How to shoot and light a problem room

In this tutorial I show how to light a hard-to-reach kind of room, and how I do it with one simple, low cost flash. I have additional details in my real estate photography series at amzn.to/3mFoznx

[@marigold100-1]

WOW!!! The final result was amazing! Thank you for sharing this tutorial!

[@trillmury6659]

This is great Nathan. You're a natural educator

[@ray_han_ls]

Very nice. Thanks for simplifying and breaking down the process

[@dr.mangeshraut2007]

Nathan you are great.....You Described very simple way of Learn....Thanks a lot.

[@laynebaker7847]

Lately, I've been shooting a lot of really dark painted rooms with white balance all over the place. Thank you for posting this. I am a student of Scott Hargis, but I don't have a lot of time at properties, and this will really help speed up my post processing. Thank you.

[@jaimecumagun1080]

Nathan thank you for the well shot example of how you combined fill flash with ambient using both Lightroom & Photoshop within your video. Nicely done!

[@jaketamayo-f9b]

Great tutorial by the way!

[@ArtfullyDunn]

Thank you soooo much! Very informative! Just bought two of your books & will be buying more. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge!

[@TimberedSplash]

Thanks Nathan! Very informative. I have learned a lot from this tutorial. Can't wait to try out your technique for my next shoot. 🙂👍

[@photoeditingcompany]

Very Helpful Video, please make more videos. Thank you Nathan!.

[@EquestrianSport]

thanks Nathan. I'm going to buy your books! really great stuff.

[@stephanyandreas]

Thank you so much Nathan - your channel is amazing!

[@codyfinney]

Love your tutorials! Thank you for sharing!

[@mbnyus]

Fantastic tutorial. thank you for doing it.

[@PilarLinareszoom360]

Wooow I really like your tutorial! very clear and well done.

[@CoffeandReviews]

Thank you. Your videos are the best I've seen on KZbin. My question is why would I not use my native ISO of 64?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Low ISO requires a heck of a lot more flash power. ISO 320 is a nice balance between ambient and flash, and the D610s I use can easily do ISO 800 before any noise is introduced. I'll have a tutorial soon showing why.

[@wdfinger1]

Oh thank you thank you...can't wait to use this technique....reminds me of when I discovered the History brush. Great video(s).

[@wdfinger1]

Oh do I need a remote to trigger my camera? I use Cactus transmitters too. Thanks.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Remote trigger is essential. Many use the Camranger, and I mostly use Cactus. Tons of possibilities, but remote triggering is key.

[@jillockhardt]

Great video! Good stuff for me to learn.

[@petermiller6829]

Thanks!

[@VideoUpskill]

Great technique thanks for sharing

[@PaavoLammikko]

Great channel! I wonder how you would shoot a room without any windows? For example a music studio.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! You use light distribution. I show diagrams on this in the lighting guide, book #6 in my series, here's a link: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078NLRKNM?ref_=series_rw_dp_labf

[@heitorpergher]

Great tips, thanks! One question, why you do not the lowest ISO possible?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

No need, and lighting is easier. Tutorial coming soon to show why.

[@jeffj4530]

Very nice Nathan. Thanks for your time to put this helpful info together. Question- when you copy develop settings, do you usually copy white balance from the ambient onto the flash? Also, I deal with rooms like this where there are spot lights but also chandelier or other fixture and can have different color temp. Do you always do both ambient and flash with lights on?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Great questions Jeff. WB isn't too much of an issue since the ambient shot is almost always used in Luminosity blending mode, so the colors are removed by PS in that blending mode. As for lights on/lights off, it depends from room to room. As for color differences from WB, that is natural, so I wouldn't sweat it too much, but to get it close, this video may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoevi318aLR2esU

[@TyrantT316]

Love it!

[@AlexCopenhagen]

Another great tutorial Nathan. Could you explain why you use Luminosity mode for your base layer?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Base layer isn't Luminosity, base layer is flash layer.

