Photographing your interiors for your real estate ad can be challenging, especially if you've never done it before.
This checklist of key indoor photography tips will help you set it up and give you a better feel for your final pictures.
Your checklist
The importance of styling for your interior
Carefully crafted photographs are vital when marketing a rental property or hotel room because they really give the viewer a sense of what their experience in your space will be like.
But what does styling actually mean?
It can be as simple as putting fluffy pillows in your picture, to as complex as studying balancing your composition and adjusting your scene accordingly.
Make your styling warm and inviting, and as professional as possible.
Create order by unplugging all technical devices
Wires and cables from televisions and computers often look messy in pictures, so remove them.
Declutter, but not too much.
Otherwise you will get a sterile feeling in your photo that is unmistakable. Leave in a plant or two or objects for the human touch.
composition
Strictly speaking, this means the way in which the subject of your photo is related. Keep track of your composition, eg by applying the rule of thirds (which basically means that photos look better when their most important parts are off-centre).
Think about your camera lens
You may be thinking of – architectural photos? I better pull out my wide-angle lens, but frankly, while it's a great tool to have in your setup, please don't overuse it. Distortion in your final recordings is, at best, a thing of the past.
Using a tripod
You may find that your photos are always tilted a little to the left or right, even if you think they are bolt upright. Invest in this and it will be your friend for life.
Speaking of bright, cloudy days are the best
The quality of the shadows in photos taken indoors on an overcast day is really soft and beautiful.
Illuminate your interiors with natural light
You will sometimes see some advice to always close all curtains and turn on all lights. I say a clear no to that. Artificial light can cast an awful yellow hue over everything, making it very unnatural. They would have to reduce the color temperature of the artificial light with filters. Please be careful here. I recommend working with natural light.
To edit. Everything. Every photo.
Photo editing software is a must. Change your camera settings to save your photos in RAW files and you will be amazed at how well you can edit them. There are a multitude of editing programs to choose from: the type you use doesn't have to be broken the bank or can even be free if you're using it on a trial basis.
Edit, but not too much
Over-processing your photos will do more harm than good to your listing. It might even give the viewer the impression that you're trying to hide something by saturating your image way too high.
