Rooms -any advice?

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davholla

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I might need to photograph a couple of rooms to rent, obviously I know that they need to be tidy first.
Any ideas about the best way to photo of them, I guess the best way would be not to use flash but use a long shutter speed to get natural light.
They are small rooms btw what aperture would be good.
I will be using a Canon 7D MKII and 18-135 STM lens, would HDR be an idea?
 
davholla said:
I might need to photograph a couple of rooms to rent, obviously I know that they need to be tidy first.
Any ideas about the best way to photo of them, I guess the best way would be not to use flash but use a long shutter speed to get natural light.
They are small rooms btw what aperture would be good.
I will be using a Canon 7D MKII and 18-135 STM lens, would HDR be an idea?
Click to expand...
Unless there's a big variation between the light and dark areas, HDR shouldn't be necessary.
 
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davholla said:
I might need to photograph a couple of rooms to rent, obviously I know that they need to be tidy first.
Any ideas about the best way to photo of them, I guess the best way would be not to use flash but use a long shutter speed to get natural light.
They are small rooms btw what aperture would be good.
I will be using a Canon 7D MKII and 18-135 STM lens, would HDR be an idea?
Click to expand...

Make sure curtains are neatly drawn and ideally not too sunny outside so that the light entering is bright but even

Surmising your lens has minimal distortion at 18mm end (but to reduce what little distortion that might show......keep the camera level i.e. don't tilt up or down and try to avoid vertical lines [like room corners] close to the edge of the frame) I would use that fl and perhaps f8 to ensure all in the scene was in focus. ISO choice, well the Max you can use without noise that will allow for handheld shutter speeds.

Provided the room lights are not in the shot, plus provided they are not primary source of light daylight or auto wb should suffice.......shoot in raw to help in post ;)
 
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Make sure all your verticals are vertical, by keeping the camera pointed straight ahead.

Shoot from between hip and chest height

Shoot at an equivalent 16-20mm

Aperture between 5.6 and 8

ISO between 100 and 400

Let your shutter speed do the rest

You will get over exposed windows unless you expose for the windows and use bounced flash to raise the interior exposure

Turn on all the lights in the room

Check out my article here if you need more detailed advice:
http://wearesophoto.com/5-tips-for-better-real-estate-photography/

(y)
 
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Thank you all, I should have said that I am in London UK and that the rooms are small - sadly most of them are here.
Particular thanks to Oliver for his article.
 
Oliver has already said but keep the camera level. If you shoot at head hight you will be looking down on the room, this will affect how the (verticals) walls look. Shoot from waist height and if using flash don't be afraid to aim it behind the camera so the bounced flash is not in frame.
 
Why not try a Panorama shot on your Mobile Phone.
 
Get as far back into the corners as possible.
Open the curtains for the main lighting but turn on the ceiling light and any table /wall lamps as well - the extra apparent warmth they add makes the room(s) look more inviting.
IF there's any sort of nice view, shoot 2 shots (one exposed for the indoors and one for the view) and combine them in PP.
Warm coloured bedding (see lights tip above!)
 
davholla said:
They are small rooms... I will be using a Canon 7D MKII and 18-135 STM lens, would HDR be an idea?
Click to expand...
I don't think 18mm will be wide enough. Have you tried it to see whether you can frame enough of the room to be useful?
 
StewartR said:
I don't think 18mm will be wide enough. Have you tried it to see whether you can frame enough of the room to be useful?
Click to expand...
No not yet, it is only a possibility at the moment, I spoke I could do a panoramic photo if needed rather than buy a new lens.
 
I tried a 8mm Lens in my bathroom and not good but Iphone 6S was better!!!!
 
stryvya said:
I tried a 8mm Lens in my bathroom and not good but Iphone 6S was better!!!!
Click to expand...
I don't actually know how phones dslrs compare technically.
Looking at photos from my wife's Huawei I notice
Close up is rubbish,
zoom is rubbish
portrait photos are not that flattering (ironic as so many people use them for that).
moving shots are really bad

However
1) People are fine
2) Buildings are fine, providing the light is good
 
Of course the most obvious answer is to try both Camera and Phone to see if you can get the Angles you want then worry about Exposure, etc after.
 
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