companies risk a drought of ideas.”
And look what happened to him…..
There are lots of people with lots of opinions and lots of advice. And they are all valid in their own ways.
Problem is that they all say slightly different things. As I said none of them are wrong necessarily, just different.
This piece of advice will hopefully help.
I found myself jumping all over the place, picking up bits of advice here and there and trying to apply them.
And achieving nothing.
I have now narrowed down to a small number of people whose opinions have proved sound and relevant to me over the years.
And as I said somewhere else, if you pick up a piece of advice that is useful to you please use it. That was another mistake I made over and over.
These days I act on things I learn whenever I can.
To digress slightly, I have Post It pads in my car, and always have a notebook with me. Anything that I want to remember I write down, and later add to my iPhone in an App called Wunderlist.
Later I sort all these notes and add them to Evernote.
Check out the book How to be a Productivity Ninja by Graham Allcott
I recommend these. My favourites shift over time, but these are my favourites at the moment
Improve Photography
Peta Pixel
The Togcast
The Grid
This Week in Photo
The No Name Photo Show
RAW Talk
Six Figure Photography
Creative Marketing Show
He Shoots He Draws
The Sprouting Photographer
None photography podcasts that I enjoy
Beyond Busy
The Solopreneur Hour
Voom Podcast
Smart Passive Income
BBC Friday Night Comedy
The Danny Baker Show
Flintoff, Savage and the Ping Pong Guy
Test Match Special
Tailenders (I am a massive cricket fan)
Some of these I listen to all of, some I listen to part of, some the subject is of no interest. It just depends. But if a podcast is not of interest to me I just delete it straight away and move on.
And my favourites have shifted over time – I now am listening more to podcasts on entrepreneurship, business development – that kind of thing.
Don’t necessarily restrict yourself to podcasts about what you are interested in – you can learn things from any good photography podcast. The example here is the Sprouting Photographer. This is mainly about wedding and portrait photography, not my bag at all. Some episodes I don’t listen to at all, but I give them a try first as there are often little gems within them that I have found incredibly useful.
If you are new to podcasts try the ones listed above, and anything else that you find, and give them a go. You will soon find the ones that are relevant to you.
I also listen to podcasts when I am cutting the grass. Peta Pixel podcast has the best audio quality, so I save them for the lawn mowing. Sure you are delighted to hear that Sharkey!
And I watch blind photo critiques on The Grid when I make it onto the cross trainer
Talk about efficiency!
Write about your experiences. Writing is a great way of capturing your journey, recording the good and bad, and allowing you to share your experiences not on social media but on your own part of the internet.
Be it a blog on your own website, or on a WordPress blog – just start publishing stuff on a weekly basis and you will be amazed where this takes you. I have been producing a daily blog now for nearly 2 ½ years, and many doors have opened up as a result.
I get asked regularly to add links from old blog posts to other articles written by other people which are relevant to what my core business is – photography of the built environment in all its shapes and sizes.
If you are going to start a blog, choose a niche and stick with that – it will pay dividends in future years.
If you have any aspirations to make money from photography start a blog right now. Go on – stop reading this and do it.
When I started off taking my photography seriously I bought a tripod, a big heavy thing with a big heavy head.
And it was heavy.
And guess what?
I left it in my car. I had so much gear in a large backpack. So much gear that the tripod was just too much.
And as a result, I only used my tripod at night.
I have mentioned elsewhere in this post about my gear – I travel light and with my hands free.
I use my tripod for every architectural image I take. The only exception to this is when I need to use a painter’s pole to get high, or my Platypod to take a photo from the floor, or where there is just no room for my tripod, normally squeezed into a corner of a room.
Canon 6D on Platypod Ultra, Dorset
I use a Manfrotto 190 Go tripod with X-Pro geared head. The tripod is lightweight, sturdy and easy to use. I have bigger tripods, but they are difficult to use when I am taking interior photographs, as I have to normally get back right into the corner of a room.
Manfrotto tripod on location on an architectectural photography shoot, Dorset
Manfrotto 190 Go tripod on location in Santorini
The geared head is essential for composing architectural images.
And I use exactly the same set up for landscape and travel photography. I use exactly the same gear, set up and camera settings. The only exception is when I am walking around a location grabbing shots, which is not that often.
I have found that my composition has improved significantly when I started using my tripod more. It slowed me down and made me think about each and every shot much more.
The result of this was less images, and the ones that I took were much better than before I used the tripod.
This ties back to what I said earlier about composition and taking less photos.
I don’t really get social media. It has not brought me any photography work that I am aware of. And I find it quite boring.
But everyone says we all have to be on it, we all have to be seen on all the social media platforms.
Someone please tell me why?
This is what I have done to satisfy the perceived need with minimal effort.
I have automated as much of my social media output as I can. I have a daily photography blog, and I share this content automatically from Squarespace to some social media channels and do manual shares to other channels.
Instagram output is shared to other channels using the great iPhone App IFTT – If This Then That.
