Find what you are looking for

or search by

Topics

Article
Article

Article

e-Book
e-Book

e-Book

Video
Video

Video

Campaigns
Campaigns

Campaigns

Architecture
Compact Cameras

Compact Cameras

Architecture
DSLRs

DSLRs

Architecture
Videography

Videography

Architecture
Astrophotography

Astrophotography

Architecture
Mirrorless Cameras

Mirrorless Cameras

Architecture
Architecture Photography

Architecture Photography

Architecture
Canon Technologies

Canon Technologies

Architecture
Low Light Photography

Low Light Photography

Architecture
Photographer Interviews

Photographer Interviews

Architecture
Landscape Photography

Landscape Photography

Architecture
Macro Photography

Macro Photography

Architecture
Sports Photography

Sports Photography

Architecture
Travel Photography

Travel Photography

Architecture
Underwater Photography

Underwater Photography

Architecture
Photography Concepts & Application

Photography Concepts & Application

Architecture
Street Photography

Street Photography

Architecture
Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Architecture
Lenses & Accessories

Lenses & Accessories

Architecture
Nature & Wildlife Photography

Nature & Wildlife Photography

Architecture
Portrait Photography

Portrait Photography

Architecture
Night Photography

Night Photography

Architecture
Pet Photography

Pet Photography

Architecture
Printing Solutions

Printing Solutions

Architecture
Product Reviews

Product Reviews

Architecture
Wedding Photography

Wedding Photography

Tips & Tutorials >> All Tips & Tutorials

Interior Photography: 5 Tips On Shooting Commercial Spaces

2016-06-07
0
13.68 k
In this article:

EOS 5D Mark III, TS-E24mm f/3.5L II lens, f/11, 1/40sec, 24mm, ISO 1600 by Todd Beltz

You’ve seen the photos – bars with perfectly displayed glassware and brightly lit cafes that look oh-so inviting. While the idea of photographing a space might seem easy to some, there’s plenty more to consider than just releasing the shutter.

Lighting

Lighting is key when photographing interiors. The best source of lighting would be natural light; the best time is during dawn or dusk as you’ll have nice soft light enveloping the space. For starters, open up all the windows and switch on every light in order to properly illuminate the space. After that, move the lighting around to make sure there are no dark corners or overexposed areas.

Equipment

A good sturdy tripod is important. Invest in a good tripod and not those flimsy ones that you get free with a purchase of DSLR. I prefer a carbon fiber tripod as it strong yet lightweight, and its prefect for traveling and day-to-day photography jobs.

With tripods, I prefer a geared head over a ball head for interior shots as you have more control over the movement of the head with the former.

I would also suggest using a wide angle lens. Canon’s EF16-35mm f/2.8L II lens is perfect for this. I usually shoot within the 28mm-32mm range to avoid lens distortion, and to keep the lines straight.

EOS 5D Mark III, TS-E24mm f/3.5L II lens, f/11, 1/5sec, 24mm, ISO 1600 by Todd Beltz

Atmosphere

Interior space can’t be shot as is, no matter how gorgeous the interior design. Little touches add character to a space – even something as simple as adding a basket of fruit on a side table or adding a human element.

Exposure

The devil is in the detail, and with commercial spaces, it’s important to capture all of that in order to entice potential customers. Subtle details like the gleam of leather couches or contrasting textures on furniture are part of what determines the ambience of a space. Hence, I prefer using a higher f-stop (like f/22), a low ISO and a longer exposure in order to ensure every element in the image is sharp.

EOS 5D Mark III, TS-E24mm f/3.5L II lens, f/11, 1/40sec, 24mm, ISO 400 by Todd Beltz

Angles

Always shoot more than one angle of the room, and play around with various perspectives. This would ensure you’re capturing all the space has to offer, and also result in more interesting shots that might set your work apart from others. If you’re shooting a smaller room, angle yourself from a corner as it helps creates the illusion of space – even just 2 inches of added space captured can make all the difference.

 

 

Vanan M
Profile of photographer

Vanan M is a Singapore-based food and lifestyle photographer and nightlife aficionado. He is either behind the camera or behind DJ booths at nightclubs.
Share your photos on My Canon Story & stand a chance to be featured on our social media platforms