Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary through architectural photography for builders
Project Overview
Located in the quiet valleys of Eagle Mountain, Utah, Sage Creek Middle School is a new-build project by Westland Construction, designed by Meridian Engineering in collaboration with VCBO Architecture.
BK Captured was commissioned to document the finished campus for Westland’s internal portfolio and marketing use — a 6-hour architectural shoot designed to showcase craftsmanship, scale, and the natural environment that defines this site.
Setting the Scene
The shoot took place on a calm, post-storm September morning. Light spilled softly across the Oakers and the aptly named Sage Canyon, wrapping the brick-and-glass exterior in gold. Working primarily in natural light, I began at 8 a.m. to take advantage of the clean morning air and the school’s east-facing façade before moving through key interior spaces as the sun tracked overhead.
“Berin’s images consistently help us showcase the craftsmanship and scale of our builds to future clients,” a representative from Westland Construction said. “His work captures both the design intent and the pride that goes into every project.”
Creative Direction
While the architectural design had been used on other campuses, its placement within this valley made it unique. My goal was to highlight how the building interacts with its environment—to make viewers feel the expanse of the canyon while appreciating the precision of the craftsmanship.
The focus was on clarity and order: clean rooms, balanced compositions, and bright, neutral color tones that reflect the building’s true materials. No staged activity, no human presence—just the structure, its form, and the light.
Process & Flow
After meeting with the general contractor, I began with drone photography, capturing sweeping aerials of the school framed by the canyon. Those images would later define the project’s identity: the building seamlessly blending into its surroundings.
Moving indoors, I worked room by room—starting with the library, cafeteria, gymnasium, and auditorium—before wrapping with classrooms and exteriors under the sharper midday light. Shooting wide at f/11 ensured clarity and focus throughout each space.
One of my favorite moments was inside the auditorium, where deep blue seating contrasted perfectly with the warm orange floor lighting—a complementary palette that added vibrancy and depth to the composition.
Technical Notes
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Camera: Sony A9
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Lenses: 16-35 mm f/2.8 GM & 50 mm f/2.8 macro
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Drone: DJI Mavic Pro 3
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Lighting: 100% natural, timed for morning and midday contrast
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Editing: True-to-life color balance on a calibrated monitor for neutral tones
Working on a 200,000 sq ft+ campus demands rhythm and restraint—knowing when to focus on details versus capturing the larger architectural story. Builders value documentation, while architects lean toward perfection. My goal is to bridge both: creating images that are technically sound and emotionally resonant.
Challenges & Problem-Solving
Large-scale educational spaces always present logistical puzzles: construction cleanup, access keys, reflections, and subtle chaos in classrooms. At Sage Creek, I even lowered every cafeteria table by hand to get a clean composition—then put them back up afterward. Those small adjustments often separate good documentation from meaningful architectural imagery.
Results
The final delivery included 87 images used across Westland’s portfolio and internal presentations. From the golden drone shots of dawn to the crisp midday exteriors, each frame highlights both the craftsmanship of the build and the landscape it serves.
Reflection
Architectural photography at this scale is about rhythm—finding light, structure, and intent amid repetition. Projects like Sage Creek remind me that even familiar designs can tell new stories when placed in new environments. It’s about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary—a hallway of lockers, a gymnasium’s light, or the way morning clouds lift from the valley.
For me, the standout image remains the drone shot taken just after sunrise—the school illuminated perfectly against the moody, post-storm canyon backdrop. It’s the kind of light you don’t plan, but hope for.
I collaborate with builders, architects, and developers to showcase their craftsmanship through story-driven architectural photography. See more case studies and reach out to discuss your next project.
