Flambient Fundamentals for Real Estate Photography

Creating high-quality real estate photos using Flambient is often done incorrectly from not understanding the basics, so in this episode I set the record straight by explaining the whats, whys, and hows of Flambient, while addressing issues that might come up as well. Below are links mentioned in the video:
Online courses to learn real estate photography:
LearnRE.NathanCool.com
Learn interior photography:
ProInteriors.nathancool.com
My real estate photography books:
amzn.to/3uEig6U
Mastering Flambient Photography:
amzn.to/3Trc9g3
Mastering Color in Photography:
amzn.to/3Q5D6ou
Window Pull Tutorial:
• Easy Window Pulls for ...
Auto White Balance Tutorial:
• Quick White Balance Se...
Trigger Center-Pin Isolation Tutorial:
• ​Critical Flash-Trigge...
Shadow fix tutorial:
• Fixing Orange Shadows ...
Glare fix tutorial:
• How To Fix Flash Refle...
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - The Problem
1:41 - Primary Fundamental
2:42 - Footage purpose and use
5:46 - Second Fundamental
10:41 - Third Fundamental
12:40 - Fourth Fundamental
14:37 - Fifth Fundamental
15:29 - Improving Properly

[@joshguntercreative194]

I've been shooting real estate for almost 20 years and went to Brooks Institute of photography and I was still able to learn a lot from your video this is amazing.

[@scottcarterstudios8665]

I've been shooting flambient for a couple years and still find his video refresh useful

[@pamelaschniepp6075]

I've been a photographer for 13 years, shooting limited real estate photography along with weddings. I would like to move to real estate only and your tutorials have taught me so much in order to up my game! Thank you!

[@editUout]

I had my first real go at shooting a real estate listing this last week. Fortunately, it was a luxury new construction and I was able to mostly have the house to myself. It took me FAR too long and it was nerve racking as I tried to recall all of the gazillions of youtube advice I've gone through. In the end, I came out w/ some results that I'm proud of for my first go at it. I'm still editing though due to my own inconsistencies and lack of experience with flash. Much to my dismay, I did not use my home as my own personal lab, which you suggest over and over again. This is definitely not a quick mastery, especially w/ no hands on mentorship Thanks for your training!!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Awesome! And thank you! Remember: All crafts take time to master, but that time is an investment in your future.

[@Bishnu_Deb]

​@@NathanCoolPhoto that's very relevant advice. Thanks Nathan.

[@redkatana7450]

Amazingly helpful, thank you so much for putting in the time to make this video.

[@terrykellyphotography6171]

Thank you Nathan! Your teaching videos are superb.

[@BurtonLangille]

This is one of your best videos and does a great job educating us beginners. You did a brilliant job covering some complicated techniques in very understandable language. Thank you for sharing these important methods.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thank you! Glad to hear this was useful.

[@adilsonmoralezfotografo2529]

Excellent information, as usual Nathan. Thanks for sharing.

[@keithshenkin3674]

Thank you for this ever-so-helpful video.

[@jordantexas]

Just discovered your channel and wanted to say thank you for the excellent explanations and real world examples!

[@cromwellandcompany2888]

Thank you for always giving us so much info for free! You’re the best.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thank you!

[@dizz0lv752]

You have the best and most detailed real estate photography tutorials on youtube. Thank you so much for the sharing of your knowledge!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Wow, thank you! And you're very welcome!

[@KennethHastings]

Amazing videos! Your approach to explaining these concepts makes things click. Thank you for your service, in the past, as well as these tutorials.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thank you Kenneth! You're more than welcome. Glad I could help.

[@MarkRomine]

Excellent, very clearly explained!

[@hueandsteve1989]

You’re so helpful, thank you.

[@david_r_munson]

Super interesting, can't wait to start experimenting with this. I intend to buy your book, as well. Heading for a career change in 2024, and real estate photography is going to be part of it. I appreciate your providing so much valuable info!

[@Bishnu_Deb]

This is a great tutorial with lots of relevant tips and tricks related with the subject. Thanks a ton, Nathan for helping us. Love from India 🇮🇳

[@paulcarpenter3879]

Spot on! This covers so much in such a short period of time. As alway, Thank you for what you do.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks Paul! I appreciate it.

