Modern building with metallic and glass panels, reflecting the sky and trees.

Close-up view of a modern building facade featuring geometric patterns with a combination of glass and metal elements.

A tall modern office building with a grid of windows on a clear sky background.

Detail image of building exterior, close up of marble and molded concrete facadé, with minimal view of the interior space where the curtails and lighting are visible.

A tall, black metal steeple, on a church, with intricate latticework design stands in front of a beige travertine tiled building exterior.

Exterior of a modern building with brick wall, narrow vertical windows, wooden slats, and a low hedge in front.

People gathering outdoors on a platform with tall modern buildings and a blue sky in the background, some taking photos and chatting.

Modern courthouse building with gray facade, glass windows, and signs reading '55th District Court' and 'Ingham County Justice Complex'. Well-maintained landscaping with flowers and grass in foreground, clear sky in background.

Modern buildings with large windows surround a small outdoor space with green plants and shrubs.

Reflection of a brick wall and sky on the glass windows of a modern building with metal framing.

Photo of the Lincoln Black Label waiting area sign on a wooden wall with a glass window reflecting the parking lot and sky outside.

An empty industrial garage with high ceilings, large red garage doors, overhead lighting, and a ceiling fan, with a view of trees and buildings outside.

A modern commercial building with a curved design, large glass windows, and wooden exterior panels, under a partly cloudy sky.

A colorful outdoor tennis court with a vibrant green, purple, and blue mural wall surrounding it, under a clear blue sky. There are two people playing tennis on the court, with seating and equipment visible along the side.

Modern building with a mix of stone, wood, and metal exterior, surrounded by landscaped greenery and a curved sidewalk with pedestrian crosswalks, under a blue sky with some clouds.

A city skyline with tall buildings, green hills, and boats on the water, viewed from a high vantage point.

A backyard patio with six wooden chairs surrounding a white fire pit with flames, a green blanket draped over a chair, a small white side table with snacks, and a green knitted throw hanging over one chair, all beneath trees with sunlight.

Modern office break room with large windows, high ceiling, and minimalistic furniture. There are people working on laptops and standing at the kitchen counter. The room features stylish lighting, including a square LED fixture and track lights. Cabin

Interior of a fast food restaurant with a pizza and coffee themed decor. Features include a red and black counter, hanging lights, a chalkboard-style menu wall, and wooden accents with signs promoting handcrafted coffee and meals.

Close-up of a modern staircase railing with metal cables and a wooden handrail, inside a building.

Wooden wall with a sign that says 'Handcrafted Coffee All Day Every Day' and a steaming cup graphic.

Main street view of a city with a building featuring a lit CGF sign at dusk, surrounded by leafless trees and streetlights.

Modern two-story building with large windows, white wall panels, and wood exterior accents, situated near a street with a stop sign and streetlights.

Modern two-story building with blue and white exterior, large windows, and illuminated interior, surrounded by landscaped greenery, trees, and benches, during dusk.

A waiting area inside a building with large windows, a circular sofa, a patterned armchair, a contemporary coffee table, and window decals of a seal and text.

Modern architectural building with a curvilinear metallic and glass facade, surrounded by greenery and a pathway with people walking.

Modern office reception area with blue chairs, colorful artwork, and glass-walled conference room.

A modern waiting room with a light gray couch, two yellow chairs, a round glass coffee table, a small beige side table, a painting of a landscape, and a large circular ceiling light fixture.

Wooden outdoor seating area with children and adults standing and sitting on the benches.

A modern multi-story building with large reflective windows and a beige stone exterior. There is a rooftop terrace with glass railings and greenery. In the foreground, there is a landscaped garden with lush green plants, trees, and a wooden walkway.

Modern waiting room with yellow and beige seating, a beige swivel chair, a small glass side table, and a framed landscape painting on the wall.

Top view of a white curved conference table with red cushioned chairs and a partial view of a black office chair on a wooden and carpeted floor.

Modern interior space with colorful ceiling panels, multiple tables and chairs, light-filled with large windows, and a reception or service counter.

A large pigeon statue in an urban park with modern glass skyscrapers in the background, and people sitting and walking around.

A silver sports car displayed inside a Nissan dealership showroom with large windows, red Nissan balloons ceiling decorations, and a seating area with chairs and a round wooden table.

