Photography Archives | Page 11 Of 11

Product Photography | A Complete Guideline

By graphics cycle on March 18th, 2020 in Photography

Guide to Product Photography is the one thing people search for online very often. Because many people are willing to take good product photos. Do you also want to make the best product photos but somehow every time you end up with an average result?

Are you a little confused about the tricks and techniques of the product photos? I will share some product photography ideas and tricks that can assist you in making more accurate product photos. By using these tips, you can become more professional in product photography.

E-commerce sites and product photography are closely connected. You won’t find a single e-commerce site without displayed product photos. The main component of an e-commerce site is the product photo. So, the photos have to be the best in Outlook.

Besides that, buyers should understand the basic features of the product at first sight. Therefore, while taking product photos, you have to be attentive, creative, and professional. Stick to the article.

Let Me Explain A Simple Guide to Product Photography

01. Follow the Brands You Like

As you are intending to become a product photographer, you must like some brands. Their photos attract you and inspire you to be a product photographer. Use this fascination as an inspiration. Analyze their works. Scrutinize the photos so that you can understand every bit of it. Try to find out the angles, the color scheme, and the amount of lighting they use.

Imitate what you learn from them. You can learn a lot of product photography techniques. Or you can read their product photography blog from experts. For example, if you are about to shoot a women’s boutique. Now go and search for the best boutique brands and follow how they have shot the pictures. Reflect on your photographs.

02. Clean Up Your Camera Lenses

Well, cameras are the most important thing for shooting photos. Camera quality is a major issue. You have to know about the quality of the best camera for product photography. Besides that, a clean lens. Dirty lenses damage the quality of a photo.

Before shooting make sure your lenses are clean. If you are shooting on a smartphone, confirm that there is not even a fingerprint on the lens. I would recommend a microfiber cloth that we use to cleanse our glasses. Also, you can use a simple rag that you use to clean up your laptop screen.

03. Fix a Position for the Product

The best product photos are those that you take focusing on the subject most. The first step towards a good photo is to create a setting. To create an impressive setting for the subject, you should follow these helpful hints for product photography.

Select a simple white background. The plain white background is best for the maximum product photos. You can easily bring your subject into the spotlight by just clicking it with a simple white background. Because a white background causes no distraction.

04. Contextualize product

You can contextualize the subject by creating a relevant environment. For instance, if you are shooting cooking appliances, you should shoot in a kitchen. While creating context make sure they don’t create a distraction.

The target customer should understand the use of the product from the photo. Professional product photography follows a context. Contextualizing product photos lessens the editor’s workload. If not okay then you can take photo editing services.

05. Make the Best Use of Light

Natural light is always free of costs, and much more comfortable to work with. On the contrary, artificial light requires a budget. When you are shooting indoors, stay close to the window so that you can use the natural light. Especially for images for social media uploads, the use of proper light plays an important role.

06. Flash and Lights

In the faint light, flash has no competitor. Perhaps it is the best idea to use flash in that light situation. Otherwise, it is better to turn the flash off. However, we are trying to click product photos. So, we don’t need to flash here. Let’s talk about lighting now. Without lighting, it is impossible to shoot.

Whether natural or artificial, you will need a certain amount of lighting. When it is product photography, lighting becomes much more crucial. For this reason, the best product photographers maintain a balance when it comes to using flash.

Clients don’t like product photos that are not clear, concise, and definite. Sometimes, it’s better to use natural light but in some cases using a Product photography lighting kit is mandatory. Especially in indoor shooting using a reflector is a good way to keep the light within the frame.

07. Select a good location

Now it’s time to choose a location for your photoshoot. I would suggest you rent a studio. Because there you will get enough space. You don’t need to worry about the other settings. A studio keeps everything ready you need for the photoshoot.

08. Set Camera Modes

You might think it’s obvious that everyone will set the camera mode before shooting. Then why am I writing about it? Yes, you are right. But I need to mention this just to remind you. Every kind of camera has some default modes.

Auto, Portrait, Macro, Landscape, Sports, and Night Portrait, are some of the modes of DSLR cameras. You can take the benefit out of these modes while shooting product photography. If you are using an iPhone for shooting products, you can activate HDR mode.

HDR mode helps adjust the color balance. As camera modes can have an impact on photos, you should set your camera modes carefully.

09. Use of Zoom

One of the common product photography facts is you have to show the product details. A great way to show detail is to use zooming technology. For this, you should choose a camera that is capable of taking standard close-up images.

In the current market, it is easy to get a camera that can take high-quality zoomed-in photos. Some other settings also contribute to getting the best zooming result. When you use Shutter speed, ISO, and Aperture together it gives amazing results.

Similarly, using a tripod can help you to take close-up shots. The first thing is, it is a matter of ethics. The second thing is, that one may buy or reject the product after seeing the flaws. If he buys the product after knowing the defect, there will be no claim for a refund.

10. Set the Camera Firmly

A professional photographer finds a suitable angle that works. While shooting, he keeps that angle stable. On the other hand, an unprofessional photographer may find an accurate angle but cannot give it a proper finish. Because he moves the camera while shooting.

The key factor in product photography is consistency. To keep that balance you cannot move the camera every now and then. Instead of moving the camera, you can move the product. You can expect a better result in applying this little advice.

11. Product Photography Accessories

The need for product photography accessories depends on the item you will shoot. For example, you will need pegs and safety pins to keep clothing in place. The fishing line works perfectly while shooting jewelry products to keep the works stand straight.

