How do you take good photographs?
The most popular images on Houzz tend to have clear similarities - light, bright photos taken at good angles.
In the world of home renovation and design, it seems that good photo quality is key!
But how do you get that perfect shot - the one which makes draws drop.
We're asking everyone, from professionals to amateur photographers and homeowners - what makes a good photo? Feel free to share your best photography tips too - or any photos of your own!
Comments (21)
Scott Morris
7 years ago
Jayk
7 years agoI would use the HDR technique. This enables you to cover a wide dynamic range from sunlit windows to dark corners that would be impossible to capture in a final single image in any other way.
It requires a tripod and wide angle lens. You should set exposure, white balance and focus manually (to ensure the setting don't change) and take perhaps five (or more) images from exactly the same point. Each image should have a different EV value to ensure you cover the full dynamic range of the room you are photographing. The images are then combined into a single image using a specialist HDR editing application such as Photomatix. Care is needed at this stage to produce a natural look. It can be done!
Complicated? Not when you get used to it. Time consuming? Yes. Results? Excellent. There is plenty of information online about taking HDR photos. Good luck.
This is an example.
Related Discussions
How do you think about this room?
Comments (7)As before, large long folding room screen. With some detailed pattern in which ever colourway you choose.. Any light colour will go with black, but needs to be mid-light colour, lime green, bright red , teal, orange , raspberry deep pink. Not brown or purple of navy. Choose 1 main light colour + add rugs throws lamps + wall prints, other wall deco - clock mirror in this light colour. Then add in a deep shade eg deep-pink + purple, lime + forest green, etc + add smaller cushions, 1 small throw etc. table can be decorated with utensils + ware in your colours. Large storage boxes + containers in light colour, smaller storage items darker colour. Any new shelving units again in the chosen colourway - painted if need be. Most essential in bed-sit accommodation is at least 2 laundry type bins (coloured) to throw untidied items into in a hurry, clothes, books, makeup etc. also a large matching coloured plastic bucket for carrying all crockery to + from cooking area.stack into bucket to clean table + bring to kitchen when it suits....See MoreHow do you go about finding a room photographer?
Comments (4)If you look in the find a pro section - there's some listed! Good luck ! Lovely idea to get some photos to capture it !! Do hope you share them with us all too !!!...See MoreDo you make guests take shoes off?
Comments (16)Hello Claire, I actually think asking people to remove their shoes is rather uncivilised and not the "done thing" so nothing to do with education and definitely not a lack of etiquette, rather the reverse I dare say.. .. People often ask when coming here as I have painted floor boards and it's possibly some new air of politeness but the offer should be graciously refused.. I always say "no don't worry at all but thank you"..... For me it's a bit like telling people they can't smoke or something, even if you don't like it.. I am rather loath to the fusser in the home, and I don't want to appear that way as I personally find it lacks sophistication. It's definitely not welcoming. I am though extremely particular nonetheless, manners are everything! .... Of course people will make their own choice about their homes and that is their right... For those in kitten heels,stiletto's tip toe on "soft wood" would be the foot forward! I would say to you, do what you think is best for you. : ))...See MoreHow do I buy goods on line - no clear instructions
Comments (4)I can’t be sure, I’m not a Houzz employee, but if an item is not available, there will be no price or no option to put in the basket. You will be better emailing Houzz for clarification....See MoreOcean Clarke
7 years ago
PROThe Classic Barn Company
7 years agoWide angle lends is a must (for interior shots), and again as others have said use some photo software such as Photo-shop, with HDR add-ons. Be sure to tripod.
2 Bay Oak Barns, Garages and Garden Buildings. · More Info
Jayk
7 years agoScott Morris
7 years ago
PROEwelina Kabala Photography
7 years ago
PROAlex Bland Photography
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoFor me it's about lighting and feeling.
I occasionally combine exposure if necessary but try to edit images as little as possible and get everything right in camera. I often turn lights off to avoid yellow colour casts merging with blue outdoor light, use a sturdy tripod (& mirror lockup mode) and use the histogram function to make sure exposure is spot on, and I use tilt-shift lenses to keep verticals straight, choosing rational & balanced compositions.
When budget allows, I use Elinchrom lights carefully positioned to recreate natural light, more evenly balanced, (like a HDR in real life).
The example image was produced with one light in the top-left at high level and one to the right - not overpowering the ambient light, 24mm lens. Shot on commission for a cotswold kitchen company.
Interiors Portfolio · More Info
PROJohn Gauld Photography
7 years agoNobody has mentioned shooting in RAW, yet. It's a much more flexible file format than JPEG. The files are bigger, but the detail - and particularly the ability to recover detail - is so much better. Everything that we shoot starts with the camera on a tripod and for the most part, verticals and horizontals corrected in Live View on the camera back. Then we take multiple exposures. We never use HDR, but after basic processing of the RAW images, we use layers and masks in Photoshop to blend the correctly exposed parts of each shot. (The dynamic range of the sensor on the camera is not great enough to cover the view through the window as well as the darker corners of a room in one shot. That's why we have two or three exposures to use the correctly exposed parts). Finally we tweak the image to adjust and remove any imperfections before cropping and saving it. (Whatever else, lens distortion corrected with edges of walls and floors straight, colour casts removed etc.,) Chris Snook is right about lights. Magazines prefer lights off, many of my clients like the added sparkle with all the house lights on. We always carry multiple head flash lighting and continuous lights with us, but only ever use them in extremis. Controlling lights to avoid pools of light is an additional time-consuming distraction and we usually have only a limited amount of time in our client's customer's house! Whilst I have an i-Phone, I NEVER take pro photos with it - and only use it to fire my camera remotely by wifi - for example when I have to stand outside a room to get the shot with no reflections.
Family Room in South Manchester · More Info
PROTopology Interiors
7 years ago
PROKBrimson Photography
7 years ago- PRO
John Gauld Photography
7 years ago 
PROThe Unbusy Home
7 years ago- PRO
John Gauld Photography
7 years ago - PRO
John Gauld Photography
7 years ago 
Jane Thorpe
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
PROAparté Conseils - Emilie PERRUCHET
6 years ago
PROArch.photos
6 years agoA lot of the advice that follows is personal preference, based on what I've found works well for showing off design:
- Use natural light - so turn of the interior lights. This will give an accurate colours and a natural feel to the images.
- Use a tripod and take the time to level the camera.
- Position yourself in the middle of the room and the corners.
- Do not go ultra wide - if you can't fit everything in the frame, tell the story with multiple images.
- For great exterior images, turn on the interior lights and photograph at twilight - see example below:
- PRO
John Gauld Photography
6 years ago 
PROMartina Oh photography
6 years ago
Chris Snook