And I don’t respond to every comment, thumbs up, like. I just post some stuff and that is pretty much it.
I do worry about my website, the content on it, and how people find my website when putting search terms into Google. This is where I put 95% of my effort – social media platforms come and go, and we do not control them.
Don’t worry about social media too much, instead focus on your own part of the internet.
Listen to the advice of the people whose opinions you value but choose your own path. And stick with your chosen path. I have too many times deviated from a chosen course of action.
I have started doing something, and then heard or read something and found something new to do.
Now I am following a planned course of actions, based on everything I have learned to date. And I am sticking to that plan, just tweaking it when I find better ways of doing things.
I set some targets for my photography business for 2018, which you can read here. And since I set them things have changed, and one of the targets I am not doing at all – I have a different way of achieving what I want to but my own way.
Of course, things change over time – I was going to go all in with stock photography in January but am now going in a completely different direction with that particular thing.
But the general principle of what I am trying to do, which to be fair has taken 10 years to produce, is the plan that I am working to.
And on that point, you have to give yourself time to figure out where you want to go with your photography.
Enjoy your photography. Work hard at it but enjoy it.
Even if you want to be your full time paid gig it is still something to be enjoyed. I don’t take photographs anywhere near as often as I used to. I seem to spend more time writing and responding to emails than I do taking photos.
But guess what?
When I manage to get out somewhere new at sunrise it is an absolute joy. I work on my photography business all the time, but there is nothing like being out on location at sunrise.
Last month I witnessed this sunrise from the beach in Altea in Spain. And also saw this stunning church at sunrise on another morning.
Sunrise in Altea, Spain by Rick McEvoy Travel Photographer
The church on the hill at sunrise, Altea, Spain
For both of these occasions there was no one else there – it was just me and the most natural thing of all, the breaking of a new day.
An event that will never happen again, and it was just me there at that time in that location.
No matter how much work I spend on my photography business that feeling never goes away – the sheer joy of watching and photographing something that will never happen again.
And these are those 10 bullet points I promised right at the beginning.
Get the best gear you can afford.
Only get the gear you need.
Don’t get any more gear.
Have one bag you can carry comfortably.
Get and use a tripod.
Get out and shoot.
Learn Lightroom.
Practice. Fail.
Learn.
Enjoy.
I hope you have enjoyed this post – if you have any comments or questions you can either comment on this blog post or email me at sales@rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk
I am a photographer based in Dorset specialising in
That’s it. No weddings. No people. No animals.
And also on being a photography blogger and all-round internet marketeer.
Now that is a fair question.
Heres why.
I understand buildings and construction, and am used to talking to
I even understand the rudimentaries of M&E, but cannot lay claim to understanding acoustics!
No problem - you provide the safe access and I am there.
I can help you get the images you want and make the process as easy and hassle free as I can for you.
Before I go on - you can contact me by
Phone - 07772252186
Email - sales@rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk
Contact form on my web page - click here
Here are 10 reasons why you might like to contact me to photograph your building. Well anything related to the built environment at all really.
I have proudly held the professional designation MCIOB for some years now. I have over 30 years of construction industry experience
Yes I am that old. And as a result of this experience I am at home working on construction sites of all shapes, sizes and complexities, and more importantly I am more than comfortable working with construction people at all levels (talking of all levels I am fine working on roofs, scaffolding, in excavations – anywhere on site – you just provide a safe place for me and I can be there taking photographs)
I was delighted to achieve my LBIPP (Licentiate in the British Institute of Professional Photography) a few years ago.
These two on their own are enough for some people which is why I start with them. It saves time. I know you are all busy people out there so if this is all you need to know get in touch with me here and forget about the next 8 points, as good as they are.
I pride myself on providing a high quality service on every shoot. Everything is agreed in writing, and regular updates are provided - this is particularly important with our ever so predictable British weather!
I wont go on about the quality of my images - I am a photographer after all sp that is a given. You can of course check out the images on my website.
I can even provide a next day service if required. I once had to produce a set of fully edited images for a 9am deadline the morning after an afternoon shoot.
I like to think that I am quite good at what I do. I combine my years of construction and photography experience to give me a fairly unique insight into the world of architectural photography.
I understand construction and architecture, and what is important within a design. OK the least bit the architect tells me but I will be able to quickly understand the key features.
Whatever you are - architect, main contractor, property owner, landlord, estate agent, developer, material supplier, specialist installer - I get that your needs are going to be very specific.
And I am in a unique position to be able to understand you r specific requirements and deliver the images required.
I will be able to fulfill the very specific requirements of your brief. I will also where possible provide alternative views and compositions.
But first and foremost I listen to my clients.
I managed to pass the health and safety test with flying colours recently (phew). So if you want photographs taking on a live construction site no problem. I have been through more site inductions than I can remember so that is all good and familiar to me. And
I have all my own PPE
My collection of PPE is suitable for most construction sites. I had to purchase high visibility trousers recently to complete the luminous clothing set!
