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How do you approach a new project?We endeavor to build solid relationships with our clients. The first and most important step is to develop a creative brief together that defines all your key objectives and end goals. The brief will serve as a guide throughout the process to help ensure the photos we produce will effectively serve your needs and reach your target audience. From there, we will define the scope of work to be performed, including the number of shots, special equipment needed such as drones or lighting, as well as other requirements such as the need for one or more assistants, professional stagers, models, etc.. Once a signed proposal of the defined work is received, we will begin the execution phase. At this point it is ideal to have an on-site meeting together and a pre-production walk-through for shot planning and to discuss site preparation (more on this below). After all photos have been captured, post production and re-touching begins. You will have the opportunity to review all proofs, and make final selections. Once complete, the final results are delivered to spec determined per at our initial meeting, and final payment is invoiced.
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What is the best way to prepare for our shoot?It can take more effort than one might expect to prepare a space to be ‘photo ready’. Interior spaces often have movable elements that belong in the shot, that need to be carefully positioned with precision. Objects like tables and chairs need to be aligned precisely so their lines appear even and match the perspective flow of the overall space. This type of set dressing is a normal part of what we would expect to perform on-site when we are preparing a shot. However, new construction often has dust, tools, wires, and wrapped objects to protect equipment, etc., that are still in place near completion, that need to be thoroughly cleaned and or hidden before the CO is granted. In this case, the level of preparation would far exceed what we would expect to perform on-site during filming days. Exterior spaces also may have elements present that would be difficult or impossible to remove in post, such as construction equipment, or un-finished elements that juxtapose the intended composition. We always assume that there will be at least a modicum of adjustment required for each shot to properly set up the composition of an interior space. Also, we can sometimes work around challenges posed by unwanted elements in exterior spaces, but it depends on various factors. The best results are obtained from careful planning. This is where the value of the pre-production site-walkthrough come in, to help to identify tasks and steps that can be achieved to make the on-set execution go efficiently as possible, and minimize post-production re-touching work which can add time and increase cost. One thing that can greatly help with new construction, is for the client to send a quick photo of each planned shot in advance of filming to confirm the space is signed-off, and ready with minimal adjustment before imaging. This allows us to work much more efficiently, when every hour matters to the client for team deadlines for turn-over of the space. Additionally, we can also determine if it makes sense for a professional stager to be hired with an eye for set dressing design. A professional stager can maximize the visual design effect in a photo, by carefully arranging or adding objects to a space where sensible, to balance shape, form and color in the composition.
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What is timing like for a project?This can vary greatly with the complexity and scope of work required. Some projects require only 2-3 shots which can be shot in a half day, other projects require upwards of 50 shots and will require multiple shooting days. We can generally capture up to 4 shots in a half day, and between 8 to 10 shots in a full day of shooting, depending on complexity, staging requirements, and type of equipment needed. After the on-site work is complete, the re-touching and post production work begins. This process usually takes a few weeks to turn around, show proofs, make selections and deliver the final results. Generally once the shooting is complete, the post production work can be completed in 2 - 5 weeks, depending on the number of shots, and complexity of retouching work needed, and other projects in the queue.
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What type of equipment do you use?We use the latest Canon cameras that deliver tack-sharp images up to 45 megapixels. We control the camera with a remote wireless system, and review images as they are taken on a large screen to review details, and so the client can preview compositions as shots are being taken. For lighting, while we do like to use natural light as much as possible, we also perform multiple exposure flash photography where needed, and can further augment and control lighting with powerful LED lights from Aputure, including the P300c, D600ii and D300ii. For elevation shots, we have a variety of drones in our fleet that take high-resolution imagery in RAW format. ** We are fully FAA compliant with Part-107A certification, and are very experienced in procuring FAA authorizations to fly in restricted areas. ”.
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Do you do other types of photography or video?While I specialize in architecture / design / commercial / real-estate photography, I love many different types of photography, and have done photography work involving models, head-shots, prom’s, and restaurant food photography. We have top-notch lighting and equipment to shoot products as well, so if you have other photography needs, let’s chat! Our video work runs primarily through our production company CineMedia Fx LLC. We can and do perform a wide array of video work, and we collaborate with other local directors and cinematographers all the time on everything from luxury real-estate video tours, to music videos, marketing campaigns, corporate interviews, plays, events, even full-scale commercial productions. If you have a video project in mind, drop us a note! We’d love to discuss your video project needs.
