So, you think that Interior Photography is just about snapping pictures of houses and rooms with a camera?
Well, we’d say that you’ve got about 10% of the idea in question. Interior photography refers to the specific skill in which a professional individual photographs a room, which constitutes far more than just ‘taking a picture.’
Most people tend to forget to give thought to the workings behind simply taking a picture of a room.
Hence, in this article, we’re going to go through what components there are to consider in interior photography, and why it is absolutely necessary for businesses and individuals alike to invest in quality interior photography.
What constitutes good interior photography?
Interior photography consists of a few key components, and we can easily break it down into 4 simple categories.
- The Composition
- The Lighting
- The Design
- The Equipment
#1: The Composition
Firstly, we consider the composition of the shot. This is one of the fundamental guiding principles in shooting interior photography.
Basic ideas such as space, grids, leading lines, depth of field, colour and negative space all come into play when composing the perfect interior photo. This presents your shots stylistically and brings it up a notch.
This forms the basis by which photo shots are constructed, and a good foundational understanding of the basic composition concepts is thereby important in ensuring that the pictures are well shot.
A few tips that we have for you include the Rule of Thirds, utilising framing in shots, as well as creating depth in your shots via styling of the room.
#2: The Lighting
Next, lighting also plays a key role in shooting beautiful interior shots. Picking the right time of the day is hence crucial in shooting.
This is especially so for rooms with large windows that let in a lot of light. As such, the choice of timing is pertinent in getting the perfect shot.
We recommend sometime in the afternoon close to midday, as such timings result in enough indirect light streaming in, which lights up the room evenly.
In terms of interior lighting, do be careful in your choices, as interior lighting can change the temperature and cast unwanted shadows in our shot. You can take a look at our visuals here to see how we best utilise light in our shots!
#3: The Design
The design of the room is also crucial, and this boils down to the details. Have you ever wondered why interior photographs by professionals always seem to be surreal?
The answer lies in the carefully constructed details of the room, and this includes taking the extra effort to fluff up the pillows, draw the curtains and smoothen out any wrinkles in tablecloths or fabrics used in the frame.
Getting rid of any mess or clutter in the space is key as well—people prefer looking at a clean, well-kept space as opposed to one that is unkempt. So, remember to clean up the space before you shoot!
Finally, small stylistic touches can make a big difference in the overall feel of the room as well. The choice of props makes a big difference! Be it a small potted succulent on the coffee table or a draped throw over the couch, each prop can add to a more complex mood and visual effect presented.
#4: The Equipment
Finally, the equipment and choice of lens determines the types of shots we get as well. The wrong choice of lens can result in lens distortion and may not capture the full, conceptualised idea. While the idea of a wide-angle lens is always appealing, wide angle shots might not necessarily be the answer to portraying a room well. Sources online encourage a lens width of anywhere between 16-24mm.
With that in mind, why is it important to ensure that you get well-trained, experienced professionals to shoot your interior photography?
Good quality shots can promote listings and can be used for a variety of marketing collateral. Hiring an interior photographer can showcase the best sides of your assets and bring out the best in your room shots for your brand and company.
From ads, to brochures or flyers, or even for social media marketing purposes, the value of good shots goes far beyond just being a pretty photo.
Not to mention, the entire process of post-production and processing is one that warrants a high level of specialised skill and experience in using platforms such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.
From basic details such as exposure, contrast, highlights and shadows as well as saturation, to the more advanced settings such as bracketing different shots for an HDR picture and the local adjustment filters or brushes in Lightroom, all the above requires skill in the mentioned platforms.
There is no easy way out in editing photos, and each photo must be edited manually, with a lot of attention to detail and specifics, all while retaining the natural colours and lighting of the shot.
Conclusion
Finally, we’ve all heard of the quote: A picture is worth a thousand words, and interior photography is no exception to the rule.
The value of a picture is one that can set the tone for a brand’s image, credibility and direction of the company. Working together with reliable, accredited photographers in the industry can lead to enhanced reputability of the business itself.
Seeking to ensure your competitiveness in the industry is even more important at this stage where the market is saturated. Hence, keeping a good advantage over your fellow competitors is crucial, and you can do this by ensuring that you have a good, collaborative team of interior photographers on your side to work together to bring about great results for your business.
With all that being said, a good team that plans ahead of time for the best results is the team that you’re going to need to bring your interior photography visions to life.
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