[@zonewolf]

Like others have said, I learned a ton and got a good refresher on principles from this after shooting for over a decade, thank you Nathan!

[@tyhardt4070]

Excellent advice and perhaps your best video yet. Thanks for sharing the proven techniques that can make your work stand out - greatly appreciated. Read all of your books and your passion for RE photography certainly shines through.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Much appreciated Ty!

[@jasonrossrealty]

I admire your knowledge and skill so much. I will likely be buying your books soon. I am a practicing realtor, but I enjoy photography so much more. Clearly, you have shot them all and then some!!

[@philipstewartphoto]

Excellent video, Nathan. This is a brilliant summary of all the different aspects of the flambient technique and workflow. Just starting out in using this process and your videos have been very helpful. Thank you!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Glad it was helpful!

[@piercepixels]

Am I coining a word? Nathan is a "PhotoScholar" I would have loved this 7 years ago, when I first started, but your books made up for it! Thank you again for this one - now a Twilight refresher would be OUTSTANDING!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Love it! And thank you!

[@digitaldreamsmedia-ca]

Youve helped me level up a few times.

[@michaelfireborn7217]

I love this video and I love the message at the end. Thank you.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

You are so welcome!

[@gumbymac72]

Thank you for clearing this up! I've read your lighting book and many of your videos and was struggling with the shutter speed settings for the flash shot. I was going straight to 1/60 or 2-3 stops and not even looking at what I was doing in the viewfinder!

[@briananderson8999]

Thank you Nathan, well done as always.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thank you!

[@viagensebabados]

You are fantastic Nathan. I've bought two of your books - they've helped me tremendously and am about to buy the third one now on lighting. Love your teaching style and all these free videos lessons are amazing. Thank you so much.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Glad you like them!

[@Johnd3s]

Hi Nathan, I have watched a few of your great videos and I am so impressed with your overall knowledge base, I do not shoot interiors but do shoot indoor events and with a mirrorless camera. I had a idea that I might be able to use your flash Flambient settings while covering indoor events, many, many thanks for your videos. Regards, John

[@mika3073]

Thank you Nathan for this great educational video and all the production work that goes with it. It is an excellent recap. I am no pro but do some shoots here and there for our RE business and your videos helped improve my technique by a great amount over the years. So thank you again Sir!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

My pleasure! Glad I've been able to help.

[@abhaypatny6926]

Thanks a lot, I am fan of your videos

[@oraziopugliese5613]

Great Nathan! Finally I’ve got flambient technique! That’s a lot

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thank you! And you're very welcome.

[@JimmyDaboul]

Great video! Thank you Nathan.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

My pleasure!

[@WALKITOFFDavidSmith]

I've been following you for quite awhile now and you just answered one of my main issues. The discolored shadow areas at the ceiling fan in your example. When that happens, I back out of Luminosity mode and go back to normal mode. Not anymore. I'm going to try the corrective actions that you mentioned. Thank you again Nathan!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

You're very welcome!

[@maralrahmati7528]

How can you be so good? I’ve learned a lot and I won’t leave your KZbin channel 👍👍👍👍

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thank you :)

[@EldocSabote]

Just starting out as a REPh, amazing stuff, thank you so much!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

You're very welcome!

[@aureliabaum3050]

I do not comment often, but wanted to thank you for all your work! Purchased your Interiors book a few days ago.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thank you very much!

[@kevaljoshi7594]

Thanks nathan for awesome video so amateur photographers on you tube practice HDR as it is quick and easy but competing on quality matters great valuable advice at the end .

[@georgemiller901]

Thank you for this, and all your other videos. The improvement to my photos from watching, and practicing them is off the scale in just a couple months. Luckily I paid attention to the one you talk about "The local lure" because I fell on my face with my first shoot about 6 weeks ago. ( A log cabin.) I have Realtor one who wants to work with me, and I plan to wow her. (There was supposed to be a shoot tomorrow, but three offers came in today.) The future still looks bright though.

[@yoannfeillet5322]

Thanks for the recap Nathan. That really helps. I started to be confused with all this technique mixture. I love your videos and use your advice a lot. My clients are very happy with the results.I bought two of your books and they are really great. I wish they were available in PDF, Kindle for cellphone isn't practical. Keep up the good work!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! Just use the free Kindle cloud reader using a browser on your cellphone at read.amazon.com

[@jarids.johnson4615]

About to dive into this to see if I'm missing anything in my technique.

