new build
The exterior shots of the building which is matt black in colour and looking amazing against all the greenery in the daylight. Again, I showed as many different perspectives as I could, to give a sense of the scale of the build and how the structure presents in its immediate surroundings.
Here I’m making images of the training classrooms for cadets and the servicing area for army vehicles where cadets are taught mechanics and vehicle maintenance. The two classrooms I photographed have great light and could be made into one large open space when the moveable wall separating the two rooms is pushed back.
The maintenance part of the building beneath the classrooms is so large that it felt a bit like being in an aircraft hanger! When I saw the size of the army trucks parked outside I understood why so much space was needed. The shutter doors were also big and solid and everything around me seemed oversized. Hence lots of work with my wide-angle lenses to show off the different perspectives of all that space in the servicing and maintenance area.
My first visit to an army barracks! I really didn’t know what to expect but was very quickly put at ease by a very friendly, soon to retire gentleman, with a classic handlebar moustache and cheeky grin with sparkly blue eyes. He’s such a character and had so many stories to tell about the long list of tours he had undertaken, I could have listened to him all day!
However, there was work to do, so after my cup of coffee and chat I got to work on this new build which the architects responsible for this new structure had commissioned me to photograph. There were three parts to this shoot and I’m starting with the gym.
These images are of a large, light filled, spacious and well-equipped gym where cadets, reserves and staff members would be using the excellent facilities. The architects requested I photograph the gym with people in it for some shots but sadly that wasn’t possible as the new facility was still waiting for the fire safety certificates to be issued so the gym wasn’t yet officially in use.
It’s always a challenge to work in mixed lighting situations and tricky to not accidentally photograph myself in the long mirrored walls but I’ve enough experience and practice now to make sure my reflection is clear of all shots.
I’ve worked on a number of shoots for this housing association and have always been impressed by the quality affordable homes they produce time and again for the clients. This was the smallest development I’ve worked on for them and it was based in Lincolnshire. The majority of these homes were already sold so there was little point in dressing an entire show home but the housing association wanted the images for their own records and to use on social media as examples of their builds.
Photographing new homes that are without furniture always makes the job much simpler but a little more challenging as it’s difficult to make empty rooms look interesting! Luckily we had some props to put in the kitchen and bathrooms so that they could be dressed and so make for better images.
I had a lot of strong hard light which made for harsh shadows on some of the external shots but it was great to have some of the homes bathed in all that lovely sunshine to show off the brick work and new roofs.
A beautiful newly built home in the village and civil parish of Boothby Groffee in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire. The weather was changeable so there was a little stopping and starting with the outside shoot but it’s all part of the job. Both the developer and I are really happy with the final images.
New builds that haven’t been ‘dressed’ are less complicated to shoot as there’s no furniture to have to work round. However, it’s then all up to the prospective buyers to visualise themselves in the house and think about how their furniture and personal belongings will fit in. How to bring the best out of their new home to make it comfortable for them and welcoming for family and friends?
Some people have the gift of just knowing how decor, furniture and artwork all work together but others will consult with interior designers to help find the best ideas and colours for each room. It’s exciting to start with a blank canvas and I imagine the person who buys this house will have a lot of fun creating a wonderful home.
