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A softbox is an accessory that helps photographers control lighting when there's too much shadow, reflective surfaces, or low-light spaces. To ensure proper exposure for spectacular interiors and exteriors, I'm sharing tips on how to set up softbox lighting for real estate
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First, ensure proper assembly of the softbox, external flash, and light stand. Consider the distance between the external lights and the subject to determine the best position and angle for the softbox. The softbox should produce soft light whether it's beside you, facing the subject directly, or toward the ceiling.
Using other lighting accessories apart from external flashes, seems daunting at first, yet that won't be the case when you fully understand how softbox lighting works.
It's possible that the lighting fixtures don't match the window light, which can cause overexposure to the view outside. Large properties with ill-placed lights can create dark corners. However, you can set up multiple softboxes, bouncing flash using a softbox, or use a softbox as a secondary light.
The global lighting market size expects to hit $163.72 billion by 2027. Among the key players here are
You can use a softbox as the primary diffuser for your bulbs, resulting in a directional fill light over the scene. You can also include an umbrella to splash some light over furniture or objects in the foreground.
Put an external flash on a stand to the left of your scene and cover it with a softbox. In this way, you can also use the setup as an alternative to sunrays shining over the patio or terrace.
One of the trickiest things in taking real estate photos is that houses can have lots of reflective surfaces like mirrors and metallic objects. To avoid glare, use a softbox to cover the off-camera lights.
For instance, you can put the lights and softbox setup behind you or near the doorframe so it won't completely cover one side of the room or bring shadows to the other side.
One of the simplest ways to improve lighting for interior photos is to use a single bounced flash. In this way, you can fill any shadows to highlight particular objects or features.
Place the external light beside you (i.e. ETTL), cover it with a softbox, and angle it toward the ceiling. When you bounce the flash, this will produce a soft light that can prevent overexposure.
Multiple lighting setups can be time-consuming, yet it's one of the most reliable lighting techniques for real estate
For example, you may want to highlight the high ceilings or exquisite moldings in a large room. In such cases, you need to angle the softbox toward the subject's position for even illumination.
It's common for real estate photographers to shoot bracketed images, which you need to stitch in a photo editing software to produce a realistic high dynamic range (HDR) photo.
If bouncing flash generates blown-out white spots on the scene, you can place a softbox over the external lights to soften the flash power. From there, you can set a softbox on each side of the camera-and-lens setup.
Shooting outdoors means having several light sources, including your lights, the sun, and the location's lighting fixtures. You can use a softbox either as the main or fill light. Either way, it can help balance the exposure despite the sunlight.
If there are shadows, you can place another softbox on the opposing side of the first softbox to fill in shadows.
The exact process of forming a softbox varies since there are various brands, styles, sizes, and shapes. However, these are the general steps in assembling a softbox.
The global photographic services market expects a 10% compound annual growth rate by 2021. One way to ensure you can join the growth is to make your portfolio unique from your competitors.
To do that, it's important to level up your
Setting up softbox lighting when taking real estate images enables you to use diffused and gentle light. Make sure to assemble the softbox, external lights, and light stand. Then, consider your subject's distance, available lighting, and desired effect when positioning the softbox.
