How to Make Small Spaces Look Bigger in Photos
Capturing the feel of small spaces in photos can be tricky. However, with some useful techniques, you can make even a tiny room look bigger and more welcoming. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at several steps and tips that can help you create a sense of spaciousness in your real estate photos.
1. Pre-shoot Preparation: Decluttering and Visual Balance
Decluttering for a Cleaner Look
Before you start photographing, decluttering the space is crucial. Removing unnecessary items helps in creating open space and a sense of depth. A tidy room not only looks bigger but also draws attention to the key features you want to highlight.
Tip: Leave out areas that do not look attractive, such as cluttered garages, and focus on the most appealing parts of the space.
Achieving Visual Balance
Arranging furniture and decor symmetrically can provide visual balance. This arrangement helps the viewer’s eye travel smoothly across the room, giving a perception of larger space.
Tip: Turn on all the lights so you can see everything clearly, ensuring that the space looks as inviting as possible.
2. Utilising Natural Light and Proper Lighting
Maximising Natural Light
Natural light is one of the best ways to make a small space look larger in photos. Open curtains and blinds to let in as much light as possible. Natural light reduces harsh shadows and creates a more inviting atmosphere.
Implementing Artificial Lighting
Tip: Turn on all lights, including lamps and overhead lights, to ensure every part of the room is well-lit.
3. Composition and Angles for Spaciousness
What is a Wide-Angle Lens?
A wide-angle lens is a type of photographic lens that has a shorter focal length than standard lenses, typically less than 35mm. This characteristic allows the lens to capture a wider field of view, making it ideal for landscapes, architecture, and interior photography. Wide-angle lenses create a sense of depth and space, which can make rooms appear larger and more expansive. They often introduce some distortion, particularly at the edges of the frame, which can be creatively used or corrected in post-processing.
What mm is a Wide-Angle Lens?
A wide-angle lens typically has a focal length of 35mm or less on a full-frame camera. On crop sensor cameras, this focal length is adjusted to account for the crop factor. For example, on an APS-C sensor with a crop factor of 1.5x, a lens would need to be approximately 24mm or less to be considered wide-angle. Wide-angle lenses are popular for capturing expansive scenes, such as landscapes, architecture, and interior spaces, due to their ability to include more of the scene in the frame.
What Does a Wide-Angle Lens Do?
A wide-angle lens captures a broader field of view compared to standard lenses, allowing more of the scene to be included in the photograph. This makes it ideal for shooting expansive landscapes, architecture, and interiors where space is limited. The lens accentuates the sense of depth and space, making objects in the foreground appear larger and those in the background smaller, which can create a dynamic and immersive effect. Wide-angle lenses often introduce some distortion, especially at the edges, which can add a unique perspective to the images.
How to Use a Wide-Angle Lens
To effectively use a wide-angle lens, start by choosing a compelling foreground subject. Get close to this subject to create a sense of depth and scale. Ensure the horizon is level to avoid a tilted effect. Experiment with different angles and perspectives to find the most captivating composition. Be mindful of the lens’s distortion—position important elements towards the centre of the frame to maintain their natural proportions. Finally, use leading lines or natural curves in the scene to guide the viewer’s eye through the photograph, enhancing the sense of depth and dimensionality.
How Much Accuracy Does a Wide-Angle Lens Give?
A wide-angle lens provides a high degree of accuracy in capturing expansive scenes and environments, allowing you to include more of the surroundings within the frame. However, it’s important to be mindful of distortion towards the edges of the frame, which can affect the accuracy of objects and proportions near the periphery. With careful composition and understanding of the lens’s characteristics, you or a professional real estate photographer can achieve accurate and compelling representations of wide-ranging subjects.
Best Wide-Angle Lens for Nikon
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
- Features: Ultra-wide zoom range, fast f/2.8 aperture, ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass for reduced chromatic aberration, Nano Crystal Coat for minimized ghosting and flare.
- Usage: Excellent for landscapes, architecture, and interior photography, delivering sharp images with minimal distortion.
Best Wide-Angle Lens for Canon
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
- Features: Versatile wide-angle zoom, fast f/2.8 aperture, advanced optics for high resolution and contrast, weather-sealed construction.
- Usage: Ideal for professional photographers needing high performance in various lighting conditions, suitable for events, interiors, and expansive landscapes.
4. Enhancing Depth and Open Space with Mirrors
Strategic Placement of Mirrors
Tip: Mirrors should be placed to reflect the most aesthetically pleasing parts of the room, enhancing the overall visual appeal.
5. Optimising Colours and Exposure
Choosing the Right Colours
Light, neutral colours can make a small space appear larger. Whites, beiges, and light greys reflect more light and open up the room. Avoid dark colours that can make the space feel cramped.
Adjusting Exposure and HDR Photography
Proper exposure settings are crucial in capturing bright, airy photos. Use HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography to balance out areas of different light intensities. This technique ensures that both shadows and highlights are well-exposed, enhancing the overall spaciousness.
Tip: Correct the colour or white balance in post-production to ensure the colours in your photos appear natural and appealing.
6. Post-production: Editing Techniques and Final Touches
Essential Editing Techniques
Tip: Crop the photos so they are level with the horizon to avoid any tilt that can disrupt the viewer’s perception of the space.
Finalising with Exposure Adjustments
Ensure the exposure is just right, not too dark or overly bright. Fine-tuning exposure settings in post-production can make a significant difference in achieving the desired look of spaciousness.
Conclusion
Making small spaces look larger in photos involves a combination of pre-shoot preparation, strategic use of natural light and artificial lighting, thoughtful composition, and effective post-production editing techniques. By utilising a wide-angle lens, experimenting with angles, and employing mirrors and colours wisely, you can create photos that enhance the perception of space. Follow these steps, and transform your room photography to make even the smallest spaces appear grand and inviting.
At JR Photo and Video, we specialise in making small spaces look expansive and inviting through expert photography. Our team uses decluttering techniques, strategic lighting, and advanced editing to enhance every room. With wide-angle lenses, we capture the full breadth of spaces, ensuring depth and spaciousness. Our photographers skilfully adjust angles and perspectives to highlight key features and correct distortions. In post-production, we fine-tune exposure and colour balance for a polished, professional finish. Trust JR Photo and Video to showcase your interiors in the best possible light.
