CEDIA Awards - Homeowner Guide to Photography

Photography Guide for homeowners

Guide to taking great photography Firstly, we would like to thank you for allowing your home to be used for a CEDIA Awards entry and for using a CEDIA member installer for your project!

Confidentiality We would like to assure you that the photography used for the Awards entry is completely anonymous. You as the homeowner will not be identified in any way and your name and address will never be published. Your integrator will ask you to complete a consent form in order for CEDIA to use your photos.

How will my photos be used?

The photos outlined in this guide will primarily be used for judging purposes. The judges are looking for the project to meet certain requirements and standards and sometimes this is not possible to understand without good photography to demonstrate this.

Should your integrator become a finalist in the competition, they will then ask for more aesthetically pleasing photographs of the project. This may include images of the whole room / certain rooms in the house. These photos will be used in the final judging stages and will later be used by CEDIA for marketing purposes.

Again, we assure you that you will be kept anonymous at all times.

What happens if my project wins?

If your integrator becomes a finalist and then goes on to win a CEDIA Award, the photos will be included in press releases, on our website, and in our printed Awards book and more. This is a fantastic way to promote the work of your integrator and encourage other homeowners to use a CEDIA member installer in the future.

In this guide we will outline the compulsory photos required for the early judging stages and we have provided examples to help you.

These photos can be taken on just a regular smart phone - you don’t need any fancy equipment!

Photo 1: Front view of the Rack What we are looking at: • The whole rack • The rack equipment layout

Photo 2: Back view of the Rack What we are looking at: • The whole rack • The rack equipment layout • Rack ventilation • The rack cabling

Front view rack examples

Back view rack examples

Photo 3: Cabling Close Ups What we are looking at: • Cable • Cable • Cable • Cable • Cable

layout fixing labelling accessibility bend radius

Photo 4: Front view of Cinema / Media Room (if applicable) What we are looking at: • The screen view • Speaker placement • The space in the room • Viewing distances • The layout of the room

Photo 5: Back view of Cinema / Media Room (if applicable) What we are looking at: • View of the seating • Projector in view (if possible) • The lighting that’s been installed

OPTIONAL Photo 6: User Interface / Control Panels What we are looking at: • Image of the control panel / iPad used to control the room • Useability of the controls • Control customisation • Lighting controls / panels Bonus: It would be even better if you can provide a video to demonstrate the control panel in use!

OPTIONAL Photo 7: Integrated Home / Multiple Dwelling Unit What we are looking at: • Images of the rooms showing the technology used including: -

Lighting Speakers TV screens / projectors Security aspects e.g. cameras / locks / alarms Automated blinds / curtains Control panels

OPTIONAL Photo 8: Unique / Customised Solution What we are looking at: • Any solution or unique technology that has been installed to suit your needs or personality as the homeowner • Something that was made especially for you, the homeowner