Selling home
Dining room Don't overdo dining setups. I don't know about you, but I don't like that fake, overdone set table in shots. I call it "Model Home" syndrome. You know when you go into a model home and there's even a fake turkey and all that stuff like the Bluths had on Arrested Development? Anyway, I think just a simple bowl or centerpiece can be plenty of style for a dining room photos, but I really admire this table. They used just the right amount of items without looking too fake.
Bathroom Put the lid down. Bathrooms are full of shot-ruining pitfalls. The number one rule: PUT DOWN THE LID ON THE TOILET! Number two: Get your towels and washcloths in check. Number three: Put your toothbrush, toothpaste, and tacky plastic liquid soap bottle away. Number four: Get that stupid fluffy loofah thing that hangs from your showerhead out of the shot. In fact, throw it away; it's probably moldy. Tuck your shampoo bottles, razors, and other shower items away. This shot makes the room look just lived-in enough. The rolled towels, the texture from the lidded basket, and the perfect tissue box and matching counter accessories are just right. A shot without these little touches would be rather boring. Note that there is not a loofah or a bottle of Garnier Fructisse to be seen in that shower stall!
Use flowers. When in doubt, go for dramatic flowers. Is the colorless, minimalist palette that emphasizes the textures of this room beautiful? Yes. Does it make for the most interesting of interior shots? Not really. Enter a tall drink of purple wildflowers. Take it a step further and compose the picture with said flowers anchoring the right corner and almost all of the side, and you have a beautiful interior shot.
Pick a show. Television sets almost always ugly up a shot; I don't care how expensive and fancy they are. So choose something fun to put on and make it look like a painting. I've been taking careful notes of where Houzz photographers have chosen to freeze the screen (upside down Spiderman/Kirsten Dundst kiss; Avatar), but seeing some sort of Toddlers and Tiaras in this very contemporary room is my favorite pick so far. Do I believe that someone with such clean, minimalist taste would indulge in such trashy reality TV? You betcha!
Shoot at dusk, or at dawn. You want the light to be soft — it makes the shots more flattering, and it softens the exterior. You want to try to match the exterior and interior light as much as possible. Early evening or late afternoon is the ideal time to shoot an interior or exterior. After sunset can also be fun for an exterior if you're shooting an area with porch lights or other outdoor lighting. (Like front porch at dusk)
When to take pics 1. Light David Livingston: The best times to shoot an interior and an exterior are eastside in the morning, and westside in the afternoon. The north and south sides can simply be shot whenever the light is bright. For your lighting, try to limit the extreme areas that are too dark or too bright. You might need to add light to the dark areas, and pull the drapes in for some bright areas, or just wait around until the light is more even in that room.
Do not fear using people in your interior shots. Exploit cute kids, cute pets, and cute chefs. The people in this picture are not the focus of the shot, but they certainly enliven it and let us see it as the perfect family kitchen.
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