Once again my shooting schedule has caused a long delay since my last post. I’m grateful beyond words for the agents who have supported me by asking me to photograph their listings and feel incredibly fortunate to be shooting daily. The only down-side is my inability to find the time to post regularly on this blog, which I find very frustrating. I’m eager to finish the Photography For REALTORS series and make the transition back to my original intention, which was a true photoblog – a place to post my favorite images from each shoot with short descriptions that I hope will be informative for those doing their own marketing photography.
Now on to the sixth step to better real estate photography:
As I discussed in my last post, shooting with a very wide lens can make a room look far too long and narrow – the “bowling alley” effect. The rule of thumb is that only rooms that are square (or nearly square) should be shot in a length-wise, symetrical way when a wide angle lens is being used. While there will still be some exaggeration of perspective, it will be much less noticeable. This is an example of a nearly square room which I felt could be shot symmetrically without a problem:
A nearly square room which could safely be shot in a symmetrical fashion without perspective exaggeration.
Most rooms are rectangular, though, and the way to avoid perspective problems is to shoot diagonally. While this helps to avoid perspective exaggeration, there are other benefits as well. Because of the way most people arrange their furniture in rectangular rooms, shooting diagonally through the furniture allows the viewer to see the features of the home itself, such as the fireplace. Shooting diagonally is especially important in galley-style kitchens and narrow bathrooms, which can look like they belong in a submarine if shot “straight”. In bathrooms, shooting diagonally into the mirrow will frequently allow you to show a reflection of the room in the mirror, rather than a reflection of you!
In a previous post I talked about the value of flow shots that show the relationship of one room or space to others that are adjacent to it. Here’s my tip for this post: look at a room as you would obviosly shoot it – for instance a dining room shot from the entry, diagonally, in a way that allows the front window to be seen. Now go to the opposite corner and look back at where you just were. In fact, go to every corner of a room and look diagonally in the opposite direction. You’ll be amazed at the flow shots you’ll find! Using the dining room example, here’s an “obvious” view - and an alternative that retains the front window, but also shows the entry and the formal living room above as well.
The obvious dining room shot.
An alternative that also shows the flow of this part of the home.
That’s it for now. I hope very much to be able to post the remaining techniques from the class in the coming days.
by Harry
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