Three Tips for Indoor Photography
Carly Anderson Photography | Utah Based Photographer & Mentor
When I first started, getting an inquiry for an indoor session would make my stomach drop… and not in a good way. Indoor photography can be intimidating, so I’ve compiled these tips to give your indoor work a head start!
First things first, choose the best time of day! When using window light this time block is typically 10-3, but this will vary greatly depending on your client’s home. I highly recommend talking this part through with your client! Ask for photos of their space and find out which direction the windows face. To maximize light, shoot in the rooms with the most sun… for example: use east facing windows for morning sessions & west facing windows for afternoon sessions.
Next, turn off the lights and go all natural. Mixing light sources will cause really messy white balance and cause the colors to feel off no matter what you do in post processing! If it’s still feeling dark make sure all the blinds are open to make the most of the available light! If you absolutely have to use indoor lighting (births, etc) you can either only use one light source (just the ceiling lights or just the birth spotlight). A final option is to use a speed light to minimize ambient lighting from other sources. I use this one: Amazon Speed Light.
Look for “catchlights” in your subject’s eyes. This is the light that naturally reflects off of their eyes and is great to watch for in tough lighting situations. Keeping an eye on the catch light will help you avoid annoying shadows in the face later. It can take a bit of experimenting to find catch lights, but don’t be afraid to rotate your subject until you can see the light reflection!
Good luck on your next indoor photography session!! I hope these tips help it go smoothly. I seriously use them for every indoor session while we’re trying to muddle through these Salt Lake City winters. Let me know if you have any questions and don’t forget to share with a friend that might need it.
Carly is a Salt Lake City family photographer & mentor that helps other photographers achieve storytelling & nostalgic images. She offers both virtual & in person mentorships.