Tape and glue dots do quite a similar job. Some product photography accessories examples are coat hangers, iron, scissors, hooks, clamps, batteries, chargers, etc. You may need some or all of them according to the type of item you are shooting.

12. Editing Photographs

No matter how perfectly you shoot, you should always edit your product photos. Even if you think your photos are exactly as you wanted, never ignore the importance of editing. Minor editing can improve your photos. So, if it is not possible for you to edit then take photo editing services. If you are going for simple editing keep that consistency.

As a result, it will make navigation of your website easy. You can find thousands of editing software out there online. Or, you can outsource editing. Background removal, and color correction, are the most common editing you will need in product photography. You can even have product photography services near you. They also provide editing along with shooting.

Conclusion

Before wrapping up the article, I would say that these are not the ultimate guide for product photography. Every type of photography has its kind of problem. Product photography is no different thing. You will face many challenges in product photography as well. You can overcome these by taking some simple steps. Your photographs can be the best product photography examples.

graphics cycle

Show your love

How To Create Awesome Lifestyle Photography in 2024

By graphics cycle on March 15th, 2020 in Photography

How to Create Best Lifestyle Photography

Awesome lifestyle photography is a long-cherished dream for many photographers. Do you get amazed by the candid photos you see online? You should because these candid photos have an X factor that grabs people’s attention in no time. In photography diction, we call it lifestyle photography.

No one can ignore the appeal of lifestyle photography if it is taken properly. Well, it is easier said than done. If you are enthusiastic and want to know how to become a lifestyle photographer then read this article. I have brought a bunch of tips and tricks of lifestyle photography to the table. So, shall we get started?

Well, there is no better way than starting something with its definition. So, what does lifestyle photography mean? In short, lifestyle photography focuses on taking photos of people in different situations of real-life events. So, lifestyle shooting mainly takes people’s emotional reactions like laughter, surprise, joy, etc.

The aim is to share life stories and motivate people in different life circumstances. Be it a wedding ceremony, a birthday party, or any social gathering.

What is Lifestyle Photography?

However, the goal is to show the subject in the best light. Therefore, it places multidisciplinary photography together in one place. A lifestyle photographer is more than a usual photographer who doesn’t merely shoot photos but creates stories. He is essentially an expert in other genres of photography as well.

Because the term “Lifestyle Photography” by itself is holistic. By holistic I mean it covers a whole range of photography techniques and genres. So, while shooting lifestyle photography you have to be creative and highly proficient.

Types of Lifestyle Photography

Lifestyle photography covers a large part of the overall photography genre. Examples of lifestyle photography are lifestyle fashion photography, lifestyle travel photography, lifestyle wedding photography, business lifestyle photography, lifestyle real estate photography, lifestyle product photography, e-commerce photography, lifestyle family photography, and so on.

Lifestyle Photography Tips and Tricks

Ever wonder how photographers capture those amazing everyday scenes? Today, we’ll share some easy tips to help you take stunning lifestyle photos!

01. Use Multiple Viewpoints

No other genre of photography can reach the level of lifestyle photography when it comes to naturality. The common criteria of this type of photography are full of naturalness, abruptness, and unexpectedness of actions. So, as a photographer, your target should always be to click the most natural pose.

To get the best output you should take multiple viewpoints. In lifestyle photography, it is not easy to get the best photo in one click. You have to try different angles to get your desired result. Take the same photo from the bottom, up, or from sideways. Use your creativity to get what exactly you want.

02. Capture Before, While, and After-The-Moment Photos

About lifestyle photography what I believe is the best moments are continuously happening. They say “Life is what is happening now”. To capture those you don’t need to wait. Yes, good things indeed happen only to those who wait. But in lifestyle photography, good things are constantly happening. Just be present and keep shooting.

Capture before, while, and after-the-moment photos. Well, some of the photos may not be up to the mark which you can delete later. But, in between the average photos, there will be a good collection of stunning pictures.

So, the technique here is, to keep abreast of the situations. The photos you are taking are very important for your customers. So, try your level best to shoot every bit of that particular period.

03. Practice While Traveling

Traveling is a great opportunity for you to practice lifestyle photography. Traveling gives you a range of real-life moments. You can experience lifestyle photography up close. Take shots while roaming around. Have a little chat with the people of the places you visit then take pictures.

By this, you can connect your imagination and techniques with their lifestyle. As a result, you will get more authentic images. Moreover, you can maintain a lifestyle photography blog. Therefore you can write about what new things you are learning.

04. Let Bygones Be Bygones

I have already said that in lifestyle photography you always have to be in the present. While shooting lifestyle photos, sometimes you may think that you have missed a crucial moment to shoot. And now you want the subjects to repeat the pose. Do not try to do this. Just let it be because it will ruin the naturality.

Besides being unnatural the photos will look planned and the lack of emotion will be apparent. So, it will be a poor decision to repeat any particular moment. On top of that, you have to remember you are shooting family’s good times. And, some members cannot do the same thing again. So, let it go and focus on the next shot.

05. Use Daylight As Much As You Can | Lifestyle Images

Naturality is the lifeline for lifestyle photography. And there is no alternative to natural light. So, while shooting lifestyle pictures, try to keep everything natural. Do not use artificial lights as long as you can. Go for artificial lights only when you desperately need them.

Otherwise, natural light is the best option. Most of the famous lifestyle photographers tend to use natural light more. They admit that there is no alternative to natural light.

06. Keep The Camera Ready

Shooting photos of people is trickier than shooting products. You do not know when a person will start doing something new in a new circumstance. You may not get time to adjust your camera settings for shooting. So, in commercial lifestyle photography, you have to keep your camera ready all the time.

