Whether it’s your first time picking up a camera (or hundredth), these are some tips for improving your interior photography. Over the past few years, one of my favorite things to photograph is interior spaces.
Whether it’s a chic cafe, hotel room, or my own home, there’s something I absolutely adore about it. There are many elements when it comes to interior photography.
This past year I’ve been trying to spend more time learning new techniques for photography to better hone my skills (I never went to school for photography!).
Photography is one of my favorite creative outlets and I’m thankful it’s such a large part of my work. There is nothing better than picking up my camera and capturing somewhere, something, or someone.
So after doing an Instagram bit this last week on (it’s saved on my ‘”photography” highlight), I thought I’d share a longer format. I know most of us are inside right now.
So thought if you’d like to try some new techniques for photography that this could be something fun and informative. Take a look as well as at my top photography essentials + my camera gear guide if you’re looking for gear help.
Here’s a look at tips to improve your interior photography.
7 Tips to Improve Interior Photography
1. Use a tripod.
This is my first and number one rule! Get the tripod out whenever you can. The biggest reason is that it allows you to slow down the shutter speed to allow more light. Using a tripod not only allows you to have a slower shutter speed but helps set up a balanced photo when you use the grid lines.
One other key tip if you’re shooting an entire space: keep your camera at the same height so all of the imagery feels the same. (keep it at the same height on the tripod!)
Need a tripod? Here are my favorites:
2. Shoot in natural light when possible.
What a difference natural light is! If you can, always shoot with natural light. I plan my interior photos around this as much as possible. When turning artificial lights on, it causes harsh shadows and unwanted glare.
3. Choose the right lens.
This is a hot debate for interior imagery. Some will say to go as wide as possible (I’ve seen this recommended a lot). I personally think nothing wider than 24mm is correct and most especially for Instagram + Blog imagery.
The reason being is that a 24-70mm lens is views things the most natural and has the least amount of distortion. Featured in my complete photography gear post, this is the 24-70mm lens I recommend for Sony cameras.
4. Use those grid lines.
Camera grid lines or “rule of thirds” lines as they’re technically known as is everything for interior photography. Turn these on so that when you look through, you can see them.
Line up your vertical and horizontal lines so that everything is balanced. When you do this on a tripod, it makes it even easier too.
5. Make sure your aperture is set right.
Want everything in focus? Set the aperture higher than f/8. Aperture on your camera controls your focus levels so the higher it is, the more will be in focus. Anywhere from f/8-f/11 is good for inside.
From there, you can set your ISO and shutter speed.
6. Use a remote to take the photo.
Crucial for taking a photo that has a slow shutter speed! Get a remote or you use an app (Sony has one!) to snap the photo. This will reduce any possible bumps the tripod may get when you snap the photo.
7. Move around the room.
The best part is moving throughout the room to get different angles. Get creative. Take a photo from afar, move in close on details, and switch it up. Interior photography is a fun way to be creative while home!
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PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Flights
Use Skyscanner to find the best flights. It searches 100s of airlines and websites across the globe to ensure you’re not missing out on any route options or deals.
2. Book Your Accommodations
Use Booking.com for hotels and guest houses. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
Use Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check both as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Car
Use Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com to find the best car rental deals. I recommend comparing rental agency reviews on Google to ensure you are booking with the best company in that destination, as the reviews are often more accurate than the car rental search engines.
5. Don’t Forget Airport Lounge Access
Get a Priority Pass membership to gain access to 1,400+ VIP lounges and airport experiences worldwide. The Priority Pass app is the first thing I check when I have a layover. I’ve been a member for over a decade, and having a comfortable place to relax before and between flights makes air travel so much more enjoyable.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, and cancelations, etc.). I use it frequently for my travels to stay protected.
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
