Are you feeling frustrated with indoor photography? Here are some ideas to help make your indoor photos look better:
Take advantage of daylight. Shoot your photos wherever sunlight is available, whether that’s by a window or a doorway. Take note of what kind of light enters each room throughout the day. You’ll notice that sunlight has a warmer look at sunrise and sunset. At midday, it has a cooler or neutral color. Use this to add different effects to your photos.
Use a reflector! Not only is this one of the cheapest pieces of equipment you can buy, but it is also one of the easiest pieces of equipment you can make yourself! Here’s how you make a reflector:
Step 1: Get a blank piece of white poster board or paper.
Step 2: Have someone reflect it on your subject!
That’s it!
Blank white paper can provide you with a lovely, soft fill source for any shadows on your subject, and helps give your photograph a professional look. If you need something stronger, use a piece of tinfoil to cover that piece of paper.
Avoid direct overhead lighting. Make sure your subject takes a few steps away from the light source so that it bounces from the floor onto your subject instead. Direct overhead lighting often casts unflattering shadows.
Turn off your flash. This is along the same lines as the previous suggestion, because the flash on your camera can result in a washed out, unflattering photograph if you use it indoors. Avoid it at all costs, even if you need to raise the ISO.
Pay attention to the details. Whether you’re photographing a group of friends in your living room or working on a paid architecture gig, the details matter! Look at the countertops — are there pens and paper that belong in the shot, or can they be stashed somewhere else? Are there dishes in a sink? Is a lamp coming out of someone’s head? Take the time to stage your photograph.
Do you have other questions about indoor photography? We are big fans of Digital Photography School, so be sure to check out their site from some of the best photographers in the world.
Happy photographing!
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