My photography equipment has evolved over the years and my work in a wide range of live site environments to allow me to quickly and efficiently photograph any construction site. I say any - there must be exceptions to that but I have not come across one yet.
And of course all my gear is durable enough to withstand the rigours of live construction sites any time of the year.
I am highly skilled in Lightroom and Photoshop. I consistently produce technically accurate and correct images.
No architect likes their building to look wonky in a photo after all do they?
I can also produce images that are consistent in style from different shoots in different locations on different days.
I am the only person you deal with from start to finish - I answer all enquiries, develop the brief, produce the quote, agree the scope, plan the shoot, take the photos, edit the photos, issue the photos and submit the invoices. There is no one else – just me.
And I am a nice chap.
I know. This is 11 things. But this important.
I always find that people who enjoy what they do produce better work than people who don’t, and I seriously enjoy taking photographs of construction products and construction sites, buildings, architecture, interiors – anything that is built basically.
I extend this enjoyment to holidays - there isn’t a destination I have been to where I did not photograph buildings, and pop into the local church to get a great interior shot!
Thats it.
Construction product photographer
And to find out more about me all you need to do is pop over to my photography blog, where I make daily posts.
Any questions, please get in touch with me.
Here are 10 reasons why you should choose (well ok a bit bold there - consider) me when looking for an architectural photographer to photograph your building. If you are busy then just get in touch using my contact page - trust me I am good at this stuff!
If you do however have the time then please read on.
I have a lifetime of experience working in the construction industry in a variety of sectors.. What does this mean to you as my client?
SImple. I will be completely at ease on your site, and will be able to deal with all that comes with a building as it nears completion. If it is complete, occupied and finished then great. Either way I will be fine taking photographs in, and of, your building.
I have extensive experience photographing buildings of all shapes and sizes, in a variety of sectors and locations. Check out these pages on my website to see examples of my architectural photography work.
http://rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk/architectural-photographer/
http://rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk/construction-photographer/
http://rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk/construction-product-photographer/
http://rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk/interior-photographer/
http://rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk/property-photographer/
I am a chartered builder - MCIOB. If you need to me take photographs on a construction site not a problem. I have a current CSCS card, and all my own PPE. When I say all, I have PPE that is suitable for most construction sites - every now and then some new requirement crops up that I am not aware of, such as high vis trousers!
I am a professionally qualified photographer - LBIPP. THis is what I do, and the British Institute of Professional Photographers have recognised that my photographic work is to a standard where they are happy to give me a professional designation. And that was a couple of years ago to be fair - my work has developed quite a lot since then. I really must apply for the next level of qualification, ABIPP.
I'm quite good at photographing buildings. One of the reasons I am quite good at photographing buildings is because I have an interest in buildings. I enjoy photographing the interiors and exteriors of buildings of all types.
I espcially like getting those pictures that represent the design intent of a building, with the light interacting and making a record shot much much more than that.
If you took a look at my Lightroom Catalogue you would find lots of pictures of buildings. And I mean a lot. I have photographed a huge variety of buildings, developing my skills on every shoot. And my catalogue grows every month.
I know. Gear isn’t what photography is all about. It is how you use it. But then again, you need a certain level of photography gear to I have professional Canon photography equipment which allows me to take high-quality images.
I have Canon tilt shift lenses, and a variety of wide angle lenses to make sure I can capture as much of the internal space as possible, but not too much that I am giving a false impression!
My gear allows me to work in most environemnts, from a finished building to a quarry where gravel is being extracted.
The key piece of my photography equipment is my full frame DSLR, the Canon 6D. This workhorse has served me very well over the years, and has provided faultless service and fantastic image quality.
My image processing is to a high technical standard.
I produce technically accurate and correct images. Straight lines, no distortion, correct colours.
This is a particular challenge but one that I am highly skilled at. I use the latest versions of Photoshop and Lightroom, and have work on a calibrated monitor. I am very picky about my image processing, and don't tell anyone but I enjoy it.
The fact I enjoy the boring bits really helps as a happy worker is a good worker!
I can accurately reproduce the colours, tones and textures that are designed into buildings which are often important architectural features. And certainly important to the architects who often commission me.
This starts with image capture and understanding buildings and design. And the way light interacts with a building. And if you are an architect you will have specified certain colours for a reason, and the last thing that you will want is a horrible colour cast, or the woring colours completely.
I have stuff that I use to ensure that the white balance and colours are correct and accurate.
My image capture and image processing workflows combine to enable me to produce consistent high-quality imagery. This includes from one shoot to the next, in different locations on different days for the same client, which I have done on many occasions.
I have a method of working which works for me, and I follow from one job to the next. I have learnt how to correctly process digital images in Lightroom and Photoshop using some of the best trainers in the world. I have combined this knowledge with lots of practise to produce a technically correct, consistent, controlled workflow.
