Still have Questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions below! If you have a question not addressed, call us at 1.800.388.7580 or email to info@dongardner.com.

Do you have guidelines for interior design?

Homes should be tastefully decorated, preferably by a qualified interior designer. We seek projects in a variety of interior styles (traditional, transitional, Arts & Crafts, etc.) in order to achieve diversity in our photography portfolio. Window treatments are highly recommended. The use of carefully chosen, appealing colors in main living spaces (Great Room, Master Bedroom and Bath, Kitchen, Dining Room, etc.) will increase the chances of being selected for a professional photo shoot. Homes lacking interior paint selections (i.e. beige or white throughout) are typically not selected. Visit our Photo Gallery to view previously photographed homes to get an idea of what we are looking for.

Why does the home have to be furnished and decorated?

For a home to be featured in our nationally distributed consumer magazines, it must be furnished and decorated. Interior design creates visual interest and is important in illustrating the layout of the floor plan.

Are the photos I submit eligible for reimbursement?

No. While we welcome the submission of both professional and amateur photography of our plans, Donald A. Gardner Architects must complete a professional photo shoot with our chosen photographer for the project to be eligible for reimbursement. For our purposes (multi-page print features), it is important that architectural details and room relationships are obvious in the photography. Professional lighting, staging and shot styling are also important elements for architectural photography.

I have noticed several photographed plans on your website that have been modified. Which modifications are acceptable?

Slight modifications to the plan are acceptable and do not exclude a home from the Photography Program. These include: increasing square footage of rooms, changing a covered porch to a screened porch, minor exterior material changes, adding or deleting built-ins, etc. Modifications that alter the front exterior of the plan, making it difficult to recognize, will not be approved. Altering window size or placement, deleting gable roofs or other modifications that reduce the curb or visual appeal of the front exterior of the home are less likely to be chosen. Changes to exterior materials on the façade of the home are acceptable, provided that the new materials provide the same level of visual interest as the artist rendering of the plan. Major floor plan modifications will make a home ineligible, including relocating, adding, or removing walls. When submitting photos for consideration, please remember to note any modifications made to the floor plan or exterior of the home.

What will increase the chances of my home being photographed by Donald A. Gardner Architects?

There are many elements that we are looking for in our Photography Program, but we are flexible and are interested in seeing all Donald A. Gardner home plans “come to life.” Homes that are most likely to be photographed are:

Built as close to the original plan specifications as possible
High quality with no detail ignored
Within a reasonable traveling distance
Have elegant interior design with universal appeal

[Please avoid sending photographs including seasonal themes like Christmas decor, or those containing a large number of “themed” items or collectibles. These distract the eye from the architectural elements of the home, which is what we strive to capture.]

              Click here for the Photography Program Home Page
              Click here for Photography Guidelines

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