[@larryisaacs5980]

Nathan, great video. It cleared up my problems. Myself, as well as some of my clients like the Garey Gomez "lights-off" look. As such, I had been attempting to use that editing technique even when shooting with lights-on. It was requiring me to spend too much time getting the correct white balance on my lights-on ambient frame before blending. I now realize that each method, "lights-off & lights-on," is going to require me to use different post processing techniques. That along with purchasing your recommended camera set-up (Z5, Tokina 16-28mm) which makes exposure preview possible, should cut my workload by at least 50%. Thanks for all of your help. PS: Since I am in the process of not only purchasing new equipment but also back-up items, do you have a link, like Rich Baum has, that would allow me to order using your recommendation (B&H Photo, Adorama, etc),so that you can get a little profit from me ordering through your recommendation. Either way, I continue to purchase your books in an attempt to show my appreciation to you for all the work you have posted. Again, Thanks!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Glad this was helpful, and glad you're liking the Z5! Just to clarify in case I misread your question: The "lights off" approach shouldn't be used to circumvent ambient color issues if flambient is done as intended: with ambient shots in Luminosity blending mode. So there is no difference in post processing techniques, they are both done the same, whether lights are off or on. As for affiliate links, I do have affiliate links with BH and Adorama, but I prefer to go through Amazon. Here's an affiliate link there that you can use: amzn.to/3zmlP3G Thanks Larry!

[@claretotton2440]

Would you have any brand recommendations for off camera flashes?

[@tanyagupta2884]

Hi, really like your videos, great stuff there!.Can you please suggest if even after auto aligning the image, the images are not aligned properly what's the way forward then?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! I'll put it on my todo list.

[@jamiewarner4381]

Hi Nathan, I saw that you can create a 50% gray layer mask but I can’t work out how to do it. I’ve searched Google and you tube and can’t find how it’s done. Are you able to help. Your my only hope lol

[@janbuergermeister]

Good work Mr. Cool - what lens / cam is your fave ? I love Nikon 19mm, could be more wideangle......waiting for the Laowa Shift on GFX

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! It depends, but these are things I cover in my courses and books, here's a link if you'd like to check that out: learnre.nathancool.com

[@elnaelna4467]

Hello! Nathan, thank you so much for your super videos! Could you please activate subtitles

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

I do have CC activated on all my videos but KZbin fails on that sometimes. I do though have not only CC but also transcripts for all of my online courses, here's a link if you'd like to check those out: LearnRE.NathanCool.com

[@SquareEarth1]

I am dealing with a company that requires an hdr (5 images), plus a flash shot, plus a window pull, plus a repair layer. All this is supposed to be done at iso 100 and f11. They do the editing in the end but I have lots of trouble getting the flash shot right at the settings requested. I much prefer the method I learnt from you. Results are better and takes less time.

[@ramblingcameraman990]

Awesome video Nathan, and I agree with others, it’s your best video yet! Do you have a video on proper flash placement to avoid some of the shadow/highlighting issues that can come with flash? Also, do you have any advice for flambient and flash placement when shooting wood ceilings or fully wood cabins?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! Flash placement, wood ceilings, all wood interiors, etc. are all covered in my lighting guide, I'd suggest downloading the e-book, here's a link if you'd like to check that out: amzn.to/3Kblnds

[@ramblingcameraman990]

@@NathanCoolPhoto thanks Nathan!

[@iglass_photo]

Hello Nathan... I've learned so much from your videos and knowledge. Regarding metering modes, what mode/s do you use for exterior/interior shots? or does it even matter? Thank you.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thank you! No metering mode, everything is done with manual exposure, it's something covered in the interiors book, here's a link if you'd like to check that out: amzn.to/3EHOaWt

[@BryanRawiriPhotography-rs5qu]

HI Nathan, Thanks for another awesome video. Can I ask, is the light behind the camera a must have all the time? Could I just fire off some frames then move that light to new position say in right side of room I'm shooting, fire off some exposures then move it to left side and fire off some exposures the blend them all together like you show in PS. Would this work or does main light behind camera have to fore every time with pop flash shots? Hope this makes sense. Many thanks

