How can an Architectural Rendering Company Help Your Firm?
If you have a successful architecture practice, there will be a time when you will need to hire a 3d rendering company. Architectural renderers come in many forms. From firms to freelancers. How do you know which ones are right for your business?
There are many services a rendering studio can provide. Finding the right consultant is not as easy as it sounds. Whether you need them to fill in the gaps in your 3d modeling team or take the project entirely, a rendering company can help your architectural services with more than just 3d production.
- Fresh perspective. It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when you’re immersed in your own project day in and day out. A fresh set of eyes can provide a much-needed perspective to guide or improve your process.
- Expert execution. A team of experienced artists that are immersed in 3d stuff day in and day out. They have streamlined their process to improve the project experience. You always want to pick a rendering studio with a proven track record. If you’re on the hunt, check out their architectural rendering portfolio.
- Insider knowledge. You know your position inside and out, but how well do you know your industry? Do you know what your competitors are doing? Trends in the marketplace? A rendering company consults with a range of clients across industries. Thus, they may have a unique insight into what works, what doesn’t, and what surprising things can change the outcome of your projects. You can benefit from past experiences without using your own office as a case study.
- Referrals and creator networks. One of the most common reasons to seek outside resources is that your office doesn’t have the bandwidth or resources to create the illustrations in-house. In addition to being experienced pros, a rendering consultant probably has on-demand capabilities. They have an established network of expert artists they can call upon, as well as other professionals they have connected with over the years. They can hire and manage freelancers or make a referral connection to get the project done.
- Production Speed. Many small offices struggle because they don’t have the infrastructure in place to handle spikes in production. This is understandable, as 3d rendering is not your core business and requires different knowledge and resources. But a rendering agency is a sophisticated machine streamlined to produce images quickly and efficiently. They’re also aware of the common roadblocks, mistakes, or pitfalls that can derail production, so they can better navigate through them.
- Client liaison. This one may be a little tricky, but we’re well aware of the way client relationships function. Sometimes it helps to have a go-between to disrupt the narrative. Of course, a good 3d agency will be a positive influence on the team. But if things go awry, you can always blame the renderer if it saves your job.
Rendering Architectural Drawings
Not every architecture office needs help with architectural renderings. Many studios have a solid in-house team that is capable of producing architectural images from CAD drawings. You may even have a 3d workflow with BIM software. That is great. Not everyone needs to hire an architectural rendering company. However, if you are reading this, you are probably evaluating your workflow of how to make architectural renderings or even add them as an additional service to your office.
- Resources. Some architects don’t do enough 3d renderings to justify the costs of the hardware and expensive 3d software. Hiring an architectural rendering agency frees up limited labor and computer resources to work on billable projects.
- Knowledge. Our rendering studio is staffed by expert 3d artists who have the skills and expertise to produce all types of 3d graphics and animations. And most importantly our 20 years of experience creating high-quality illustrations to apply to your project.
- Bandwidth. You are in the hourly service business and so are we. A visualization studio can take the load off your team to focus on what they do best. It’s a win-win for everyone. The rendering studio can produce consistent quality images at scale.
- Results. The best architectural illustrations take work. If your current process isn’t delivering the results you want, working with a rendering consultant may give you new insights on how to improve or revise your workflow.
Architectural Rendering Cost
Architectural rendering costs vary quite a bit. We are living in a global marketplace. If you know where to look you can find freelancers all over the world. A freelance 3d artist in a foreign country may have less overhead to pay for and can afford to work at a much lower rate. In some cases, renderings can be as low as $300 per image. There are many complications working with an outsourcer and we’ve heard many a horror story. In short, you get what you pay for. Cheap 3d renderings may look appealing at first, but they could cost you in the long run. Consider what your time is worth and factor that into the project. Choosing an established visual design studio with a strong architectural background will save you time. An artist or studio with knowledge of AEC industry and construction will minimize the hand-holding and oversight required for the project. Working with someone close to your timezone will ensure work gets done 9-5. Any questions or issues can be resolved the same-day in regular business hours. While you can certainly get great reliable talent overseas, you’ll discover that professional rendering consultants charge about the same fees around the world. Great illustrations take time and resources. There are no short-cuts around that.
“Studio2a knows architecture and can literally read between the lines. The process is so much faster when you don’t have to draw out every detail.” – Adam Casias, Studio1 Architects
3d Rendering Near Me
So how do you find an expert rendering studio? You can google “3d rendering near me”, right? Just kidding. While we do recommend hiring a 3d rendering company near your timezone for ease of communication, “architectural rendering near me” probably won’t get you very far. We recommend interviewing several rendering service providers to ensure they’re the right fit for your firm. Try to narrow it down:
- Do your research – get referrals from trusted sources (not google).
- Ask the right questions – construct a project brief before you call around.
- Craft a well-written RFP for rendering services.
Look for an architectural rendering business that has a wide range of professional projects in its rendering portfolio. The more portfolio, the deeper the resume, and the better they are at adapting and working with clients.
Best Architectural Rendering Companies
Any decent 3d rendering firm can crank out cheap renderings, but the best consultants are focused on client relationships. You want an expert artist and a partner to design 3d renderings for your project. Set your preconceived solution aside and consult with the renderer. An expert 3d rendering studio will work with you, not for you – to produce the best architectural images.
Finally, if you’re still struggling to find a 3d partner agency, or still not sure if you want one, send us an email. We’d love to connect and see if we can add value to your project.
