I’ve been photographing interiors for a number of years now and have developed tried and tested ways of doing what I do, to get the best out of every space I photograph.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for The House Ministry
When you’re photographing interiors you need to be absolutely focused (excuse the pun) for every single image you take.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for The House Ministry
Interiors photography by its very nature will be beautiful when the setting you are commissioned to photograph has been pulled together by an interior designer and/or interiors stylist. Everything will have its place and everything will complement its setting.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for The House Ministry
However just taking pretty pictures isn’t what its all about.
For each and every image and therefore by the nature of the genre, every set or scene, all have to have a purpose. They all have to have a story and that story needs to be told visually.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Stratton House Hotel
Image above commissioned by and photographed for The House Ministry
When you’ve answered all of the above you can then start to make the preparations to ensure that whatever scene, object, set up, you are photographing is shown at its very best and that your image is doing the job it needs to do.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Helen Stubbs Interiors
When I’m photographing both people, interiors, and objects, you will see me ‘looking for the light’. Its something my Clients are used to me doing and they understand what I’m doing when I’m sometimes standing and just looking at something. I’m not in a trance, I am actually working inside my head! And taking the time to do this is essential.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for The House Ministry
Light falls in all manner of different ways depending on the time of day, the time of year, and according to the direction the room you are photographing is facing. Its always well worth getting a compass direction on where you are shooting so that you can work around the hot spots in the day.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Helen Stubbs Interiors
And be mindful of colour casts onto other objects in the room/area. Use additional light to help balance out tones.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Inndecs at Puckrup Hall (Hilton Hotels)
Whatever you are photographing ensure that you make it look as good as it possibly can do.
For example when photographing velvet cushions; make sure there is no visible dust and if some dust spots do appear then remove those in the post production edit.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Stratton House Hotel
The same goes for counter tops. Carry a cloth with you! A quick dust is far quicker on set than hours retouching afterwards.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Meliora
Cables are the bane of my life!
Hide them, take plugs out of walls, do whatever you can to make sure that if they aren’t part of the hero of the piece that they’re not on show. Whilst they’re essential to make things work, they are also distracting and ugly.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Lords of the Manor Hotel
Remember that what you see when looking around a room with the naked eye, the difference in an image that you focus on is huge. It will stand out like a sore thumb! I often see things through the view finder that I don’t ‘see’ when looking normally. Take the time to move things and tidy if you need to. This is why interiors photography is not a ‘quick snap’ or a quick ‘point and shoot’.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Rendcomb College
And yes I hear you… what about lights? Lights should be off unless you are photographing lights as part of the set up.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for The House Ministry
Adding the ‘lifestyle’ element to interiors photography is critical and something that needs as much planning as the room design itself from a photography perspective.
We’ve all drooled over stunning interiors images on Pinterest and Instagram because we can see ourselves living (in our dreams!) in those environments.
And we imagine ourselves there, living our best lives.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Meliora
As an example… if you are photographing an window seat add some books, maybe reading glasses, and definitely some soft furnishings. Perhaps cushions or throws.
Make the space look inviting and somewhere the viewer can imagine themselves being.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Inndecs at Puckrup Hall (Hilton Hotels)
It takes practice, patience, and time. Otherwise everyone would be doing it! So stick with it and work at it.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Lords of the Manor Hotel
Learn about angles. Learn about lighting. Learn about shadows and light. Learn how to correct both the horizontal and vertical lines in the post production edit. And learn how to ‘see’ and I mean really ‘see’ a room.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Stratton House Hotel
“Nikki was razor focused on what I wanted to get out of the shoot. With her branding background, she instilled total confidence in her ability to interpret my goals, which allowed me to feel comfortable in being guided through the pre-shoot stages, and also on the day.
The photos she took are outstanding – from both a composition and technical standpoint – and are exactly what I was looking for. As someone in their second career, and ahem…a bit older…Nikki made me look amazing, yet recognisably myself!
I highly recommend Nikki – she is excellent.”
Julia Murray, The House Ministry
Image above commissioned by and photographed for The House Ministry
I’d love to hear from you so if you’d like to know more or chat to me about interiors photography please get in touch.
Image above commissioned by and photographed for Meliora.
To book an Enquiry Call with me; please fill in this form, call me on 07711855845, or email me direct at hello@carleandmoss.com