Know about the best cameras to shoot

07. Try Several Lenses

Lifestyle photography doesn’t require any specific kind of lenses. I mean, there is no specific camera lens that works best for lifestyle photography. So, you can use any convenient lens. In lifestyle photography, you have to shoot both from up close and afar. In my view, you should use the lens you are already habituated with. Because you can easily customize this whenever you need it.

08. Discuss With Your Client & Create Your Shot List

For professional photographers, it is a basic thing to remain connected with their clients. When it is lifestyle photography it becomes more crucial to have a good connection with the models. You should know them well beforehand. When you are taking a lifestyle photoshoot at home, build a good relationship with your client. Try to have a close idea about their hobbies, and motto of life.

The best way to do this is to discuss it with them. Observe what they are listening to, and how they spend their family time. Get a little deeper into their family lives. Ask what they like or dislike. Therefore, you can create a comfort zone with them. Having a comfort zone is important in lifestyle photography. Besides that, a discussion will allow you to know their demands.

As soon as you have a chat with your clients, you should know what they want. To accomplish their demand, you can create a shot list. A shot list will help you to execute the whole photo shooting session successfully. You can make the list according to the interest they show during a discussion.

09. Choose A Photography Destination | Lifestyle photography

Usually, people choose their home to shoot lifestyle photography. But you can give this kind of photography a more realistic look by shooting at their favorite cafe, shops, parks, university campuses, etc. As lifestyle photography is situational photography, this type of location can be a good option.

10. Delight in Disorder

Image source: Learn compact appliances

Yes, you read it right. Cleanliness is good but not always. In lifestyle photography like Robert Herrick, you have to find delight in disorder. A stuffy room with spilled juice on the floor, and scattered socks and books looks more vivid than a tidy room.

A disordered room bears the sign of children’s playfulness. On the other hand, a neat and clean house looks more like a newly bought house. A house like this feels blunt and disconnected from emotion or memories. So, do not try to be over-clean. Just let things be as they are.

11. Use The Environment

The environment has an important role to play in any kind of photography. Usually, lifestyle photographers want close-ups of people’s lives. In doing so, they sometimes forget to use the environment. Take your clients where they love to spend time with their close ones. Use the environment of that particular place.

Pay attention to the details like a hairpin, and artistic dresses. Or a child holding its father’s finger in sleep, a child playing with toys. These small details along with the environment create stories. Sometimes, we see that we need to change the background or remove it because the environment is not supportive. So, while using the background keep it relevant.

12. Take Motion Pictures

Children always remain busy running to and fro. Some children cannot stand still for a minute in one place. And this is a good opportunity for you to shoot pictures while they are moving. Motion pictures are best when taken perfectly.

So, try to click children when they are climbing trees, or sliding in stair railing. Or click while they play hopscotch, hide and seek, freeze tag, freeze, dance, etc. When they are busy with games you get the most realistic lifestyle pictures.

13. Give Your Client Freedom of Choice

Do not over-instruct your client. Lifestyle family photography posing is all about being candid and natural. Let your clients do what they love. Give them enough freedom so that they become as they feel comfortable.

The mother may want to feed her baby and the father may want to make coffee in the kitchen. Or they both can prepare meals together. I don’t find any valid reason to stop them. I would rather say allow them to do so. The feeling of freedom will get the best poses out of them.

14. Stay Innovative

Image source: Flipp

If you ask ten photographers separately to shoot an open sky, you will find ten different viewpoints. Because we don’t think alike. As an individual photographer, you also have to be different with every shot. Keep changing your perspectives. In lifestyle photography, there is no way to be boring and cliche.

You should not try the same pattern again and again. I would suggest you not fall into the trap of the habit loop. Your photos should look as though three different photographers have taken them.

15. Give Directions

Giving freedom is necessary but some people need proper instructions. In that case, you should provide them with enough instructions. Make them comfortable in front of the camera. Very few people feel easy while posing for a photograph. Talk to them, tell them how to feel at ease, and make them relaxed.

A proper direction can give you the best result. If you take a beautiful photo, it will automatically touch the heart. I strongly feel that lifestyle photography is the closest to the heart of the people. They frame what they cherish, what they live for.

So, it becomes the most valuable treasure to them at the end of the day. Someday these will make them laugh, cry, and retrospect. So, while shooting lifestyle photography be professional and enjoy every bit of it to the fullest.

Miscellaneous Advice

Camera settings for lifestyle photography are almost the same as other photography genres. Just always keep your camera gear ready. Stay authentic in your professional life. Have some strategic plan for the whole session. Moreover, taking good photographs is not enough.

After that take image post-production service if necessary. You may need color correction for the photographs you are taking. Try to anticipate the logical conclusion. For example, you have to guess what is coming next from your subjects. Ultimately you have to accept reality and appreciate the imperfections.

Don’t Miss Out

Conclusion

I would like to conclude, quoting James Thurber, the great American cartoonist, and writer. He said, “Beautiful things don’t ask for attention”. And this is what I believe.

If you take a beautiful photo, it will automatically touch the heart. I strongly feel that lifestyle photography is the closest to the heart of the people. They frame what they cherish, what they live for. So, it becomes the most valuable treasure to them at the end of the day.

Because these photos are not mere images of their daily life. They comprise the precious memories of their everyday life. Someday these will make them laugh, cry, and retrospect. So, while shooting lifestyle photography be professional and enjoy every bit of it to the fullest.

graphics cycle

Show your love

Best Camera for Photography Professional

By graphics cycle on March 12th, 2020 in Photography

Are you looking for the best camera for photography professionals? Then you should possess a professional camera to start with. You might have been clicking photos as a hobby for a long time. Now your skill is good and you are enthusiastic enough to make it a career goal. Or you just want to be a professional photographer.

