Photography is commissioned based on the scope of the project rather than square footage.

Half-Day Commission — $1,500

Up to 4 hours on location
Up to 6 finished photographs
Pre-production and shot planning
Professional architectural photography
Detailed post-production and retouching
High-resolution and web-ready files
Standard commercial usage license for the commissioning client

Full-Day Commission — $2,500

Up to 8 hours on location
Up to 12 finished photographs
Pre-production and shot planning
Professional architectural photography
Detailed post-production and retouching
High-resolution and web-ready files
Standard commercial usage license for the commissioning client

Additional finished photographs — $175 each

Larger projects, multiple locations, hospitality properties, commercial developments, and multi-day commissions are quoted individually.

Multi-Family: Assignments from $750

Hospitality: Assignments from $2,500

Commercial + Retail: Assignments from $750

Each commission includes planning, photography, standard on-site equipment, image processing, color correction, perspective correction, detailed finishing, file preparation, online delivery, and the agreed usage license.

Every final photograph is individually finished rather than processed as part of a high-volume batch.

Architectural photography focuses on creating a smaller collection of highly considered images rather than documenting every room and angle.

A typical half-day assignment produces approximately 4–6 finished photographs, while a full-day assignment typically produces 8–12.

Image counts can vary depending on the complexity of the architecture, styling requirements, lighting conditions, and amount of production required for each composition.

The commissioning client receives a non-exclusive commercial license to use the delivered photographs for their own:

Website
Social media
Portfolio
Marketing materials
Proposals and presentations
Public relations
Award submissions
Editorial and publication submissions

Copyright remains with Sam Clayton Photography.

The license is non-transferable unless otherwise stated in the project agreement.

Absolutely—and this is very common on architectural projects.

However, each company benefiting commercially from the photography requires its own license.

When multiple project partners are identified before the shoot, cost-sharing licensing can be added for approximately 30% of the photography creative fee per additional company.

This often allows several project partners to share the cost of creating one exceptional collection of imagery instead of commissioning separate shoots.

Licensing requested after a project has been completed is available starting at $250 per image, per company, depending on the intended usage.

Yes.

We regularly create imagery intended for editorial consideration, award submissions, press releases, and design publications.

Let us know during planning if publication is one of the goals for the project so the photography can be approached accordingly.

Publications requiring their own usage agreement may contact Sam Clayton Photography directly.

Yes, although it is usually treated as a collaborative creative brief rather than a checklist.

Before the assignment, we'll discuss the project's most important spaces, architectural features, materials, sightlines, exterior perspectives, and details.

Architects and designers are encouraged to identify the elements they consider most important to the project.

We'll combine those priorities with what we discover photographically on site.

Yes.

The project should be substantially photography-ready when the scheduled session begins.

Surfaces should be clean, unnecessary items removed, landscaping completed when applicable, lights operational, furniture installed, and styling substantially finished.

Fine adjustments will naturally happen during photography, but extensive cleaning, decorating, furniture installation, or construction cleanup should be completed beforehand.

Yes.

Professional aerial architectural photography is available as an addition to most assignments.

All drone operations are performed in accordance with FAA regulations and remain subject to airspace authorization, weather, property restrictions, and site conditions.

Initial selections are generally available within approximately 5 business days.

Final photographs are typically delivered within 7–10 business days after selections are confirmed.

Projects requiring extensive retouching or larger image collections may require additional production time.

Rush production may be available when arranged in advance.

No.

RAW captures, working files, layered files, and unfinished photographs are considered production materials and are not delivered.

Clients receive professionally finished, publication-quality photographs in high-resolution and web-optimized formats.

Minor cleanup and normal architectural retouching are included.

More significant alterations—such as removing large objects, correcting unfinished construction, replacing landscaping, extensive window compositing, or digitally rebuilding portions of a scene—may require an additional retouching fee.

We will discuss those situations before additional charges are incurred.

Exterior architectural photography is highly dependent on weather and light.

If conditions would substantially compromise the quality of the photographs, exterior portions of the assignment may be rescheduled.

For projects involving both interior and exterior photography, we may photograph the interiors as scheduled and return for exterior images under better conditions.