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Do you travel?Absolutely! We are located near New York, and routinely travel to all places in the north east, however we are able to travel anywhere.
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RatesWe provide a very straight-forward approach budgeting your photoshoot as well as licensing. We operate using two basic fees: Creative Fee and Post Production Fee. The Creative Fee reflects the skill, time, and equipment required to complete the on-site project work, as well as the pre-production steps to prepare for filming, including client meetings, on-site walk-through, and pre-production shot planning. The Post Production Fee reflects the skill time and computer software required to perform image enhancement, multiple exposure blending, color grading, lens adjustments, advanced photoshop re-touching, and compositing. A full production day is billed as a daily rate, which includes an 8 hour package of work. An hourly rate is applied as the Creative Fee for on site project work less than 4 hours per day. Post Production Fees are billed at a separate post-production hourly rate. Travel is included in if under 1.5 hours each way. A standard 10 year license is also included at no extra charge for the delivered photos, for your use only. *** See Licensing & Usage for more details below. Rate sheet available upon request, drop us a note and we’ll get it right out to you!
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Licensing & UsageOwnership - The ownership & copyright of all images as intellectual property, remains with the photographer. We grant clients a license to use the images for a specific duration and use. We offer a standard 10 year usage license granting the client the right to use the photos for the following: website, corporate portfolio, editorial and magazine articles, wall display, professional competitions, and social media (photo credit required, @cavaleriphotography). 3rd Party Usage - The images may not be shared with others directly as this would create infringement. However, other interested parties interested in using the images after a shoot, can easily obtain appropriate usage license from us . Just have the interested party contact us by e-mail with which image(s) are desired, and we will send an invoice for the license and a link to download the image(s).
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Why is Architectural photography more costly than Real-Estate photography?We get this question a lot. It all comes down to value. A real-estate agent’s principal goal typically is to sell a home at the best price possible. An agent that consistently invests in in great quality pictures as well as high-end video tours, will help towards this goal, as well as elevate their own brand. However, the value of these photos diminishes to the agent once the home is sold. The duration of the home on market may only be a few weeks (or even a few days or less in the current market). So while the images are valuable to achieve the objective of a home sale, the duration of value is often fairly short. The value of architectural or commercial photography is quite different. These images are often used by firms to place RFP bids that can procure project awards in the tens ore even hundreds of millions of dollars. They may be used to achieve design awards that serve to gain valuable exposure, and notoriety, elevating the design firm or architect’s brand recognition in the industry. These photos may be used as a part of large scale marketing or social media campaigns to establish or build upon a firms social presence and connect with their target audiences. From these examples, we can see that the shelf-life of these images is potentially much much longer, lasting many years, or even decades. Lastly, architectural photography differs in that, absolutely every detail, every inch of space is intentional. The architectural photographer needs to be capable of bringing an artistic vision to the composition of the subject, such that it maximizes the impact to the viewer, and reflects the intended vision of the architect or designer. In summary, there is a great deal more effort and skill that goes into the planning, execution and post processing for this type of imagery, to help ensure final results are both artful and flawless.
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Do you recommend cost sharing?Definitely! If you can determine in advance that say, your architectural firm, as well as the construction firm, owners, landscape designers, contractors, or other interested parties would like to have and use the images, the production cost can be divided among the interested parties. We charge a licensing fee for each additional party, then divide the total fee by the number of parties involved, which can lead to huge savings for each client.
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Do you offer discounts?Our day rate is discounted from the hourly rate by a significant percent. As you can imagine, when you break down a typical shoot, it takes a lot of time to pack gear, travel, unload, set-up, interact with clients, prepare and execute each shot, tear down gear, return to the studio, unpack and download the images. We can sometimes create additional cost savings when we are shooting multiple locations for the same client, especially if they are in close proximity and we can capture all the shots in a single day. Also, we can keep costs in check with thorough planning during the pre-production phase. As mentioned in the section ‘What is the best way to prepare for our shoot’, the cost of production execution can be lowered by maximizing efficiency on shooting days. This comes down to careful planning. If the spaces that need to be captured require minimal preparation by us, you will get the very best shots in the time we have planned for, as we will not be rushing or spending time that would otherwise be spent crafting an amazing composition.
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