Anyway, you will need good quality cameras for sure. As a beginner, you can feel puzzled by the available brands. Their quality, price, and durability vary. I am here to get you out of this problem. Stay with me till the end to learn about the best professional camera for beginners.

What is the best camera according to you? Well, it depends on the configurations you need and the brand you are looking for. I consider shooting speed, picture quality, popularity, and ergonomics of a camera to judge it. You don’t need to scratch your head anymore.

I am here to get you out of this trouble. You will find a list of cameras that most professional photographers recommend.

Let Me Tell You The 8 Best Cameras for Professionals

Sony A7R III | Best Camera for Photography

I will keep this at the top of the list of the best cameras for beginners. Let me share the things that I love about this camera. Sony A7RIII can work in poor lighting. Moreover, it has a speed of 10 frames per second.

Besides that, a default stabilizer and high-quality battery make it stand out among other cameras. In both high and minimum ISO, this camera works with a wide dynamic range.

You can shoot at night and get a surprising result. Moreover, you can publish photos with higher resolutions. I can keep on writing about all the good features it has. E.g.

The autofocusing system has 425 focus points. An articulating touchscreen to change settings, and mirrorless silence are the main features that make it best for weddings. RAW shooting will help you in post-production editing.

The ISO range of this camera is expandable which enables it to work well even in minimum light.

Camera Type: Mirrorless
Weight: 1.4 lbs.
Recommended camera lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
Lens Mount: Sony E
Sensor: Full-frame 42.4 MP
Image Stabilization: Yes
Price: $2,498.00

Pros

Detailed images and dynamic range
Good autofocus in frame mode
Outstanding control
Swivel touchscreen display with touchpad mode
USB-charging compatibility

Cons

Heavy-weight
Costly

Nikon D850

Probably this is the best camera for photography that Nikon has ever produced. Nikon D850 has the best autofocus system in the market. Very few cameras other than Nikon D850 have this kind of autofocus system within this price plan.

With 7 frames per second shooting speed, this camera is a dream for any professional photographer. Moreover, it has got an amazing sensor and a perfectly designed ergonomic body. Nikon D850 is the best professional video camera available in the market now.

Having 45.7 megapixels it is almost competing with the medium format resolution. In terms of videos, it does take 220fps at full HD but it does not have any color profile at this price point. Though the autofocus for photos is fantastic, the autofocus for video is terrible.

By the way, this camera is not good for video but it has a fantastic time-lapse mode. Nikon D850 is very good at automatically meter and you won’t get flicker. But, because of the 45.7 megapixels, you will get over 8K time-lapse video.

Despite the camera having a little drawback in the video department, you can do a lot of amazing things with this.

Pros

Slow-motion in 8K and UHD
Low light high-performance.
Flip touchscreen display
Excellent image quality at high ISO
Fast autofocus
Huge optical viewfinder
Long battery life

Cons

Poor video performance
Slow live View autofocus
Poor Snapbridge

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Canon is always on the list of producers of professional digital cameras. Keeping that record going, Canon has produced another variation of a professional camera. When Canon released this camera in 2016, it earned a lot of criticism from people. Because it could not live up to the really high expectations of people.

Nevertheless, now after several years, it is one of the most popular photography cameras. 5D Mark IV targeted enthusiasts as well as professionals who want to get into photography and videography. When you hold it in hand, it definitely feels lighter than 5D Mark.

The first impression you will get is its current grip and ergonomics is viable for long-time shooting. On the left side of the camera, you have a couple of connecting ports. A mic port, a headphone port, and USB 3 port for fast tethering to transfer.

And an HDMI port as well on the right side. In terms of memory card slots, it takes a compact flash and one SD card. At the back, you have got a really large 3-inch LCD screen for nice playback as well as great viewing in the daytime. The balance at the back is super responsive and you will get a really large wheel to set the camera aperture.

Pros

Advanced controlled touchscreen
Extremely sensitive and fast autofocus
Relatively high speed of continuous shooting
Built-in GPS receiver, WiFi/NFC module

Cons

Lack of support
Overly simplified video mode compared with competitors
CFast and SD UHS-II cards are not supported

Canon EOS Rebel T7i / Canon EOS 800D

Let’s get started with the build quality of this camera. Well, if you have never used any DSLR before Canon EOS Rebel T7i might seem quite a large camera. In fact, it’s a small camera compared to most Digital DSLRs. For a beginner, it’s better to start with a light camera.

As it is a little bit smaller, more people will feel comfortable taking it out. On the top-right of the camera, you will have the main mode dial. Essentially this is where you can change different settings as you want.

You can set whether you will shoot in automatic mode or manual mode. The build quality is definitely smaller than most DSLRs. The latest features added to this camera will give confidence to anyone. The Dual Pixel AF and swivel screen keeps things simple.

Pros

High picture standard at ISO as much as 3200
Touchscreen display with swivel design
45 autofocus points when viewing live
Screen assistant mode

Cons

Not the largest image coverage in the viewfinder (95%)
Can’t select the autofocusing point in the viewfinder

Fujifilm GFX 50S

Fujifilm GFX 50S is a new medium format mirrorless camera. You will get a fixed 63-millimeter F2.8 lens that delivers standard coverage. And frankly, it’s not pretty but certainly, it’s functional. A beautiful grip will give you the comfort to hold it.

