How I Capture Spaces: My Process for Interior Design & Architectural Photography

I’m an architectural and interior design photographer based in Seattle, and I create captivating, editorial-quality imagery to convey the story of your work.

Whether you're an interior designer, architect, or custom home builder, the spaces you create deserve to be seen. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how I approach each shoot.

Pre-Production & Creative Planning

Every successful shoot starts with a clear plan. I begin by collaborating closely with you to understand the purpose of the shoot and the story behind the space.

We’ll cover:

  • What details or materials you want highlighted

  • Which angles best represent the architecture or layout

  • Time-of-day considerations for natural light

  • Styling preferences or whether a stylist will be present

I also provide location scouting, create a flexible shot list, and make sure we’re aligned creatively before the camera is ever turned on.

Lighting & Composition with Intention

Once on-site, my focus shifts to capturing each space with technical precision and editorial perspectives.

I rely primarily on natural light, supplementing when necessary to maintain a clean and honest aesthetic. My approach emphasizes:

  • Clean, balanced compositions

  • Thoughtful framing that honors your design choices

  • Lighting that enhances color, depth, and most of all mood

For interior designers, this means highlighting materials, flow, and scale. For architects and builders, it’s about structure, craft, and geometry.

Aerial, Twilight & Motion Add-Ons

To bring your space to life, I offer creative add-ons that can elevate your project:

  • Drone/aerial photography to show the full context of your design

  • Twilight images for a cinematic, atmospheric mood

  • Motion/video to help clients experience the space as it feels in real time

These elements are ideal for high-end properties, hospitality environments, and portfolio features that need to make a strong impact.

Post-Production with a Light Touch

Every image is retouched by hand with care to ensure accuracy, cohesion, and polish.

I focus on:

  • Clean lines and perspective

  • True-to-life color representation with tones to invoke specific moods

  • Natural contrast and clarity

  • Consistency across your full project

Final deliverables include high-resolution and web-optimized files, ready for press features, portfolio updates, or digital campaigns.

Collaborative Delivery & Long-Term Value

I treat each project as a long-term collaboration instead of a single transaction.

After delivery, I’m happy to help you select key images, consult on usage for social media or web, and strategize how to build a cohesive visual portfolio over time.

Many of my clients return for future projects, because they know their work will be represented with professionalism and care.

Let’s Create Something Exceptional

If you're ready to invest in photography that truly elevates your work, I’d love to collaborate.

Erik Knudsen

Commercial photographer working in Seattle.

https://www.erik-sven.com
Next
Next

“ChatGPT, what is my curse?”