Crafting Light: The Quiet Art of Interiors Photography
When photographers ask me about working with interiors, they're often worried about … well, the interiors themselves. Does the room feel dull? Is the light uninspiring? What if the view out the window is less than sensational? Here’s how I approach these challenges—and how I turn them into opportunities.
1. Let the Space Speak
An interior isn’t just a backdrop—it’s the story. A softly curved armchair, the grain of oak on a side table, the way afternoon light falls across a patterned rug—these details define the mood. My job is to let them breathe in the frame. I look for angles that honour the texture, the rhythm of furniture, and the layers of life. When a room has a narrative—a lived-in corner, a gentle shadow cast by a lamp—I let that narrative become the focus.
2. Embrace London Light—with a Little Help
London light is famously timid—diffuse, cool, often reluctant to share its warmth. But rather than fighting it, I work with it.
In one of my previous blog posts, I recalled a shoot on a damp December afternoon, when the light just wasn’t there. My solution? I used five flashes: two bounced off the ceiling to lift general exposure, two to sculpt the walls, and a fifth—gelled orange, zoomed tight—positioned like a substitute sun by the window. It cast that golden glow and created the magic that the daylight could not deliver. You’d hardly know outside was dull and grey.
3. Technique Made Discreet
The key to stylish interiors photography is being both confident and unobtrusive. In other contexts—events, portraits, even medical or corporate environments—I bring professionalism without intrusion, capturing people and spaces with clarity and ease.
It’s the same for interiors. Setting up lighting discreetly, getting a feel for the room before every shot—it all matters. I’m respectful of the environment and the people within it, always listening to the space and it’s story.
4. Tell the Full Story: From Objects to Ambience
A great interior shot is more than just furniture and walls. It hints at human presence even when the frame is empty. A corner with a book left open, a kettle gently steaming, the way sunlight falls across a windowsill—these are the silent storytellers.
My favourite interior series feel alive while being composed, layered with light and shadow, with just enough warmth to suggest life.
5. From the Lens to the Edit
Even if raw files look flat, post-production allows you to restore the soul of the image. Gentle tonal adjustments, targeted dodging and burning, subtle color correction: these steps refine and elevate. That December office image wasn’t just lit well—it was brought into its best self in editing.
Final Note
Interiors photography, at its best, balances atmosphere with authenticity. If you’re photographing a hotel, home, office, restaurant or event location, trust the space, subtly shape the light, and amplify its character—never overpower it. Start by listening to the story within the walls. Light it, frame it, and let it speak.
If you'd like to explore how this approach might work in your specific space—be it a BnB, nightclub or museum—I’d be delighted to help you tell its story, quietly and beautifully.