I have spent many many hours working on my digital image processing, and practising this on my architectural photography work.
I also have a variety of equipment which allows me to shoot from different angles, heights and viewpoints to get a slightly different view on life.
Different viewpoints give different images. As well as getting conventional shots I try to introduce different angles into my shoots, using some highly technical gear.
I try different angle and viewpoints, with some surprising successes.
Blimey – I could have called this post “10 reasons why you should choose me to photograph your building”. I know – good SEO work there….
But one more thing. And posibly the most important thing.
I have learned over the years how to photograph buildings. I have a highly skilled and trained eye (fully functioning too both of them thanks to Leightons!).
Photographing buildings is what I do. So please get in touch if you want me to photograph your building.
Rick McEvoy MCIOB, LBIPP - Architectural Photographer
These are my initial thoughts on the content of my photography blog going forwards from here.
Weekly content
Web page update - essential to keep the momentum going with the updating of all the pages on my website.
A general photography post - a bit longer about something photography related currently on my mind.
Stock – this includes actually getting my stuff out onto the stock markets. Photos and videos.
Gear - each week I am going to write about a piece of photography gear/ non-photography gear/ something of interest.
These 5 new images will form the output to all my social media channels
Image of the Week
Video - after the success of the videos of the Red Arrows at the Bournemouth Air Festival 2017 I am going to add more videos to my You Tube channel. And also add my 4K videos to Adobe Stock. I will explain - trust me it will make sense.
Monthly things
And no I have not forgotten those pictures of Santorini.
And another thing I need to do is publish everything in the draft folder on my blog - prepare for a week of completely random posts at the end of September.
Rick McEvoy MCIOB, LBIPP - Photographer, blogger, all round good chap.
Yesterday I posted the same post about my interior photographer page as I did on Wednesday. I have no idea why.
Moving on, it should have been an introduction to my new architectural photographer page.
Over the next 12 days I will be writing about the new set of 12 images on this page of my website, all about architectural photography.
Whilst I was writing the text for this page I did ask myself the question – what is architectural photography?
Wikipedia is always up there in Google searches, and says
“Architectural photography is the photographing of buildings and similar structures that are both aesthetically pleasing and accurate representations of their subjects. Architectural photographers are usually skilled in the use of specialised techniques and equipment.”
This is the Wikipedia link.
This is one definition.
Thinking a bit further about this, architecture is defined in the English Oxford Living Dictionaries as as
“The art or practice of designing and constructing buildings”.
Hmmm. Designing and constructing buildings. I like that as a definition. Not that there is anything wrong with the Wikipedia definition, it is just the point about being aesthetically pleasing. There is much more to it than that.
Architectural photography covers not only the aesthetics but also the form function, as well as the context.
I think I was going to focus on architectural details but I am going to broaden out my image set.
I will extract something from this web page – no point writing it again is there?
I wrote a list of 10 reasons why you should consider me to photograph your building for you;
“1 – I am a Chartered Builder - MCIOB
I have a lifetime of professional experience in the construction industry.
2 – I am professionally qualified in photographer – LBIPP
I am a Licentiate in the British Institute of Photographers. What does LBIPP mean? According to the BIPP website LBIPP is an
“Entry level qualification, showing an established professional level of skill and competence”. So that’s all good then. And that was a couple of years ago to be fair, and my photography work has developed rather a lot since then.
3 – My photography equipment
I use specialist equipment. The equipment I use for my architectural photography work has been refined over the years, giving me very specific equipment for specific subjects, locations and environments.
4 – I love photographing architecture
This is not a job I hate doing. I love buildings, architecture, interiors and indeed construction sites. So, you get a big bundle of enthusiasm when you commission me. And you know what they say about people who enjoy what they do?
5 – My creative eye
I have an eye for light, details, composition, tones and textures. And details. I view things as a photographer. And, I view things as a construction professional. A great combination for an architectural photographer!
6 – My business skills
I have worked professionally in construction for over 30 years, have two companies of my own, and I am my businesses. There is just me to deal with, and if I do not do great work that people want I don’t get paid. It really is that simple!
7 – Personal service
You deal with me. Only me. All the way through from start to finish. I take the photos and I edit the photos – there is no outsourcing anywhere.
8 - Image processing
Architectural photography is a specialised, technical discipline. Pictures of buildings must be technically correct, with straight lines and correct colours but also looking natural.
And this is my specialism.
9 – My personality
I like people. I have spent a lifetime working in the construction industry, and get on with people at all levels.
10 – My professionalism
I pride myself on providing a high quality professional service on every job. I am not cheap, and if you are after the cheapest photographer it will not be me, but I provide high quality pictures and a high-quality service.”
Convinced?
Time to get in touch with me?
I hope so.
I hope that that you are convinced that I am the right person to speak to about your architectural photography enquiry – if so then please get in touch with me by
Phone - 07772252186
Email - sales@rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk
As I said over the next 12 days you will see 12 architectural photography images all taken and processed by me.