[@gazdyer2732]

Great video thanks

[@sophiemiller6355]

Watched this and it makes sense. I have two problems - I have all your books so have read the advice. I keep trying over and over to composite a room with multi-flash pop. Yet when I go to paint in the flashed light illuminating one side of the room to blend layers the light doesn't match and it looks terrible. Could it be because one side of the flash pops is beside a window and the other is not. Camera is at corner of room.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Sophie, if the interiors book and lighting guide aren't solving your problems with compositing, then it might be worthwhile to have a private session with me via Zoom to see what you're doing wrong. You can email me for more info at [e-mail]

[@juancarlosguzman2827]

Great video, thanks for sharing those valuable tips that help others photographers. In your book do you also explain how to process step by step in Photoshop? Thanks once again

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! All of my books have step-by-step instructions for each process: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078NLRKNM?ref_=series_rw_dp_labf

[@Lordred1069]

Hey recently i discover your channel ( there was really great videos and the way you explain is really good, nice videos) I don't know if you explain in other videos but my question is "what lens you use for the shooting of interiors? what kind of wide angle that not distortion the place? thanks a lot.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks Miguel. I break that all down in the interiors e-book at www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@bradslc]

wow, helpful vid, thanks!

[@IZRRL]

Thanks for the video. Just a tip for hiding and showing masks. You don't have to right click and choose from menu, you can just hold down Shift Key and left click on the mask you want to show or hide. I just find that its a tad quicker.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks. I actually do that from time to time...old habits ;)

[@FreedomFist]

Great vid sir, very helpful. Just wondering how you decide what shutter speed to use for your flash shot without taking a ton of shots to match your ambient? Could you just drop your shutter a stop or two below your ambient? Thanks!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

6 in one hand, tons of alternatives in the other

[@jackiebuys3178]

lovely image. would you consider removing some of the color cast in the ceiling above the window in the final image?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! And no, I don't think it's necessary...don't really see any color cast...might be in the video render.

[@bobbyhicks469]

Nathan, you have awesome vids and I thank you for sharing them. I am just thinking about getting into RE photog, actually had a realtor asked me if I wanted to shoot so I said yes sure not knowing what I was getting into. The first shoot was a disaster as I just went in thinking I could shoot HDR and blend. Well, everything was crooked, I had tried to shoot multiple images in portrait mode and make Panos, she could see where each photo blend lines were like in floor tiles and such. So I have a lot to learn and so wish I had watched a few of your vids before jumping in. A couple of questions for you if you don't mind? What do you call it and where do you get the pocket clip to hang the flash on? Next, do you have a suggestion to the best lenses for RE? I have a 16-35 and a full-frame Sony A7r3. Do you think I need to invest in an even wider lens like maybe a 10mm for smaller rooms? Thank you so much for your help already.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Bobby, and welcome to the field of REP! Knowing what lens and other gear to use takes more than just a one-line answer, and since it's something that gets asked quite often I've written books on the subject to get you started. I'd start with book #1 in my series, and take it from there. You can peruse these at www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078NLRKNM/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref_=series_rw_dp_labf

[@shmoofypoofcreative2027]

Super helpful! What is your kit list for this? What lights did you use?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

I used one YN speedlight. Other videos show my camera setup, like this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5e7kJ9ppZ6ioNE

[@yevgeniybubankov5755]

Thank you so much!

[@rrr7030]

wowww.

[@breezy503]

Awesome informative video that I really found helpful - but what setting did you use for your flash? Please keep up the great work and keep the vids coming. Peace. Kawi.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks. Probably half power.

[@jaketamayo-f9b]

What trigger are you using that controls your flash and the camera?

[@BlagoyMomchilov]

Hi Nathan! Thanks for this tutorial! What is the model of this pocket flash?

[@CGVerseSchool]

amazing thank you a lot!

[@justmeandmypreferences]

Can you PLEASE explain your setup on your camera and flash? How are you setting your camera and flash off without touching your camera. I am struggling to find equipment that does this and can work with with my Nikon. Thanks.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

I touch my camera all the time...not an issue with a sturdy tripod and head, and if things don't align then I have a Photoshop action in Photoshop. I cover my setup in more detail in my latest book: www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@Newprospectformedia]

Great video. can you tell me which lens should i use when shooting real estate?. thanks in advance

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

It depends on what you have, and what other work you may want to do. I have recommendations in my interiors book: www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@johnrasmussen3752]

awesome, Thanks

[@selahkeys]

Your tha man!

[@surinderpal9105]

Hi Nathan, what kind of computer do you use for photo editing?

