How to light interior photographs of a building

How to photograph of a building interior with additional lighting

It is a simple fact that although it is the easy option to shoot photographs of building interiors with no additional flash or extra lighting, the photographs rarely come out well. The windows will bleach out if the photograph is shot on a time exposure and the foreground area away from the window will remain dark with no shadow detail. If exposed correctly, the photograph with additional lighting, can retain detail through the window and also illuminate the foreground.

The example here above was lit with three studio flash heads on stands and two miniature portable flash units, one on the floor and one in the left hand window alcove. The window is regarded as an additional light source and daylight from the window has to be balanced against the flash units.

Next tip

Email me