Traditional Mediterranean Orange County Home

Just wrapped up this shoot on an impeccably staged Orange County home - if only every shoot of mine was staged so well! We did a lot of lighting here to brighten up the interiors and really show off the design inside. Most shots had a 640ws light out the window shot through an umbrella, grid, or reflector to add some splotchy Sunday-morning light to give a bright and airy feel. Most of these shots are simply all done in-camera with slight camera ACR raw tweaks to contrast and saturation. Sometimes instead of crazy composites, everything can be done in camera with some carefully thought-out lighting and patience. While there are ups and downs to both approaches, there's definitely something special about getting everything perfect in the camera. On the other hand, though...sometimes seeing the finished product after a full day's effort in Photoshop is awesome, too!

Photographing A Pasadena Remodel: A Modern Update In A Classic Town

One of my long time clients, Future Home Builders, recently finished this gorgeous remodel of a 1950s home in Pasadena. I absolutely adored the kitchen: the perfect size and just modern enough without being over the top. Clean lines and nice mood lighting made for a great environment. The lighting setup here was relatively simple, just two speedlites out of frame, and a few additional frames of painted light which were then composited together to get the wood grain and lines to pop a bit.

Santa Monica Contemporary Interior

Shooting for the wonderful Natalie Younger Interiors, we spent a couple of days photographing this space in Santa Monica. While small compared to some of the homes I shoot, I absolutely loved the varying patterns and rhythms found throughout. I could move into that office starting tomorrow, it just drips personality and character. This just goes to show how dramatically a talented designer can transform a normal run of the mill space into something that suits the owner's style and personality. This was so fun to photograph, such a contrast from many of the things that I normally work with.

Architectural Photography In Iceland: Michael Kelley Featured On Strobist.com

Strobist.com, which is one of the world's leading photographic resources, recently featured a piece on my 'Living: Island Style' project, in which I set out to photograph the architecure of Iceland during a three-week whirlwind trip around the country. The article discusses my motivation, how I pulled it all off, and how it might inspire other photographers to undertake a personal project of their own to further their career and kickstart their creative growth. I'm really happy with the way David Hobby, the author, wrote the piece, and I have received numerous emails thanking me for inspiring them with my trip. When I left Los Angeles, nobody really had any idea what I was talking about when I told them I was going to photograph architecture on a remote island in the North Atlantic. "You're going where? To do what? Why?" was the most common response. Check out the article, I'd love to know what you think, and I hope you are inspired to take on a project of your own after reading it. If you ended up here from Strobist, thanks so much for visiting, and I hope you enjoy the work on my site.

Keep an eye out for the finished 'Living: Island Style' project, which is slated to be finished by the end of the year.

To read the article on Strobist, click here.

Photographing An Architecturally Significant Home In Beverly Hills Designed By Paul R. Williams

I was recently hired to photograph this architectural treasure in Beverly Hills, CA. Designed by the great Paul R. Williams, this was his last residential project before his death in 1980. Williams practiced largely in Southern California and designed the homes of numerous celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Lon Chaney, and Charles Correll. In addition to countless residential projects (over 2,000), he also designed and worked on many well-known public buildings in Los Angeles such as the Theme Building at LAX, The Beverly Hills Hotel, and numerous state and federal buildings in the LA area. For more reading, check out his Wikipedia page here.

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! 

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.