Project POV: The Emery

I've photographed hundreds of living spaces in the greater Cincinnati area. It's not uncommon to be asked, "What was your favorite project?" There are many places that stand out when I think about my answer. To answer that, I have to consider what I value in a project. I've always been attracted to the history of the buildings I photograph. I love hearing the story of the building from the property manager and how our project came to be. When was it built? Who built it? What was it originally built for?

To me, my favorite projects are historic buildings that have been renovated into apartments. With that in mind, there is no building that fits that description better than The Emery.

1909 Antique Postcard of the Ohio Mechanics Institute

In the summer of 2024, I was assigned to photograph one of Cincinnati's most historically respected buildings. Built in 1911 and originally an engineering school known as the Ohio Mechanics Institute, The Emery was among Cincinnati's earliest and finest architectural achievements. It is said that Thomas Edison studied engineering at OMI. The building was best known for its theater and its "isacoustic curve" design, which made it one of four "acoustically perfect" theaters in the United States. The Emery famously hosted cultural figures such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr.

The Emery Theatre 1911

The Emery Theatre 2021

In 1969, the University of Cincinnati purchased the building and later used it for storage. The building sat dormant in the heart of OTR amidst decades of downtown regression, waiting for a breath of new life and a renewed purpose. Then, in 2001, UC spent $10 million on renovations, converting the building into apartments. Finally, in 2021, the building was sold again and renovated into what we see today.

In July 2024, I had the privilege of photographing The Emery for Apartments.com. I met with the property manager, who gave me a tour of the building and briefed me on its rich history. As I walked the halls of the newly renovated luxury apartments, I noticed preserving historic character was a priority for the architects throughout the redesign.

Exposed brick and large glass windows were consistent throughout the building. Windows that were once looked through by the same people who voted for William Howard Taft, Cincinnati’s own president. Brick that was laid the same year the first traffic light was invented. Each floor plan features a unique blend of modern elements, such as matte black hardware in the kitchens and bathrooms.

In addition, a select number of units were constructed atop the school gym’s hardwood floors, which date back to the mid-20th century. The architects strategically built these units while preserving and integrating the original flooring. The result was a well executed blend of history and modern architecture.

When photographing a building like The Emery, intentional composition is vital. In interior photography, a common rule of thumb is to include three walls in the frame. Real estate photography follows this principle religiously, as it is widely considered the “right” way to compose a room. However, I find the use of one-point perspective to be particularly effective... when used correctly.

One-point perspective in photography mimics a two-dimensional space portrayed as three-dimensional. This style is popular in drawings and paintings that use leading lines and symmetry to create a 3D effect. I’m a huge fan of this composition. When deciding if you should use one-point perspective, look for symmetry and leading lines within the frame. Notice how the corners where the walls meet the ceiling direct your eye toward the center of the image. At the bottom of the frame, the flooring and kitchen cabinetry also lead the viewer’s eye to the center.

This is my favorite example of one-point perspective in a photograph. To me, the image is easily digestible. Architectural photography, in my opinion, is about matching the vibe the architects intended. Here, I see a minimalist design and pair it with a minimalist composition.

Matching the vibe also means utilizing light to your advantage. Not every photo should be perfectly exposed and evenly balanced. The mood I saw in this room was shaped by the large windows and the light they cast into the space. The right side of the composition focuses on exactly that. Therefore, the left side needs to complement it by allowing the shadows to remain dark. If we balanced the exposure evenly throughout the image, we wouldn’t be able to see the contrast between the windows and the room.

In addition, The Emery is home to one of Cincinnati’s best cafés: Coffee Emporium. Tripadvisor ranked the café No. 1 out of 73 coffee and tea spots in the city. I won’t be contesting that claim. Having such a beloved establishment inside The Emery is the cherry on top of the sundae.

I can’t say enough about this project—the preparation involved in walking the property with the property manager and learning its historical significance. The opportunity to showcase beautifully constructed luxury apartments through my perspective. All topped off with an iced coffee and Lightroom edits at Coffee Emporium. This project will always hold a special place in my heart.