How I Helped a Commercial Bank Strengthen Its Brand with Architectural Photography

Indiana business magazine cover featuring architectural photography by commercial photographer Brian Rodgers Jr.

Anyone can snap a picture of a building...But creating architectural photography that evokes interest and commands attention...well, that requires creative vision, technical proficiency and an eye for detail.

When you hire a commercial architecture photographer, you're paying for more than just a picture of a building with four walls and a roof. You're paying for the power to:

  • Influence how your audience sees and values your offering.

  • Visually position your brand as an industry leader

  • Build a foundation of trust and inspire confidence in your customers.

  • Create a resonant and unforgettable brand experience.

Telling a Brand Story Through Architecture

Bank branch architectural exterior photographed for brand consistency across marketing and advertising campaigns.

The Farmers Bank had recently undergone a pretty significant rebrand, which also included the rollout of new signage across all locations. To support this initiative, they needed updated architectural photography of each branch. Imagery that would not only document the new signage but also elevate their visual marketing and advertising efforts.

More Than a Sign—A Complete Brand Refresh

Commercial architecture photographer capturing bank entrance exterior during golden hour light.

That’s where I came in. The bank’s marketing team brought me on board to capture the updated look of each location in a way that aligned with their refreshed brand identity. The goal wasn’t just to photograph the signage, it was to create a cohesive set of images that reflected the bank’s values of professionalism, trust, and modernity. Each image needed to feel clean, inviting, and consistent across the board.

Pre-Production - Planning the Shoot

Translating Brand Identity into Visual Strategy

Modern bank facade featuring new branding and clean architectural lines.

Before picking up a camera, I dedicated a good amount of time in the pre-production phase to better understand the bank’s brand voice and visual goals. Because this photoshoot involved extended travel, multiple locations and several days of production, I coordinated closely with the bank’s marketing team and used tools like Google Maps street views to meticulously plan each shoot around optimal lighting conditions, foot traffic patterns, and branch-specific details. Through this process, I developed a consistent visual approach in my minds eye, focusing on strong composition, clean lines, articulate lighting, and perspectives that showcased both the architecture and the new signage with clarity and intention. The goal was to make each location feel distinct, yet unified under one brand vision.

Behind-the-scenes timelapse of commercial architecture photographer Brian Rodgers Jr. capturing a bank exterior.

Behind the Scenes

Precision, Patience, and Photographic Consistency

Behind the lens with commercial architecture photographer Brian Rodgers Jr. Twilight exterior of a flagship commercial bank branch with updated signage during golden hour.

Commercial architecture and advertising photographer Brian Rodgers Jr. light painting a flagship commercial bank branch just after a golden hour sunset.

Each branch location presented its own set of challenges and opportunities. Each location required an initial location scout to look for any potential obstacles, alongside multiple visits to capture various lighting scenarios. Some locations required early and morning sun rise sessions to take advantage of soft, directional light, while others demanded strategic timing to avoid heavy foot or car traffic. At certain branches, reflections from nearby buildings or signage positioning meant dialing in the perfect angle to get the cleanest shot. I used ultra high resolution Sony full frame mirrorless camera systems, specialized tilt-shift lenses and a tripod based setups to ensure sharpness, precision and consistency across all locations. Even in fast-paced environments, the goal was always the same: create polished, professional imagery that elevated the unique architectural character of each branch while integrating the newly designed signage and staying true to the brand’s new identity.

Exterior view of commercial bank branch with updated signage and a smart flower solar panel during golden hour, captured by professional architectural photographer Brian Rodgers Jr at Digital Art That Rocks.

Post-Production and Retouching:

Bringing the Final Vision to Life

Bank ATM twilight exterior with new signage installation and long exposure light streaks from evening traffic.

Behind every captivating advertising level image lies a meticulous process of artistry and refinement known as post-production. As a commercial photographer with advanced retouching skills, I know how to transform good images into extraordinary ones. What most people don't understand about commercial advertising photography is that the final images you see in marketing and advertising are actually a combination of many photos composited together; not a single photo captured with a single click of the shutter.

Behind the lens with architectural photographer Brian Rodgers Jr photographing a bank ATM exterior with new signage installation and light streaks from evening commuters.

