One of the key tasks in interior photo shoots is the correct organization of lighting: both the quality of the shot and the general atmosphere depend on it.
It is important to achieve such a balance of artificial and natural light that the room looks exactly as it is perceived by the human eye. At the post-processing stage, you can perform color correction, for example, by turning to the service https://retouchme.com/pro/packages/pro-color-correction/. The professional tools of this editor will allow you to get a flawless result without wasting time on retouching.
The optimal option during interior photography will be an abundance of natural light, which pours from the window and fills the space. However, it also has disadvantages. For example, if the day is too sunny, the light in the room will be harsh and direct. Such rays give over-lighting and harsh shadows. Ideally, if the shooting takes place on a bright but cloudy day: clouds act as softboxes. Curtains and tulle help to adjust the light flow and soften the direct rays. The photographer can use any piece of cloth or paper to cover the window, but make sure that extraneous details do not get into the frame.
Disadvantages of artificial lighting
Interior lights – chandeliers, sconces, floor lamps – are for everyday comfort, but not for photo shoots.
- Overhead light sources give a harsh light pattern.
- There may be warm and cold bulbs in the same room in terms of color temperature, which will affect the quality of the photo.
- Unprofessional light is rarely able to provide a sufficient index of color transfer.
- Spotlights are a source of unnecessary reflexes and color pollution.
Household lights should not be the primary lights for a photo shoot. If the shooting takes place in the evening or the room does not have sufficient access to natural light, professional lighting fixtures become the main ones.
What professional light is necessary for an interior photoshoot
The advantage, in this case, belongs to pulse-controlled light sources, and more precisely – flashes on a tripod. Pulsed light gives a much brighter beam than a static LED device. In addition, the flash is compact and less energy-consuming, and at the same time allows you to solve several problems at once.
Pulsed light equalizes the color temperature, making the photo uniform and reducing the amount of further retouching.
Flash allows you to illuminate shadows in places where the light from the window does not reach. At the same time, it does not just fill them, but does it point by point, complementing the main lighting.
Professional technique is indispensable when working in a room where there are no windows at all. Flash in this case is directed to the ceiling and gives much more correct lighting than any interior device.
If the task of shooting the interior – to show not the room as a whole, but specific features of the decor, and furnishings, you need a directional stationary light, which can be moved around the location.