Capturing the cozy, lived-in feel of a house can be a challenge. Learn from these experienced photographers how to invoke the warmth of home in your work.
Great architectural photography, no matter how sparing or minimalist it might be, always has traces of the human touch. Look through the archives of Ezra Stoller or Julius Shulman, and even in vast, uninhabited buildings, you’ll find some small signifier of the presence of people. Maybe it’s a shadow, a child’s toy, or lights left on in an empty room.
There’s a fine line between lived-in and messy, and interior photographers must tread it with clarity and precision. A bare interior is sterile and uninviting, but a cluttered interior looks sloppy. In between these extremes there’s that perfect balance of clean and cozy. Photographers achieve this balance through props, lighting, and composition. We asked seven experts to tell us about how they shoot warm, authentic-looking interiors.
1. “…I try to express something about the people who live in these interiors. I don’t scout locations; I scout people.”
Enrika Samulionyte
Image by Enrika Samulionyte. Gear: Canon EOS 5D camera, EF28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens. Settings: Focal length 28.0mm; exposure 1/125 sec; f4.0; ISO 640.
What’s the story behind this photo?
This photo was taken in a pretty old country house furnished with vintage pieces. It was very quiet, in the middle of the woods, and far away from civilization. The light inside was very dim; the ceiling was low, and the colors were faded. It felt as if time had stopped, as if I was a child visiting my grandparents. I took a pretty low angle, as if from a child’s point of view.
How do you make homes look real, authentic, and lived-in?
My interior photography is all about people, as strange as that might sound. Even though there are no people in the shots, I try to express something about the people who live in these interiors. I don’t scout locations; I scout people. Interesting people live in interesting homes. I like observing people and noticing their habits. Different characters drink coffee from different cups. I try to create a story about people while taking photos of their homes.
I usually work with interior designers, so they do the decorating most of the time. I then try to work with the details. I find my point of view and the right angles. My background is in architecture, so that helps a lot in understanding the space and its proportions. I love natural light. I hardly ever use artificial light while photographing interiors, only because it gives me too many options! I observe the light and watch how it changes during the day; I follow the sun, and I observe the shadows. I use different exposures and combine them in a single image. That way, I balance bright areas with dark ones.
There is a lot of cleaning involved when photographing interiors. There are times when I have to change bed sheets, make the bed, clean the glass doors, move the furniture, wash dishes, or hide sponges, liquid soaps, and other household appliances. It is important to have a good memory in order to put everything back into the correct places before you leave.
Image by Enrika Samulionyte.
Where do you find inspiration for your photography?
I am inspired by works of contemporary interior designers as well as by old historical architecture. I find beauty in vintage furniture, rustic textures, and faded colors. I find stories in them. I also follow House & Garden and Decordemon.
2. “To make an artificially created home look real, make sure that the interior does not look too perfect.”
Syda Productions (Lev Dolgachov)
Image by Syda Productions (Lev Dolgachov). Gear: Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera, EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM lens. Settings: Exposure 1/160 sec; f3.2; ISO 400.
What’s the story behind this photo?
We needed to shoot a couple in a bedroom, but we had no bed in our studio, so we used a pair of blue inflatable mattresses, linens, and a white office table with detached legs to create a “bed.” The models tested it and said it was comfortable and felt real, so we gave it a try. This shoot and this particular image became popular, and we often see this picture here and there, even in hotel ads.
How do you make homes look real, authentic, and lived-in?
To make an artificially created home look real, make sure that the interior does not look too perfect. A real home is not a 3D render, so a little bit of imperfection will create the impression of a lived-in space, even if you created the interior in your studio from scratch.
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Where do you find inspiration for your photography?
We find most of our inspiration in real life and real people. We mostly shoot lifestyle images that involve people. So when we shoot, we try to create a relaxed overall feeling in the studio or on location to make it fun for everyone. Then we just capture great moments and emotions in the process.
3. “A good final shot combines interior design, composition, light, and the little things every individual photographer brings to a shoot.”
Dariusz Jarzabek
Image by Dariusz Jarzabek. Gear: Canon 5D Mark III camera, Canon 16-35 mm f/2.8L EF USM II, lens, Manfrotto tripod. Settings: Focal length 16mm; multiple exposures; f9; ISO 160.
What’s the story behind this photo?
This is a photo from my first interior photo shoot with a model. Though I had made photos of people before, this was something different. For the first time, I decided to show an apartment brought to life by the presence of a human. The difficulty was in making a perfectly sharp photo despite the long exposure time. It was necessary to stop the model’s movements for a few seconds.
Despite the experimental nature of the photo session, I received a surprisingly good result. The photo looks like it was made in the evening; however, it was made at noon on a very hot and sunny day. I used dimming curtains that helped to eliminate any sunlight coming in, while the interior was lit by bulbs, giving the effect of a warm and elegant bedroom in the evening.
How do you make homes look real, authentic, and lived-in?
The best way to make interiors look real and authentic is to have a photo shoot in a place that is actually lived-in. That kind of interior will also have the necessary, well-selected accessories like pillows, blankets, books, plants, etc.
Light is very important too. The best effect can be obtained by using natural light on a slightly cloudy day. That way, the light is soft and scattered. Of course, that’s not a rule; you can, for example, get very interesting results after dark using artificial lighting. A good final shot combines interior design, composition, light, and the little things every individual photographer brings to a shoot.
