Photography Tip: Avoiding ‘the Cave’ Look
Shooting a darker room, especially with a bright window in the room, can be a little tricky. If not done correctly the room can appear very dark, with the main focus being on the bright window instead of the room itself (creating a ‘cave’ look), which is not the most effective way to showcase a room. Here are some tips on how to avoid this:
• Make sure your camera’s flash is on. Most cameras’ flash is indicated by a lightning bolt .
• Make sure to turn on all lights.
• Try to avoid focusing the camera directly at a large window.
• Point the camera away from the window then press the shutter release button half way. Once your camera has set the exposure (you will feel the cameras lens move and in some cameras a light goes on to tell you it’s ready), re-frame your image and continue pressing the shutter release button until the camera takes the shot.
• If you’re using a tripod and your camera has exposure options, use the Night Mode . This will give you a longer exposure which will allow you to get detail in the shadow area.
Following are 3 sets of photographs to serve as examples. The 1st photo of each set is an actual photo taken by an agent. VHT contacted those agents and re-photographed the listing…the 2nd photograph of each set is the resulting VHT photograph. In addition to the above tips, VHT also used the 3 tips posted on November 20th when shooting these photographs.
This agent-shot photo is very dark-- you're unable to really see the room at all, just the balcony opening and a shadow of the chair in front of it. As you can see, they seemed to be shooting directly at the window.
VHT re-photographed the listing. Though the window is still in the shot, the camera is shooting more toward the wall and the corner of the room.
This agent shot photo is again pointed directly at the large window and no lights were turned on when taking the photo.
VHT re-photographed the listing, shooting more toward the corner of the room (as well as turning on a few of the lights before taking the photograph)
This one is again shooting directly at the window with no lights on. It gives a clear shot of the view from the window, but doesn't do anything for the kitchen or breakfast nook that potential buyers would probably also like to see.
VHT re-photographed the listing, turning on the lights and pointing the camera more toward the wall and corner rather than directly at the window
