Thinking About Architecture Photography
Last night, I was trying to update my site, but I hit a familiar wall: I had too many street photos and images of buildings that didn’t quite fit anywhere. They weren’t bad, but they didn’t have a home. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted them to.
That sent me down a familiar rabbit hole:
Should I create a dedicated architecture portfolio?
It’s a question I’ve asked before. And each time, I’ve landed in the same place, unsure. I’ve tried shooting buildings and interiors in the past, but I was never satisfied with the results. I didn’t know how to shoot them the “right” way. Eventually, I gave up and focused on the types of photography that came more naturally: portraits, street, and people.
But lately, the idea won’t let me go.
Why Now?
There’s something appealing about revisiting architecture and interior photography on my own terms. No client brief. No pressure to post or package it. Just curiosity.
It also fits where I’m at in life.
I can shoot solo, locally, or while traveling.
It gives my older gear a second life and a clear purpose.
It’s a niche with less noise—and more room for interpretation.
This doesn’t have to become a business lane. It doesn’t even have to be public. I just want to see if I can develop a new eye for spaces I used to ignore.
Gear Talk (Briefly)
Canon seems like the obvious system to start with here. Full-frame is often expected in this genre, and I already own two main lenses I’d need: the 24–70mm f/4 and the Sigma 18–35mm for my older crop body.
I’ve thought about using my Fuji setup instead. I like the feel of the X-H2 more, but the Canon gives me access to tilt-shift options if I ever want to rent for practice or jobs down the line. The 24mm tilt-shift is still expensive, but not impossible to justify if this evolves.
I’m not looking to spend heavily on gear. The idea is to practice with what I have, keep the experiments low-stakes, and see if the genre opens up for me with a fresh perspective.
Practice > Portfolio
The plan isn’t to “build a portfolio” just yet. The plan is to practice. Intentionally. Slowly. With structure, but without pressure.
Here’s how I’m thinking about getting started:
Pick 3–5 interesting buildings nearby and revisit them at different times of day
Practice interiors in public or semi-public spaces like cafés, hotel lobbies, design-forward storefronts
Limit myself to 36 total shots per session (like a roll of film) to encourage slower, more thoughtful composition
Focus on light, texture, and space rather than just documentation
Edit each set as if it were for my portfolio, even if it’s never published
This keeps the genre accessible and makes it easier to gauge if I’m actually improving.
Not Committing, Just Reopening the Door
I don’t know if this will stick. I don’t know if I’ll ever shoot interiors professionally, or if this will remain part of my personal practice. But I’m starting to believe there’s value in revisiting the creative things we once gave up on.
Because the version of me that didn’t feel confident in this genre? He was working with a different eye, a different rhythm, and less experience.
Maybe that’s changed. Maybe this time, it’ll feel different.