Close-up of ornamental grass plants with beige and purple flowers in front of a house with a stone and siding wall.

Modern office lobby with red sofa, white coffee table, gray chairs, glass guardrails, and a reception desk with "Thermo Fisher Scientific" sign.

Modern black pendant lights hanging from a wooden ceiling with exposed beams.

Inside of a store with large glass windows, orange accents, modern lighting fixtures, and outside view of a delivery truck and wooden fence; the store has seating area with orange chairs, a clear table with snacks, a blue rug, and organized shelves w

A multi-story office building with a sign that reads 'The Mill' on the top corner, a glass exterior on one side, and brick walls on the other. The building has a street and parking lot in front, trees, and a blue sky with a few clouds.

Exterior view of a modern Springhill Suites by Marriott hotel with a blue and white facade, a driveway, parking lot, and landscaped area with trees.

A cozy dining room with a round wooden table set with wine glasses, a white pitcher holding green foliage, and a place setting with a burnt orange napkin. In the background, a living area with a sofa, curtains, and a mirror.

Outdoor patio with modern fire pit, seating, and a blue and white building in the background.

Outdoor patio with a wooden table set with a bottle of sparkling wine, two wine glasses, and a cheese and grape platter, surrounded by cushioned seating and a rustic wooden shed in the background.

Living room with a green velvet sofa and pillows, a round wooden coffee table with a large vase of greenery, books, and a decorative bowl, and a beige armchair near a window with patterned curtains.

A cozy bedroom with a bed featuring white linens and decorative pillows, striped curtains on windows, a wood desk with a black lamp, and a framed landscape painting on the white wall.

Two white towels hanging on hooks in a room with white and blue beadboard walls.

High school building with flags, entrance labeled 'SUSQUEHANNOCK,' and a covered walk with a sign 'AUDITORIUM' at the entrance.

Close-up of white botanical illustrations on a dark background, with parts of a white surface and wooden object visible in the foreground.

Large, modern multipurpose room with wooden flooring, a stage area with a screen, high windows, and flags hanging inside.

Urban park with benches, green plants, and trees in front of a modern glass building on a clear day.

A modern, multi-story building with a stone facade, balconies, and a tower-like structure marked with the number 2. The building is set against a partly cloudy sky with a parking area in front and a vintage orange tank on a trailer.

People walking along a paved walkway in an urban park with green trees and colorful flowers, next to a modern glass building.

Modern building with large garage doors, yellow safety bollards, and a clear blue sky.

A woman sitting on a wooden bench in an urban park, with tall modern buildings and a glass skyscraper reflecting the sky behind her.

Photo of a modern office building with reflective windows and the name 'Eighth Avenue Place' on the facade.

Empty courtroom with wood-paneled walls, a curved judge's bench, flags, a large display screen, and security cameras.

A man in a suit walking past a large window display on a snowy day. The window features partial red text and reflects an interior space.

Close-up of various modern building facades with glass windows, metal, and stone surfaces.

Modern government building labeled Gene L. Wriggelsworth Training Center, Sheriff’s Office, and 55th District Court with flags, statues, benches, and landscaped lawn in front, under a partly cloudy sky.

Exterior of Penn Cinema with American and state flags, surrounded by pink flowers and green trees, on a sunny day.

A red fire truck parked outside a brick fire station with White siding, an American flag on a flagpole, and green trees in the background.

Children playing table soccer and sitting on couches in a modern community lounge with television screens on the wall and ceiling panels.

Interior view of a modern building lobby with a stone pathway, wooden accents, glass railing, and high ceiling with natural light.

Interior of a recreational center or lounge with colorful sofas, children playing, and a modern ceiling design with white panels and lighting.

Interior of a church with wooden pews, stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes, a white altar with gold candelabras and floral arrangements, statues, and a colorful domed ceiling illuminated with warm lighting.

Colorful round stools with collage pattern and blue upholstered sofa in a modern interior space.

An indoor recreational space with children playing pool, sitting on couches, and socializing. The ceiling features modern white panels with lighting, and the area has large windows and a wooden wall.

Interior view of a church with stained glass windows depicting religious figures, wooden pews, and decorative floor patterns.

Modern office conference room with glass walls, round table, and office chairs, with people working inside.