They have also got the screen on top and that’s always on. Fuji has also decided to keep the same structure that they have on a lot of their X-series cameras. By that I mean we have got an ISO dial here on the left and you can lock it of course.

The shutter speed on the left is also lockable. Because of all these facilities, I consider this one of the best cameras for photography.

Pros

ISO works up to 12,800
High-quality photos in RAW and JPEG
Detailed touch screen and function rotation
Two memory card slots with UHS-ii SDXC support
Affordable medium format digital camera

Cons

Short battery life
Continuous shooting is slow and short

Fujifilm X-T3 | Best Camera for Photography Profession

If you are fond of taking pictures with good-quality cameras, this can be your first choice for choosing the best camera for photography. I hope Fujifilm X-T3 will definitely grab your attention for consideration as the best camera for photography. Fuji has improved the BSI sensor-based speed.

You will get the best speed among all the cameras in this class. Your photos will have very good sharpness, micro-contrast, and details.

Pros

Up-to-date 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 Sensor
SD cards: Two slots
In-built RAW processor
Perfect for making videos
Advanced X-Processor 4 Image Processor

Cons

Imperfect battery life
No stabilization

Hasselblad X1D-50c | First Mirrorless Medium Format Camera

Hasselblad launched the world’s first mirrorless medium format camera in 2016. The unique selling proposition of this camera is portability. The lightness lets you hold it in your hand for a long time. You will have more mobility.

Hasselblad X1D-50c has got a 50 megapixels lens that enables you to see the nice details. You will like to look at the photos this camera takes. The manufacturer made this to take photos outside the studio. However, it is an ideal camera for studio shooting as well.

Pros

ISO: 6400
Slot for two SD cards UHS-ii
Dust and waterproof
Autofocus lenses from the H series

Cons

Super expensive
Slow operating speed
Viewfinder works slow
Video quality: not up to the mark.

Leica M10 | Best Camera for Photography

Leica has finally produced a full M series after two years. The M10 is a little bit expensive at $6500 for the body alone but comes with a host of new things. If you have a concern about professional camera price, then it is not the one you are looking for.

The things that it offers include image quality, wireless connectivity, and improved functionality. But at the same time, M10 brings back many old-school film camera qualities.

One thing you should keep in mind is that this camera is not the best camera for photography beginners. Shooting with M10 is a unique experience driven more by romance and nostalgia than value and performance. The focus is more on subjective qualities.

However, M10 is slimmer than the previous version from Leica. You will get the best camera body. But if you are a user of another camera or you don’t have any nostalgia for Leica you should not go for it. Nevertheless, I can assure you of the picture quality.

Pros

Long-lasting battery life
High-quality rangefinder and viewfinder
24MP full-frame sensor
Leica Fotos app support
Large buffer for ongoing shooting

Cons

Extremely high price
Does not support video
No electronic viewfinder

Conclusion|Best Camera for Photographers

Well, anyone can go on writing about this topic as long as they want. Because there are thousands of high-quality cameras out there. They are satisfying the minds of the buyers with updated facilities. But if you are new and thinking of starting a photography career these cameras can be a good choice.

Checkout Our Relevant Tutorials:

FAQ | Best Camera for Photography

What should I look for in a good-quality camera for photography?

You have several things to consider the best camera for photography. Like Sensor Size, Megapixel Resolution, Brand Loyalty, Lenses, shutter speed, weight, etc.

What makes one lens “faster” than another?

A fast lens allows lots of light through the maximum aperture. As a result, you can experience a faster shutter speed. Y

ou can have an idea of shutter speed from the f-number designation on the lens. For example, the f/1.4 lens is very fast, f/2.8 is decently fast, and f/5.6 is usually slow.

graphics cycle

Show your love

Real Estate Photography Important Tips For Beginners

By Graphics Cycle on January 24th, 2020 in Photography

Over the past decades, it is a common phenomenon to search for everything online. Real estate photography is not something different in this regard. Thanks to the internet now you get everything in one platform.

Well, do you know real estate photography is not as simple as it seems? You might get embarrassed if you are not well prepared. You cannot ignore the fact that the better prepared you are, the more efficient your result will be.

I know you don’t want to make silly mistakes as a beginner. To help you out in this matter, I have come up with some important tips for beginners. Without further ado, let’s get down the business.

Real Estate Photography | Essential Tips for Beginners

Selling a house? High-quality photos are key to attracting buyers. This guide gives new real estate photographers essential tips to capture bright, clear, and inviting images.

01. Pick An Accurate Time

One thing where the real estate photographers get messed up is the timing of photo shoots. Selecting a perfect time for shooting is important. It may look okay to shoot real estate photos at any period of the daytime. But to take advantage of natural light, pick the time according to the weather conditions.

Try to avoid cloudy days for shooting. Choose the time that will be perfect for your photo. Ask your clients about their preferences.

Some people prefer sunset while others may love the bright sun above the structure. So, make sure the shooting time is suitable for the customer’s demand.

My suggestion to you would be, to keep the house in front if you are shooting during sunset. This angle will give better lighting for your photo shoot. The point is, that you cannot deny the fact that natural light is significant in shooting architectural structures. So, while going to shoot real estate properties, try to use the natural light as much as possible.

02. Visit the Property Before Shooting

Before starting the shooting visit the house at least once. And take some preliminary photos to know in detail about the rooms, the façade, back yard, etc. Don’t make haste if you want a better result. Some newcomer photographers start shooting at the first visit.

As a result, the whole property comes to them as a surprise. This results in bad-quality photography. That’s why I think it is one of the crucial tips for beginners that they visit the house beforehand. However, when you have some initial photos of the house, make sure you don’t forget to analyze each of the photos. Securitize all the shots carefully.

