In real estate photography there are two styles of shooting interiors; High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Flash/Artificial Light. Each style has a different workflow and both can achieve stunning results. HDR has a lower cost of entry to start shooting, but there’s a software learning curve for producing stellar results. Flash photography has a marginal cost to start shooting, and a learning curve for both the software and the hardware. I wanted to provide a quick primer for those interested in real estate photography in this write up with follow up technical articles for HDR and Flash photography.
What is High Dynamic Range (HDR)?
HDR is a technique using multiple exposures of the same scene to increase the range between the highlights and the shadows represented in a photograph. Using HDR in real estate photography requires taking a minimum of five (5) exposures at -2, -1, 0, +1, and +2. Then, using an HDR processing software, you’ll combine these exposures to create an image with an image that closer resembles the way our eyes render the scene.
What is Flash Photography?
Flash photography is using artificial light to help illuminate the interior. Using a flash also helps to provide a consistent white balance to all of your photos. With real estate photography you’ll typically take three exposures; one without flash, one with flash, and, if you have a window in the scene, a flash against the window.
If you’re careful in your photography onsite and post-processing both can produce stellar results. However, in my experience, flash photography easily wins because it’s ability to better render the photographs reducing my post-processing work time. In addition to reduced workflow time, with flash photography you have more options as to when you can shoot and how you can render an interior. HDR is fine, but to me the way each particular software renders colors differently which inevitably leads to me spending more time than I want in post. Check back next week for an introduction to HDR photography!