4 Easy Tips To Better Use A Flash In Real Estate Photography
Flashes are an essential tool that can significantly elevate your real estate images. Using the right techniques, you can enhance architectural details, balance exposure, and create more appealing photos that impress your clients.
In this article, I’ll share 4 easy tips to better use a flash in real estate photography and discuss why a flash can be so helpful.
Table of Contents
Why Use A Flash In Real Estate Photography At All?
There are many reasons why using a flash for real estate photography can be helpful. However, there are two major reasons why flashes can be such big helps:
- Additional light can help to capture more details in dark places
- Flashes help to bring out the true color of the scene, making color correction much easier
The first reason is pretty straight forward. Sometimes, homes or room or properties in general can be quite dark. A flash will help bring out more details since you’ll be adding in additional light.
The second reason might not be as known, but flashes help quite a bit with color correction. Ambient exposures can have colors turn out very incorrect and a flash will help to color correct in camera, saving your time and effort in post.
If you’re thinking of purchasing a new flash, check out our article Best Flashes for Real Estate Photography. It’ll give you a good idea of how much you can expect to spend.
4 Easy Tips To Better Use A Flash In Real Estate Photography
1. Learn Lighting Basics
The best thing you can do is familiarize yourself with the basics of lighting. The more you know about lighting in general, the more you’ll understand how to use a flash.
Correctly using a flash can help bring out depth and details, but you’ll need to understand how to light an exposure before you can properly use a flash.
Check out our article Comprehensive Guide to the Best Lighting for Interior Photography to read a more detailed outline of lighting for real estate photography.
2. Experiment
If you’re using an on camera flash, experimenting can mean pointing it straight up, then to the left, then to the right. See which exposure you think looks best and then dissect why that might be the case.
If you have an off camera flash, walk around the frame and take flash exposures from several different angles. Try to use your flash to accent the natural light and bring out some depth and detail in your photo.
Many times the best positioning of a flash will be off to the sides of your frame.
3. Use A Light Diffuser
Sometimes the light from a flash can simply be too intense, even at the right power setting. It can lead to harsh shadows and blown out portions.
You can solve this problem by using a diffuser. I personally use a shoot through an umbrella if I need the light to be softer, but there are tons of different options for all types of flashes.
4. Adjust The Flash-to-Subject Distance
You might have the correct settings on both your camera and flash, but if you are simply too close to or too far away from your subject, you won’t get the desired outcome.
Once you pick your subject, let’s say it’s a fireplace, capture a few different flash exposures with the flash closer and further away from the fireplace. You’ll notice that some will be harsh lighting and some will be more balanced.
Find what distance provides your desired look and take note for future jobs.
Additional Resources
If you’re thinking of purchasing a new flash, check out our article Best Flashes for Real Estate Photography.
If you’re just getting started in real estate photography, check out our Beginners Guide. It’s full of helpful articles and tips that will guide you in the right direction as you begin your real estate photography journey.
You can check out our Gear section as well to see reviews and recommendations on the latest real estate photography gear.
If you’re more interested in other resources that can help your real estate photography business, check out our Business Resources page.