This will help you focus on the small things you could have missed at first glance. After finishing this you should get ready for the final shoot.

03. Set Creative Angles

Some things are beyond the limit of photography tips. In that case, you have to be creative. For instance, Camera angles. In this type of photography, angles play a crucial role. Don’t get cliché while choosing the right angle. Brainstorm and find out some innovative angles for shooting the interior.

Try to do something that most photographers do not do. If you are shooting a room. You can take the photo from the door. It will let you focus on the maximum part of the interior.

Thus you can show the entire room and the spaces inside it. The same idea goes for exterior shooting. You have to apply your creativity to the maximum level. Only then you can hope for a better output.

04. Let the Light Come

Everyone has to admit that there is no alternative to natural light. The sunlight is unreplaceable. So, when you are going to shoot make sure that there is enough light inside the house. You can open the blinds and windows. To enhance the effect of natural light use reflectors and LED panels.

Natural light makes the photos look more realistic. Clients can have a clear idea about the actual look of the house. You can easily highlight the small details. Metals and small artistic features of the furniture will not skip the sight.

05. Switch the Lights On or Off

I don’t know if you will agree with me or not, but in my opinion, a house without lights looks haunting. If you take shots without lights the same thing can happen to your photograph. Not only this, but lights prove that everything in this house is functioning and it is livable.

This is very primary advice that you should switch the lights on before shooting. This will make things lively. You can give your photograph a luxurious look with additional light. Well, it is another way to look at it.

You can use different techniques of switching on and off to get different effects. If you want to give your pictures an impassive look then go for turning the lights off. Your objective will determine whether you should turn on the lights or not. However, you have to remember about the light temperature correction during the editing.

06. Color Temperature Fixing

No matter how perfectly you take shots, if your color temperature is wrong this will ruin your photo. A wrong color temperature hits the eye at first glance. And it creates a bad impression. Image quality can be hampered by many factors. Wrong color temperature is one of them.

You should know how to fix light temperature. As a new photographer, if you haven’t yet learned it, do so as soon as possible. For example, if you are shooting in a bathroom, there can be an unpleasant yellow tint from the reflection of artificial lights.

To remove this, just move the orange or yellow slider as long as it doesn’t turn plain white. It occurs because of the combination of LED, halogen, or CFL lamps with natural light.

07. Choose the Right Camera

You cannot use the same camera for different kinds of shooting. The same camera for every kind of shoot might work as a rescue but it is not a good option. Especially in shooting real estate properties, you need a specialized camera. I would suggest you go for a full-frame camera. The full-frame camera can cope with a lot of light whereas the cropped sense is not able to do so.

Yes, I agree that for a new photographer, it might not be possible to buy spare cameras. If this is the case, then go for the interchangeable lens camera. Thus, you can turn your ordinary camera into perfect for real estate shooting.

08. Have Enough Accessories

Little things can turn into an Achilles’ heel for you. I am talking about photo shooting accessories. You should always keep in mind that the importance of accessories is not to be taken lightly.

For instance, keep some extra batteries. When your regular batteries will go dead in the workplace then you will need them. No matter if you use them often or not keep some extra batteries in your bag.

Moreover, you might need a sandbag to give support to your light stands or umbrella. Another important tool is a small step ladder that you can move from here to there with one hand. Along with these, be careful about some other accessories.

Such as white-balancing tools, spare memory cards or hard disks, cleaning kits, tripods, etc. Any problem related to these things can cause a waste of time and unnecessary trouble. Consequently, your client can get dissatisfied. So keep that in mind. You can prepare the camera gear the night before shooting.

09. Fix a Reasonable Price

It is a bit confusing for the newcomer real estate photographer when it comes to real estate photography pricing. This is a huge field of work and is considered one of the highest-paid jobs.

So, when setting prices consider these factors. Study the real estate photography business first. Take the information about the current real estate photographers and compare your works with their works. Then come to a concluding amount that you will charge.

10. Camera, Lenses, and Other Settings

You have already known many things from the tips I shared about clicking real estate photos. Now it’s time to get some camera-related tips. Well, when it comes to camera it covers many things. Such as the camera settings, lenses, flash, tripod, shutter speed, aperture, and filters. Let’s start with that.

A. Wide-angle Lenses

You should use wide-angle lenses. Because as a real estate photographer you have to take shots from different angles of the object to cover as much space as possible. A wide-angle lens will help you to do this perfectly. It will help you to visualize the room larger than the reality.

B. Using Flash

Usually, we see that the standard flashes are not that strong. These are not compatible with taking professional images. They cannot highlight important details. You should add some external flashes to your camera toolkit.

C. Using A Tripod

Using a tripod can make your tasks easier. It is a vital part of real estate photography equipment. In low light, you need a tripod to avoid the blurry look and get good sharpness. Camera height is crucial for shooting both inside and outside. A tripod can help to determine the camera height.

D. Polarizing Filters

These usually fit in front of the lenses. It darkens the skies, helps cope with reflections, and overpowers the brightness from the lake or sea surfaces. Make sure the filter you use is a circular polarizing filter. Use it taking the filter off around 50% to 75% of the light.

E. Aperture Setting and Shutter Speed

Shallow depth is good for focusing on some objects. Otherwise, f/7.1 to f/9 is a standard aperture value. The normal shutter speed should be between 1/60 and ½ a second. The amount of light in the room will determine the value.

F. ISO Settings

Too much ISO value can make your photography full of noise, similarly normal ISO value can make it eye-soothing. To make the best use of ISO value you should experiment with your camera and find out the perfect value. Just remember one thing, a higher shutter speed requires a higher ISO value.

G. Managing White Balance

White balance removes the unpleasant color cast in photography. To make a proper balance of this, you have to consider the color temperature and the light source. To avoid the gloomy look of the house, it is important to care about real estate photography’s white balance.

11. Lighting

Well, believe it or not, wrong use of light can make your real estate photos spooky. If you want to give the objects a lively look then make the best use of light. It’s not that easy to shoot some empty rooms. Only the proper use of light can make them lively.

The homebuyers will be attracted to the property if the image gives enough view of the property. Some common lighting challenges that professional photographers face are:

Placing the interior lights in the right place
Confusing the window light with interior lights.
Using the same technique for bathrooms, living rooms, or kitchens.

To get you out of these problems I have come up with some simple tricks here. In the future, we can discuss these facts in detail but here, get a glimpse of the tricks.

Make the best use of existing lights.
Use multiple wireless flashes.
Set a suitable time.
Use high and dynamic range.
Use bounced fill flash.

12. Use Props

Keep a fruit basket on the table along with a bouquet while shooting the dining hall. Do not use multiple colors. Go for single-color fruits and flowers. Keep clutters, and trash bin out of the frame.

13. Composition

Any form of art requires a touch of composition to make it classy. It encompasses the whole idea of photography. From shooting to editing. The term composition is described differently by different people. To some people, photography composition aims at making photography more aesthetic, pleasing, and gratifying.

However, the intention of the composition may vary according to the needs of the photographer. The same assumption goes for real estate photography composition. Depending on the customer’s need, a photographer accomplishes his composition of real estate images.

14. Take Photo Editing Services

The photography business is increasing day by day and the photographers are getting busier. As a beginner, you may get less amount of work but get ready for tone order shortly if you do well. As a result, you will not get enough time to edit your photos.

In that case, you can take photo editing services. They will help you to get the final photo you need. It will cost you from $2-$10. There are numerous simple to advanced-level techniques to edit images. You can choose any option you want.

15. Make A Quick Turnaround

Your aim always should be to make your clients delighted with the services. One of the ways to make the clients delighted is, to make a quick turnaround. Make sure you don’t miss the deadline. Always try to deliver before the deadline.

Don’t Miss Out

Conclusion | Real Estate Photography

Well, I am at the end of this article. Hope this has been a helpful one for you, isn’t it? Before wrapping it up, I would like to remind you that you need to be consistent in this field. Be creative in thinking, never rush, and try to make the best use of what you have.

If you want to be a professional real estate photographer, I hope these tips can be helpful. Wishing you luck as a beginner in this world of photography.

Graphics Cycle

Show your love

How To Shoot Best Interior Photos

By Graphics Cycle on January 24th, 2020 in Photography

Do you get surprised at the photos you see in real estate magazines? Moreover, these may seem impossible for you to shoot. Because you think shooting the interior is trickier than the exterior. If this is the scenario, this article will teach you “how to shoot best interior photos”.

Here I have brought some pro tips that can help you to take your interior photography to a whole new level. After reading this article you will know a lot about how to take interior photos for real estate.

Before going to the main point I would like to ask you, do you have any experience of shooting any real estate? If yes, then you must have some idea about the interior shoot. For those who are new, let me tell you some basic facts about interior photography.

What is Interior Photography

The term “interior photography” refers to shooting the rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, or any spaces inside the house. Though Interior photography is a part of real estate photography is a bit different from it. Interior shooting requires more attention, time, energy, and focus.

How To Shoot Best Interior Photos

Let me tell you some tips on “How To Shoot the Best Interior Photos”.

01. Before The Shoot

First, talk to your client. Ask them what kind of interior photographs they want from each of the rooms. Make a plan on how you will execute the whole task. Another important part is visiting the place beforehand. Visiting the property will allow you to know the place better. You can have a detailed idea about the place.

I know you do not want to miss any small but important objects. You can mark those objects so that you don’t miss any of them while shooting.

Focus on every corner and make a proper plan. Notice the orientation of the building. By this, you will get an appropriate idea of where and how the sunlight enters the room.

You can decide where to shoot with low light. You can prepare your camera gear according to your needs as well.

02. Use Natural Light

Interior photography lighting is a major discussion in the field of photography. The most common advice that you will find online is, to use natural light as much as possible. Using natural light is, of course, the best idea.

The camera doesn’t work like our eyes. Cameras don’t work like our eyes. A camera cannot capture light always as it is. In my opinion, natural light is ideal to make your photographs more realistic.

But you can use flash to fill the shadows and the dark corners. Before using flash try it on the wall and make sure it doesn’t reflect.

Sunny midday when the sun is right above the head is the perfect time for shooting interiors. Because during this time, long and bright spots from the sun don’t streak through the window.

Do not forget to switch the lights off. I repeat keep lights off. Shooting in natural light will give you an excellent result.

03. Don’t Go Too Wide

We all think that a wide-angle lens takes the best photos. But when it comes to taking interior real estate photographs you need to rethink it. You can check out that in interior design magazines.

Professional Photographers prefer wide-angle, especially in real estate photography. In real estate photography, the purpose is to show the wide spaces. But it is not the same for interior shooting.

Interior photography is all about showing the designs. Considering this fact you must be an interior photography lens control expert. Because interior photographs require tighter compositions. For this, I would suggest that not go wider than 24mm.