Bournemouth, Poole, Sandbanks, London, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire
"The art or practice of taking and processing photographs"
This is what the online English Oxford Living Dictionaries says.
Enough said?
Bournemouth, Poole, Sandbanks, London. Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, West Sussex, Wiltshire
Sunshine at The Vyne by Rick McEvoy landscape photographer in Hampshire
A new landscape image as it's Friday. It's been a long week, so why not?
This is another picture taken at The Vyne, the National Trust site with the most amazing woods.
Taken handheld on my Canon 6D looking straight into the sun (something which you need to be really careful doing by the way) with an aperture of F22 to get that starburst effect.
A lovely bright natural vibrant image for a Friday.
Landscape Photographer in Hampshire
As a photographer, the pictures I take are the single most important thing to me. Backing up my digital files is crucial to my photography business. My photographs are my business.
I have a rigorous process for managing my images, and how I back them up.
This is what I do. And when I say do, I really do! All the time.
I have a card holder with blank, formatted memory cards. I take memory cards from here for every shoot I do. Each memory card in this folder is empty, and has been formatted in my Canon 6D.
I have another card holder where I place a memory card after each and every shoot. For my ease these two cases are different colours!
I know which cards are blank, and which have those important images on them. And if I am travelling, the memory cards with my images on stay with me.
When I am back in my office, I import the images into my Lightroom Catalogue. The images are added to my Western Digital external hard drive. A duplicate copy is created on my Dell PC hard drive. I do not delete the images from the card. Not yet anyway.
My Lightroom Catalogue is stored on my PC.
I also back up my Lightroom Catalogue very day to my PC.
I use Backblaze for my cloud back up. This is an automated cloud backup, which runs in the background all the time. It backs up everything on my PC hard drive and me external hard drive. This includes the images on my hard drive and my Lightroom Catalogue.
I have a 4TB external hard drive, which I update at least every month. I save all my images and my Lightroom Catalogue to this external hard drive. This hard drive is stored off site.
I have a separate wallet where memory cards are placed after I have imported the images into Lightroom. Only when I have done my monthly external hard drive back up do I delete the images from these cards. I then format them in my Canon 6D and place them in the card holder which lives in my camera bag.
Having updated my external hard drive, and placed it back in its off site location, I delete the duplicates of my Lightroom imports from my hard drive.
This is how I manage my digital images. The images are always in three separate places.
I have both the images and the edits I have done saved in all three locations.
I you have any questions about backing up your photographs, and looking after your valuable digital images get in touch with me.
And for all my clients, you can be reassured that your data is safe and secure should you ever need your images in the future.
Photographer - Bournemouth, Poole, Sandbanks, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, London
I hope that the series of construction product photography images that I have posted over the last couple of weeks have been of interest to you, and have provided you with an insight into the variety of construction products that I have photographed.
I hope that these posts have also demonstrated how I may help you by taking photographs of your product on a construction site.
Wherever or whatever the product is that you require photographing, please get in touch me with me if you have a construction product/ product that you require photographing.
You can get in touch with me either through my contact page, by phone or by email - just head over to my home page where these are both prominently displayed.
For those of you who are new to me and my professional photography work, here are 10 reasons why you might like to contact me to photograph your construction product, construction site or finished building.
Well anything related to the built environment at all really.
(And Chartered Construction Manager by the way) – I have proudly held the professional designation MCIOB for some years now.
I was delighted to achieve my Licentiate in the British Institute of Professional Photographers a few years ago
Note - These two on their own are enough for some people - which is why I start with them – I know you are all busy people out there so if this is all you need to know get in touch with me here and forget about the next 8 points, as good as they are.
I managed to pass the health and safety test with flying colours recently (phew)
My collection of PPE is suitable for most construction sites. I had to purchase high visibility trousers recently to complete the luminous clothing set!
I am comfortable working on construction sites of all shapes, sizes and complexities, and more importantly I am more than comfortable working with construction people at all levels (talking of all levels I am fine working on roofs, scaffolding, in excavations – anywhere on site – you just provide a safe place for me and I can be there taking photographs).
My photography equipment has evolved over the years and my work in a wide range of live site environments to allow me to quickly and efficiently photograph any construction site. It is durable enough to withstand the rigours of live construction sites any time of the year.
I am highly skilled in digital image processing, producing technically accurate and correct images. No architect likes their building to look wonky in a photo after all do they?
I can also produce images that are consistent in style from different shoots in different locations on different days.
I am the only person you deal with from start to finish - I answer all enquiries, develop the brief, produce the quote, agree the scope, plan the shoot, take the photos, edit the photos, issue the photos and submit the invoices. There is no one else – just me.
Don’t tell anyone but sometimes I have been asked to provide a next day service which I have successfully done each time it has been asked for, once producing the fully edited images for a 9am deadline the morning after an afternoon shoot (this is subject to some sensible restrictions such as if you want 300 individually hand edited images it might take me a little bit longer - I am good but not that good!)
