How to Photograph Any Room Background

As a photographer, you can specialize in a wide range of subjects—from fashion to wildlife to urban landscapes. But if you’re inspired by unique home design and architecture, consider adding interior photography to your repertoire. Businesses and individuals of all kinds need room background photos, so if you become an expert in this field, you have the opportunity to significantly grow your brand. 

Want to learn more? Learn everything you need to know about how to photograph a room and the many uses for those photos in the guide below. 

Quick Links

• How to Photograph a Room Background
• Uses for Room Background Photography

How to Photograph a Room Background

While every type of room is different—a bathroom photo is going to be a lot different from a game room background—there are a few common elements to consider when capturing any space. 

Lighting

To make a room look big and bright, it’s best to take advantage of natural lighting. Even if the room has interesting lamps or light fixtures, artificial light can create distracting shadows and color casts. Instead, turn off any interior lights, raise the blinds, and pull back the curtains. Then, aim to shoot during the brightest part of the day—usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., depending on where the room’s windows are located—and allow natural light to illuminate the room. 

Angles 

There are several factors to consider when choosing the point of view for your photos. If you’re shooting real estate photography, you may want to use a wide-angle lens and aim to get as much of the room as possible into one shot; this can emphasize the space’s size. For other purposes, such as blogging or stock photography, shoot the room from a variety of angles—including both wide and detail shots—to create a cohesive set of images. 

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Staging 

You can’t do much with a photo of an empty room. For more realistic and inviting photos, consider how to stage the room. And don’t stop with furniture—make sure to add smaller design elements, such as lamps, small stacks of books, plants, and pillows. These objects won’t only make the room look cozier and lived-in; they will add depth and visual interest to the photos. 

Color Schemes

Especially if you’re photographing rooms for real estate listings, it’s best to stick to neutral colors—white, grey, beige, etc.—since they will appeal to more potential buyers. However, if you are photographing rooms for other purposes, such as blog photos or vacation rental listings, more colorful palettes can help your photos—and the rooms—stand out. If you do opt to incorporate color, it’s best to start with a foundation of neutral hues and add just a few colorful accent pieces.  

Uses for Room Background Photos

Once you understand how to take inviting and appealing room photos, what can you do with them? To build your photography business, you need to know what types of companies and individuals have a need for that kind of photography. Here are just a few. 

Real Estate Photography 

If you know how to take great room photos, you can be a valuable asset to any real estate agent. Every real estate listing needs a comprehensive set of images that show every room of the property from several different angles. Those photographs are what enable potential buyers to envision themselves in the house. And those images are powerful; research shows that quality photography can help listings sell more quickly and for a higher price. 

Vacation Rental Photography 

Similar to real estate photography, vacation rental listings also benefit from great photography. Travelers are more likely to book properties that have listings with inviting, appealing photos. By working with vacation rental owners, you can help them showcase their properties in the best light and, ideally, boost their bookings. 

Stock Photography

Room background stock photos are a great option for many professionals and businesses. They’re quick, convenient, and relatively inexpensive, and they can be used for a variety of purposes, including marketing materials, ads, website and blog graphics, and much more. With this in mind, try your hand at becoming a stock photographer. Simply take a variety of room background photos and upload them to stock photography websites like Shutterstock or iStock. Whenever someone downloads the image, you will receive royalties or a commission. 

Video Conference Backgrounds

As more businesses transition away from the traditional office model, video conferencing has become a regular part of the workday. For people who aren’t always in the office or simply need a neat, appealing background, virtual room backgrounds are helpful tools. These backdrops allow people to maintain a sense of privacy while still appearing in a professional environment. And while office backgrounds may be the most common choice, you can also offer less traditional room background options, like living rooms or kitchens. 

Grow Your Photography Business With Room Backgrounds 

If you want to expand your photography business, learn how to photograph a room. This skill will open up opportunities to work with real estate agents, vacation rental owners, stock photography websites, and many other types of professionals. Plus, every room is different, so you will encounter exciting new challenges and fresh inspiration every day!

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