In architectural photography, it takes a range of exposures that capture a variety of lighting variations (both natural light and off camera flash), movement within the frame, managing reflections with a polarizer and other variables that are artfully blended together in Photoshop to create the final photographs. In addition to blending exposures and refining light, I'm also removing unwanted distracting objects (like power lines), doing sky replacements for added mood, as well as replacing grass and foliage where necessary.

Each photo was carefully retouched to ensure color consistency, clean lines, and distraction-free compositions. This included adjusting for lens distortion, correcting perspective, managing reflections, and balancing tones to maintain a natural yet refined look. Since these images would be used across both digital and print platforms, I delivered them in multiple formats optimized for each use case. The result: a cohesive, polished library of images that felt unified, professional, and on-brand across every single branch.

Photographic Results That Speak for Themselves

Bringing a Rebrand to Life

Architectural photography by commercial photographer and digital artist Brian Rodgers Jr. featured on the cover of Westfield Magazine

The final images are being used across a variety of platforms—from the bank’s website and digital advertising campaigns to print materials and internal presentations. The exterior that I photographed of the Westfield branch was featured on the cover of Westfield Magazine. You can download a digital copy of the magazine here: https://issuu.com/tombritt/docs/westfield_1124-issuu.

The consistency and quality of the visuals played a key role in unifying the rebrand across all locations. The updated architectural photography will help boost engagement on their social channels and provide a stronger, more cohesive visual identity in client-facing materials. More importantly, the bank was able to visually communicate its renewed commitment to growth, community presence, and professionalism.

Looking Ahead

Your Brand Has a Space, Let’s Make It Seen

Exterior view of commercial bank branch with updated signage during mid-day light, captured by professional architectural photographer Brian Rodgers Jr. at Digital Art That Rocks™.

This project was a great example of how thoughtful, strategic photography can do more than just document a space—it can reinforce a brand’s message, build trust, and connect with audiences in a meaningful way. For businesses going through a rebrand or looking to elevate their visual presence, investing in professional architectural photography isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a powerful tool for storytelling. If you're planning a brand refresh or want to bring more intention to how your spaces are seen, I’d love to help you tell that story through strong, design-focused imagery.

Why not give every brick, beam, and blade of grass the glory it deserves?

Your audience is building a narrative based on your brands visuals. Are you the author of your story, or just a character within it? When companies need architectural photography with style, they choose Digital Art That Rocks™!

 

Want to collaborate on your next project?

 

About the Photographer

Hi, I’m Brian Rodgers Jr., founder and owner of Digital Art That Rocks™. I'm a commercial advertising photographer specializing in product and architectural photography that helps brands stand out through creative, well produced imagery. I work with businesses nationwide from financial institutions and architecture firms to product-driven brands translating products and spaces into visual stories that connect. Whether you're launching a rebrand or looking to enhance your visual marketing strategy, I bring a highly creative and strategic approach to every photoshoot.

Check out my recent press and reviews!

Brian Rodgers Jr.

Brian Rodgers Jr. is an American Advertising Federation award winning commercial advertising photographer and digital artist based out of South Bend, Indiana. He's the founder and owner of Digital Art That Rocks™ and specializes in product photography and architectural photography with an emphasis on high end retouching and post production.

With an affinity for creative thinking, visual communication and meticulous post-production, Brian has elevated brand visuals for a diverse clientele, partnering with SMBs, advertising agencies and global corporations, to translate ideas into powerful visual narratives. His commitment to aesthetic excellence and the transformative power of high-end commercial retouching has helped define his contribution to the creative industry, empowering clients to showcase their brands with unparalleled clarity and impact.

In addition to working with clients nationwide, Brian has also had the opportunity to travel the country to photograph some amazing architectural projects for architecture firms, museums, exhibit design companies and custom fabrication firms that feature immersive media and experience design.

Brian has provided high end retouching & post-production services to renowned brands like Snickers & Razer. His work has been featured on the cover of numerous publications including Photoshop User Magazine. He’s created a Youtube video on the subject of beverage photography that quickly reached over 1 million views! He’s also developed, produced and delivered high level education through commercially available product photography tutorials. These tutorials not only have a global audience, they've also made a positive impact to the careers of future creatives.