I always find that people who enjoy what they do produce better work than people who don’t, and I seriously enjoy taking photographs of construction products and construction sites, buildings, architecture, interiors – anything that is built basically.
On my construction product photography page you can view the selection of 12 images that I have posted recently on my photography blog. I have other pages on my website which may be of interest to you, many of which are due to updated soon with new images and new text. These web pages are specific to the commercial photography work that I do, and are as follows
Industrial photographer (coming soon)
Product photographer (coming soon)
I have a very specific equipment set-up which I use for my commercial photography work, consisting of my trusty Canon 6D along with a selection of Canon L series lenses (including my Canon 24mm tilt shift lens). I take most of my images using my Manfrotto tripods with Manfrotto geared head, and have other bits of kit that I have picked up along the way to photograph challenging situations. This specialist kit includes a painter’s pole – trust me this really gives me an unusual view on many scenes.
I pack all the gear for a shoot in a backpack, the Peak Design Everyday Backpack, ensuring I am mobile and nimble (well as nimble as a 40 something Northern builder can ever be).
I also have a boot load of other gear just in case…
I also have lots of other images on my website that show a wider range of my landscape and travel photography work which may be of interest to you.
I pride myself on providing high quality, technically correct images. I have a number of repeat clients, and I am able to reproduce the look of images from one shoot to the next.
I am highly skilled in Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop, and process each and every image individually.
Finally – I have photographed the built environment for architects, major construction companies, developers and product manufacturers. I have also photographed industrial sites and plant, all of which give me a diverse range of experience in the construction photography and industrial photography environments.
Thank you for reading this post, and I look forward to hearing from you whatever your construction related photography enquiry.
Construction Product Photographer
Now that I have sorted out my Dorset photographer page I am going to post a series of 12 images from my construction product photography page.
I want to have a bit of focus on one aspect of my commercial photography work, which is construction product photography.
This is one of my specialisms which I have written about many times before.
Now for those of you who are new to me and/ or my photography blog a quick refresh.
So construction photography is my thing.
I also photograph construction sites, although there is not much demand for this to be honest.
And quite often these photographs have to be taken immediately after, and sometimes during installation. This is where the live construction site photography thing comes in – on some projects once something has been fitted there is never an opportunity to gain access to photograph a product. A hospital ward is such an example where product photography is done just before practical completion.
And this is what I am going to talk about for the next 12 days. Nothing else.
I hope that the work that I am publishing and writing about in the next 12 days encourages you to make contact with me and start a discussion about your construction product photography requirement. Or anything construction photography related to be honest.
And if you do need something photographing on a construction site please ensure that you get in touch with me nice and early so we can plan the work together – successful planning is essential to ensure that a photography shoot on a live construction site goes smoothly.
Once I have completed this series of posts I will be moving onto something completely different which I am looking forward to doing so so much it is quite frankly ridiculous.
Rick McEvoy Photography
Construction product photographer in Dorset
Why should you hire me to photograph your construction site? That is the question.
This was originally titled “What is the reality of being a photographer on a live construction site?”. I changed the title to the one you can see above.
And this is a natural follow on from the series of posts about my construction product photography work over the last week or so.
Please read this (if you don’t mind) and find out why you should consider me when you are looking for a professional photographer to photograph your construction site.
I am normally asked to photograph construction sites, and indeed products, immediately before completion of the site works. If you have never been on a construction site immediately before practical completion you might be surprised by what you find. Lots going on - that is the generous way of putting it! Seriously these are very busy times, with everyone under pressure to complete their works.
And there is the further conundrum of client fit out, furniture, fixtures, fittings and specialist client equipment. FF&E is a term often used on construction by the way – furniture, fixtures and equipment. See I know this stuff!
The timing of when to carry out the shoot can make or break a shoot.
But once the optimum time has been agreed with my client there are many things that I have to contend with. So agreeing the when is just the beginning.
Before going on most construction sites I have to go through a site induction. This time needs building in and pre-planning of course. Just turn up at a construction site and you will probably be turned away these days!
And quite rightly so.
I have lost count of the number of site inductions I have attended.
The rules vary from construction site to construction site as to what PPE is required. Also the timing can impact on what is required to be worn. I have all my own PPE, which covers me for 99% of scenarios.
I am a current Managerial and Professional CSCS card holder. This proves my competence to be on construction sites, and that I have the required knowledge in construction health and safety. Well I have more than a CSCS card but that is another story…
Mobility on site. And more importantly minimising the impact of my presence on your construction.
My photography gear is all packed away safely and nicely in one compact bag, leaving both my hands free at all times for me to safely access all parts of a construction site. This is a serious consideration. I have seen photographers turn up on sites I have been working on with all sorts of completely impractical equipment, including once large roller bag which the poor photographer was expecting to wheel half a mile across a muddy field to the site!
I don’t use lights but do use a tripod.
