Name: Gary Nelling
Vicente – I’m curious what qualities and techniques of photography you think best suit the spaces featured in the design magazines. I looked more closely at some recent copies of AD and noticed that they have a lot of one point perspective shots and perfect 30-60 degree angle shots in their feature articles, taken at a distance with a what appears to be a wide angle lens, making grand spaces even appear grander. Also I think they set their exposures at the light beyond the windows and floodlight the interior so you can see both in great detail with equal brightness inside and out, which is something the eye doesn’t see. Is that correct? Something diminishes the soft effect of natural light and making the whole a bit cool and impersonal.
Elle Décor has some slightly overexposed interior shots, especially of white rooms, though the overall effect is more natural. Veranda is one magazine that seems to capture the subtlety of whites and soft colors and the character of light accurately. Any compositional or technical thoughts you or the other photographers out there have would be appreciated. – Gary

Photo: Grant Perigo

Vicente Responds:

Gary, thank you for all your comments on this blog – your view and opinion is always appreciated! Different magazines have different points of views and photography briefs. Elle Decor likes natural light with sun coming in and maintains an American freshness in its approach to photography. AD chosses a lot of room lighting, inside and out which sets a different mode. If you shoot your space, shoot it however you feel it looks best. As it pertains to the angle, it depends on the lens. Wide angle, 50mm, close up? Shooting a room is an arduous process of moving the furniture so nothing stands in front of another, eliminating clutter and you have to keep going back and forth to the camera to make sure it looks just right.

Regarding lighting – so many photographers now use digital which makes it a much easier process. I still shoot using film and a Pentax medium format camera – 75mm makes rooms look a little more intimate, 50mm gets more space out of it. I believe that sometimes its better to have the photographs more intimate as it allows you to truly explore the room.

Name: Melissa Allam

Comment:

I just found this video off of the blog visual vamp.  Thank you so much for posting this.  It is great inspiration and motivation for me.   I have a two year degree in interior design and have decided to start my own business next year in interior and event design.  I decided this because friends keep asking me to do parties and weddings, so I have kept a file of picures and am starting my own business next year.  I have one question for you though.  I have taken all my own pictures with my little point and shoot camera.  I’ve thought about taking a photography class so I can take more professional looking pictures.  How did you do it when you first started out?

Vicente Responds:

First of all, stick to one thing first (you’re talking parties, photography and interiors) – master one thing first and then go onto the next. (Jack of all trades, master of none…) Photography for me was a natural follow on after I became successful in interior design – I wanted to enter a new career and it was the only way of getting published. I didn’t do any photography courses, but rather picked up a camera and started to figure it all out. I’ve never been one to attend courses and believe that if you get a good camera and have some patience, that’s the best way of figuring it all out.