Sunlight can help enhance a room when photographing real estate. The sunlight can help create natural shadows in the room which gives the room character and creates a sense of depth. Rather than using regular lighting, natural lighting can create a homey sense to the viewers and allows them to really put themselves in the room. Amaze your clients with your photography by using natural light. Below we will share some tips on shooting your real estate photography with natural light.
Camera Gear For Real Estate Photography With Natural Light `
A huge bonus to photographing your real estate projects with natural light is that you don’t need a lot of camera gear. All you need would be your camera, a wide angle lens, and a tripod. If you wanted to go a step further you could also purchase a circular polarizer. A circular polarizer can help reduce the glare on windows, but this equipment is not required for a successful real estate photography photoshoot with natural light.
Natural Light On The Exterior Of The House
The best time to photoshoot the exterior of the house would be when the sun is shining directly in front of the house. You can ask the realtor or the homeowners or even check Google/Apple maps to see which direction the house faces. This way you can schedule the right time when the sun will be directly in front of the house. The front of the house is usually the first image home buyers will see when viewing the house so it’s important that it looks stunning with natural light.
Where Should You Position The Camera?
The best place to position the camera is an area in the room that shows the most area and the most architectural pleasing elements. When photographing with natural light the position of the camera can depend on how much space is available in the room and the window brightness. For smaller houses or smaller areas in homes like offices, closets, and bathrooms the best shot you can take is probably in the doorway. In the doorway you can fit the tripod there while still capturing enough of the room. It’s also best to photograph three walls in the picture which lets the viewers see how big the space is.
For larger rooms it’s best to pick a spot where the bright windows are angled at more than 45 degrees from the center of your len’s view. This will help avoid lens flare which can help save you time during post-production.
How To Deal With Windows
Windows in smaller rooms like bathrooms typically will have blinds. If these windows are too bright you should close them a little to reduce contrast between the interior and exterior. This will help the contrast in the room and keep it nice and bright. Also, closing the blinds partially will reduce flare and ghosting by preventing the direct sunlight from hitting the lens.
Using Natural Light With Your Real Estate Photography
Take the tips and techniques we discussed above and use them in your next photography shoot. Natural light can provide an illuminating, homey feeling to the viewers. Try using natural lighting in your next real estate photography project to wow your clients!