The width of the course will depend on the space inside the house. But if you have enough space where you can take the photo from a distance and use a tight lens, do that. Therefore, you can minimize the possible lens distortion.

04. Composition

Composition is the key factor in photography. Interior photography composition is something that your camera alone cannot do. The term composition covers a vast area. I said vast because it includes many things.

Photographer’s knowledge of the camera, his artistic sight, and his eye for composition. Apart from that, the composition also includes using color, balancing temperature, leading lines, depth of the field, etc.

What you chose to keep inside the frame or exclude from the frame and how did you manage to do so? A photo is not just a document, rather it is a work of art. Photography composition helps a photographer to make interior designs stand out.

The clients also want to highlight the designs. So while shooting interior be careful about this matter. Without proper composition, a perfect shot, a beautiful location gets ruined.

I am going to discuss a little more about composition. The fact is, there is no particular way of photo composition. You always have to improve yourself. I just can help you with some tips that you can use, to begin with.

Otherwise, it is up to your ability to make a photograph better, catchy, and spellbound. Here you go with the tips:

Use the rule of thirds
Symmetry
Leading lines
Use of depth
Size equals power
Don’t follow any fixed rule

You might get confused with the last tip. Yes, I have kept this intentionally. Because composition is such a thing where you can apply many rules. If the photograph is praiseworthy then your technique will also get admiration.

05. Use layers

Working with layers is a common tool in photo editing programs. Interior photography requires the full attention of the photographer throughout the whole process. The literal meaning of layers is the process of overlaying one image or effect on another.

Using layers is more advantageous than making direct adjustments to the original photo. Using layers allows you to edit your photos temporarily without losing data.

Usually, we see that each time the image loses a small amount of data when we change the image adjustment. Moreover, editing photos with layers lets you edit selected parts of the photo.

06. Using Depth in Interior Photography

In this type of photography, it is essential to create depth with the furniture and styling items. You can create a luxurious look with this. Think of yourself as an audience. Then look at the photo and notice if your eyesight gets distracted by any unwanted object.

Things like this happen when the f-stop is not consistent with the item you want sharp. Interior image f-stop ranges from f8 to f-16. If you want to create depth you should go to lower f-stop.

07. Shooting Raw

RAW files are the untouched or unedited versions of the images. You can compare it with the negatives of the photo. Most cameras can shoot RAW nowadays.

The RAW image lets you have firm control over your final image. When you shoot RAW it allows you to adjust the white balance and set the photo size.

08. Remove Clutter

Well, everyone knows this little fact about photography. Removing clutter is a must. You must talk to your clients about what exactly they want to show. Then it would help if you made a plan on how you will show them. Prepare the photo space according to the client’s demands.

Don’t just ask what to do and how to do it. They have invested in your expertise. So show that to them. You can give some recommendations to them about what they should remove from sight.

09. Use Vignette and Detail

Taking wide-angle photographs is more popular in real estate photography. But when it comes to shooting the interior it’s better to go for vignette and detail. By this, you can get the attention of the viewer to the objects.

You can attract the audience even to the smallest nooks of the rooms. They can have a clear idea about the inhabitant’s interests. Interior designers, builders, and architects get a strong marketing message.

10. Make Room

As an interior photographer, you know how important it is to have enough space. And you may not get the space you need in every house. Moreover, in the same house, the kitchen and living room have a different amount of space.

In that case, you have to make space for yourself. Especially while shooting in bathrooms and kitchen you may get stuck with the walls. When situations like this arise don’t hesitate to move staff as you need to make room.

Going with the wide-angle lens in the small room produces fish-eyed photos. That’s why I suggest you move the staff that is creating an obstacle on your way to take a perfect shot.

For instance, move the tub plant if you have to place the tripod there. Similarly, you can move anything from your way to make room to have enough space for shooting.

11. Use Bracket

We often see that there is an excessive amount of light while shooting the interior. A photographer must overcome this issue of uneven lighting.

To our eyes, any particular scene may seem pretty. But the same scene becomes ugly in a photograph. Because the sky reflects too much the object becomes dark. Our eyes are much ahead of cameras in terms of coping with different kinds of light reflections.

So, how to overcome that limitation? Well, that’s where you need to bracket the exposure. Bracketing allows you to take three photos in three different settings.

The first one is with the camera recommended setting. Then the second one should be with underexposure. Then take the final one with overexposure settings. Therefore you can have three different exposures and blend them later.

12. White Balancing

The quality of your photo largely depends on this matter. I am talking about the impact of white balance in interior photography. White balance determines the warmth of a photo. In the previous days, it was hard to reach a reasonable point about white balance.

Now you can easily buy a cardboard color checker card. A color card shows if your white balance is accurate or not. Following some simple steps, you can have a perfect white balance.

13. Post-production Editing

Well, when you are done with all the shoots, then comes the editing part. Photography post-editing software is one of the most important parts of photography. The term is well-known to all professional photographers.

Interior photography editing is a time-consuming and tedious task. That’s why most photographers tend to outsource their photographs. If you have enough knowledge of photo editing then you can do it yourself.

But if you are getting too many orders, you will face trouble managing those. Then I would suggest you take a photo editing service.

Conclusion | How To Shoot Best Interior Photos

In conclusion, it is wise to say that you have to be very creative while shooting interior photos. As photography is a form of art you cannot overlook the importance of creativity. All the tips will go in vain if you cannot find the best angle to shoot. Shooting inside the house is slightly different from shooting outside.

Interior photographers have to focus on the details of the objects. So while shooting, keep that in mind and try to bring the best way possible to make the photos excellent.

Graphics Cycle

Show your love