[@jordanlaurel]

What lens are you using in this shot? Thanks again for your videos.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Jordan, there are a few options, I use my main interior lens, a Tokina 16-28 f/2.8, but the longer story of why and the options are in my interiors book at www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@ywxfca]

Hi, Nathan, great video! when you took the photos, what did were you focus at? the table? the mini blinds? what focus model and metering model did you use? thanks.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Single point focus, I don't care about metering since I do everything in manual mode. I focus usually on the farthest object, unless I want to draw attention elsewhere.

[@vinterfilmas5393]

Your camera is in manual mode, but what about the flash? Is it also on manual?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Yep, manual everything, even flash.

[@doubledark2]

Nathan, you say everything is in manual mode. How do you check that your flash is not overexposing? thank you

[@ifocusmaui2303]

Nice

[@jimsowter]

Can I just ask a quick question? Do you always use auto white balance for flambient, and not switching between daylight and flash white balance settings?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Jim, I lay that out in my interiors book: www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@NestoRides514]

What kind of computer are you using plus specs? And which software are you using for you editing workflow?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

I discuss that in detail in the interiors and advanced books (#1 and #2) in the REP series here: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FF9HSR5?ref=series_rw_dp_labf

[@susans_painted_blessings]

I would like to know more ;)

[@vadimv]

Can you tell me please where is your focusing point. Thank you

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

It depends on the room. I cover that though in my book on Interior photography where I talk about various focal points based on the composition: www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@bramnorman8333]

Nathan - for some reason when I switch my ambient layer to luminosity and paint back over (for example shadow from a fan) it is leaving a color outline of the shadow. Hope that make sense. When I switch the layer to normal is helps, but trying to follow your method to achieve the best results. Any help would be great.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

This is a common issue if you don't use proper falloff from your ceiling bounce (or if the light was pointed too directly at the room, even angled in a bit). There is a repair for it, which I'll post in an upcoming video. For more on fall off and light placement to avoid it, my e-book may help: www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@jaimegreen5021]

I'm curious, when you shoot your ambient shot are you shooting it on AWB or tungsten and do you switch to Flash WB when you shoot with the flash? Thanks.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Jaime, I do AWB for interiors, but with validation. I delve deeper into that in books #1 & #2, and I discuss the details of the various settings and adjustments for exteriors in book #3 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078NLRKNM/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref_=series_rw_dp_labf

[@jamesburton1050]

Good video. How would you shoot a problem room with about 15 ft ceilings and long ceiling lights (maybe about 10x30 floor space)? I want to avoid strange shadows on the walls and ceilings.

[@jamesburton1050]

Btw, the rooms also all have large window space along one wall (4-6 standard windows, or a large patio door, and no window dressings)

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Here's a tutorial where I did something similar: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5e7kJ9ppZ6ioNE

[@jamesburton1050]

Nathan Cool Photo ok, I did watch that, but it didn't really give me any ideas. this project is my first ever real estate shoot, so I'm probably don't have the best first project, haha. but, he offered to pay for some good photos, so I'm running my legs off for it! gone back about 6 times (parts are still under construction), but I'm just not getting how to make some of these shots happen!

[@jamesburton1050]

Nathan Cool Photo would you like me to email you a couple of samples?

[@builthatch]

when you are using your speedlites for real estate, are there any cases where you are changing the flash head zoom setting? if not, what's the default setting you stick to? thanks.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

I keep them wide all the time.

[@EileenTierneyBroderick]

Do you shoot all the frames on AWB or do you ever change WB to flash for those shots?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

AWB always, 5560K when outside. This might help too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoevi318aLR2esU

[@Durvana1]

which exact model flash are you using

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-YN560-III-USA-Speedlite-Integrated-Receiver/dp/B00I44F5LS

[@johnnyrinsma]

what power you need to use for flash?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

That varies. I have info though on it in my latest book: www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@plphotos1322]

Which Wacom are you using?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

That's an old Bamboo. They have newer models now.

[@shehanjerome1446]

What is the flash power ?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

It depends on a number of factors, but I cover that topic more in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnyYd4SaiddgnKM

[@cadebucknam7908]

what flash did you use?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Depends on the room and conditions. I break that down in my interiors book: www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@harritly]

Can I have your rebum preset?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Harrit, I have that preset and more in my Advanced Editing book at www.amazon.com/dp/B0779PCVWC