Photography is a great hobby that can be turned into a profitable business. There are many types of images that you can try your hand at creating. For example, it can be nature shots, fashion shots, sports photo shoots, portraits and others. But today we will talk about a specific genre – interior photography.
Usually realtors, designers, construction and renovation companies, decorators, etc. require high-quality photos of such a plan. They turn to photographers for services. Would you like to try your hand in this field as well? Read the article – it will tell you all about creating quality images of rooms.
Why do you need an interior photography
Interior photography is the process of photographing interior rooms, pieces of furniture and finished design projects. With its help you can show different corners of the living room, kitchen, etc. Such shots are mostly used in real estate magazines and rental and sales platforms.
Equipment for professional interior photography
To get high-quality and interesting materials, it is important to use good equipment. Choose the right DSLR camera, lens and additional accessories before shooting.
Camera for interior photography
When photographing interiors, you will need a good camera. It’s best to get a full-frame DSLR camera, as it’s designed for low-light conditions. You will be able to effectively adjust settings as needed and get the best exposure.
Good cameras for interior photography are the following models:
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV.
Offers a full-frame 30.4 MP sensor and allows you to shoot photos with high detail. With an ISO range of up to 32000 and effective auto bracketing, it provides excellent quality in low light conditions.
Nikon D850.
Equipped with a full-frame 45.7 MP sensor that captures an incredible amount of detail. The camera provides innovative technology that provides better illumination of the edges of the sensor. This ensures no dark vignetting in the corners and bright details in every image.
Sony Alpha a7R Mark III.
The 42-megapixel full-frame sensor with built-in 5-axis stabilization helps deliver sharp images. The A7R III is capable of ISOs up to 32,000, so you get great pictures without processing.
Lens for interior photography
A lens for interior photography needs to capture light and provide high detail.
Focal length is one of the most important characteristics of optics. It is best to go for lenses with a diameter of 24 mm to 35 mm. Wide-angle lenses are ideal for shooting indoors because they provide a wide view. You should also consider the maximum aperture value, lens tilt and shift.
The Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is one of the best options for interior photographers, as it provides full perspective control and high sharpness throughout the frame.
Additional Accessories
In addition to optics, you’ll need to purchase equipment to ensure camera stability and create the right lighting:
Tripod
It’s important to find the right support for your camera. Tripods provide stability and flexibility when framing a shot.
Light for shooting interiors
The easiest and most budget-friendly option is to use an external flash and bounce it off the ceiling. You can use any model with a swivel head.
How to photograph interiors: tips from professionals
You can avoid many problems and mistakes if you familiarize yourself with the tips of professional photographers:
Prepare for the photo shoot
An important part of creating content is planning a photo shoot. That’s why you need to visit the location before the shoot. This will help you understand what areas are best for creating photo images. You will also see what details can be captured and how the light penetrates the room at certain times of the day.
The night before, you need to charge the batteries, check the equipment is working, and pack your gear.
Set the RAW format
These images give you a lot of options when processing, but take up more space. You can load this format into a photo editing program and correct underexposed areas without losing quality.
Adjust the camera settings
The first camera setting you need to adjust is the aperture. Interior photos require a closed aperture to keep all details in focus. Set the setting to f/7 or higher.
Then you need to adjust the shutter speed. Setting the aperture high means that you should reduce the shutter speed to let in the most light. The best values for indoor photography are 1/60 to 1/2. To get sharp shots, the equipment must be stationary, so put the camera on a tripod.
To follow the rules of the exposure triangle, adjust the ISO to match the aperture and shutter speed settings. As a rule of thumb, an interior photo shoot requires an ISO of at least 500. Depending on the distance to the light source, the need to increase the setting further will be determined.
For example, if you’re photographing a space away from a window, ISO should be set around 800. If you don’t have a light source other than artificial light, you can use an ISO of 1000 or more. Be careful when setting the light sensitivity too high, as this will cause loss of detail and noise in the image.
Use natural light
Make the most of natural light by opening doors, pulling back curtains and blinds. You can also use additional artificial light. For example, apply an external flash.
Make a nice composition.
How to arrange and photograph the furniture in a room? Use the rule of thirds. Place items at the intersection of lines. Make sure the lines of walls, fixtures, and windows look balanced.
You also need to choose the right camera angles and plans. For magazines, frontal straight angles are most suitable. To create them, you need to mount the camera on a tripod and capture most of the space.
To show volumes or overlaps, take a 45 degree angled perspective.
Also pay attention to image plans, i.e. the distance of objects from the camera. There are 4 types most often considered: first plan, first middle, second middle, and far. It’s best to take shots of the different planes. The second middle is suitable for photographing apartments for rent or sale.
Process your shots.
Even experienced photographers process work to hide flaws and achieve the best results.
Editors can be used to clean the images of all distracting components, remove ugly things and clutter, hide electrical cords, wipe away small dust particles, etc.
Now you know how to photograph rooms properly. You need to prepare a camera, a wide-angle lens and a tripod. You also need to plan the shooting and process the material in a special program. Good luck!