Front view of a modern bank building with a parking lot in the foreground, a flagpole with the American flag, and trees in the background during dusk.

Modern indoor lounge area with a black curved bar counter and orange bar stools, white chairs, a gray sofa, and a decorative glass wall in the background featuring colorful abstract vertical lines and patterns.

A modern conference or meeting room with large glass windows. Two women are seated at a white table, engaged in conversation. The room features high-tech lighting, a glass partition, and visible industrial equipment or construction tools inside.

Interior of a modern bank lobby with wood and white accents, a red wall, a seating area with red chairs, a digital screen displaying online appointment booking, glass doors, and a reception desk.

Luxurious car showroom featuring high-end sports cars including a yellow Ferrari, a white Ferrari, and a red Lamborghini, with a mezzanine office area visible through glass windows and modern lighting overhead.

Outdoor seating area with white cushioned chairs and a sofa on green grass, a wooden table with tennis balls, two women sitting and talking, green lush vertical garden background, under a roof, colorful wall mural to the side.

Interior of a bank lobby with a seating area, a curved reception desk with a digital sign, large windows, and a blue wall with the bank's name 'Bank Altoona First'.

Interior of a bank with check-in counters, seating area with patterned armchairs, a coffee station, a large screen displaying 'Online Banking', and the bank's name 'The Killbuck Savings Bank Co.' on a red accent wall.

Modern multi-story building with large glass windows and brick facade, displaying yellow sports cars inside.

Modern interior with wooden ceiling panels, black and gray walls, glossy marble floor, and a view of luxury cars through an open doorway.

Interior of a room with a stone wall on the left, a wooden paneled wall with a large flat screen TV, a potted plant, and a table with chairs.

Interior of First Federal savings and loan association of Greene County with a sitting area, a television screen displaying weather information, and conference room visible through glass wall.

Close-up of a patterned armrest of a chair and a potted green plant on a wooden table, with a blurred seating area in the background.

Lobby area with beige chairs, small tables, potted plant, and wall decor, featuring a large screen displaying financial data and signs for cash management.

Interior of a cozy lobby or sitting area with pink armchairs, a round wooden table with magazines and a decorative bowl, large green plants, and floor-to-ceiling windows showing a parking lot and greenery outside.

Interior view of an office corridor with a partial sign on the wall reading 'TOGETHER since 1940'. The ceiling features exposed wood beams, blue ventilation ducts, and a hanging industrial-style light fixture. Several windows and an open doorway are

Close-up of illuminated neon sign on wooden wall, featuring white and teal cursive letters.

Modern office hallway with white wall displaying company mission statement in large black letters, dark ceiling with recessed lights and air vents, wooden wall cabinets on the right, and large window at the end of the corridor letting in natural ligh

Interior of Mercury County State Bank with modern design, black vertical slats, reception area, seating with blue chairs, television screen, white walls, and ceiling lights.

Close-up of a modern ceiling with wooden slats and built-in round lights casting shadows on a blue wall.

Modern two-story building with large glass windows, brick and dark gray panel exterior, illuminated at dusk, with a sign indicating it is the Mercer County State Bank, located at 3279.

Modern office space with exposed wooden ceiling and ductwork, white partition walls, and glass doors, featuring office appliances like printers.

Modern office with glass partition walls, gray chairs, and a view of a window showing blue sky and trees outside.

A modern reception area with a desk, computer, chairs, and a wall-mounted monitor displaying an award recipient. The space features wood flooring, a stone accent wall, glass doors, and American flag.

Modern commercial building with stone and siding exterior, large windows, and a wooden entrance awning, surrounded by a parking lot with handicap spaces and small landscaped areas.

Close-up of the corner of a modern house with white siding, black window shutters, brown shingle roof, and decorative white brackets supporting the roof overhang against a blue sky.

Modern car dealership building with large glass windows, displaying cars inside, and the name 'FAULKNER' on the side.

An empty office room with a wooden desk, a computer mouse, a keyboard, and several chairs. There is a window with a view of trees outside, and a round reflective pendant light hanging from the ceiling.

Modern car showroom interior with cars on display, glass walls, wooden flooring, black leather chairs, and a large racing photo on the wall.

