Lighting for interiors

[Ben Calwell]

Not sure I've started this under the right subject heading as it doesn't strictly apply to large format, but I have an interest in doing real estate photography. In my research on the topic (mostly Youtube), I'm finding that many interior photographers are using HDR and/or blending multiple exposures in Photoshop. They'll use strobes, shoot several photos of a room and then use Photoshop or Lightroom techniques -- masks, layers, brushes etc. -- to further tweak their images, getting rid of shadows and so forth. I have to confess that what they're doing is confusing to me. Is it not possible to just light a room carefully and get most of the final image done in-camera without having to resort to a lot of time consuming post processing?

[Mark Sampson]

Of course it's possible to light a room carefully and get it in one shot. That's how we used to do it in the good old days of film- and we burned a lot of Polaroid shooting tests. That takes skill and time. The profit margins, and time constraints in real estate (as opposed to architectural) photography are so razor-thin that RE shooters tend to just "run'n'gun" and fix it all in post. Not that there's anything wrong with that approach; it's just how it is today. In many cases it makes situations that were once a real challenge to shoot relatively easy to get done- a good thing when you want to get paid. Which is the point here, after all. I wouldn't want to go back to shooting architecture in 4x5... If we're lucky, our Mr. Gittings will have a comment; his opinion will be worth more than mine.

[jp]

Is it not possible to just light a room carefully and get most of the final image done in-camera without having to resort to a lot of time consuming post processing?

But that would not make as good a youtube video. It seems quicker to me to properly light the room and spend less time on the computer. Just a couple strobes and the right time of day and it's almost easy.

A camera like the Matterport 3d Camera does it all and saves you the photoshop work.

[Jac@stafford.net]

No need for HDR right away. Bounce flash off the ceiling will go a long way into your issue. A bare bulb flash is even better.

[cdavis324]

With a large crew, tons of time and a grip truck anything is possible... ;) There is a big difference in style between the photos shot in the 80's and 90's on slide film and what is done today. In the past everything look lit - there were even shadows behind lit lamps from the strobes! Cross shadows were everywhere even with high end work in AD. Interiors now should look natural, even when lit. Shooting multiple plates saves time, and produces a better image. You can treat each individual area of the composition as it's own and then combine later to get a "perfect" natural photo. So a light can be placed in the frame, or allowed to create a reflection because it's going to be edited out with another plate. It can get very complicated, but will save a ton of time on set(which is expensive).

That being said, I don't think most real estate photogs work that way - I imagine it's mostly set the camera exposure for the windows, then add a bounced flash off the ceiling/wall/window behind the camera to bring the level up. Keep in mind that interior and re photography are very different - different clients/expectations/workflows/budgets/etc.

[Ben Calwell]

Thanks for the replies. I'm old school and believe that a decent interior photo can be shot using lights carefully without a lot of work at the computer later. But I must say that the Youtube real estate photo folks come away with some nice images using their multiple exposures, layers and brushes.

[Virginia Gentry]

But that would not make as good a youtube video. It seems quicker to me to properly light the room and spend less time on the computer. Just a couple strobes and the right time of day and it's almost easy.

A camera like the Matterport 3d Camera does it all and saves you the photoshop work.

Yes, Jp, If we use good interior lights in a room so we can save our money and time for editing the YouTube videos and photos. I will suggest Canon 5D Mark IV for good photography.

[Bernice Loui]

Back in the view camera color sheet film era, BIG strobe power with light modifiers as needed was mandatory. This was the way to control mixed color temperature lighting (tungsten, fluorescent, sunlight and..).

In these days of digital image sensors with their astonishing low light performance, available sunlight or controlled interior lighting is good enough. Gear that is helpful with these images are rectilinear very wide angle lenses (canon offers a 11-24mm f4 zoom. Very common lens used by folks that do these images lots) on a full frame digital. Tilt/shift lenses can be useful, but not mandatory as the lens/camera can be positioned as needed, Good tripod helps lots too.


Bernice

[Pieter]

The architectural interior photographer that I knew would often light interiors by dressing in black and essentially painting the room with a strobe, all one one sheet of film. Takes some practice and the ability to visualize the final effect. Lots of Polaroids were made learning the technique.

[LabRat]

Yea, as an architectural/interior photographer, the trick was to use available lighting well (as the interior lighting layout was part of the design of room) and fill in the "holes" of shadow lurking here and there... The lighting might have different color temp, but one trick was to shoot after dark, turn on one group of similar color temp lights (from the circuit breaker box), hold a cc correction gel over lens with a little wand, expose for that bank of lights, close shutter... Then turn on next bank with different cc filter for proper time, then next bank etc... Then fill the "holes" with strobe + grid spots carefully not to create shadows or reflections... Success was all lights balanced and exposed perfectly on a sheet of chrome film... :)

Steve K

[bmikiten]

I started shooting 4x5 when I shot architectural and interior work for commercial buildings in the 80s as well. I'd echo most of what was said above with a few added notes from a few real estate photographers I know who are currently working. To add to the above, I used to take light bulbs and replace wonky off-color lights in rooms so that color balancing was simpler. My goal was usually to balance to daylight and use tungsten for mood. I'm sure you've seen suggestions for lay-in gels for 4x2 and 2x2 fixtures as well.

The really important items that I've gotten from the young guns doing real-estate (residential) is:

1) It's a game of shooting fast and moving to the next shoot.
2) Know your client and their needs. They aren't paying for art. They are paying for documentation and good views. Color is secondary. Put a color checker in each room shot but don't forget to move it.
3) Shoot video. The days of still photos is quickly leaving that market at least here in Texas. Most people working here are using 3D capture systems so that they can provide virtual walk-thrus on the site.
4) Get a drone. I was looking for property last year and four of the properties (all by a local lake) provided video from a drone at different heights. I paid $150 for a 15 minute fly-over on another property.