04. Lesson: taking your own photos.
Probably the most common question I get asked is what filter I use. The thing is, evocative imagery has nothing to do (really) with filters — it all starts with taking a good photo first and I am a sincere believer that you can take an excellent photo on any device, it just comes down to a few things.
Your five rules for taking a beautiful photo.
Side Light - Photos are all about lighting, above anything else. Practice restraint and only take photos where the light is good — almost always this is when light is pouring in from the side. This is because side light gives depth and contrast to a scene, whereas most other light flattens your image. I suggest waiting until the right time of day to take your photo, or practice blocking off light with a curtain, closing a door, wrapping plastic, or something similar so you can control the light. I personally take note of a room’s natural light pattern, designing the room in such a way that I ensure beautiful side light. A bed positioned near a window, etc. There’s no doubt I absolutely consider photos when designing a room and I encourage you to, as well - it makes your life much easier later on. Click here to see an example of side light used correctly and not used at all.
Turn Off the Lights - The quickest hack to a good photo is to turn off all artificial light. Mixing natural light and yellow light (from bulbs) nearly always results in a terrible photo. It’s best to rely solely on natural light. Click here for an example.
Take Photos From a Comfortable Seated Height - The eye feels most comfortable when a room is shot from seated height rather than standing height. This is a small but easy consideration when framing a photo for emotional impact. Click here for an example.
Frame Your Shot + Check Your Lines - When you decide to take an image, remember that you are composing a picture so think about your scene as a finished product and take a moment to make sure all your lines are straight. There is nothing that gives away an amateur photographer faster than wonky lines. It’s best to watch these when you’re taking the photo rather than having to fix them afterwards, but don’t fret, they can be aided in the edit. Click here to see an example.
Clean Your Lens - If you want to instantly make your image three times better, get in the habit of wiping your lens, particularly if you are using a phone camera. For a large camera, buy a lens cleaner and keep it fresh and smudge free.
{ Answer Q4.1- What are the Five Rules for taking a beautiful photo, no matter the device? }
{ Go to E4.1 - Go and learn more! Whether you’re using a big camera or your phone, it’s important to investigate ways to learn more.
04. Lesson: editing.
Now that you have a good photo, of course you’ll want to edit it. If you’re using an iPhone, the two applications I recommend are RNI Films and VSCO Camera. If you already have Lightroom for your computer, I would highly recommend the mobile application. I’m not going to walk you through how to edit an image, but I encourage you to have a play and become comfortable with the capabilities of your chosen application. This way you can feel confident in your ability to not only have a beautiful image, but one that emotionally reflects the experience of your space.
Over time, you will develop a photographic aesthetic that fits you and your house story. Don’t worry too much and don’t overthink it. Right now, your assignment is to have a play and have fun. Learn how to look at the world around you. There are little, sweet, ephemeral moments full of magic everywhere.
If you use a big camera, I highly recommend learning Lightroom and developing your own presets, or purchase sets from photographers whose aesthetic you like and admire.
{ Go to E4.2 - Start taking photos and editing them. From this point on, it’s all about practicing because the more you do, the quicker you are going to improve. Don’t be frightened — the more mistakes you make, the better you will one day be. It feels uncomfortable, but we have all walked this path and there’s joy in learning. Feel the fear and do it anyway. }
04. Lesson: press.
What you’re really trying to do is get published in a magazine or online blog because the credibility of publication is what creates an emotional draw to your home. A common question I get asked is, “…but how do I get published?” and, in truth, it’s really fairly easy. First, think about all the magazines you might want to be published in and your house is a good fit for.
{ Go to E4.3 - What magazine or online design blogs do you think your property would be a good fit for? }
{ Go to E4.4 - Go and buy a copy of each of these magazines and make a list of who the photographer is for each of the feature house stories. You’ll notice that there are a few main photographers for each magazine.}
For nearly all these magazines, their photographers are freelancers who sell their photographs from private jobs to the magazine for use. So if you want to get in a magazine, the quickest and easiest way is to hire one of these photographers to shoot your home for Airbnb listing, social media photos, and website all in one job. By doing it this way, you get beautiful photos of your home (that you own) and - fingers crossed - you get published. Talk about a great way to start!
04. Lesson: hiring a photographer.
This process is fairly straightforward, as well. Once you have made your list, you’ll begin to reach out to these photographers and tell them what you’re doing —- that you want images for your Airbnb listing, website, and social media, and potentially to be published. You may want to attach a copy of your house story when you reach out so they get a vibe for your home and what you’re going for. Ask for their cost, an agreement that you would own the pictures, and ask if they are working for any magazines who would potentially like to publish this story. Photographers will most likely get an agreement from a magazine before they photograph your house in case there are any extras the magazine may want (like a cover photo or additional feature). Essentially, you’re trying to get an understanding of their costs, the legal rights, and what your potential for getting published is before you hire them. In the end, it’s these details that may help you decide who you actually hire.
One last thing: make sure your photographer understands your house story and intends to take images that emotionally match your story. This is essential because they likely won’t take photos to match, unless you explicitly tell them that’s what you’d like.
04. Just so they’re all in one spot: your exercises.
Q4.1- What are the five rules to taking a beautiful photo, no matter the device?
E4.1 - Go and learn more! Whether you’re using a big camera or your phone, investigate ways to learn more as described in your workbook.
E4.2 - Start taking photos and editing them. From this point on, it’s all about practicing because the more you do, the quicker you are going to improve. Don’t be frightened — the more mistakes you make, the better you will one day be. It feels uncomfortable, but we have all walked this path and there’s joy in learning. Feel the fear and do it anyway. }
E4.3 - What magazine or online design blogs do you think your property would be a good fit for?
E4.4 - Go and buy a copy of each of these magazines and make a list of who the photographer is for each of the feature house stories. You’ll notice that there are a few main photographers for each magazine.
