Wildlife Photography: Great Blue Heron in Accotink Wildlife Refuge, VA

A Great Blue Heron perches in a duck blind at Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge in Virginia, patiently awaiting a tasty little fish to swim by.  The bird kept watch in that exact position whole time I was working.  Photographing nature is a fun compliment to my professional life of architectural videography and photography in the Washington DC area. Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Great Blue Heron perched in a duck blind ready to strike in Accotink Wildlife Refuge, VA. Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Todd A. Smith is a VA, DC, DE, MD, PA, NJ, NY architectural photographer based in Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his award-winning architectural photography and contact information.  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddasmithphoto/

Presidential Dining Room in Washington, DC

This view toward the dining room fireplace in the Woodrow Wilson House Museum @wwilsonhouse,  Washington, DC reveals a portrait of Woodrow Wilson's wife Edith, painted in 1920 by Seymour Stone.  If you look carefully at Edith's portrait, you'll notice her chair has no left arm.  The story goes that after the portrait was completed Edith requested a revision that her waistline be made to look more "trim". Stone grudgingly obliged but in doing so he only painted one arm of the chair in subtle protest!  I chose this composition with the stair case's rail and newel post in the foreground to frame the image and add a first-person experience.

President Woodrow Wilson House Museum in Washington, DC.  Vignette of the second floor hallway looking into th dining room.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Since we could not actually light the fireplace of this historic property I used special lighting to create the illusion of fire to add interest to this otherwise empty area. From there I spotlit both the child's portrait and Edith's portrait to draw the viewer's eye to them and then added other accent lights around the room to bring out form and detail.  Had I just used ambient light I could not have achieved these enhancements.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Todd A. Smith is a VA, DC, DE, MD, PA, NJ, NY architectural photographer based in Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his award-winning architectural photography and contact information.  Instagram: @toddasmithphoto

2017 Ellicott City Show House Drawing room

Detail image of Washington, DC interior designer Rhonald Angelo @rhonald_angelo_interiors drawing room in the 2017 Ellicott City, MD Designers Show House at White Hall.  White Hall is a stunning 19th century Federal style mansion near Baltimore, MD.

Detail of White Hall drawing room fireplace by Rhonald Angelo Interiors.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Rhonald's flair for seamlessly combining diverse design genres and historical periods is shown here with an African JuJu hat over the fireplace, Lenox vases and a Chinese calligraphy brush on the mantel and antique Chinese garden stools flanking the fireplace.  A Bakshaish Persian area rug ties his design together.  Rhonald completely restored the fireplace.  He commissioned fine artist Lisa Malveaux @lisabrownmalveaux to hand paint the fireplace insets with a combination of White Hall scenes and faux marble.  For safety reasons we could not make an actual fire in the fireplace of this historic property.  To make the fireplace area as inviting as possible I placed special lighting in its interior.  Next I lit the entire room with three more lights in a way to reveal details and contours in the design elements featured in the architectural photography I produced. Photo: ©Todd A. Smith.  Instagram: @toddasmithphoto .

Todd A. Smith is a VA, DC, DE, MD, PA, NJ, NY architectural photographer based in Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his award-winning architectural photography and contact information.

WI State Capitol Reflection in US Bank Plaza

The Wisconsin State Capitol at dusk in summer reflecting in the windows of U.S. Bank Plaza (formerly First Wisconsin Plaza) Madison, WI.  The Wisconsin State Capitol was built 1906-1917, architect: George B. Post.  U.S. Bank Plaza (formerly First Wisconsin Plaza) was built 1974, design architect: Bruce John Graham architectural firm: SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill). Photo: ©Todd A. Smith.

The Wisconsin State Capitol at dusk in summer reflecting in the windows of U.S. Bank Plaza (formerly First Wisconsin Plaza) Madison, WI.  The Wisconsin State Capitol was built 1906-1917, architect: George B. Post.  U.S. Bank Plaza (formerly First Wisconsin Plaza) was built 1974, design architect: Bruce John Graham architectural firm: SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill). Photo: ©Todd A. Smith.

Todd A. Smith is a VA, DC, DE, MD, PA, NJ, NY architectural photographer based in Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his award-winning architectural photography and contact information.