Image by Dariusz Jarzabek.
Where do you find inspiration for your photography?
These days, I normally find most of my inspiration on the internet, mainly on sites about interior photography, architecture, and design. I also like to look at the latest magazines connected to my field of interest; however, I think it’s very important to take part in meetings, conferences, and photography workshops where you can meet inspirational people.
4. “Making homes look authentic and real is about producing quality lighting… so my goal is to lighten the dark areas and tone down the bright areas.”
Larry Malvin (pics721)
Image by Larry Malvin (pics721). Gear: Canon 5D Mark III camera with a Canon 16-35mm lens, Canon 600EX flash. Settings: Focal length 16mm; multiple exposures (initial shutter speed was ¼ sec); f7.1; ISO 200.
What’s the story behind this photo?
This photo was taken for an interior designer. The goal was to show the kitchen’s high-quality craftsmanship and include the eating area as well, while reducing the glare on the wood floors.
How do you make homes look real, authentic, and lived-in?
Making homes look authentic and real is about producing quality lighting. Usually the real estate agent, interior decorator, or architect will decorate the room, so my goal is to lighten the dark areas and tone down the bright areas. You should also be able to see through any windows in the room. I accomplish this with an on-camera flash that is bounced off the ceiling. I also use multiple exposures that will be blended manually in Photoshop to create the final scene.
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Where do you find inspiration for your photography?
I find inspiration when a client—whether it is a realtor, homeowner, designer, or architect—is thrilled with a photo shoot. If I can help bring potential buyers into a home through my photographs or enhance a designer’s portfolio, then I know I’ve done my job.
5. “In order to look real and authentic, a room cannot be too empty, but at the same time, it should be clean and tidy.”
Patryk Kosmider
Image by Patryk Kosmider. Gear: Canon 5D Mark III camera, 16-35mm F/4 L lens. Settings: Focal length 16mm; exposure 6 sec; F11; ISO 50.
What’s the story behind this photo?
This is one of my favorite bedroom photos. It was made just after a home renovation with beautiful lighting on the wall and ceiling. The lights made the interior cozy and interesting. To expose them, I used a tripod and long exposure settings with no extra lights. It looks like it was taken in the evening, but it was the middle of the day with blinded windows, which will give you more details in the shadows. Small decorations are matched by colors, and the canvas on the wall is printed from one of my landscape pictures.
How do you make homes look real, authentic, and lived-in?
In interior photography, you should pay attention to every detail. In order to look real and authentic, a room cannot be too empty, but at the same time, it should be clean and tidy. In stock photography, you need to pay attention to the pictures displayed on the walls and tables because they all need written model/artist releases. All of the decorations should be matched by theme or color to improve the photograph.
Image by Patryk Kosmider.
Where do you find inspiration for your photography?
My inspiration is photography itself. I love to record beautiful places, architecture, and landscapes. Every travel opportunity gives me a lot of motivation to live.
6. “When I’m in a house, I explore and search for all of its strengths and signs of the personality of the architect/designer who conceived it.”
Alexandre Zveiger
Image by Alexandre Zveiger. Gear: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, TS-E24mm f / 3.5L lens. Settings: Focal length 24mm; exposure 5 sec; f3.5; ISO 400.
What’s the story behind this photo?
I met the architect and owner of this house a few years ago, and my coworker and I went on a cloudy winter day to take pictures. We came back a second time in the summer, but the white walls and the orientation of the house did not do justice to its forms. We stopped at night, and we realized that that’s when the soul of the house truly came out.
How do you make homes look real, authentic, and lived-in?
When I’m in a house, I explore and search for all of its strengths and signs of the personality of the architect/designer who conceived it. I use applications like Sun Locator on my smartphone, and I do not use artificial lights to optimize the time and cost.
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Where do you find inspiration for your photography?
I’m inspired by architects who tell me about their projects. They teach me to see in new ways.
7. “Find references for how you want the room to look. Would you like it to be warm with dim light or bright and clear?”
Tom Penpark
Image by Tom Penpark. Gear: Canon 5D Mark III camera, 17-40mm lens with a CPL on to minimize the reflections, Profoto light with a large umbrella. Settings: Focal length 24mm; f11; ISO 100.
What’s the story behind this photo?
This is my friend’s house. I initially saw it during the daytime, and it was beautiful, but the view outside the windows was not that interesting, so I waited until after the sunset for the blue sky to appear. Then I turned on all the lights, including the oven.
How do you make homes look real, authentic, and lived-in?
I think the best way is to use a real house and then apply some interior styling skills. Find references for how you want the room to look. Would you like it to be warm with dim light or bright and clear? Mix and match a few things in the room, and see how you like it on your tethered laptop or on the screen of your camera.
The first challenge I’ve found is scouting and gaining access to beautiful houses. I have connections with models who are also real estate agents, and they let me know when they find good looking houses. I then check out the house and see what should I bring to the shoot. I’ve learned from my friend who was an agent about what customers like and dislike.
Image by Tom Penpark.
Where do you find inspiration for your photography?
Personally, my inspiration came from King Bhumibol of Thailand and my dad. They both carried cameras everywhere they went, and I do the same. If you look at my website, you will see I shoot pretty much everything. I shoot people, places, and things. Inspiration is all around you if you look for it.
Top Image by Larry Malvin (pics721).
