The article shares the aspects to consider about a photography lens and its features when taking interior photos.
If you’re just a beginner at photography, a simple setup with a high-resolution camera and one set of lenses may be enough. You don’t need to go all out yet with all the expensive equipment, especially when you’re still testing out the waters. However, once you’ve learned so much about the field, as well as your strengths and preferences, you may find yourself looking for equipment that’ll deliver the type of output you want.
When you’ve already reached this level, that’s when you can start to go all out with the equipment you want to purchase, being that you now have your specific preferences and you know how to go about with the functions of your photography equipment. If you’re a photography enthusiast, there are so many different kinds of photos and focal points that you can go for. The ideas for a professional photoshoot are endless.
From portraits to landscapes, and even to fashion editorials, there are ample opportunities in this hobby. In this article, the focus is on interiors. No matter how well-designed space may be, if the photos don’t turn out good, then its purpose still isn’t served well. So if you’re in the pursuit of wanting to learn how to take interior photography, this is also something that you have to master, one by one.
Read through this article to learn more about interior photography and how to set up your camera lens for this purpose.
Brief Guide on Interior Photography
If you’re passionate about interior photography, you’d know that it requires lenses with specific capabilities. It should be able to catch the light and ensure that the details of the furniture, as well as other designs, are fully visible in the final product. Here are some things to look for in a photography lens when taking interior photos. Don’t be too general with your photos, as you would, had you been shooting outdoors. With interiors, there’s just so many details that need to be highlighted, so your lens must capture these.
1. Focal Length
The focal length is one of the critical features of the best lens for interior photography. You should get lenses that have at least 24-mm or above, with 35-mm as the highest level. Wide-angle lenses are ideal for shooting indoors or landscapes since they give you a more expansive field of view, which is particularly beneficial for taking images used for commercial purposes like in real estate.
2. Maximum Aperture
A lens’ aperture plays a significant role in the amount of light that goes in your camera. Looking for lenses that have a minimum of f/22 and a maximum of f/3.5 aperture can ensure that you get full control of your output. A large lens opening is critical for shooting in dark environments, whether indoors or at night since you want to catch as much light as possible. Thus, it will be easier to improve your photos. If you delegate the task to interior photo editing services, you can still expect better results when using wide-angle lenses than with narrower counterparts due to the sufficient amount of light.
3. Tilt-Shift
According to this camera lens guide, the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is the best choice for commercial interior photographers since it offers ultimate perspective control and edge-to-edge sharpness. The camera allows you to shift for up to +/- 12mm and tilt to +/- 8.5°.
You have full control of the movements, whether you want to apply them independently, parallel, or perpendicular to each other. Moreover, the tilt-shift feature is capable of rotating +/- 90° when you want to use the movements in different directions.
4. Shutter Speed and ISO
Shutter speed is another factor that affects your photo’s exposure. It works with the aperture in controlling the amount of light that enters your camera. A large camera opening will lead to faster shutter speed and a brighter picture. Setting your shutter speed to the highest level, ideally 1/1000 or above, can help you avoid blur in case you’re taking blog images of kids or pets.
Meanwhile, ISO pertains to your camera’s sensitivity to light. A high ISO setting of 1600 or 3200 is perfect when shooting in low-light conditions.
Some tips to help you take fantastic indoor photos, particularly when trying to capture the details of interior design:
Opt for Manual Settings – If you haven’t been tweaking your camera’s settings to get that perfect shot, you should start learning how your camera works in different situations and light conditions. Don’t be afraid to experiment. You have to take control of the aperture, ISO as well as shutter speed and find the best combination for a particular moment.
Take Advantage of Natural Light – When shooting indoors, you’ll want to allow as much natural light as possible to ensure that your picture has enough brightness. You can even shoot daylight that shines through a window to get photos with soft and even lighting. Avoid using overhead lights because they cast unappealing shadows and highlight wrinkles as well as eye bags.
Use Reflectors – Reflectors are one of the most versatile photography tools. The simple mechanism of catching the light from the source and bouncing it to your subject can fill shadows that show up on the subject’s image.
Configure the Flash – Consider your environment and how much light is available then alter your flash settings accordingly. Too bright flashes aimed directly at the subjects can lead to washed-out faces because of the harsh light.
5. Mind Compatibility
You should check if the lenses are compatible with your camera. This fact is best determined by the expert sales representatives where you’re buying your camera from. This has to be a perfect match, else, your lens won’t be able to perform the function that it’s meant to do, excellently.
While there’s a significant advantage in using the same brand for all of your photography equipment, financial constraints or preferences may stand in the way. You can attach different brand lenses to different brand cameras and vice versa as long as they fit each other without compromising functionality. So don’t feel pressured to stick by one brand. With the right advice from experts, you can mix and match, so that your camera and lens can work together in perfect harmony.
Photo from Icons8 Photos
Conclusion
Interior photography is on a league of its own. You need a specific set of lenses to ensure that you get the output that you need for your blog or real estate listing. Find a lens that’s compatible with your camera and has an extensive focal length, an aperture of at least f/22, tilt-shift features, user-friendly shutter speed, and ISO settings. Yes, these may all sound very technical. But with the right experience, you’re sure to ace this too. With photography, remember that there are no stringent rules for you to follow; only guidelines that can help you come up with your personal style of taking photos that’ll also end up being well-loved by your clients.
About the author: this is the guest article by Amanda Paterson working in the media industry and helping clients create beautiful and memorable material for their businesses.
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