Master the finest techniques of building photography for sharp, artistic images of structures. We offer you step-by-step advice, equipment recommendations, and professional methods for better still images.
The Best Techniques of Building Photography 2025
1. Use Symmetry to Your Advantage
We humans naturally tend toward balance and symmetry in shapes, and you should use this fact to your advantage. When setting up your camera, use a spirit level to perfectly balance the shot and straighten the horizontal and vertical lines to achieve perfect symmetry.
Use facades with mirrored windows as a reference point for a starting position. Arches or centered columns can also add more symmetry to your photos, making them more professional and appealing.
2. Use Leading Lines
Such lines guide the viewer’s eye to the center of the image and can be found in frequently used parts of a building like beams, stairs, and even corridors. You can also use larger structures and imitate leading lines such as cranes, rails, and arches, all serving the same purpose.
For such shots, you need a wide-angle to normal lens to emphasize depth. Research the subject and lines before each shot. Then position yourself at the start of the line. Keep the line as straight as possible; you may need a tripod for these shots.
3. Break Symmetry
In some architectural places, symmetry is less important than emotional depth or the storytelling element. In this case, you must adapt to asymmetry and use surrounding trees, people, vehicles, and other outdoor structures as a counterbalance to a centered structure. First, take the traditional symmetrical shot, then slowly add these elements into the frame to bring it more life.
Imagine making a clear shot without obstacles or irregularities in your architecture photo. Start with a person casually walking by and photograph them with a long exposure. You may have seen such shots in major media and AP photos. Photos combined with human scale appear more interesting and give more depth.
4. The Rule of Thirds Still Matters
Using “power points” remains one of the best techniques in this field, as it offers the viewer more dynamism and balance to the scene. This quality makes it a very popular technique even by today’s standards of modern photographers.
Use the grid mode in your viewfinder and place the most striking part of the shot at the intersection of these lines. These lines divide the frame into nine equal parts, with two vertical and two horizontal lines. You can take several shots by shifting this striking area and see which works best. Usually, windows, arches, and doors of buildings are placed at these intersections or power points.
5. Mix Everything!
Yes, sometimes this works and gives your shots a particularly interesting effect. Start with the rule of thirds: place your subject at the focal points and pay attention to a symmetrical background.
Now move from this symmetrical point to another perspective and set an interesting subject. You can add variety by either shooting from a higher position to emphasize patterns more strongly or from a lower point to highlight the vertical lines of the structure.
Combine a Powerful Camera Lens
No matter how well you master the above best techniques of building photography this year, investing in a powerful camera lens should always be a top priority. The SIRUI AURORA Series 85mm F1.4 Full-Frame Autofocus Lens is such a lens that offers you more creative control and higher image quality for your building photography.
Equipped with state-of-the-art optics, this lens allows you to capture interesting patterns of buildings and other architectural sights. You can take detailed shots of tiles, beams, and changing lights, which are especially interesting at old and rich cultural sites. The lens produces a stunning oval blur and clear subject isolation, allowing you to give both your symmetrical and asymmetrical shots narrative depth.
Summary:
We have mentioned above the five best techniques of building photography to improve your compositions and final shots. To make the most of them, however, you need a powerful 85mm camera lens like the SIRUI AURORA Series 85mm F1.4 Full-Frame Autofocus Lens to get noticeably closer and more detailed shots.
