Best Tips and Ideas to Shoot Amazing Interior Photography

Interior photography is a great way to show off your home. Homes are one of the biggest purchases people make, so it’s important that they’re portrayed accurately and professionally.

Here, we share some ideas and tips for creating amazing interior photography. So whether you’re looking to create a portfolio of shots for your blog, or simply want to create beautiful images for your social media accounts, we’ve got you covered.

1. Make your space look larger than it actually is.

interior photography 3
Interior Photography

If you’re in a small room, make sure you’ve got enough light to make your space look bigger. The trick here is to make sure you’re not putting too much light directly into a wall – a single light can make a room look far smaller than it really is. Instead, position your lights from the ceiling and use soft lighting.

2. Take time to set up the room.

Set up furniture in an arrangement that makes sense for the room, but also makes good use of space by having objects placed in areas where they’re visible from multiple angles (such as a coffee table near a window).

3. Think about the lighting.

We’ve all had that experience of seeing a beautifully lit image on Instagram and thinking that you could easily recreate it in real life. The secret to replicating this look is lighting, so always remember to consider the light source and what it’s doing. When photographing food, for instance, a good tip is to place a piece of paper on the table and place a sheet over it. This will ensure that the light is bouncing off the paper rather than the table, giving it a soft, flattering effect.

4. Take photos in different locations.

interior photography 1
Interior Photography

There’s no point taking a photo of a room in one particular spot. Instead, take a few shots in different positions so that your clients can see how versatile your shots are. You could add a shot of the kitchen to your bedroom series, or vice versa, or shoot the front of the house and then the back.

5. Get the best angles.

The best way to get great interior photography is to have the right angles. If you’re shooting a room from the floor, make sure you’re standing at the right height to capture the room properly. And never forget to take a shot from above and below, especially when you’re looking at something you can’t usually see.

6. Keep it simple.

Photography can sometimes be quite tricky and there are many ways to mess things up. For example, if you’re trying to get a really clean, modern feel, avoid clutter. Instead, keep the space as simple as possible. You don’t want anything hanging around the walls that you’ll end up having to delete later.

7. Think about your subject.

interior photography 6
Interior Photography

One of the main reasons we do photo shoots is to showcase the interior. But if you’re struggling to decide what to shoot, think about what you’re passionate about. It could be a particular piece of art in the living room, or the way the sunlight catches on your favourite piece of china. What’s the essence of your space?

8. Create a mood board.

To really make an impact, try creating a mood board. Choose a few pictures of your home and stick them onto a whiteboard. Then, pick out your favourite items, like your favourite curtains, pillows and artwork. Next, choose your favourite colours. You might want to keep things simple, for example, maybe just use two colours, or you might want to go wild and use the whole colour wheel. Whatever you do, make sure you include some of your favourite colours in your board.

9. Make the most of the natural light.

It’s no secret that lighting can play a big part in creating great images. If you’re photographing in a room, for example, you might want to place a mirror behind your subject to make them look bigger. Similarly, if you’re shooting food, make sure you’re using a tripod so that you can control the angle of the light.

10. Be observant

interior photography 5
Interior Photography

Take a look around you before you begin taking pictures. Try to get a sense of the space and use that to inform your composition. You can create interesting shapes by placing your subject in an unusual location or using unusual props. For instance, a child playing with a toy truck in the centre of a round table is a nice composition, whereas a child standing in the corner of a room could be boring.

11. Frame your shots properly

Don’t just place your subject against the background. Instead, look for interesting compositions where the subject takes the lead in the picture. An old door frame or windowsill is a great source of quirky images. To get more creative, play around with cropping and experimenting with different angles to find new ways to frame your subject.

12. Avoid shadows and glare.

Shadows can hide details and make things appear darker than they actually are. Glare from windows or lamp shades can create distracting reflections on surfaces where you don’t want them. If necessary, move furniture around so that it isn’t blocking a window or doorway where natural light would otherwise be coming in — or use a flash if it’s too dark for enough sunlight to enter the room by itself.

13. Study other photographers’ work.

interior photography 4
Interior Photography

You’ll find that there are many different types of photographers out there with different styles and techniques for taking pictures inside homes or other buildings. Look at the work they’ve done inside spaces like yours and see what they did differently than you would have done it — this gives you inspiration for trying new things while also giving you ideas on where not to go with your own shots!

14. Get rid of clutter!

It can be distracting to viewers and make the room look smaller than it really is. Take time to clean up before you shoot so that you don’t have to worry about moving things around or getting in the shot yourself (which will make your house look messy).