Exterior view of a modern apartment building with beige siding, black window frames, and the sign 'LIVAWAY SUITES' on the side of the building. Some blurred leaves are visible in the foreground.

Interior of a modern studio apartment with a small kitchen, fridge, microwave, and sitting area with a chair and lamp.

Large industrial indoor space with high ceiling, bright overhead lights, and a large wall with doors and equipment, including a small forklift and equipment on the floor.

Indoor industrial or construction space with metallic walls, ceiling lights, and construction equipment. There is a large golden-colored panel with vents, and some scaffolding and tools are visible on the floor.

Interior of a modern cafe with a bar counter, bar stools, large clocks on the wall, and ceiling lights, large windows letting in natural light, and a view outside.

A modern multi-story apartment building with beige, white, and gray exterior walls. Several cars are parked in the foreground parking lot, and the sky is partly cloudy at dusk.

Inside Penn Cinema with concession stand, digital screens showing movies, and a theater entrance for 'Mission Impossible' and 'Smurfs'.

Entrance to a classroom in a school with an open wooden door, colorful walls, and a view of a classroom with small chairs and shelves with educational toys.

Children's area in a library with blue and gray cushioned seating, colorful bookshelves filled with children's books, a few colorful game pieces on the floor, and a clock on the wall.

A classroom with a modern ceiling featuring wooden beams and embedded LED lighting. There are educational materials, desks, and chairs arranged for students, along with storage units filled with supplies.

A classroom or multipurpose room with a high ceiling featuring exposed wooden beams and modern linear lighting. Along the wall, there are several windows with white roller blinds, and the room contains stacked chairs, storage bins with art supplies,

A classroom or computer lab with desks and chairs arranged in rows, multiple desktop computers with monitors, a large interactive display at the front, shelves with books, a clock, and windows providing natural light.

An empty classroom with black tables, black chairs, white walls, a large monitor, a bookshelf with colorful books, and a whiteboard.

An empty stage with black and red curtains, above a wooden floor, with a wooden ceiling and stage lights, inside a spacious auditorium.

A beige wall with a closed window with white shutters, a small overhang, and a traffic sign indicating a two-way street in front of the wall.

Black and white photo of a boat dock with multiple boats on the water and on land, with a mountain and hillside in the background.

Black and white photo of a coastal town with boats in the water, a hillside with houses, a tall palm tree, and a building with large windows and a balcony.

A red vintage Fiat car parked on a stone wall overlooking a coastal scene with boats on the water and a hillside with buildings.

A white multi-story hotel named 'Hotel Residence' with balconies, located in a busy town square, surrounded by green trees, parked cars, and pedestrians. There is a church tower with a dome in the background.

A view of a coastal area with turquoise water, several boats floating, a rocky shoreline, and a winding beachside pathway with lush greenery and a person walking.

About:

My name is Brian Riedel. I shoot the built world. I'm based out of the Hazleton, Pennsylvania area and shoot primarily across the state, including the Greater Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions, and out through the rest of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Eastern Midwest. I love to travel, so when I have the opportunity to shoot across the country, I'm always ready to go.

I started back in 1998 after attending the Pennsylvania School (now College) of Art & Design in Lancaster, PA. I studied Graphic Design within their Communication Arts program, with a minor in Photography. I loved the darkroom, the smell of the chemicals, and the excitement of seeing my images spring to life in the bath trays. I was hooked. That eventually turned into a couple of instances in time of shooting weddings, which was good training. I learned to read a room, find the moment, and not miss it. When digital came along, I made the jump, a few years on, and a couple of cameras later, we arrived here.

And somewhere along the way, about 7 years ago, and more than 20 years total behind a camera, my interest shifted from people to spaces. Architecture and interiors just made sense to me, the same eye, light and timing, different subject.

So these days it's architecture and interiors that hold most of my attention, though construction and mechanical work still come up regularly. The work I've done has picked up some award recognition along the way, which I'm proud of, but as a student of the craft, I'll never be fully satisfied. I'll always keep trying to make work that speaks past the noise of today and carries a project forward through time.

The goal was to move to Chicago, start work, and get going… but God had other plans. After finishing a career as a designer, I set my sights on taking on a "normal job" and raising a family. In that time, the itch for my first love found its way back to the surface.

