Photographing a Quiet Interior

A room photograph does not need to be spotless to be clear. Start by choosing one subject: a chair near a window, a shelf, or the changing shape of light on a wall. Remove objects that interrupt that subject, but keep the signs of use that explain the room. A book on a table can be more informative than an empty surface.

Turn off mixed electric lighting if there is enough daylight. Different color temperatures can make white walls appear yellow on one side and blue on the other. Stand back, keep the camera level, and avoid the widest lens setting when possible. Straight lines and believable proportions matter more than fitting every corner into the frame.

Take a second frame from a lower point of view. Eye level is not always the height at which a room is experienced; a seated view may describe a reading corner better. Compare the frames afterward and keep the one that communicates the space without exaggeration.