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

You're very welcome! In short: yes, most of the time. However, there are times where other blending techniques could be used, depending on the space. It's far more than what could be covered in a reply here, but I do cover this in-depth in my course, here's a link if you'd like to check that out: ProInteriors.NathanCool.com

[@MrRichardbyers]

Your videos are so well done and they are extremely easy to follow along... thanks for these videos! Do you have/sell your Lightroom Presets?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! You don't need to buy presets, there are just a few adjustments to make for each of the presets I recommend, each is included in their respective books in my REP series, here's a link if you'd like to check that out: amzn.to/3QBieVN

[@MrRichardbyers]

@@NathanCoolPhoto Thanks - I just bought the Lighting Guide and the Photography Interiors in August - unfortunately we are moving and these 2 books got packed away. Can't wait to get them out of the box and start studying. Thanks again - these are really great tutorials.

[@68goldbear]

Hey Nathan, thanks for this great "refresher" tutorial . Your tutorials and books have made a HUGE difference in the quality of my real estate photography. Maybe you or someone else can give me a pointer on a problem I'm having on location. On ceramic tile floors and hardwood floors I some times experience my tripod slipping off of position . This is kinda pesky especially between doing my ambient and flash exposures to use in my flambient composites. I have rubber feet on my tripod and try to make sure I have solid footing before taking my shots. Any suggestion would be appreciated. Thanks, Jim Kidd

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

You're very welcome. Sounds like you need a tripod with better feet. If walking on the floor doesn't make you slip, then neither should your tripod.

[@GayeWatkinsRealtor]

I have watched your videos and read your older book on flambient (and just finished your revised edition). I have successfully used flambientfor the past 5 or so years. I love the process and how you explain it. I am having problems now in Photoshop. I used to use 8% flow with the brush but now with new releases of LR and PS I don’t see any changes. I’ve had to go to 23% to see anything. I know PS is known to change settings at an inadvertent touch of a button. Could it be have hit something to make the flow less sensitive?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

I haven't seen that problem. It could be that you have your brush settings set differently.

[@weareblessed4]

I’ll be honest this seems like a lot to take in. I’m going to keep watching and learning until this feels like a language I understand. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Anything pro level will take time to learn, but you can do it. If I can do it then anyone can :) To help, you might want to check out my books and online courses, which guide you through this (and more) step by step. Here are some links if you'd like to check them out: LearnRE.NathanCool.com and amzn.to/3sEe4X0

[@jasonsurh5936]

Hey Nathan, another great video! I've been following your channel for a few weeks now as I'm just getting into real estate photography. I had a question about placement for the key light flash shot. I'm using a Godox TT685 and I'm curious where to aim the flash to light up the room appropriately to act as a base layer. Do I bounce it off the ceiling or the wall behind me out of frame from the camera? I really appreciate the content and tutorials. Thank you!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! Those are some of the basics that are covered in book #1 in my REP series, I'd suggest downloading the ebook to get a better understanding of not just what to do, but why. Here's a link to that if you'd like to check it out: amzn.to/3oLvICT

[@jasonsurh5936]

@@NathanCoolPhoto I'll check it out! Thanks again!

[@michaelderr9736]

Great video! I shoot a lot of older homes with unfinished basements. My clients often want shots of the basements to show the potential space. They usually don't have ceilings, just the wooden joists and floorboards. I try not to spend a lot of time down there, so I don't typically use umbrellas and lights. I mostly just take ambient shots. However, I run into problems with lens flare and other artifacts due to the long exposures and bare-bulb lighting that is usually found in the basements. Do you have any tricks for getting in and out of basements fast? Thank you!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

The same rules of flashed lighting apply no matter what room you are shooting, basement or otherwise. If the space doesn't warrant quality and it's just a run of the mill basement, then I don't see why lens flares would be a problem and an ambient shot (or a few using luminosity masking) would do. But if it is a finished basement though, then it deserves to be lit correctly, so the effort is worth it.

