This week’s guest blogger is Phillip Ennis, a photographer in the NYC area whose specialty is interiors and architectural photography.  His clients range from the hospitality industry, consumer electronics, home and office products to architecture and interior design firms.  His latest endeavors have included promotional videos for his clients.  He also travels to Central America and to Kenya to do philanthropic work for non-governmental organizations. For more information, see www.phillipennis.com. 

We became familiar with Phillip’s work after seeing some of the beautiful photographs he has taken of Larry Laslo’s design projects. We asked Phillip to share some of his favorite interiors and the advice he gives to designers arranging for photography of their work.

Phillip Ennis, Phillip Ennis Photography:

I’m frequently contacted by designers who arranged for photography of their interiors and were disappointed with the results.  So I’ve put together the six points I feel are most important for a designer to consider before embarking upon this journey.

Photo by Phillip Ennis, Stuart Narofsky Architect (NYC)

Hire the right photographer

Designers hire the wrong photographers for their projects all the time. A great portrait or travel photographer, or a wedding photographer, may not be able to illuminate, compose and capture a custom home interior as well as someone who has years of expertise in this field. In addition to a focal point, mood and a sense of scale are critical components of a great interior shot. Experience Counts.

Photo by Phillip Ennis, interior by Larry Laslo Designs (Interior Designer, NYC)

Review their portfolio

A photographer’s portfolio will tell you what you need to know about them. A successful interior photographer has the sensibility as to what the final result should look like.  Interior photography is an art, much like what you do. See if you like his or her work. 

Photo by Phillip Ennis, interior by Barbara Lane Associates (Interior Designer, NYC)

Lighting is key

Successfully photographing a custom home requires careful and considered placement of specialized lighting that most photographers don’t carry, let alone know how to use or where to place.  In addition to selective camera angles, the light must be controlled and shaped to complement the interior’s ambiance. 

Photo by Phillip Ennis, interior by Larry Laslo Designs (Interior Designer, NYC)

Quality counts

 In addition to using photography in your portfolio to present to potential clients, you’ll probably want to submit these images to magazines, books, bloggers and others who can help publicize your work.  They are going to be drawn to quality photography.  Why photograph your work at all if the images don’t look at least as good as the room appears in person?

Photo by Phillip Ennis, interior by Barbara Lane Associates (Interior Designer, NYC)

Understand the usage you’re purchasing

If used to their fullest, great photography keeps on giving long after the original creation.  In many cases, most photographers license their photography to a client for either a duration of time or an agreed upon type of use.  Ask and have an open dialogue with your photographer about rights and usage. If you want to use the images in public on web sites, in magazines, etc., you need to secure these rights in advance.  Often there will be manufacturers of products within your project who may want to use the photography – this needs to be negotiated in advance of the shoot. An editorial credit in a magazine or brochure, or a clickable link on a web site or an on-line version of an article where the photographs will appear may all be of interest to your photographer so consider these when negotiating your usage agreement.

Photo by Phillip Ennis, interior by Circa Designs (Interior Designer, Westport, CT)

Determine the criteria needed for successful rendition of your project

Ask your web designers, magazines, your printer (if you plan to print brochures) and anyone else who will implement the photographs of your work, what size the finished files are to be, what color space they should be in and any other criteria they feel are needed to ensure the successful rendition of your project.

Photo by Phillip Ennis, Stuart Narofsky Architect (NYC)

A closing thought

 I’ll end with one of “The Ten Commandments of Architecture,” which was written by Jim Childress, a partner of Centerbrook Architects in Connecticut:

“Thou Shalt Not Compartmentalize”

“In addition to the importance of understanding good design, thou should write well, spell correctly, figure out how to get jobs and keep clients happy, take out the trash, make a good cup of Joe, be able to build models, master sustainability as well as the latest technological tools.  Do all this and more.  EXCEPT hire a really good professional to photograph your work.  It will pay off in awards and in landing new jobs.”

Jolie Cross Cohen, Operating Vice President of Public Relations for The Robert Allen Group, is today’s guest blogger. She’s going to give you an update on an exciting new program from The National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Jolie Cross Cohen

As the song goes, “You don’t really know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” That’s why there is such a warm spot in my heart for the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). Since it was founded in 1947, this organization has restored 1,100 structures and collections and created 16,000 jobs. With headquarters in Washington, DC, eight regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, NTHP provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places and connecting us to our history.

Last month, NTHP launched a new social networking section on their website, PreservationNation.org, designed especially for historic home buffs. Coined @home, the online community allows users to build home profiles, post updates, and share photos and home improvement tips. The interactive site allows visitors to search the collection of homes and engage with others around renovation ideas, decorating tips or hints on how to make their homes more energy efficient. Check it out -- the direct link is www.athomenation.org.

Farnsworth House - Image Courtesy of Carol Highsmith
Many people don’t realize the importance of the NTHP in preserving the history of the Modernist design movement.  An example is Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House, built in 1951 and located near Plano, TX.  One of the most famous examples of modernist domestic architecture, it is now owned and operated by the National Trust.