When I'm not behind the camera, I'm watching soccer: the Philadelphia Union and The Arsenal. And when I'm not doing that, I'm spending time in nature, with my family, or behind a good book.

I look forward to collaborating with everyone and creating good work that speaks volumes.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What areas do you serve, and what kind of projects do you photograph?

Based in Hazleton, PA, I photograph architectural, interior, and construction-focused projects throughout Pennsylvania — including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh — and travel regularly across the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Eastern Midwest, including New York City. Pennsylvania and the surrounding region are my primary base of work.

I also travel nationally for the right project — recent work has taken me as far as Virginia Beach/Norfolk, Minnesota and Michigan, and Providence, RI. If your project is outside the primary region, reach out with the location and scope and we can talk through timeline and travel logistics.

I work with architects, designers, commercial business owners, engineers, and construction and contracting professionals, documenting both interiors and building exteriors — from historic renovations to new commercial construction to finished interior spaces. Drone/aerial coverage and twilight photography are both available as part of a shoot when a project calls for them.

Q: What should I budget for architectural or commercial photography?

My work is primarily commercial, and pricing is based on a per-image fee plus usage — not a single flat day rate. As a general guide:

Small projects — little to no complexity, a handful of finished images: rates start around $1,250.
Medium projects — larger scope, a fuller set of finished images: rates start around $2,250.
Large-scale projects — multiple spaces, more moving parts, shoots spanning multiple days: rates start around $4,000.

Travel and other associated fees are added as needed depending on location and shoot logistics. A few other things factor into the final cost within each tier — timeline (a tight completion or award deadline vs. flexible scheduling), whether the shoot involves drone or twilight photography, and the usage rights you need. For projects with more than one interested party — an architect, contractor, and product manufacturer all wanting to use the same images, for example — cost-sharing arrangements are also an option worth discussing. Tell me the property type and rough scope, and I can tell you which tier fits and put together a specific estimate.

Q: How many final images do I get?

This varies with the scope of the project, but as a reference point: a small project at the starting rate typically delivers around 10 finished images.

Larger and more complex projects scale up from there — more spaces, more angles, and more finished images to match. We'll set an expected image count as part of the estimate, so there's no ambiguity going into the shoot.

Q: What makes your approach different from other architectural photographers in the region?

My work is grounded in collaboration — understanding what makes a specific project worth photographing, rather than applying the same formula to every space. I bring a strong attention to light, texture, and the interplay of design elements, whether the subject is a historic renovation, a new commercial build, or a finished interior.

That collaboration starts before the shoot: talking through the project, curating a shot list around what actually matters to you and the story you want to tell, and staying flexible on-site as the light and the space suggest new angles worth capturing.

That approach is built on more than 20 years in photography, the last 7 focused specifically on architecture and interiors. I've shot for clients including Knights of Columbus, BKV Group, and Shive-Hattery Architecture and Engineering, with long-standing partnerships with companies like Little Leaf Farms and PW Campbell.

Q: Do you photograph mechanical, structural, or technical building systems?

Yes — architectural, mechanical, and product reference photography are three distinct services I offer, and each is suited to a different purpose and audience.

Architectural photography documents the completed project as a whole — the design intent, materials, and light that make the space work — aimed at architects, owners, and design firms telling the story of the finished project. Mechanical photography is technical documentation of installed systems — ductwork, electrical panels, mechanical rooms, rooftop units — shot for clarity and function rather than mood, used by engineers, mechanical contractors, and manufacturers for submittals and O&M records. Product reference shots are close, detail-focused images of a specific installed product — a light fixture, a piece of furniture, a building material — used by the manufacturer to show their product in a real, finished setting rather than to represent the project overall.

Which one (or combination) fits your project depends on who the images are ultimately for. If you're not sure, tell me about the project and I can help sort out the right approach.

Q: Do you photograph active construction sites and renovations in progress?

Yes. Documenting a project's transformation — not just the finished space — is work I do regularly for contractors, architects, and firms who want a visual record of progress, or who plan to use before/during/after images for an award or editorial submission later.

Safety comes first on an active site. I hold OSHA 10 certification for construction, carry general liability insurance, coordinate directly with the site supervisor ahead of time, and work around the crew's schedule rather than the other way around. If you're planning documentation across multiple phases of a build, we can set that up as an ongoing arrangement rather than one-off shoots.

