In a remodeling award competition, the judges' first walkthrough of a project happens on a screen. Every design decision, every finish detail, and the scale of the transformation has to come through in the submission, and the photography carries most of that weight.
A NARI Atlanta article makes the case for treating photography as part of the project rather than an afterthought. Professional photographers manage mixed and natural lighting, wide-angle distortion, and reflective surfaces such as tile, glass, and polished stone. They compose images that show how a space flows and draw attention to the craftsmanship that distinguishes award-level work. Equally important is documenting the starting point: well-shot before photos give judges the context they need to evaluate the transformation.
The practical lesson for firms is to schedule photography while the space is clean, staged, and still under the firm's control, before the homeowner fully moves back in. Those images serve far beyond a single submission, strengthening portfolios, websites, and proposals for years. A single well-planned shoot can pay for itself many times over.
With awards season underway, the full article is linked in the comments. How does your firm decide which projects are worth a professional shoot? #Remodeling #NARI #AtlantaRemodelingAwards
A professionally photographed finished member project, ideally a past award entry, credited to the member firm, or a behind-the-scenes shot of a photographer setting up lights in a finished kitchen. Do not name individuals without permission. A before/after pair also fits the theme. No Google Drive image folder is set up for this client, so request a real photo from the chapter or a member firm, or use a branded Canva graphic with chapter colors. Real photos outperform stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Your Photos Are the Judges' First Walkthrough" or "Document the Transformation, Not Just the Finish"