Farnsworth House - Image Courtesy of Carol Highsmith
Preservation of the Farnsworth House and other important modernist icons such as Philip Johnson’s Glass House in New Canaan, CT, was supported by Save America’s Treasures, a program that is facing elimination in the proposed federal budget.  You can help save this component of preservation funding by joining the NTHP’s campaign (see their website at www.preservationnation.org). 

Farnsworth House - Image Courtesy of Carol Highsmith
Frank Lloyd Wright, Paul Rudolph and other important 20^th Century architects known for Modernist design, can be appreciated by future generations who will tour sites preserved through the efforts of the NTHP.  The annual list of “11 Most Endangered Historic Places” focuses efforts on these and other important architectural treasures.

This week our guest blogger is Barbara Karpf.  Over the past twenty years, her design projects have delighted clients in New York City, the Hamptons and other metro New York locations.  Barbara was honored as one of the “Great Designers of the World 2000” and has received wide visibility in decorator show houses as well as shelter magazines.  Five years ago, Barbara founded DecoratorsBest.com, a highly successful online resource for decorative fabrics and wallpapers.  We’re a fan of Barbara’s blog so we asked her to share a few of her favorite interior design blogs and websites with our readers.

Barbara Karpf

Thrilled by the invitation from Robert Allen's Blog Team to share my 10 favorite blogs, I thought this would be an easy assignment but quickly realized how difficult a task it was.  Since I write my own blog on DecoratorsBest.com, I have a great appreciation for the challenges posed by a weekly blog post.  The world is now at a lightening pace and vital information is just a click away so I look to a multitude of blogs to stay up to the minute in the interior design world.  So, with this challenge at hand, I've narrowed my list to the following blogs that consistently delight and enlighten me.

Decor 8 - decor8blog.com/

As clever as its name, Decor8’s site is stimulating and fun.  I feel connected to the writer, Holly Becker who is a freelance journalist and design consultant. She is very open with her thoughts and posts unusual opinions and great pictures to reenergize the creative process.

Design Milk - design-milk.com

Design Milk tries to nourish the artistic soul with a medley of innovative endeavors. Interior design, architecture, fashion and music are all represented with cutting edge projects and products. Architecturally driven, Design Milk presents unusual interior design photos.  Primarily modern, the products and photos selected keep one up to the minute in the design world.

Design Sponge - designspongeonline.com

I’ve been a big fan of Design Sponge for several years.  Their opinions and selections are tops and I always find something new.  I enjoy their photos and particularly like their “Sneak Peak” section which keeps me up to date on the interior design world.

1^st Dibs - 1stdibs.com

It’s hard to imagine the world without 1^st Dibs. It’s saved me countless hours of hunting for the perfect antique or accessory.  I know many of the NYC antique dealers listed and they are all first rate. Because of their respectability I felt that dealers in other areas of the US would be of an equal caliber. This gave me confidence to purchase many items from dealers around the country who have turned out to be incredibly professional and reputable. In addition to the antiques, the 1^st Dibs articles are always insightful.

Apartment Therapy - apartmenttherapy.com

Apartment living is not always easy and Apartment Therapy shows how it can be done on a tight budget and in a tight space. I always marvel at the creative solutions for these teeny apartments. Most photos are submitted by readers, not always professionals and their ideas are always fresh and original.

Habitually Chic - habituallychic.blogspot.com

Heather Clawson has taste and style.  Her photos of rooms, restaurants and art work are viewed from a designer’s eye and capture exciting and stylish elements.  So many design ideas emanate from each picture and these ideas can easily be incorporated into interior design projects.

Freshome - freshome.com

Like its name, it’s a breath of fresh air! Light and airy pictures, bright young spaces and well designed, practical products are the hallmark of this site.

Home Design Find - homedesignfind.com

A designer’s design blog! Focused on true design there are a myriad of photos and ideas on this site that come from all parts of the globe. Recent posts were about projects in Spain, China, Bangladesh, Peru and the US.

Remodelista - remodelista.com

The direction of this charming blog is towards handmade and specialty products. I am always searching for THE piece to add warmth to a room and within seconds I often find a wide array of products and ideas.

Holistic Interior Designs - holistic-interior-designs.com/holistic-interior-design-blog.html

Holistic Interior Designs is devoted to green living. A multitude of resources are featured to enable one to build and design an eco friendly home and live a healthy life style. I particularly like the Portfolio section which shows a variety of attractive and green projects.

BARBARA KARPF BIO

DECORATORS BEST was founded by Barbara H. Karpf. For the past twenty years Barbara H. Karpf, NKBA Kitchen Designer, has worked in New York City, The Hamptons, and the entire Metropolitan area. She is in 'Who's Who in Interior Design' and was selected as one of the 'Great Designers of the World 2000.' Ms. Karpf has participated in many decorator showhouses and her work has been featured in numerous national publications. She has been a guest lecturer at The Architectural Digest Home Show in New York City. She is a graduate of The New York School of Interior Design and Brandeis University.