Mike Butler – Architectural Photographer

Commercial Residential Photography with VStarr


Commercial Residential Photography with VStarr: A Magazine Story

Client: VStarr Interiors
Contact: Sonya Haffey

There’s something distinct about working with VStarr and Sonya Haffey—every project becomes a creative dialogue. Modera Academical Village is a commercial residential development, and photographing these spaces calls for a unique approach—one that balances the grand scale of common areas with the intimate details of home.

Reception area with custom desk and branding wall

The reception sets the tone—structured, inviting, and unmistakably modern.

Step inside and the reception area immediately makes an impression. The custom desk and textured wall are not just functional—they’re a branding statement, anchoring the space with clean geometry and soft lighting. My goal was to keep this entry visually open, highlighting the design intent while inviting the visitor to explore further.

Modern lobby with circular seating and burgundy area rug

Circular seating and a bold rug ground the lobby, softening its lines.

The lobby is where the community comes together. For this photo, I framed the shot to emphasize the harmony between the curved furnishings and the rich burgundy rug, letting light wrap softly across the floor and textiles. Here, commercial doesn’t have to mean cold—these touches bring warmth and comfort to a shared space.

Lounge chairs by floor-to-ceiling windows

A quiet lounge for sunlight, solitude, and reflection.

Natural light becomes an active element in this lounge area. The floor-to-ceiling windows invite the outdoors in, while simple lounge chairs create quiet pockets for reading or a morning coffee. I let the ambient light speak for itself—no heavy lighting, just the clarity of the space as it’s meant to be lived.

Amenity space with bar seating and pendant lights

Pendant lighting creates rhythm and intimacy in the bar area.

Lighting is everything in commercial residential work. In the bar and amenity space, we blended natural and installed lighting to give the area a soft, lived-in glow. Notice how the pendants create a visual rhythm, and how the bar seating draws you through the image. This is where technique meets atmosphere.

Coffee tables and decor details

Sculptural tables and curated objects ground the image in human scale.

Details matter—these sculptural tables and carefully placed objects bring a sense of touch to the photos. In commercial spaces, details like this help tell the story of how residents can use and experience the environment every day.

Hallway with arched windows and greenery

Hallways with greenery and arches connect the indoors with nature.

The transition spaces matter too. Hallways featuring arched windows and indoor greenery become more than just passageways—they’re moments of connection between different parts of the building, and between people and the natural world outside.

Meeting room with glass partitions and city views

The meeting room: open, collaborative, with a view to the city.

Finally, in the meeting and co-working spaces, glass partitions let in li

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