LCD

Arrive early and after introducing yourself to the crew try and blend into the background. The shots will appear with patience.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I am happy to help. You'll need it.
https://photography.tutsplus.com/articles/a-brilliant-beginners-guide-to-architectural-photography--photo-7883

ZtaKED Loc: Lakes Region, New Hampshire & NE Florida

You say, “ The job is to photograph the various contractors and their work on a major new development including commercial and residential content. The project is currently under construction.” So, it’s not so much the structure but more the workers? Let’s go with that. For you, make sure you wear long pants, long sleeves and sturdy shoes. Arrange in advance for an escort during your visit. Do not wander alone at an active construction site you are not intimately familiar with.

I spent 48 years in the engineering and construction business and the one thing that chaps my hide is when a publication displays pictures of construction workers that are not using the proper personnel protective equipment (PPE). The basics are properly worn eye protection, hard hat, gloves, sturdy shoes and safety vests. You can work with a contractor’s safety professional on that element of composition.

Next, you can photograph the various trade workers - concrete work, carpentry, steel, electrical, mechanical, hvac, etc. Photos of welding can be spectacular but require a much higher level of caution due to the damaging light level and the possibility of weld spatter. Do not recommend looking directly or through a viewfinder at welding. Capture from a distance. Rigging and lifting activities are panoramic/ wide angle. Stay outside the safety zones.

Consider this similar to portraiture. I’d suggest something like a 24-70 or similar zoom to get good worker photos. I would also encourage you to seek out tradeswomen for your assignment. These ladies are special.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

The only lens you might need is a tilt shift. Canon has several (don't know about the other brands). I have a 17mm and if I had it to do over I might go to the next on up, I think it's a 24mm.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

You have the tools, this is where you use your eyes.
Go to your local library and go thru all the magazines pertaining to architectural, builder, interior designs, etc. And art books on architectural design.
Remember, leading lines, subject 1/3, ,,,the wow factor.
Let your artistic side take over.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

With this additional information, I would have these suggestions for you:

You have three top priorities:

1. Don't cause anyone other than you to get hurt.
2. Don't cause yourself to get hurt.
3. Don't cause any damage or delay to the construction process.

Ed Shapiro has previously shown and discussed his work doing exactly what you have been asked to do. I hope that he will come back and amplify and fine tune his earlier remarks. His words on this subject carry more weight than what anyone else here says. Period. And yes, that includes me. I've done a lot of industrial work documentation, but only a little heavy construction photography.

First...this is not primarily an artistic assignment. Forget worrying about perspective control lenses and similar amenities. You will not have time to mess with fanciness, and if you need a PC lens, you are probably too close to the action. While your photographs need to be attractive, their main job is to portray the work being done and, to the best extent possible, some of the results of that work. You want photographs that initially attract a viewer, then make him want to stay to look at the details. Your job is to stay out of the way and out of any danger zones. You are going to be in an elevated risk area just because you are there, and you are going to be a distraction. You need to minimize the distraction part.

Second...the importance of having a knowledgeable escort cannot be overstated. I doubt that you will be allowed on the site without one. That person will be a treasure to you by making sure you know what is going on and what about the goings-on are important. They will also serve as a spotter, to watch for danger while you are focused on the images that you want. Accept your escort. Listen to your escort. Do what your escort says to do.

Third...be prepared to work from a greater distance than you would like and from angles that may not be the ones you would choose. Select your lenses accordingly. You may be faced with poor or difficult lighting, you may be stuck with distracting backgrounds, and you may be confined to less than perfect viewing angles. Be prepared so that you can respond without getting frustrated. Be prepared to either do post processing or manage your picture controls to deal with either too much or too little contrast.

This assignment can really be fun. Just remember that you are not in control. Unless you are very fortunate, you will not be staging or posing photographs. Money is pouring out through a firehose while you are doing your work. Prepare to roll with the flow.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Hire a mentor to accompany you on the first few shoots. This has always worked out well for me.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Congratulations on scoring this great gig. I’m jealous.

I’m not a professional architecture photographer. I do have a few lenses that I have collected over the years namely a 24mm Tilt Shit lens and a great OBEN tripod. But I’m sure you have something to that effect. You could grab a few shots locally and see how they work out just to get the feel of the photograph. I still wish you success!

ZtaKED Loc: Lakes Region, New Hampshire & NE Florida

A round of applause, please.

User ID

Dont forget the fisheye !!!!

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Fisheye can be used if it's a good one can be used but unless it tends to distort. I have a good Canon one bet even that gives you problems as it must be level and the ground in front of you usually has to be cropped out.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

A disciplined photographer should have no issues. In photographic composition, you can take these skills and apply them whatever the situation. Good luck.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Start practicing and experimenting. Analyze the work of well established architectural photographers and try your best to emulate it.

repleo Loc: Boston

Apart altogether from the photography aspect there are many practical things you need to know about going on an active construction site.
# 1 - Safety. Nowadays, site safety is one of the the most important aspects of working on a Construction site. Contact the main contractors' Site Project Manager and find out what safety requirements you will need to follow. As a minimum you will need proper PPE which usually includes puncture resistant, steel toed, ankle high safety boots, hard hat, hi-vis vest and probably safety glasses and puncture resistant gloves. If you wear glasses while working you will need over sized goggles or prescription safety glasses. Figure out how you are going to shoot wearing goggles and gloves. You may need to to do a safety training session on site or else expect to be escorted for the duration of your visit. Do not cross any temporary barriers or ignore any warning signs. You may need a safety harness to go up on a roof. These precautions are not just for show. You will be run off the site if you don't follow them. Safety violations can shut down a whole site costing the workers their pay checks.
#2 Schedule. On most major construction sites, schedule is more important than money. Every worker is under pressure to keep their schedule in order to avoid penalties or claims for delay by following trades. Don't expect workers to hang around while you set up a scene or lighting etc.
# 3 Heirarchy. The General Contractor (GC) or Construction Manager (CM) controls the site. He says who can enter and who can't. Even the Owner of the property has to abide by the Contractors requirements. Don't expect a welcome just because some editor from a magazine or Ad agency sent you. Contact the Site Supervisor beforehand yourself to make sure they are aware you are coming. Let the GC introduce you to the various trades or Sub-Contractors' managers or supervisors. GC's typically have very few trades men under their direct employ so they can't order the subs to cooperate with you, but they usually have good working relationships with them. Ask what Subs are on site and what activities are going on that day.
#4 Construction. If the mission is to highlight the activities of the various subs they probably want to be seen as employing the latest technologies and equipment. Don't expect to take shots of a guy studying a spirit level or laying out with a measuring tape. Construction nowadays is all about pre-assembled or unitized construction. Laying out is done by lasers and GPS. The typical 'job box' is more likely to consist of a mobile AV set up with a laptop and large screen monitor connected via wifi to the 3D BIM model than a makeshift bench with a roll of blueprints.
#5 Consent. How will you get consent forms or the workers that appear in the pictures? My 40 years of experience doing construction status reports is that construction workers can be very camera shy. They jump out of the way or turn their backs as soon as the see a camera - some with good reason. Roofers in particular can be very hostile to having their photos taken.

Good luck with your assignment.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Couple of things.
1. If you are shooting indoors with windows, be careful not to blow out the windows on bright days. Choose your time of day correctly. You might want to spend a day there before to see how lighting changes during the day. If you cannot do this, you will need to expose for the window and use lighting to brighten the room. You can also use HDR. I think lighting is better however.
2. You will need a wide angle lens. Watch out converging lines. Learn how to use photoshop to straighten lines so there rooms look normal. Very easy to do.