“With Our Images, We Make Places Visually and Emotionally Accessible”
Architectural photographer Philip Kistner wants to bring buildings to life visually and capture their unique design. For him, photography is more than just a craft – it is a search for clues. Here is a conversation about his fascination with architecture, the art of staging spaces and the challenges of working in an unpredictable environment.
Werksgelände: What does an architectural photographer actually do?
Philip Kistner: As architectural photographers, we help companies in the construction industry to communicate their projects visually. Our clients are architecture firms, interior designers, project developers, investors or manufacturers of building products. We create photographs and films that tell the story of a building. Be it as a reference for competitions, for presentation on your own website or in specialist articles. A large number of buildings remain closed to the public. Our work is the key to marketing these projects. We experience buildings primarily through images. It is therefore our job to design these images in such a way that they convey the uniqueness of a building. Even world-famous buildings are only known to many people through photographs. With our images and films, we make such places visually and emotionally accessible.
What experience or talents should you have for the job?
First and foremost, enthusiasm for buildings and their design is crucial. Every photographer has individual focuses or interests – be it furniture design, interior design, building construction or residential buildings. All of these topics have one thing in common – the joy of visually staging architecture. A good sense of spatial staging is essential: Which light tells the most exciting stories? How can the weather create emotions? There are many small details that make a picture successful. In addition to an interest in design, an understanding of human nature and a sense of humor are also important. People use every building, and we often need their support – be it a facility manager or a friendly local resident.
The job also requires stamina, as the best lighting conditions often occur at sunrise or sunset, which means long working days. At the same time, the job offers access to extraordinary places and allows you to be curious. Travel and flexibility are also part of the job, as we respond to weather conditions or construction delays, for example. This job is ideal for people who love challenges.
For me, photography is a kind of search for clues.
- Philip Kistner
What appeals to you about your job?
What I love about my job is the intense involvement with good design. I have a particular fondness for the architecture of the 1960s and themes such as living, furniture, art and design. It is a pleasure to experience this quality in projects such as office buildings, villas or other buildings. I am also fascinated by the stories and people behind the buildings. Who builds a minimalist villa? What considerations did the architect have when designing it? How did he deal with the property? For me, photography is a kind of search for clues. The combination of creativity and entrepreneurship is particularly appealing: I produce creative, valuable work that supports companies in their communication and at the same time, I can realize my own visions and projects.
What are the biggest challenges in your job?
The biggest challenge in my profession is the unpredictability. Architectural photography depends on many factors, such as construction progress, vegetation and unpredictable weather. Spontaneous requests from residents or legal restrictions, such as drone flights, can also influence the work. In such situations, it is important to produce impressive images despite the circumstances. For me, the job requires stamina and the ability to react flexibly to changes.
What has been your biggest flop on the job so far, and what have you learnt from it?
Fortunately, I have been spared any major disasters so far. However, a funny situation once upset a photo production on the Austrian-German border. I was supposed to photograph the interior of a local brewery and flew from Düsseldorf to Salzburg in winter. Shortly before Salzburg, however, the plane turned around due to bad weather and flew straight back to Düsseldorf. That was my first “Düsseldorf-Düsseldorf” connection! My customer was surprised when I explained to him that I had landed back at the departure airport. We took the situation in good humor and postponed production for a week.
Of course, things can always go wrong, but we have a good error culture so that we learn from every situation. Looking back, my biggest mistake was not taking on employees sooner. For many years, I worked 70-hour weeks and was constantly on the road without wanting to give up my independence. I now have a well-coordinated team that has my back and we achieve good results more quickly. If I were to go back five years today, I would definitely build my own permanent, highly qualified and motivated team sooner.
Philip’s tips for the next generation
I have several tips that I would like to divide into two areas:
On a professional level my most important advice is to pay close attention to the changing media world. Architectural photography is constantly evolving. It is therefore important to adapt to new narrative forms such as video, stories and reels as well as changing media usage behavior. Openness to new formats is essential here.
On a personal level, my advice is to remain mentally flexible. Be aware that your perception is often only a reflection of your own point of view. The world is often more complex and less clear than it seems at first glance. I recommend constantly questioning yourself and looking for ways to optimize processes, services and offers. Taking a critical look at your own work not only promotes personal development, but also the quality of your work.
Philip Kistner
… obtained a Master of Arts in Photography at the Fachhoschule Dortmund. He has been working as a freelance architectural photographer since 2008 and founded the company Philip Kistner Fotografie & Film GmbH.
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