Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Headquarters | California Office Photography
Office photography is a constant balancing act for an experienced photographer. There needs to be the perfect blend between professional, warmth, and giving an empty space the vivid image of a working environment.
When my client, Ware Malcomb, reached out to work together on their newest project for Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals headquarters, I was thrilled! Clients like these produce some of the most stunning architecture I’ve ever seen, plus it gives me a chance to stretch my photography muscles.
This entire shoot was such a fun project to be apart of and I can’t wait to show you the final results!
How I Planned This Office Photography Shoot
Ware Malcomb is the master at mixing hard and soft touches to create a warm environment that remains professional. When it came to planning the day for their office photography shoot, I made it my top priority to highlight these deliberate design details throughout.
It was important to me to include both lighting and seating within a singular shot because Ware Malcomb ensured heads-down work could be done successfully in the largest of spaces. This required intentional packing of lenses catering towards wide angles, ensuring I could pack as much detail into a singular shot as possible.
Highlighting The Timeless Arches
Arches are one of the most timeless design options to include within a space, yet I don’t get the opportunity to photograph them often. Ware Malcomb was really intentional in designing an inviting workspace that remained clean and sterile at all times. With small details, such as arches, this intention was really easy to highlight.
For the break area, it was important to me to focus on both the arched detail and capture as much of the space as possible. I chose to shoot a straight-on landscape that had perfect symmetry on the arched booth and table sides. It highlighted the arched detail just enough, while placing emphasis on the entire space. This is still one of my favorite shots!
Playing Around With Lighting
Lighting is some of my favorite details to focus on when working in office photography shoots. Although I’ve seen some cool fixtures in my days, these were some of the most intricate I’ve laid eyes on! Ware Malcomb softened the space a lot by combining light colors, soft edges, and deliberately warm lighting throughout the building. This hallway was one of my absolute favorite spots.
Haley’s Pro Tip: Even if the project you’re working on is requesting photos of an overall space, don’t forget the little details. Clients work so hard on the small details, it shows a greater sense of understanding to capture them too.
Capturing The Pharmaceutical Spaces
Ware Malcomb wanted a lot of intention placed on the fact this space is not just an office, but a state-of-the-art laboratory designed for cutting-edge work. As a photographer, it’s my job not just to photograph the overall area, but give it an overall appeal that’s pleasing to the eye.
Since labs are designed to be sterile, clean, and relatively unassuming, my goal was to bring a little bit of depth to the space. I did this by going for an angle that really leaned into how massive the space is, while bringing in the color of the floor to contrast the primarily white space. The end result turned out super cool!
Utilizing Life To Showcase The Working Environment
In office photography, incorporating life into photos is really important to present a better picture of the working environment. For this Ware Malcomb design specifically, their take on stadium seating in the building’s entryway needed more depth than just a still shot.
I worked with a wide lens and angled myself in the highest corner possible. By doing this, I was able to capture the modern seating and highlight the minimalism throughout the entrance and staircases leading up to the office spaces. This is definitely one of the most abstract architecture projects I’ve ever worked on- the vibe is so futuristic!
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Ware Malcomb to highlight their beautiful new pharmaceutical headquarters design. If you’re interested in working together on your next office photography project, click the link below to get started!
Owner: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
Architect & Interior Design: Ware Malcomb, HED (exteriors)
General Contractor: Prevost Construction, Murphy Company
Lighting: OCS Lighting + Controls
Furniture: Parron Hall, Innovative Commercial Environments
Engineers: Coffman Engineers, tk1sc
Other Parties: Mott Manufacturing, GMC Commissioning, Stok, Expedient Communications, CBRE, Paladin Technologies
