Brookstone - O'Hare Airport - Chicago, IL

Brookstone O'Hare Airport Chicago, IL AJ Brown Imaging

Early this summer, I was contacted to photograph three Brookstone stores located in the Chicago O’Hare Airport. Over the years I’ve photographed my share of retail shoots, but never stores located in one of the busiest airports in the States; needless to say, I was intimidated. Questions looped through my brain: Will TSA have to search my gear? Will all the people walking by ruin shots? Will people know to stay clear of my lighting equipment?

Brookstone Airport AJ Brown Imaging

Thankfully, all my equipment passed through TSA without being flagged and most people were too busy trying to make connecting flights to bother with the random photographer taking pictures at Brookstone. After only fifteen minutes at the first store, I felt confident and at ease. My concern about the amount of people ended up being the most interesting part of the shoot; I had an unlimited resource of people to choose from and include in my shots!

These three images reveal the Brookstone pop-up store in Terminal 1.

Brookstone Terminal 1 AJ Brown Imaging

Moody Bible Institute - Chicago, IL - AJ Brown Imaging

Recently, we had the opportunity to shoot at the Moody Bible Institute downtown Chicago. After completing the remodel of Culbertson Hall, they asked us to come photograph their newly-renovated space.

Moody Bible Institute

Moody Bible Institute

In today’s architectural photography world, most professionals generally agree that shooting a space without people is less than satisfactory. Because spaces are designed specifically for people, documenting without them turns the images bare and lifeless. Adding people into photographs also helps the viewer’s understanding of scale and helps them imagine the functionality of the space. 

Moody Bible College Interior AJ Brown Imaging

However, adding people to architectural photographs turns the project into a completely different process. Instead of only focusing on lighting the space, we have to light the people within the space in a complimentary way, which creates a whole set of challenges with positioning and power of lighting.

Because we were scheduled to shoot the week before students arrived, finding people to include in the shots proved difficult. Luckily, we ended up using a couple random students who were on campus early, a few young-looking staff members, and my own assistant, Peyton who “still looks 19” (his words, not mine) in several shots

Moody Bible College Chicago, IL AJ Brown Imaging

Desperate times call for desperate measures and the image above reveals the rare occasion where I’m in front of the camera instead of behind it!

Chicago Architectural Photographer - AJ Brown Imaging

AJ Brown Imaging’s goal is excellence in providing clients with award winning architectural photography. AJ Brown Imaging has fifteen years of experience shooting Illinois commercial architectural and residential architectural buildings. Trusted by architectural firms throughout the Midwest and beyond

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