[@K_G_Scotland]

Another great video Nathan :) you are doing awesome job for us, thank you. Nathan I would like ask about speedlight. I own Canon 600EXII-RT, I don't have any diffuser. Do you think that speedlight is strong enough for your flambient technique? Also, how to get soft light using almost full power of that speedlight? I do not have any diffuser, would you recommend any? Thank you so much :)

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thank you! Sounds like you may be starting with the basics, so I'd suggest downloading e-book #1 in my series (interiors) that should help not only answer that, but also why and what all you'll be up against. Here's a link if you'd like to check that out: amzn.to/3dP0V61

[@K_G_Scotland]

@@NathanCoolPhoto thank you :)

[@VivianSarky13]

Been learning so much from your videos thinking of investing in a pan head and ptgui soon. The old manfrotto 303 head is available on a discount do I go with it as I am starting out. Also if I am working in a room with mostly amber lights (art gallery with white walls ) but the client wants a neutral white balance so while doing the flambient do I put a color gel on the flash then go down to 2800k to have a neutral image. Thanks

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Vivian, I'm not sure what you might be asking, sounds like you're talking about virtual tours (pano head and ptgui) but perhaps standard interior photography? Either way, establishing white balance using flambient is easy following the proper settings, covered in book #1 in my REP series and other videos here on my channel. Here's a link to the series, which also has a book on virtual tours, if that's perhaps what you're after? amzn.to/3JVOrW1

[@kristofkollar4431]

Hi. Do you edit the frames in Lr before blending Ps, or blend in Ps first, then edit in Lr? Would you recommend raising ISO with an ISO-invariant camera too?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Those are some of the basics cover in amzn.to/3TtHZcU

[@72hollyanne]

Question - do you keep lights on for shoots? And which ones? Lamps? And if so how do you blend those?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Here's a video I did on that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoGtomZml7Oma6Msi=D3qGuho-xefbFeN6

[@Yodd]

Great video, will any flash work or do i need an expensive one? Also when you use flash off camera, do you need a special device to connect it to the camera ?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Great question, although that's just scraping the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There's a lot more to the setup, what's involved, why you want a particular setup, and how best to apply it for given circumstances in the workflow. There are two things I can offer to help you out: First, take a look at my interiors course at prointeriors.nathancool.com which covers this and much more in great detail. Another option is to look through the books in my REP series, starting with interiors at amzn.to/41Mn5tD You'll see as you start delving into this that there is a whole lot that lies beneath the surface, and it's crucial to get it right up front.

[@Yodd]

@@NathanCoolPhoto thank you for taking the time to reply. I will definetly look at your course and books!

[@film-manufaktur]

Hello Nathan, what is your opinion to take an ambient HDR photo and turn it in Photoshop in luminosity mode with additional flash pictures for a flambient picture? There will be much more information available for a proper combination of ambient and flash...

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Completely unnecessary, counterproductive, and it won't give you "more information" like you suggested, that would be useful. I actually discuss that and explain why in my book "Mastering Flambient", here's a link if you'd like to check that out: amzn.to/3UjqU7b

[@mariomorales6992]

Hi Nathan, Could I use Luminar Neo for editing instead? TIA!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

You can use almost editing software as long as you can do layers, check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2LGm36jr5Vsaqssi=1Wm1uJU3g2SSCsGj

[@dextercortes287]

Any tutorials for final enhancement on editing flambients?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Just download the e-book amzn.to/3brfMCU It has everything from start to finish, and more.

[@angieortells7787]

Hello Nathan, Can you explain to me how you edit the flash light afterwards? because what I see in the video is that you take a flash shot but that shot (for me) is burned, but then the light is perfect. How is the editing process? I do not know if I explained well...

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Angie, it is a process that can't be explained in a single reply here. I would suggest taking a look at two things that can help: First, you can download my interiors ebook at amzn.to/3oVgqiz that has information on this process, but you can learn this and a whole lot more in my pro interiors course at prointeriors.nathancool.com Those resources will help explain the whats, whys, and the hows to the entire flambient process.

