If you have never photographed interior space before, then you may find it a challenge. Like any other person who wants to try their hand at decor photography, you might not be quite sure where to start.
There are a number of things to think about when photographing indoors. For example, what makes a professional interior photographer stand out from the crowd?
And what camera settings do you need to use when taking pictures inside a house?
Fortunately, we have got you covered! In this article, you will learn about the best settings for decor photography, as well as the classic go-to photography gear to use.
What Makes Good Decor Photography?
While you may have seen some great decor photography, it does not mean you have found it easy to replicate. This is because it takes quite a lot of time, effort, and patience to secure the best decor photography.
You will notice that if you do take pictures indoors – unless you have a lot of natural light, they will turn out dark or just blurry.
This is because you need to learn the ins and outs of decor photography, and what makes a good shot. This is not just down to having a clean-looking composition and great style, but also the settings too.
Fortunately, taking great decor photography photos isn’t actually that difficult. With the right know-how and gear, you will be able to take some great photographs of indoor decor.
7 Best Settings And Gear For Decor Photography
Here are 7 ways to ensure you achieve great decor photographs every time:
1. Picking The Right Gear
Before you can think about taking decor photography, you will want to have the right equipment. While the number one item is the camera itself, you will also want to consider purchasing a tripod.
The reason for this is that you will be using a slower shutter speed and wider aperture to allow more light into the camera. Using your camera in handheld mode will cause the end result to be blurry – or at least not as sharp.
Using a tripod will help you to take an in-focus shot while being able to have settings that will allow you to have a well-lit photograph. Camera shake is a big problem without a tripod, so investing in one is key.
2. Think About The Lighting Situation
Another thing you will want to consider is the lighting situation. Most photographers swear by natural light when it comes to decor shots. The reason for this is that it looks natural and can light up a room or object well.
Not only that, but natural lighting also creates shadows that are meant to be there. When artificial lighting is used, it can create horrible dark shadows in places that make the shot look terrible.
If you are unlucky when it comes to lighting situations, use LED lighting. It is much softer and brighter, and you can use a white light rather than a warm light. You can also think about using a softbox to diffuse harsh light too.
3. Photograph At A Straight Angle
Another thing you will want to think about is how you frame your shots. It is really important that you keep decor shots straight, rather than at an angle. The pictures look so much better when they are straight-on, in-focus, and lit well.
This is another reason why a tripod is useful. It means you can make sure that the camera is straight, rather than accidentally at an angle.
You will also be able to retake the same shot at the same angle, over and over again – that is until you move the tripod.
4. Use A Higher Aperture
When it comes to the settings, you will want to take a look at the aperture value first. However, before you do this, you will want to think about what kind of decor you are hoping to photograph.
Assess the situation first, from whether you need to add in extra lighting artificially, or you can let more natural light in somehow. Perhaps you can’t do either, so you may want to think about how you can brighten the scene up through your camera.
You will want to make sure you have a big aperture number to ensure that the final image is crisp and in focus. This means you are avoiding any blurred depth of field, and instead want everything in the photo to be detailed and sharp.
For this reason, choose an aperture value that is f/7 and over. However, if you are choosing to use automatic settings, like aperture priority mode, then your camera will automatically set the aperture for you.
5. Think About Shutter Speed
Along with the aperture, your next step is to decide what the best shutter speed is. There is no doubt that you will want to use a tripod. This is because, when shooting decor you will need a longer shutter speed.
This allows extra light to the camera’s sensor in order to make the final image brighter. Without a slower shutter speed, you will find that the end result is a darker image with some shakiness due to being held in the hand.
You may need to start with a 1/60 and test whether it works for your situation. Don’t be afraid to keep going to smaller numbers until you get the lighting that suits the decor best.
Also, just to clarify, the lower the number the brighter the final image will be. Just don’t forget to use that tripod to avoid camera shake!
6. Change The White Balance
The white balance is something a lot of people forget about, even though it can make a big difference to your end result.
Unless you are shooting all of your pictures in the RAW format, you will want to change the white balance while you are sorting out your camera settings.
Changing your white balance will help to correct the overall color of the image, and you can make it warmer or colder. This helps if you are having to use an ‘orange’ indoor light that is giving your pictures a terrible color.
Changing the white balance can remove this entirely, and make the color of the photos colder. In other words, it puts a cool tone onto the photos.
7. Increase The ISO
Changing the ISO is another key setting when it comes to decor photography. This is another way to help more light reach your camera, however, the higher you go, the grainier (and noisier) your picture will become.
Even so, most modern cameras can deal with a high ISO setting, so it should not be a problem – although, you should always factor this in. Once you take a picture with a high ISO, give it a good check by zooming into the picture on your camera.
When it comes to photographing in artificial light, think about using an ISO of 1,000 or higher. If you are taking a picture in bright natural light, then you will want to go much lower.
While outside in the sunshine your camera will be fine at ISO 100 or 200, but you may want to go to 500 or higher indoors.
However, just remember not to overexpose your photos. The higher you go in brighter conditions, the more likely it is the decor will begin to look washed out with bright light.
Always keep checking what the picture looks like every time you change the settings.
Final Thoughts
While at first, it may seem like decor photography is difficult, with the know-how and correct gear, you will be able to take great indoor photographs.
There are a few tips and tricks, as well as setting choices, that need to be adhered to in order to make sure your photographs are sharp and bright.
Often decor photography comes out dark and blurry. However, there are easy ways to avoid this from happening. Give it a go and see how you do!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Light For Interior Photography?
The best light you can use is natural light when it comes to taking pictures indoors. Using natural light helps to remove unwanted shadows that have been created by an artificial light source.
However, LED lightbulbs can work as a fill-in light if needed. Go for a cold light, rather than warm because it may appear orange.
Should You Shoot In JPEG Or RAW?
It all depends on how much flexibility you would like when it comes to post-editing. If you prefer to do most of the editing after the photo shoot, then choose RAW.
However, shooting in JPEG is fine, especially if you want to try and get the picture correctly taken the first time around.
Are Shutter Speed And Aperture Important When Photographing Decor?
Yes, both shutter speed and aperture are very important when it comes to decor photography. When it comes to shooting indoors, the shutter speed will be longer and the aperture will be higher.
You will be aiming to get more light into the camera in order to take a clear and well-lit-up shot.
Hey everyone, and welcome to LemonadeAndLenses.com. My name is Laura and I am the founder of this site!
For as long as I can remember, I have loved taking photographs. There is nothing I love more than looking back through old pictures, and having all of the memories come flooding back.
If you want to learn about how to take professional images, and to run your own photography business, then I can help you out, here at Lemonade And Lenses.
