How to Take Digital Photos Indoors

By eHow Electronics Editor

Rate: (6 Ratings)

Automatic exposure works for most settings, but if your camera allows manual adjustment, overriding the automatic control helps in some lighting conditions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Photo Printer
  • Photographic Print Papers
  • Personal Computers
  • Digital Camera Memory Cards
  • Digital Cameras
  • Light Meter
  • Image-editing Software

Step1
Use automatic exposure for most indoor scenes.
Step2
Turn on lights indoors.
Step3
Override the automatic exposure system when the scene is much lighter or darker than middle gray.
Step4
Increase exposure to lighten a scene; decrease exposure to darken a scene.
Step5
Experiment with overriding automatic exposure for high-contrast scenes.
Step6
Use a light meter to determine the appropriate aperture setting and shutter speed.
Step7
Adjust aperture setting and shutter speed in small steps.
Step8
Shoot the picture and preview to evaluate settings. Adjust as necessary, and shoot again.
Step9
Use flash for distances up to 9 feet.
Step10
Aim flash away from the scene if possible. Angle the flash head so that it bounces light into the scene.

Tips & Warnings

  • Avoid low-light situations when possible.
  • Avoid using direct sunlight (through a window) for indoor scene lighting.
  • If your camera does not allow manual adjustments, you may be able to compensate in image-editing software.
  • When photographing people, position them away from the back wall.
  • Do not shoot directly into bright light.
  • Upgrade to an external flash unit to improve picture quality.

Comments

| View All Comments
Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 To shoot close-up subjects (from people to flowers), I'll take two types of photos. One with the camera flash on automatic, the second by turning off the automatic flash. I've been pleased many times at how nicely the subject is portrayed on both accounts. I love my digital, because I can view the results immediately. This comes in especially handy when people are blinking, or have their mouths open, as I take the photo. I can take both "insurance and assurance shots."

Here are common photographer tips for lighting subjects that I find easy and quick to do:

I place a very large white foam board near the subject, but out of camera view, to bounce light onto the darker side of the subject (a fill in). I use a floodlight for indoor shots. It adds light. Don't point it directly at your subject. Instead, bounce it off the ceiling for a soft light or off your white foam board.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 1/15/2008 If your camera has a white balance setting, make sure to use it! Different types of indoor lighting often cause your photos to look off-color.

View All

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article:  How to Take Digital Photos Indoors

eHow Electronics Editor

eHow Electronics Editor

Category: Electronics

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads