Hello and Help.

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Lucky7

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Hi firstly apologies if this isn't in the correct section. I had a look through and this seemed like a good place to start.

Also I never like my first post on a forum to be a question but unfortunately it will be. :)


My name is Jake I’m 25 and photography is one of my many hobbies. All was well until my Dad called me the other day.

He works for a Home Automation company who install TV cinema systems, Audio, Home Automation, etc into homes.

His boss is currently updating his website and is looking to organize a photographer to visit some completed projects and photograph some of the installations. My Dad, Ever the optimist put my name forward and said I would be more than capable of this. Showed his boss my Flickr account and next thing I know my dad has organized the whole thing on my behalf…. Thanks……

Now there in lies the problem. I have no experience of taking photographs indoors; I mainly photograph motorsport, Animals, Landscapes etc.

So my search leads me to this fine looking forum so I am basically looking for any tips on taking interior home shots. Lighting, Angles, That kind of thing.

I have Photoshop CS3 so will be using that for all my editing.


Also any info on equipment I may need, I’m thinking I may need to rent a Prime wide angle lens but have no idea on flash lights etc. Body wise all I have is my trusty Canon 400d :( which I’m hoping will be adequate.

Thanks in advance.

Jake. :thumbs:
 
Go and look on Flickr or Google images for images of similar subjects, pick what you like and recreate?
 
Your camera will be fine as you'll be shooting tripod-mounted for most of the shots.
A decent (moderately) wide lens is good, but make sure it doesn't distort straight lines within the space too drastically...
Try to stick to using ambient light (daylight and the existing artificial light) if you have no experience of flash photography - it'll take more time than I have to try and show you how to effectively light an interior shot with multiple flash units (a single head won't do) and besides, every interior is different.

The biggest thing to get right is the white balance - read your camera manual to figure out how to do a custom white balance - that'll solve most of your problems which you'll encounter using mixed light sources.
 
Arkady said:
Your camera will be fine as you'll be shooting tripod-mounted for most of the shots.
A decent (moderately) wide lens is good, but make sure it doesn't distort straight lines within the space too drastically...
Try to stick to using ambient light (daylight and the existing artificial light) if you have no experience of flash photography - it'll take more time than I have to try and show you how to effectively light an interior shot with multiple flash units (a single head won't do) and besides, every interior is different.

The biggest thing to get right is the white balance - read your camera manual to figure out how to do a custom white balance - that'll solve most of your problems which you'll encounter using mixed light sources.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I have a Tripod so thats all fine. Im gonna go have a read up on white balance to make sure I get that right.

Had a look before on Google images etc which was fairly good for inspiration. It was more the technical side I need help with. Composition isn't a problem.

Are you saying im better off not using a flash? and just trying to use natural light then. the other thing that is worrying me is making sure nothing reflects on the screens, or reflective objects.
 
Shoot in raw, as you can change the white balance afterwards... and you can always change the fill light and exposure levels in Photoshop later too..

I would definately get a couple of flashes, get them as soon as you can and for as long as you can so you can practice in your own house or something.

Keep us updated, and welcome to TP.
 
One tip for white balance is if you have live view put that on and scroll through the different ones till you find the best one.
 
six6six said:
Shoot in raw, as you can change the white balance afterwards... and you can always change the fill light and exposure levels in Photoshop later too..

I would definately get a couple of flashes, get them as soon as you can and for as long as you can so you can practice in your own house or something...
Click to expand...

Normally I'd advocate shooting RAW for this reason as well - but doing a SWB at the outset is good form...especially with interiors...
As to using flash - It takes weeks of practice to get it right - by 'right' I mean perfect...
And practicing in your house only teaches you how to light your house...not other spaces...

To properly light a difficult room can take as many as six Bowens lights...you need the modelling light to predict where the shadows will fall, reflections etc. as well as how to properly balance the ambient interior light with the flash as well as any exterior light that's in the shot.

The OP is better off going with available light and longer exposures...You can see the way the light behaves before pressing the button...much easier to figure out than trying to predict what flash is going to do in your images...

If he's going to do a lot more of this then yes - buy some decent monoblocs and practice - speedlights won't cut it here unless you like making life difficult for yourself.
 
Arkady said:
Normally I'd advocate shooting RAW for this reason as well - but doing a SWB at the outset is good form...especially with interiors...
As to using flash - It takes weeks of practice to get it right - by 'right' I mean perfect...
And practicing in your house only teaches you how to light your house...not other spaces...

To properly light a difficult room can take as many as six Bowens ights...you need the modelling light to predict where the shadows will fall, reflections etc. as well as how to properly balance the ambient interior light with the flash as well as any exterior light that's in the shot.

The OP is better off going with available light and longer exposures...You can see the way the light behaves before pressing the button...much easier to figure out than trying to predict what flash is going to do in your images...

If he's going to do a lot more of this then yes - buy some decent monoblocs and practice - speedlights won't cut it here unless you like making life difficult for yourself.
Click to expand...
Ambient light is good, but what if it turned out to be a dull day and not much ambient light to get to the dark areas, you might end up with an overexposed in the lit areas trying to get a decent shot of the dark area's.
I've never had any photography assignments, or paid projects, but if I did, I'd like to be prepared with a few flashguns, or some sort of lighting equipment and not use them than to get there and want them.

Practice makes perfect, even in your own house, its the first stepping stone, it gives you an idea of what to do. surely his house would have more than one room to light up and practice in, failing that a friends house/room.
I'd use any opportunity to get the experience, this assignment could lead to more assignments, being recommended by the company to another firm, etc, etc.
I do agree with your statement about setting the WB, I didn't mean not to set the correct WB, I just wanted to express that even if the WB was off you can change it in Photoshop, or any other RAW converter software available.

Anyways, i'd like to wish the OP all the best and hopefully everything goes well what ever the decision.
 
six6six said:
Ambient light is good, but what if it turned out to be a dull day and not much ambient light to get to the dark areas, you might end up with an overexposed in the lit areas trying to get a decent shot of the dark area's.
I've never had any photography assignments, or paid projects, but if I did, I'd like to be prepared with a few flashguns, or some sort of lighting equipment and not use them than to get there and want them...
Click to expand...

I said available light, not natural daylight - one can turn the room-lights on - it's allowed. Hence doing a CWB at the scene rather than in post.

Been there, done that. For money.

No way would I advocate using new kit on a commission - it's a recipe for disaster.

Just keep it simple - go with what you know and what you have.
 
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