Project photography is one of the most strategic storytelling tools in the AEC industries, and when approached with intention, it can elevate your firm’s brand, strengthen proposals, and showcase your team’s expertise at every phase of a project. Yet, it’s often pushed to the end of the project lifecycle and can feel rushed or under-supported—especially when busy teams struggle to prioritize it alongside project delivery. This session will demystify the process of building a strong internal framework for capturing impactful visuals that represent your firm’s best work.

Led by Ely Hemnes, CEO & Founder of The Unfound Door, this session explores how marketers and business developers can strategically plan, budget, and advocate for professional photography and video within their organizations. Ely draws from over a decade of national experience producing imagery across the architecture, engineering, and construction industries to guide teams how to use visuals to strengthen business development, recruitment, and brand storytelling.

Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how to align photography with project milestones, manage leadership expectations, and work efficiently with internal teams and external photographers. Through practical examples and proven approaches, this session will help you move from reactive to proactive when it comes to capturing the work that defines your brand.

Please note, this is a two part series. All attendees of virtual Part One will be the only attendees applicable to attend the in-person Part Two.

Participants Will Learn How To:

• Identify the right time and level of investment for different types of project photography—internal documentation, professional project, or architectural/award-level imagery.
• Build leadership and team buy-in by connecting visuals to marketing, BD, and recruitment ROI.
• Develop effective budgets, timelines, and coordination strategies that fit within project lifecycles.
• Understand photography rights, usage, and how to protect your firm’s visual assets.
• Communicate effectively with photographers and project teams to ensure efficient, high-impact results.

Speaker:

Ely Hemnes
CEO and Founder
The Unfound Door
Ely Hemnes | LinkedIn

Ely Hemnes is the CEO and Founder of The Unfound Door, a nationally recognized photography and videography studio based in Denver, Colorado. The Unfound Door specializes in creative production for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries—bridging the gap between creativity and corporate process to capture the people, projects, and purpose behind the built environment.

Ely leads a national team providing photography, videography, drone, and motion graphic services with a focus on efficiency, collaboration, and storytelling. As a certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE, DBE, SBE, EBE, ACDBE), The Unfound Door is dedicated to giving clients every opportunity to capture and express the brands they’ve worked so hard and diligently to build.

With over a decade of experience in creative direction, production, and strategy, Ely is passionate about helping marketing professionals and technical teams strengthen their visual storytelling through thoughtful planning, efficient execution, and intentional design.

www.theunfounddoor.com