ASK ANYONE WHO PHOTOGRAPHS REAL ESTATE
…and they’ll tell you that you MUST show the view outside of the window.
But do you really have to?
And more importantly, do you have to show the view when working with interior designers?
And what if the view is just not pretty?!
Communication is key
The first thing you can do is ask your client if the view is important to them. Does she want to show off the connection to the backyard? Or emphasize that it’s overlooking the ocean? Sometimes showing what’s outside of that window helps to tell the story.
Showing the view was important to the client on this project, so it’s shown clearly in all the project photos.
Outside of this window was the boring beige wall of the neighbor’s house, so the client asked that I NOT show the view at all.
Time of day makes a big difference
I live on the West coast, so when I’m photographing a property that has ocean views to the West, I request to shoot earlier in the day. This means the sun will be shining towards the ocean, rather than starting to dip behind the ocean like it would late in the day. By doing this, I avoid crazy bright glares on the water and so the views look way better! Clearly, if you live on the East coast you would want to reverse that and aim for late afternoon shoot times to capture that view well.
Midday, however, is my favorite time to photograph interiors because of the bright, indirect light bouncing around. This time of day can only work, though, if my client is okay with not showing off that view out the window (this goes back to open communication!).
For this vacation listing, the late afternoon shoot time created the bright glare over the ocean. While it can be beautiful, it’s often not the effect that homeowners are after.
Shooting during the morning, though, this westerly view is much more saturated and clear. This will show better through windows, as well as looking great on scenic shots of the exterior!
Your personal style will dictate, too
Maybe you love showing that indoor-outdoor connection and having an even exposure throughout. Or maybe you love the bright, sun-filled rooms that are bursting with light and have blown out windows. Most likely, you’re somewhere in between. While the client’s requests and the time of day play major roles, don’t forget that you have a signature style to maintain! Your photo style is part of why your client is working with you, so don’t forget to work the special magic that is YOU.
Is it even pretty?
Let’s face it, an ocean view is gorgeous but nobody wants to see the neighbor’s fence. Often, an interior is absolutely beautiful, but the outside view is underwhelming. This is where your expertise comes in and you can recommend an approach to your client. If you don’t think it’s worth showing the view, a simple “I’m going to go ahead and leave the windows nice and bright because there’s not much of a view out there. Is that alright with you?”. Chances are, they’ll agree with your recommendation.
Chances are, most of your interiors will show a bit of the outdoor view. This home had a lovely garden, but it wasn’t photo-ready, so we chose to just hint at the greenery outside!
So what does this all mean?
Like so many things, there’s no cut-and-dry answer. Developing your skills will help ensure that you can tackle whatever requests come your way, but open communication with your client is key. Early on, you may want to experiment with different techniques until you find the sweet spot that works for you!
If you want to learn a bit more about bracketing for those times that you do want to show the view, check out the Lighting 101 article for a rundown of one technique.
xo,
Natalia