Yes mud. I have to get from the cabins to the site. More often than not the grounds are not completed and I have to walk through mud to get there. And having walked through the mud I then find yourself inside a brand new sparkly building interior!
See above re camera bags.
By the time I am invited to site works in the ground are pretty much done, apart from the nice finishing touches that is. Like grass. And plants and trees and stuff.
I am often climbing up scaffolding just to get to the view I need, or to get to the part of the site I need to get to. And that is of course with all my camera gear and PPE on. If I am really lucky I get to ride in a MEWP. I have sat in steeplejacks seat boards, and been in metal things suspended from mobile cranes. Back in the olden days that is.
Most times however I have a huge expanse of not quite finished building to photograph without getting in everyone’s way while everyone is rushing around trying to finish their own works.
I am often on scaffolds and the roofs of buildings for obvious reasons, and not so obvious reasons. Often there is plant mounted on the roof that you cannot see from the ground, which can make for interesting subject matter. And of course there are often spectacular views from the roofs of many of the buildings I photograph. Yes they are sometimes for my benefit.
Yes the good old British weather. Who wants their shiny new building photographing in the rain? No-one!
I can, with some special tricks I have, make the weather look much better than it was at the time of taking the photographs, but this can be time consuming and expensive to achieve realistically. Most of the time I just have to wait for good weather.
Unless of course it is a construction product shoot internally, in which case the weather is not an issue.
And there is the wind, rain and the cold. Sometimes construction sites can be colder than outside. Dark, damp cold environments with lots of wet materials and structures shedding water as they dry out.
This is a serious issue, especially on refurbishment projects in existing buildings, and the larger construction sites. Don’t worry – I have gear to help me deal with this issue.
Incomplete works
Another issue. The thing I turn up to photograph not being complete. Or still being worked on. Or not actually there.
It happens!
Construction sites can be very very dusty, so I need to take extra care changing lenses and keeping the front element of my camera lens clean.
Do I photograph the building with the furniture in or the furniture not in? It depends who has commissioned me, what they want pictures of and when they want them. I would of course rather photograph a fully furnished building but sometimes that is not possible.
So who would choose to photograph live construction sites?
Someone who has spent a lifetime working on constructions sites, and a lifetime working on their photography skills.
And that is why I am a great person for you to speak to about photographing your construction site, product or material being installed on a construction site or recently completed building.
All the things I have written about above I am completely familiar with and comfortable with.
I have an array of photography gear tailored to allow me to work quickly and efficiently in these environments. I also have lots of non-photography related equipment which I carry in my site camera bag. I have assembled my construction photography tool-kit over a number of years.
I know construction. I understand construction sites.
I am fully equipped, with lightweight, mobile, durable gear that allows me to do my work quickly, efficiently, professionally and to an excellent technical standard whatever the environment.
And I am fully insured of course.
I am a current Managerial and Professional CSCS card holder. I am a Chartered Builder. I have a lifetime working in construction.
Oh yes, and I am a professionally qualified photographer.
So what are you waiting for?
All you need to do is phone, email or complete the form on my contact page with your construction photography related enquiry.
I have a couple of pages which are all about my construction photography - my construction photographer page and my construction product photographer page. You can see examples of the pictures I have taken on construction sites on these pages.
Monday 13th March 2017
Well that is a very good question. A question for which I hopefully have an even better answer.
Why should you choose me to photograph your building?
I am Member of the Chartered Institute of Building. I am proud to hold the designation MCIOB.
I am a Licentiate of the British Institute of Professional Photography. I am equally proud to also have the letters LBIPP after my name.
So that is the qualifications done. I am not saying that this makes me unique, but I don’t know any other photographers professionally qualified in both construction and photography.
Next reason is
I have experience in most types of building construction and refurbishment works. Experience that is as both a construction professional and as a professional photographer.
My experience means that I have expertise in all aspects of the construction processes, including
And during the life of a building
And ultimately demolition.
I am also conversant with modern mechanical and electrical installations, understanding the importance these engineering solutions provide in the use and occupation of modern buildings.
This combination of construction and photography experience give me a unique understanding of the construction processes and the roles and responsibilities enabling me to work quickly, efficiently and with minimal disruption either on construction sites or in occupied buildings.
I am familiar with all aspects of the built environment, so will arrive at your building prepared for most situations (I can’t say every situation as you never know!).
I have all my own PPE of course, and am fully conversant with current construction and health and safety legislation.
I have an eye for detail, both architectural and technical. And I am a student of light and how it plays within an environment.
I am highly skilled in digital image processing, using the latest software from Adobe.
Finally, I provide a high quality, bespoke, professional service.
If you are an architect, builder, client, construction contractor, consultant, developer, estate agent, specialist sub-contractor, surveyor or just a building owner who requires high quality architectural interior and exterior photographs taking get in touch with me here.
I have also worked for high end specialist construction product suppliers, manufacturers and installers, photographing specific construction products in situ on site.
I can provide a quotation to photograph your building on either a half day rate, full day rate, an hourly rate, fixed price or by the image.
I provide fully edited images normally within 72 hours of completing the shoot. Images are provided by electronic transfer.
So please get in touch with me whatever your requirement might be for high quality photography of the built environment.
You can see examples of my work at the following pages on my website.
Monday 9th January 2017
I have just entered The Art of Building competition 2016, the brilliant photography competition run by the CIOB.
The closing date for entries is today, 27th November 2016.
To find out more about this competition head to
The competition is described by the CIOB
You can find out more about the competition at
http://www.ciob.org/art-building
And you can find out more about the CIOB at http://www.ciob.org.
I am a member of the CIOB, achieving the designation Member of the Chartered Institute of Building some years ago. I have the letters MCIOB, which sit nicely next to one of my other professional qualifications, Licentiate of the British Institute of Professional Photography. LBIPP.
You can enter three images in the competition, and this year I chose the images you can see in this post.
I wanted to submit something a bit different.
The first image is this.
Roof tiles, Chideock - construction photography in Dorset by Rick McEvoy
This picture is of the roof tiles on the new roof of Chideock Church in Dorset. I photographed this classical new domed roof to the church for the architect, Andrew Stone. I like the pattern and the colours. This picture was taken using a focal length of 400mm, and at this focal length I have managed to exclude everything else from the image. That just the leaves the tiles in no context at all. Quite an abstract image. Graphic almost. A work of art?
Hamworthy Park Junior School - interior photography in Dorset by Rick McEvoy
The second image is the picture of the windows overlooking the sea in the extension to Hamworthy Park Junior School. Another picture taken for the architect, Kendall Kingscott. Why did I choose this image? It is the light through these large, floor to ceiling windows. That and the fantastic view from the school classroom in Poole, Dorset.
Winchester School of Art, part of the University of Southampton - architectural photography in Hampshire by Rick McEvoy
The third image is of the new extension to the library at Winchester School of Art, part of the University of Southampton. I chose this picture as the lights in the building illuminate the street furniture in the foreground, giving interest and depth to the image.
So these are my three images entered for the CIOB Art of Building Competition 2016.
Sunday 27th November 2016
Today I start work on my new portfolio for submission to the BIPP for hopefully upgrading my membership status to Associate.
According to the BIPP, Associate is defined as
“Associateship (ABIPP)
A high standard of craftsmanship and creative ability”
“My current level is licentiateship - (LBIPP)
Entry level qualification, showing an established professional level of skill and competence”
I achieved this in 2014.
I am a believer in professional qualifications. My MCIOB (Member of the Chartered Institute of Building) has served me well over the many years since I achieved this key professional status.
Licentiateship gave me the confidence that I was at a professional standard, and Associate is my aim, after two years of hard but enjoyable work.
So I need to get my portfolio polished, finished and issued. So forgive me but I will write pretty much about the set of 30 images I am going to produce until I am done. As I wrote about in an earlier post, I am concentrating on the following areas
Architectural photography
Commercial photography
Industrial photography.
I will have a set of images, and a new set of hope page images, by the end of April 2016. When I say architectural photography I mean anything in the built environment.
I went to Wikipedia for a definition of architectural photography, and found the following
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architectural_photography
“Architectural photography is the photographing of buildings and similar structures that are both aesthetically pleasing and accurate representations of their subjects. Architectural photographers are usually skilled in the use of specialized techniques and equipment.”
Then I thought – what about commercial photography?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography#Commercial
Commercial photography is probably best defined as any photography for which the photographer is paid for images rather than works of art. In this light, money could be paid for the subject of the photograph or the photograph itself. Wholesale, retail, and professional uses of photography would fall under this definition
Finally, I tried industrial photography
“The page "Industrial photography" does not exist.”
Oh!
Not to worry. I might even start up my own page on Wikipedia. That would be interesting!
Just for fun I checked myself, and guess what…
The page "Rick mcevoy" does not exist
I really might start my own pages. I could be an internet success.
Back to reality. I am going to work on the set of 30 images for submission to the BIPP, starting right now.
Please pop back to my blog tomorrow to see if I have produced anything yet!!
Catnic Lintol product shoot, Corfe Castle, Dorset, by Rick McEvoy Construction Photographer
This is one of the shots of a Catnic lintol being installed, for real, on the Acheson Construction site in Corfe Castle, Dorset.
I am always pleased to receive enquiries for work as a construction photographer, as there can't be many professionally qualified photographers who are also current Chartered Builders - I am MCIOB as well as LBIPP.
So I must be the best qualified construction photographer around - surely?
Anyway enough about me - this shot was used for the product promotion I was commissioned for, and again I am happy with the final image and so was the client so all good.
I think I would be able to produce a slightly better shot these days, and probably a better set of images, and probably more quickly, but still all fine.
Image number 12 will be appearing this afternoon at
www.rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk/blog