Photo of Brian Riedel, an architectural photographer in Pennsylvania

Q: What usage rights do I get with the images?

Most clients receive a perpetual, non-transferable license covering their own website, social media, internal use, presentations, and standard printed marketing materials. I retain copyright on all images, and credit is requested where practical for editorial use.

Usage beyond that — paid advertising, national or regional ad campaigns, or placement in third-party publications — falls under expanded licensing, priced per image on top of the base license. If more than one party needs to use the same images (a manufacturer alongside the architect, for example), that's set up explicitly rather than assumed. Tell me how you plan to use the images and I'll make sure the license actually covers it.

Q: Do you file your images to the US Copyright Office?

Yes, I do. I file all of my images with the US Copyright Office (USCO), I use an online servicing portal through ImageRights that “scan” each image and make a digital photocopy so that their system can then troll the internet looking for instances of my work. It’s one of the better ways out there for me, to make sure that my work, and your project are kept safe. It helps to prevent illegal use by another party claiming it to be their project, design, or photography.

Q: Can I use the images to help train/teach AI models?

No. And I try to do my best to also protect my images and your designs from AI model learning with legal language built into all of my documents. At this time I do not allow any of my work to be used for this purpose. This is an ongoing discussion internally and may change in the future. But for now this is not allowed.

Q: Can a product manufacturer (lighting, furniture, building materials) license images that feature their product?

Yes — this comes up regularly. If your product appears in a project I've photographed and you'd like to use those images in your own marketing, that's a separate license specific to that use, not an automatic extension of whatever was granted to the architect or design firm on the project.

Reach out with the specific project and images you're interested in, and we can work out terms for that use — pricing depends on scope (a product page or catalog vs. broader advertising) and duration, the same way it does for any other licensing conversation.

Q: Can you photograph a project for an award submission or publication?

Yes — this is a regular part of my work, not an add-on. Projects I've photographed have received AIA recognition through the Pittsburgh chapter, several are currently submitted for awards through the architecture and design firms I worked with — including a client's fire station project submitted for the Fiero Awards — and two are currently up for consideration in the Architecture MasterPrize.

I approach these shoots with an eye toward the submission from the start — not just documenting the space or showcasing the finished product, but understanding the narrative of the project and the language of the design, and thinking about how those ideas translate into the images a jury actually responds to. Award and publication submissions also have their own practical requirements — specific file formats, image counts, resolution, and the mix of "hero" and detail shots a jury or editor expects to see. If you have a submission deadline in mind, the earlier you loop me in, the more the shoot can be built around exactly what that award or publication needs, rather than trying to make existing images fit after the fact.

Q: How far in advance should I book for an award submission?

The earlier, the better. Booking well ahead of a submission deadline means the shoot itself can be planned around what that specific award needs — not scheduled around leftover time before the deadline.

That includes weather and light windows for exterior/twilight shots, coordinating access to a finished or nearly-finished space, and building in time for a full edit pass before the submission portal closes. If you already know the award and its deadline, share both when you reach out and we'll work backward from there.

Q: What's the difference between architectural photography, real estate photography, and a 3D rendering?

They serve different goals. Architectural photography documents a real, completed space with the light, materials, and design details as they actually are — meant to tell the story of a project for a portfolio, publication, or award submission. Real estate photography is built for speed and transactions — wide, well-lit shots meant to help a listing sell or rent quickly, not to make a design case. 3D rendering isn't photography at all — it's a computer-generated visualization, often used before a space is built or when it doesn't exist yet, useful for pitching a design concept but not a substitute for documenting the finished, real thing.

If you're marketing a design to potential clients or submitting to an award or publication, architectural photography is what you want. If you're renting or selling a property, real estate photography does the job faster and cheaper. If the space doesn't exist yet, rendering is the only option of the three.

Q: How do I book a project, and what happens next?

Email brian@brianriedelphotography.com with your project details and rough timeline, or call 570-578-2285 to talk it through directly. From there, we'll confirm scope, schedule around your project's completion or deadline, and I'll send a shot-list outline before the shoot itself.

Photo of architectural photographer Brian Riedel with his camera

Photo of Brian Riedel with two dogs in front of his home

Photo of architectural photographer Brian Riedel flying a drone