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About 517 Visuals
517 Visuals is a Michigan-based architectural photography studio serving architecture, engineering, construction, and development firms across Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and the broader Midwest.
We photograph completed projects, the people behind them, and the environments where that work takes shape.
Architecture remains the center of the studio. We are drawn to the point where design and photography meet: studying how a building is approached, watching light move across a material, and finding the view that makes a space easier to understand.
We also value the people side of the work. A strong portrait can help a principal, designer, engineer, builder, or team member look capable, approachable, and recognizably themselves.
Together, those images help firms present their work, people, and credibility with greater consistency.
Our Focus
517 Visuals works primarily within Michigan’s built-environment and AEC markets.
Most engagements begin with architectural photography for completed projects. Depending on the firm’s needs, the work may also include people photography, including leadership portraits, team photography, recruiting imagery, and workplace environments. Aerial perspectives and motion and timelapse may also be included when they help communicate the project or organization more clearly.
These image types often appear together. A project photograph, principal portrait, and team image may all be used in the same proposal, website, recruiting campaign, award submission, or presentation.
Planning them with a consistent visual standard makes the final work easier to use and easier to maintain over time.
Based in Lansing, we serve firms throughout Michigan and selectively across the Midwest. 517 Visuals is woman-owned and built-environment focused.
How We Work
By the time a building is ready to be photographed, years of design, engineering, coordination, construction, and craft have already shaped what is visible.
The photography needs to respect that work.
Before production, we clarify what the final images need to communicate, where they will be used, who needs access, which views carry the most responsibility, and how long the image set needs to remain useful.
Those decisions influence the production plan, image sequence, licensing, refinement, and delivery structure.
This is the foundation of our Visual Strategy framework, which connects architectural judgment with practical marketing needs.
Clients often involve us when a project carries multiple stakeholders, a fixed launch or award deadline, or a need for the images to remain useful across several departments. We keep those engagements steady through clear planning, direct communication, careful site coordination, and organized delivery.
The result is an image set built to support proposals, awards, recruiting, websites, public relations, presentations, business development, and long-term portfolio use.
Our selected architectural case studies provide a closer look at how that planning, production, and final image use come together on individual projects.
Who We Are
517 Visuals was founded by Amber and Adam Suiter.
The studio began in 2012 as 360 Photo & Design, a broader commercial photography and visual documentation practice. Since then, the work has included commercial environments, architecture, interiors, construction, development, workplaces, and institutional organizations.
Over time, the work moved steadily toward the built environment. That became the work we cared most about and understood most deeply.
517 Visuals reflects that focus.
Today, the studio brings together architectural attention, creative direction, production discipline, and a client experience designed to keep communication clear from planning through delivery.
Amber and Adam share responsibility for the long-term direction of 517 Visuals while leading different parts of the business. Adam leads client communication, sales, Visual Strategy, creative direction, and production. Amber oversees bookkeeping, internal operations, and production support.
Selected Clients
Our work has supported architecture firms, engineering teams, contractors, developers, universities, institutions, and regional organizations across Michigan and the Midwest.
Selected clients include Hanbury, Albert Kahn Associates, SmithGroup, Owen-Ames-Kimball, Kingscott Associates, C2AE, PEA Group, Progressive Companies, Wade Trim, The Christman Company, Granger Construction, Fessler & Bowman, Pace Howe Design, the MSU Research Foundation, Michigan State University, and many more.
For a broader view of the work, visit the architectural photography gallery.
Amber Suiter
Founder/President
Amber founded the business that became 517 Visuals and remains its majority owner.
As President, she oversees the studio’s financial and internal operations and shares responsibility for its long-term business direction. She also remains closely involved in production, supporting site coordination and keeping things moving behind the scenes on assignment days.
Adam Suiter
CO-FOUNDER/VISUAL STRATEGIST
Adam leads client communication, sales, Visual Strategy, creative direction, and photography production.
His background in branding, advertising design, and creative leadership shapes how he approaches architectural photography today. He cares about the individual photograph, but also what happens when those photographs become part of a larger organization and have to keep working.
He also works with Amber on the studio’s long-term direction and positioning.
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