7 Ways to Take Better Pictures of Your Home
Capturing beautiful photos of your home doesn’t require an expensive camera or advanced technical skills. With today’s smartphones, anyone can take stunning, professional-looking pictures by applying key photography tips. Whether you’re sharing new design updates with friends and family, preserving memories of your space, or documenting your home’s unique charm before moving, thoughtful photography can make a lasting impression. Let’s dive into the techniques that can elevate your home photography game.
1. Embrace Natural Lighting
Lighting is everything when it comes to photography. For the best results, take photos during the daytime when natural light is abundant yet diffused. Bright overcast days are excellent, or sunny days without harsh direct light. Open your curtains and blinds to let the light fill the room, creating a soft and inviting glow. Avoid harsh overhead lights or your camera’s flash, which can create unflattering shadows and distort colors. Morning and late afternoon—known as golden hours—are great for capturing warm, natural tones.
2. Use the Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a classic photography principle that helps create balanced and visually pleasing compositions. To apply it, imagine dividing your image into a 3×3 grid and positioning key elements along the grid lines or at their intersections. Most smartphone cameras have a grid option in their settings to help with this. For example, place a statement piece of furniture or a striking decor item off-center for a more dynamic shot.
3. Think About Depth of Field
Adding depth to your photos makes them more engaging and three-dimensional. Incorporate elements in the foreground, middle ground, and background to create visual interest. For instance, a vase of flowers in the foreground can frame a beautifully styled living room. Play with your camera’s focus settings to emphasize specific areas while softly blurring others for a professional touch. Thinking about your photo in this way will help you to tell a story in the image and create more visual appeal that will draw someone’s eyes into the image.
4. Capture Natural Human Interaction
Photographs that include subtle human interactions can evoke emotions and tell a story. Try capturing moments like someone placing a cup of coffee on a table, flipping through a book, playing games with friends, or even placing flowers in a vase. These touches can make your home feel warm, lived-in, and relatable while fostering a connection with the viewer.
5. Go Wide with Your Angle
Wide-angle shots are perfect for showcasing entire rooms and their layouts. On most smartphones, including iPhones, you can achieve this by selecting the 0.5x zoom setting at the bottom of your screen. This perspective allows you to capture more of the room in a single frame, giving viewers a sense of space and scale. Be mindful of keeping your lines straight—use your camera’s grid to avoid distorted or slanted shots.
6. Declutter and Style Your Space
Before taking photos, take a moment to tidy up and style your space. Remove unnecessary clutter and arrange furniture, decor, and accessories to create a harmonious composition. A clean, organized room allows your home’s best features to shine. Keep key personal pieces in the image to create a connection. You’re looking for the happy balance between cluttered and sterile.
7. Experiment with Angles and Perspectives
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your shots. Photograph your space from various heights and angles to highlight different features. For example, a low angle can make a cozy reading nook feel grand, while an overhead shot can beautifully display a dining table arrangement.
Lights, Camera, Action
Share your photos with us! We’d love to see how you’ve styled your home! If you have Luxe furniture or decor in your home, tag us in your photos on social media, and you could be entered to win seasonal prizes. Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about how to connect with us online and for more design inspiration and updates.