The Perfect Shot: Crafting the cover of Portsmouth City Lifestyle Magazine

I was super excited for the opportunity to have my first cover. I’ve been shooting for many years and had made it a goal to shoot a cover. When the opportunity presented itself with Portsmouth City Lifestyle, I jumped right on it.

The setting for this shot was the lobby of the Frank Jones buildings in the Brewery on the West End of Portsmouth. The cover photo was part of a story about the developer Chinburg. The room itself is a fantastic combination of old and new, with many original elements of the red brick warehouse exposed but finished with a modern touch.

What excited me most were the very tall floor-to-ceiling windows of the entrance that faced east. I knew that as the sun began to set, it would push a lovely stream of light across the room, highlighting the texture of the brick. Pairing this warm light with the color of the brick and sofa made for a wonderful image in my head that I felt could make a perfect cover.

The symmetry of the photo makes for a simple shot that still feels interesting enough to capture your attention and make you want to know more. Using the tall brick wall not only suggested the scale of the actual room but also created the perfect spot for a masthead.

I scouted the location a couple of days before the shoot and took a handful of photos, looking for the most interesting angle. Working with the Managing Editor, Tara Phillips, and Publisher, Anne Moodey, the final shot was immediately apparent, making for a simple shoot knowing there would only be one shot taken. At the same time, it added the pressure of knowing I’d have to get this one shot right.

On the shoot day, Tara and I worked hard to stage everything perfectly to maintain that balance and harmony between the few pieces in the frame. As the sun began to set as expected, and the room began to glow, we knew we had our shot.

Seeing my work on the cover was a real honor, and I hope this is the start of a great relationship with this publication and hopefully many others to come.

If you are looking for professional architectural photography for your home or business, or want to see more of my work, follow me on Facebook, check out my portfolio, and follow me on Instagram @KevinEdgePhotography.