Getting Ready for a Video Assignment

Getting my camera and gimbal ready prior to shooting a cinematic real estate video tour.

Getting my camera and gimbal ready prior to shooting a cinematic real estate video tour.  Photo: ©Tracey Attlee

Todd A. Smith is a VA, DC, DE, MD, PA, NJ, NY architectural photographer and cinematic videographer based in Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his award-winning architectural photography and contact information.

Memorial Day 2018

Please take a moment this Memorial Day weekend to reflect on the sacrifices our service members have made for our nation.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guarded 24 hours a day every day of the year.  Arlington National Cemetery,
Arlington, VA.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Todd A. Smith is a VA, DC, DE, MD, PA, NJ, NY architectural photographer based in Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his award-winning architectural photography and contact information.

Combining Indoor and Outdoor Spaces

Enjoying the outdoors from indoors is the best of both worlds when grilling, relaxing or spending time with friends and family.  Sliding and folding glass wall systems using the latest technology allow indoor lounges and other interior spaces to instantly open up.  Transforming a room into an outdoor space without the barriers of doors or walls is very popular.  Here are two beautiful designs in the Washington, DC area I've photographed for multifamily housing clients:

Parc Riverside Apartments lounge opened to courtyard

Parc Riverside Apartments, Washington, DC Lounge and Courtyard.  Owner/Property Manager: Toll Brothers Apartment Living.  Architect: WDG Architects.  Interior Design: ForrestPerkins.  Landscape: LSG Landscape Architecture.
Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Avery Row Apartments lounge opened to courtyard

Avery Row Luxury Apartments, Arlington, VA.  Developed by Insight Property Group, Buvermo Investment, Inc. Owner/Property Manager: The Bozzuto Group.  Architects: Lessard Design, Preston Partnership.  Photo: Todd A. Smith

Todd A. Smith is a VA, DC, DE, MD, PA, NJ, NY architectural photographer based in Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his award-winning architectural photography and contact information.

Use Neighborhood Photography to Attract Residents

Neighborhood attractions draw new residents and boost property sales.  DC builders and developers often commission me for neighborhood photography to show what awaits new and potential residents.

Southwest DC's nearby entertainment, theatre, waterfront and sporting events have made it one of the hottest new neighborhoods in the city.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Great coffee and breakfast shops are always welcomed by Washingtonians.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Baltimore and DC supermarkets that offer a variety of healthy dining options are highly sought. Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Nearby places for shopping, relaxing and dining are always a hit in the Washington DC area. Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Green spaces, parks and water views add charm to residential locations in DC and the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Convenient Metro stations play an important role in selecting where to live in the Washington, DC area.

Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Bike sharing has become a popular activity in the Washington DC area especially with Millennials. Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Bike sharing has become a popular activity in the Washington DC area especially with Millennials.
Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Todd A. Smith is a VA, DC, DE, MD, PA, NJ, NY architectural photographer based in Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his award-winning architectural photography and contact information.

Warm Weather Has Arrived in Washington, DC

After a long, cold, early spring, warm weather has arrived here in the Washington, DC area!

Springtime at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Todd A. Smith is a VA, DC, DE, MD, PA, NJ, NY architectural photographer based in Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his award-winning architectural photography and architectural video contact information.

Commercial Property Photography for Advertising

Most of us work outside the home in an office or business in leased space.  When we go shopping or dining out these properties are usually leased spaces too. 
The professional architectural photographer's job is depict properties in their best light to entice new patrons, tenants or buyers to visit and experience the space. 
Here is a selection of my commercial architectural photography projects showing a small shopping center, a medium-sized office park building and a large class A office building.

Heron Place Shopping Center, High Point, NC

Heron Place Shopping Center, High Point, NC.  Owner: Penn Properties, Greensboro, NC.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Rivers Business Commons, Columbia, MD

Rivers Business Commons, Columbia, MD.  Owner: Cushman & Wakefield, Baltimore, MD.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Boulders Business Park, N. Chesterfield, VA

Boulders Business Park, N. Chesterfield, VA.  Owner: Dominion Realty Partners, Richmond, VA.  Photo: ©Todd A. Smith

Todd A. Smith is a VA, MD, DC architectural photographer based in Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his award-winning residential and commercial architectural photography and contact information.