Mpkelley.com Chosen To Photograph Historic Beverly Hills Architecture

I'm happy to announce that I've been chosen to work with the Beverly Hills Historic Society to photograph a number of famous and architecturally significant Beverly Hills landmarks. The photos will be used in everything from museum displays to advertising and tourism promotions for the city. In addition, they'll be used as historical records for future generations. I'm greatly looking forward to photographing as many sites as possible with the Society. You can check out my first subject, the Beverly Hills Electric Fountain, located on the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd and Wilshire Blvd, below. All of the light you see was created by small, handheld flashes positioned throughout the scene, yet still cleverly hidden.

Photographing High-Tech Real Estate For The Space Enthusiasts Out There

Check this one out! This home, located in Laguna Niguel, CA, was constructed around a custom-made observatory. Situated 30 feet above ground and built on concrete-filled pillars which extend 20 feet below ground for stability, this was truly a one-of-a-kind home. Need I mention the gorgeous travertine floors and incredible backyard? This was definitely one of the coolest homes I've photographed.

Architectural Photography Of A Modern Office Space in Culver City, CA

I had the pleasure of working with Natalie Younger, another Los Angeles-based interior designer, to shoot her remodel of Muse, an advertising agency based in Culver City, CA. Located in a brick building constructed decades ago, this was a really fun project to work on, as the decor is something I don't often get to work with. I was able to take great creative liberty in the lighting and staging of the space, and Natalie was a ton of fun to work with. My favorite part of this shoot? Getting to take a break in those enormous bean bag chairs.

Luxury Interiors: Photographing An Architectural Gem In Orange County

This architectural beauty in Orange County, CA, was an absolute pleasure to shoot. The recently finished four-story home featured an open-air atrium in the center of the home that spanned the entire height of the home, and a custom pool that overlooked the Pacific Ocean with views for miles in every direction. Situated at the top of a scenic overlook, it felt so far removed from the bustling metropolis that is the greater Los Angeles and San Diego area. The space provided a wide range of challeneges - no shortage of problem solving here. High-noon light blasted into the dark wood interior, and I often had to juggle five or six different spaces in the same frame. I love this type of shooting, however - the greater the challenge, the greater the reward! 

Photographing Architecture In Hilton Head, South Carolina

I just got back from a trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where I met up with  the Fstoppers.com team to discuss some future projects, as well as photograph local architecture. I absolutely love the southeastern style, it is a refreshing change from the boxy architecture of Southern California. Though both have their strong points and both can be beautiful to look at, I just love all of the detail and tradition that is built into these great southern homes.

Interiors Photography: Modest Retreat on Lake Malibou

Shot for Shannon Ggem, ASID, this small property is a gem tucked away about a half an hour north of Los Angeles in the hills of Malibu. The style and decor is certainly unique to the area, and it was fun to shoot a property that had so much rustic charm. Need I mention the absolutely adorable dog who stood in as a model in a few of the shots? Too cool. I could happily waste away a few weeks in this quiet and private enclave.

Mpkelley.com: Behind The Scenes Of a Luxury Interior Photo Shoot

I was recently invited by the team at Fstoppers.com to dissect one of my interior photographs for an article. I've been a long time reader and contributer, but it wasn't until recently that I had full reign to go into detail with regards to the construction and completion of one of my shoots. You'll be able to see some of the challenges faced when shooting interiors and archtiecture, and hopefully it gives a better understanding of what my thought process is during a shoot. Click on the photo below or head here to read the article.

Architectural Photography Of A Private Residence in the Hills of Los Feliz

I was recently commissioned to shoot this incredible new construction in Los Feliz, CA. This shoot presented it's own series of unique challenges, however the setting allowed for some incredibly dynamic photographs. The first challenge was dealing with the extreme brightness range of the scene - that's bright, midday sun streaming in against a white interior with a dark wood deck outside. Pretty tough to keep it all in check. The following were shot with a set of Pul C. Buff Einsteins.

One of my favorite shots from the day was a result of the sun setting directly in front of the sliding glass doors which opened to an expansive view over the hills. The sun aligned perfectly with the back of the home and filled the entire place with a surreal, golden light. Definitely one of the most intriguing shots I've taken, and the best part is that it was nothing but 100% natural light. You don't always need a truckload of gear to pull off a shot, though getting lucky like this certainly makes it easier.

 Lastly, a couple twilight images - we know how much I love these.

Photographing The Historically Significant Director's Guild of America / ASCAP

I was recently contacted by Fleetwood/Fernandez, a Santa-Monica based architect, to shoot a new project that they had completed. While the shoot would consist of only interior photographs, the shoot was significant in that it's a remodel of  the Director's Guild of America building and the ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Producers) offices. Way cool! For those not aware, the ASCAP is the group responsible for the Grammy awards and for distributing and marketing thousands of popular musicians around the world. There was a significant amount of memorabilia (including Grammy awards) scattered throughout the building and no shortage of instruments used by chart-topping artists hanging on the wall.

While the shoot itself was relatively straightforward, I was testing out the new PowerMC2 made by PocketWizard. I recently purchased a few Paul C Buff Einstein lights and was excited to see how they would compare to my all-speedlight setup, which has been my workhorse for a number of years now. I'm glad to say I had no problems and the best part was that there was no shortage of power, something that the speedlights struggled with when lighting large spaces.

All of the spaces were staged by myself and the architects, and I think we did a great job. I've included a few photos here, and there's a new before-and-after shot featured in the gallery so you can see the staging and retouching work that went into this shoot.

 

Why aren't you writing thank-you notes for your architectural and real estate photography clients?

I am thoroughly convinced that I have landed my biggest job to date and kept my biggest clients by writing thank you notes. It shows that you care. It shows that you think a little bit more than other creatives in your field, and have a human side. People like this. I was asked to present a portfolio to a new client recently, and thanked them for their time with a hand-written note afterwards. They had the budget to fly someone in from Europe if they wanted to, and I know that they've worked with other photographers who's work I admire in the past. They certainly didn't pick me on price, I can assure you of that.  I was not the only option on their table. Yet, for some reason I am completely convinced that my simple hand-written thank you note was a contributing factor in me landing that job.  It costs next to nothing - I try to take a small percentage of my income and give it back to my clients - don't just mail bomb them with advertisements and phone calls asking them to use your service. Put a little time and effort in, whether it's either a thank-you note or a small gift. Doesn't need to be big. Just has to be human. I guarantee you'll see results.