6 Common Architecture Photography Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Architecture photography can be fascinating, but it's difficult to do. Here are some tips that will help you nail this genre.

If you live in a big city, you’ve probably tried architecture photography at least once—ditto if you’ve ever visited a metropolis like London or New York City. And if you have tried pointing your camera at buildings, you probably already know that getting cool-looking pictures is difficult.

Architecture photography comes with several challenges. Many artists think in a one-dimensional manner, which results in pretty average shots. If you want to improve your architecture photography, you’re in the right place. We’ll show you the top mistakes in this guide and offer their solutions so you can enhance your future shots.

1. Ignoring Textures

Textures are one of the most overlooked aspects of photography, but keeping them in mind can add another dimension to your pictures. When it comes to architecture photography, many people think solely about the shape of the building—putting them at a disadvantage.

Architecture in many cities is diverse in terms of its textures. Some of the more modern buildings are smoother and have glass, whereas older buildings feature bricks or wood.

The Solution: Think About the Building’s Look and Feel

Before you begin snapping away, think about the texture of the buildings you plan to photograph. Once you’ve done that, consider how you can make these pop in your pictures.

If we look at buildings made of bricks, for example, you can get close and highlight how the bricks "feel". You can use Macro mode on your camera and emphasize textures further in your post-production software.

2. Focusing Only on the Exterior

If you’re out and about with your camera, it’s easy to get caught up in what architecture looks like from the outside. But by adopting this narrow approach, you’re potentially missing out on several amazing shots.

Many buildings, particularly older ones, have stunning interiors that are arguably more impressive than the outside. Religious buildings are some of many examples.

The Solution: Get Inside if You Can

In many cases, you should be able to get inside the building. Of course, you’ll find some exceptions—places of residence, some offices, and military use areas are often no-gos. If you’re unsure whether you’re allowed to take pictures, ask the guard outside or go to the receptionist. Either way, you’ll get a definitive answer.

3. Choosing Dull Angles

Is most of your architecture photography at eye height? If so, you’ll probably want to switch things up a little. Taking pictures at eye height means that your results will often be similar to everyone else’s; you’re also missing out on several cool shots that require little extra effort.

Most of the time, we choose boring angles because we don’t think before shooting. You’ve probably found yourself particularly guilty of doing so when you have been out without planning some kind of story.

The Solution: Switch Up Your Angles

If you want to take more interesting architectural shots, you have to think carefully before you start taking pictures. Consider how you can find a unique angle; crouching down, crossing the street, and even shooting corners.

You can also consider looking for unique vantage points. Ask if you can head to the rooftop of an office building, for example, or consider taking a helicopter tour if the city you live in or are visiting allows it. You can also try using negative space to isolate unique features, such as chimneys and rooftops.

4. Ignoring Other Buildings Nearby

Many beginner architecture photographers focus on one particular building and disregard the others surrounding it. If you fall into that category, you’ll want to consider opening your mind to new ideas that will help you take more interesting pictures.

Only including one building in your picture can provide a simple focal point, but diversifying your content a bit might help you reach the next level in your photography.

The Solution: Incorporate Multiple Buildings Into Your Picture

If you want to try something new, utilize the shapes and textures of multiple buildings in your picture. You can achieve this by going to any major city’s downtown area, where numerous skyscrapers are frequently positioned next to each other.

Examples of photography styles you can try include:

• Capturing the corners of two different buildings next to each other.
• Photographing the city skyline from a unique perspective or at an alternative time of day.
• Photographing juxtaposing architecture styles next to each other.

5. Going to Touristy Locations

If you’ve ever traveled somewhere new, you’ve probably gone to the touristy spots first. Doing so isn’t surprising, considering that you’re, well, a tourist. However, taking the same pictures that everyone else does won’t make you stand out.

You’ll probably have noticed that many pictures on Instagram look identical to one another. How many times have you seen the same shot of Times Square and the Eiffel Tower?

The Solution: Scout New Places or Seek Alternative Perspectives

Once you’ve trodden the tourist trail, try to find new places for photography that are a little more authentic. The best way to do this is by seeking genuine local experiences, such as diving into the café culture or exploring off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods.

You can still take pictures of touristy locations as well, but try to think about how you can make these shots look different.

6. Ignoring Lens Compression

Any lens is better than none, but some will change how your photo looks more than others. When photographing architecture, you’ll want to ensure that the buildings look as real as possible—and some lenses might hinder you from doing that.

You can fix lens compression in Lightroom, but it’s easier to choose a lens that will minimize how much post-production you need to go through.

The Solution: Choose a Suitable Lens

Architecture is diverse, so we don’t have a one-size-fits-all solution for choosing the right lens. You’ll need to think about the types of shots you want to capture in advance and choose whichever best fits your needs from your equipment.

If your architecture photography varies throughout the day, consider picking a versatile lens. 27mm, 50mm, and 35mm—or your manufacturer’s equivalents—are all excellent choices.

Architecture Photography Is Fun and Challenging in Equal Measure

Taking photos of architecture is about more than pointing your camera at a building that looks cool. You must think about textures, angles, equipment to use, and much more. Getting your architecture photography right will take a lot of practice, but these tips should at least point you in the right direction.