Bob's Blog
Thoughts From an Island Photographer

Dining area washed out with overblown views

Marketing real estate for a short-term rental or for resale requires interior photos that also emphasize our fabulous island views. Look closer at a web or print ad you recently passed by unread and you may well find problems with the photos. Dull interiors but great views or nice interiors but views blown out with sunlight – either way  is sub-par and means a mediocre return on investment for the homeowner. 

Sadly, like most other photographers, Tropical Focus must sometimes photograph villas under substandard conditions. An insistent client may have a very tight budget constraint. Or, a fully booked rental schedule may mean a very small window to shoot, leaving no time for setups and a shoot when afternoon shadows are very harsh. In these cases we use low light photography techniques. Photo bracketing – using a tripod and taking the same photo with different manual camera settings and merging these in post-production – is one of our favorites. Days with clear skies and passing billowy clouds make the job easier but getting the right clouds in the right place at the right time can be tricky.  It’s a hit or miss approach at best and we don’t recommend it. 

Heavens Gate Dining Area With Equalized Lighting

We much prefer to educate our clients on the value-add of doing the job right and then follow-through with proper lighting – using strong interior lighting to fight the bright exterior sunlight. When the light is equalized between the interior space and the outdoors, magic happens.  To do this, lighting must be placed in strategic locations for each shot individually and then each moved and set up again for the next shot. Sure it costs a little more up front for a photo shoot using all that equipment. It’s time consuming and the equipment is costly.  But, in the long run, it’s the client who wins with effective marketing photos and a quick return on investment.     

 We like to use a Speedotron Brown Line flash lighting system – it’s ideal for architectural photography. Multiple power supplies control the optical output.  This, combined with multiple light sources, stands, wireless equipment (transmitter triggers and receivers), umbrellas, diffusers, reflectors, barn doors, etc. make the difference. We often use a Sekonic L-358 light meter with radio transmitter module to trigger a Pocket Wizard remotely, activate the flash lighting system and provide the just the right exposure where we want it.  At Tropical Focus, we also use special techniques for quick setups and moves and that keeps client costs surprisingly low.

 For those just learning, beware: when you play with fire, you can get burned:  Light sources reflecting off glass and overexpose, shadows where they shouldn’t be, and cables that can easily get into the shot if you aren’t careful, are just a few things to think about. Like anything worthwhile, it takes a lot of time and a lot of practice to do it well. 

 Whether you are a prop limited to low-light photography techniques and tricks of the trade, or have an extensive range of lighting equipment perfect for every need, shooting beautiful property photos always comes down to the same thing:  It’s all about the lighting to give your client a stunning interior photo with crisp Caribbean view and a quick return on their investment too.