Architectural and interior design photographers don’t just take photos. They help tell the stories of the spaces that matter to people.

It’s easy to overlook the value of a photographer’s skillset. “Professional button pusher”, some of us self-deprecatingly label ourselves, as though we’re beating others to the perceptual punch. But with powerful little cameras tucked in everyone’s pockets, professional photographers ought to give (and receive) credit where credit is due, by first reminding themselves (and their clients) about their purpose.

Architectural photographers, for example, help tell the stories of the places and spaces that really matter to people. A designer’s vision, a home filled with memories, or a brand’s ethos: The impact of what photographers do lies in preserving and elevating the essence of a space for others to experience and connect with. Because, at the heart of our work, is connection.

Well-crafted photos communicate atmosphere. An image has the power to enable somebody to viscerally experience the essence of a place; people don’t just “see” it — they feel it. And what’s more, not everybody will ever have the chance to actually step inside. At the risk of sounding metaphysical, imagery allows us to transcend time and space. Photography can be truly transportive.

Photographers also help people find beauty in the seemingly mundane. They literally shepherd the eyes to notice the attention to detail and the craftsmanship of the spaces we most enjoy. They show us why we enjoy them. Photographers can showcase a designer’s intimate understanding of their own client’s why, conveying an ever more powerful value proposition than understanding merely the what. Their work helps their clients to connect with their clients, in a deeper, more evocative way. They also translate both the palpable and the impalpable — the tangible design elements and a businesses’ ethos — into visuals that speak when words alone might fail. Whether it’s an intricate texture, the play of light, or how select furnishings flow throughout a room, photography reveals to people the otherwise unnoticed consideration that surrounds them.

And on a more profound level, photographers contribute to cultural storytelling. Architecture, design, and interiors are all expressions of culture. Each photographer, with their unique style cultivated over many years of experimentation, adds their and their clients’ voices to the broader narrative about how people love to live in their surroundings.

Indeed, photographers know their way around a complicated array of buttons and possess a highly technical skillset. But the clients investing in professional photography understand that a photographer’s craft is more than just producing a picture; it’s the art of capturing the essence of their work, their product, or their space at its finest. It’s an investment in the way photographers collaborate to bring each scene to life, the choices they make in how the scene is framed, and the emotions that can be evoked through such decisions and refinements. Photography truly has the power to transform how people see, experience, and engage with their worlds — and the worlds of others.