As interior designers, our work is not copyrighted or patented. We don’t own the homes we design. As soon as we walk out the door, life takes place and shifts what we so carefully curated. Our work is a fleeting thing — just a short moment in time. The only way we can hold any memory or proof of it is through photos, which is why interior designers need professional photography more than anything else in their business.

My Interior Design Photoshoots in Action

This summer alone, I have done three photo shoots on projects that have been in the works for years. The first was our Zilker project here in Austin. This home is on its third round of work, and I have photos over every single iteration! 

The next was a condo shoot for a returning client for whom we have done three projects. She was not keen on investing her budget into accessories, so we took our own styling pieces into the shoot and made it work. The result was stunning. Now, the client sees firsthand the value of our styling and plans to proceed with a few more project tweaks. (The power of good interior design photography in action!) 

The third photoshoot involved a trip to Cape Cod. My team and I have spent the last two years designing a vacation home remotely. But the long-distance design relationship wouldn’t stop us from traveling to conduct a shoot. The photoshoot took three days, and we will likely go back up for another at the end of the summer. The project wasn’t quite finished, but I moved forward with the planned shoot and made it work, capturing 30 shots that look as complete as can be. 

Here’s Why Interior Designers Need Professional Photography

You need professional photography for your interior design business to: 

• Showcase Your Work: Client homes are private. Without photography, no one but the homeowner will be able to see or appreciate your work. 
• Build a Credible Reputation: Sure, you can say you designed a beautiful space, but folks will want to see proof. Photography is shared and will help build your reputation as a designer.  
• Attract New Clients: Photoshoots secure the next job. Good interior design photos are the best way to build your portfolio and attract new clients. 
• Develop Your Brand: Photos tell the story of your brand, showing the types of spaces and styles you design.  

Do Whatever It Takes to Get Good Photos of Your Design Projects

As interior designers, one of the most important things we can do to help ourselves in marketing is to get good photos of our work. After all, the homes we design belong to the clients and are living, breathing places that constantly change. Your design will be altered as soon as the first person walks into the space and changes a pillow placement or hangs a family photo. The spaces we design are only ours in that one moment when they are photographed!  

Don’t fail yourself by not taking photos. Good interior design photography is how you will get your next job and how you will account for all your hard work. Nothing else exists to say, “Hey, I did this!” These jobs sometimes take years to complete and are a labor of love. Don’t let scheduling issues, a missing armchair, or an unfinished gallery wall keep you from documenting your work. That would be a huge mistake.

Overcoming Interior Design Photography Hurdles

Don’t let anything stand in between your design project and the camera. Obstacles may present themselves, but you can’t let them hinder your design photoshoot. 

The Client is Camera Shy

Getting a client to welcome a photoshoot crew into their home after they’ve lived there for a few weeks is difficult. Don’t wait to take photos. Instead, capture them the minute the project is complete before the client comes home to receive it. Many designers even incorporate photography into their design contracts as a mandatory step of the process. 

No Clients? No Problem. 

I tell young, up-and-coming interior designers who do not yet have clients to call their own to style and decorate their own space over and over again in different ways and photograph that. In this day and age when content is so important, do not let your hard work and vision go unrecorded. There is no excuse not to do what you can to capture your hard work, even if it is simply restyling your own apartment. 

You Get What You Pay For

I can’t stress enough the importance of hiring a professional photographer. Do what you do to get the photos. Pay what you have to pay. Hire a stylist to arrange the shot. Buy fresh flowers for the table. Your work will thank you for showcasing it in the best light. Even if you lose money by taking the photos (if you do, you aren’t charging enough), at the very least, you will have what you need to secure your next client and job. Photos get jobs — every time. 

Fake It ‘Til You Make It

No matter how well you plan, some projects just won’t finish on time. But guess what? If the photographer is booked and ready and won’t be able to reschedule for months, then you have to move forward with the shoot. Take a cue from Hollywood directors and treat the home as a set where you can work that movie magic. I’ve done many shoots where one half of the room looks complete, but the other half out of frame is a complete mess. Do what you have to do! 

Photography is the Best Investment in Your Design Business 

Investing in a professional photoshoot of your interior design work is the right move for everyone. The client loves having their space celebrated, the team feels validated, and you get to share the photos of your work with the world. Sharing not only lands us our next jobs but also gives us a gauge of what our audience responds to and wants to see more of. Professional interior design photography is the best gift you can give yourself. Do it.

And, that’s a wrap!