How To Take Magazine Worthy Photos Of Your Remodel

General Tips and Tricks

We prefer to use digital images, but will accept original negatives, transparencies and slides. When using a digital camera, select the highest-quality resolution, and save them in the largest file size possible. Save the files in RAW or TIFF format for submissions to the print magazine, and as JPEGs or GIFs for the website or contest entries. Turn off the camera’s date/time stamp. Don’t use a flash when photographing windows or glass surfaces. When shooting close ups or detail shots, try using the aperture priority mode and select an aperture of f4 or 5.6. This is also a good trick to isolate an object from its background. Don’t tilt the camera. Photographing a house or a room or a piece of furniture straight-on generally works best in TOH. Use a tripod whenever possible. This will compensate for longer exposure times and prevent camera movement.

Tips for Shooting Interiors

Tidy up the house. Put away clothes in the bedrooms, clean off countertops in the kitchen, and fold the towels in the bathrooms. Generally, clear surfaces of clutter and tchotchkes; less is more. Look at past issues of This Old House for ideas on how to style your rooms. Shoot in natural light without the flash, which would make the interior lighting uneven and create harsh shadows. For this reason, don’t shoot interiors at night. Select the best possible portion of a room to photograph. Use a wide-angle lens or choose the maximum wide-angle setting to frame as much of the room as possible. Take individual shots of the key elements of a room and unique architectural details.

Tips for Shooting Exteriors

Frame the structure so that there’s some extra space around it. This gives the building context. Try to keep the sun behind you. Whenever possible, utilize softer early morning or late afternoon light. On a sunny day avoid shooting from 11 am to 1 pm, when light is harsh and shadows are dark. Better yet, take your pictures on a slightly overcast or hazy day. The softer light in these conditions makes colors appear more saturated. Try to photograph gardens just after it rains—when your blooms look rich and bright. To recreate this effect, you can water everything well.