Shooting for an interior decorator

[Vetteography]

I have a lead on an Interior decorator who does high-end homes and offices. She wants to build a new portfolio of her work to show prospective clients.

Are there some "Do's & Don'ts" for this type of work that you can share? Some anecdotal stories about your experiences with design professionals?

[IndyJeff]

ID's usually work off a 10% commission when they do their thing. If you sell carpet, they want the most expensive stuff you have. Naturally they have a budget to work within but, they want to spend every last dime of that clients money. They are notoriously cheap when it comes to paying out of their pocket too. Sometimes, they will be given $xx,xxx to work with. Whatever they can come in with under that they keep. That is when the want you to work on a percentage of what you normally charge. So beware, they will try to get you to do $1500 worth of work for $150.

Disclaimer: I have never done any photo work for a ID but, I have dealt with them on other projects and they want the maximum price. When it is for them, they want rock bottom prices.

[Vetteography]

Thanks for the tip IndyJeff! I'll keeep a hand on my wallet :D

[EricKonieczny]

I have shot a few houses for a home builder and also after the company owner decorated his place with high end stuff.

Wide Angle Lenses like 17 or even the 10-22 would be great.

Shoot from the corners or the rooms or shoot from another room into the room.

Tripod

Try a few different times of the day, but early morning is best.

RAW as with most pictures gives you the most room to work from.

Get some close ups of high detail fixtures, wood working, high end art, etc.

Pay attention to the light and where it is coming from, if you have any studio lights or other home lights, they will help.

[Vetteography]

Great advice.....

Good stuff, thanks!

[Pekka]

Of course you shoot with tripod, so RAW and bracketing will give you chance to take care of high dynamic range with e.g. layering or other methods. Bracketing focus + layering it might also be handy (with wide angle shots) so that you do not have to go to f22 but stay in f8-11 area instead (better quality).

One thing I know about architects is that they love straight lines, so if you take wide shots, try to take them a bit wider than needed if you do not shoot on level - this way you can correct the lines and still retain useful part of the image.

[Vetteography]

I hadn't thought about bracketting the shots. I don't have a lot of experience playing with that. I guess I should get some practice in, just in case I get this job. Thanks Pekka!

[PhotosGuy]

I hadn't thought about bracketting the shots. That should work well or, as Eric said, "Try a few different times of the day, but early morning is best."
Late PM, too which will bring down the outside light level to the interior level. You will probably want to shoot the exteriors at different times, too.
Or you could use big neutral density gells on the windows which would do the same thing. Video shooters sometimes use color corrected ND gells to match the interior color balance, too. A cheepie way to do that might be to put bed sheets over the windows.
If you don't have a very wide angle lens, you might try a pano, but be sure to use manual exposure to keep the exposure constant.
Re: " this way you can correct the lines" Get a 1-2' carpenters level and make sure that the back of the cam is vertical (Actually, the "film plane") so that the walls don't lean in the first place & you'll be oK.

EDIT: make sure that the back of the cam is vertical 1. Or the front of the lens shade.
2. Or measure the height of the cam. Measure the same height on the far wall, & put the center focus point on it.

Help with Indoor/film setup - Film, yes film, remember that! (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=327494)