How to Use Photography Techniques With Indoor Lighting

Beautiful photos can be taken indoors.

Taking pictures is all about light. Unfortunately, indoor lighting creates some unique problems with stark fluorescents that make your model look ten years older or inadequate lighting that results in underexposed images. If you avoid taking pictures inside, a few tips from the pros might change all that.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Digital camera
• Tracing paper
• Window

1. Use what you have. The common misconception is that you can’t get good photographs unless you have expensive lights, reflectors and backgrounds. While these certainly help, you can get good shots without them.

2. Use your on-camera flash for snapshots of parties and get-togethers. While a flash isn’t optimal for indoor portraits, it’s good for illuminating the activities.

3. Turn on every light in the room before snapping away with your flash to reduce the risk of red-eye syndrome. The flash from your camera in low-lit rooms reflects on the subject’s dilated pupils and turns them a demonic red. Increase the lighting in the room before taking the shot.

4. Tape a tiny bit of tracing paper over your camera’s flash if you can’t increase the lighting in the room. This will tone down a harsh flash while still casting filtered light on your subject.

5. Bounce your flash for the most flattering people pictures. You can use a professional bounce flash or you can tape a small mirror at a 45-degree angle in front of your camera’s regular flash. If you can’t find a small mirror, just use the reflective side of an old CD and cut it to fit.

6. Take portraits by the window. If you can find a large window where the sun is not shining directly in, have your subject sit beside it where the light gently illuminates one side of their face and use a tripod to take the shot. Turn off your flash and let your camera’s automatic exposure do its job.

7. Look for reflective objects before taking the shot. Eyeglasses are the biggest culprit when you’re using a flash. By turning your subject’s head to the side, you can avoid a stark flash reflection.