Photos by Spacecrafting
A stunning space deserves to be captured just as beautifully as it was built. But photography isn’t just about snapping a picture—it’s about telling a visual story that aligns with your brand and resonates with potential clients. By working closely with your photographer, planning ahead, and styling intentionally, you can create images that showcase your work in the best possible light—literally and figuratively. We sat down with the team at Spacecrafting to get their top tips on styling, lighting, and capturing high-end images that make an impact.
Be Polished & Prepared
Preparation is key to a smooth and successful shoot. The Spacecrafting team suggests having the space fully styled before the photographer arrives. This allows designers and builders to be fully present and make small adjustments to fine-tune the final look. “Another thing to think about are sight lines,” they say. “Seeing the adjacent space layered and styled gives the photographer the ability to react to the compositions they are drawn to.”
Prioritize Your Styling
Great styling brings a space to life in photos. While elements like greenery, books, and textiles are always solid choices, Spacecrafting encourages designers to think beyond the obvious. “Something that comes to mind is impactful art,” the team adds. “Art can really enhance a space in a lovely way. Another way to bring a space to life while adding the emotional tug at the heartstrings is a cute puppy or dog.” (The team at Midwest Design can confirm—a furry friend always brings a smile!)
Balance Realism & Staging
While perfectly staged spaces look beautiful, the key is making them feel inviting and natural. “We rely on our clients to elevate those layers to reflect their brand and the storyline they desire for the home they create,” the team explains. The goal is to showcase the space’s true personality while ensuring it’s visually compelling.
Make the Most of Opportunities
One of the biggest missed opportunities designers, builders, and remodelers make is not aligning their photo shoot with their marketing goals and strategies. By clearly defining how you’ll use the photos—whether for a website, social media, or print—you can ensure every shot is intentional and impactful.
Another key opportunity? Trusting your photographer’s expert opinion. “As photographers, we are able to have a fresh perspective on a space that the builder or designer has been working on for months or even years,” the team notes. “Trust your team to collaborate on the visual storyline. We are able to use our creative eye and react visually to the project—[it’s] the best part of this job!”
Lighting Matters—A Lot
The time of day can completely transform the mood of an image. “The direction of the sun through a window in a room can really determine the mood of the images,” the team explains. Morning light might create soft, even tones, while dramatic afternoon light can add contrast and depth. When photographing exteriors, front-lit homes often showcase textures and materials best, while low-light conditions can create a moody, editorial feel. “A big part of a photographer’s job is to control and work with the light/sun they are provided with,” they add. “Window treatments can add a helpful layer in providing that control!”
Embrace the Power of Post-Production Editing
A polished, high-end image doesn’t just happen—it’s a combination of strategic planning, expert styling, and professional editing. “It really takes the full team—scheduling the right time of day, capturing with a creative eye, collaborating with the client, and professional editing to bring the images to life,” Spacecrafting explains. From selecting the ideal lighting conditions to ensuring the final edits reflect your brand, every step plays a key part in the final product.
Editing plays a major role in refining images, whether adjusting lighting or ensuring colors and tones match the designer’s brand. “Communication between the photographer and retoucher can really impact the final images,” they add. “Relaying your goals on-site to the photographer helps in that mission.” By discussing your vision ahead of time, you can ensure the final product aligns with your aesthetic and marketing goals.
Try a Trend
Two major trends continue to gain momentum: turning lights off for a more editorial feel and incorporating lifestyle elements into shots. “Capturing images with the lights off is a practice we have done for many years, yet it continues to emerge in providing a more editorial feel,” the team notes. “Another consistent trend is adding lifestyle—such a fun way to bring life to the space and show scale and function!”