[@GaryBrandel]

Nathan, firstly thank you for doing these videos.. the amount I've learned from you specifically blows me away. I'm an HDR guy (been working in this field since 2019) who is finally coming around to flambient, although all I have for a flash to practice with at the moment is a godox V860IIS so I think some of my struggles stem from that. I'm currently weighing my options as money is tight but I'm thinking of an ad200pro. anyways, if you're still reading, roughly how long does it take you to edit a job? Say you're taking 35 photos and there aren't any real issues, just an all around average job.. what kind of time frame are you looking at? Just trying to get a rough idea in my head as I move forward.. thank you!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

You're very welcome. When it comes to time, the first time you do flambient it'll take forever. But it does get faster. Asking how long it takes is an open-ended question since there is no "average" house: some require more attention than others, but time is always commensurate with pay. Also, when you up your game you can up your clients, which can up your pricing. So if you want to go with lights, then you need to up your gear. Invest in your business, not just money but time to master the skills, and you can work on an ROI. These are things I cover in my book on business techniques, so if "you" are still reading... :) ...then here's a link to check that out: amzn.to/3Q391Gv

[@GaryBrandel]

@@NathanCoolPhoto just bought your photography for real estate interiors book, so I'll pick that one up next! ;)

[@meditationdaily1129]

Sorry if I missed it but - where do you point your flash for the flash shot?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

It depends on the room and composition, but I have myriad examples in my lighting guide, see amzn.to/3yQBxUT Also, I cover this in my online course, here's a link if you'd like to check that out: prointeriors.nathancool.com/

[@radoslavkasparec9345]

Thank you for great educational video! I wonder, you suggest not using ISO 100 in our flash shots, Is there any difference between using ISO 100 at for example 1/25th of a sec or ISO 320 at 1/80th, which both expose the same amount of light? Does the latter cast less flash color? I've read your interior lighting book, yet I don't quite understand the difference. When you cut off all the ambient ligh except for windows, does the ISO matter? Or you suggest not cutting off all the ambient? If so, why use flambient since there is some ambient light and thus color cast present in the flashed shot?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

You're very welcome. The ISO issue is something that I cover in not just the lighting guide, but also in the interiors book (book #1 in the REP series). It's crucial to understand this so you might want to reread the sections on this in the books, since shutter speed, which you mentioned, has no bearing on flashed shots: ISO and aperture do.

[@radoslavkasparec9345]

@@NathanCoolPhoto Thank you, I have both books, so I may read that again.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

You're very welcome. In the Lighting Guide, look for the section "Balancing Aperture and ISO for Color". In the interiors book, look for the section "Shutter Speed v. Aperture v. ISO".

[@isaac_russell]

Nathan, what flash do you use for this?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Depends on the situation, this should help: amzn.to/3soupM1

[@larryisaacs5980]

Using the Z5, I am able to view the histogram to set the exposure, and for that ambient shot the histogram for that shot will be as set in the exposure preview. However, the histogram for the flash shot will be far left so as to get ride of most of the ambient light prior to flashing. Once that flash shot is taken, how can I display the histogram associated with that flash image, so that I may see if enough flash power was added to result in a flash image that was ETTR? Can not find how to do that on the Z5 camera. Thanks!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

When reviewing an image, press the up arrow on the selector wheel (where the OK button is) to see histogram and other information. But first, in the Playback menu, make sure you have "Image Review" set to ON, and in the "Playback Display Options" you have "RGB Histogram" checked. Also see my recent video on this in the workflow at kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGXXlY2Mmc5kmKc and review the various options in the online manual page at onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com/z5/en/08_playback_02.html

[@larryisaacs5980]

@@NathanCoolPhoto Thanks Nathan, it now works fine.

[@JoshxIZ]

I use mostly HDR technique, I really want to move away from that and start using flash more because I think the images can be far better. Plus Hdr editing is such a pain, so many color casts and issues with the images. And after all the work you put in your left with average-ish results. I need to practice with flash at home, i delivered flash shot images (where i practiced on site) to my real estate agency and they were pretty bad in my view, but they liked it...I think it's just because they just look at the brightness of the image & dont notice or care about fine details but since then I haven't dared to use the flash again, just because it's so different from shooting w natural light. I really want to up my game and get the editing time down and more streamlined with flash included

[@GeminiSeven43]

This might be a dumb question but what do you do if your photo shoot can only be done in the evenings with little or no ambient light?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

The same rules apply: ambient is ambient. There is outside ambient, and inside ambient. Each dictates the look and feel for a time of day. Using flash you can control to what extent you want to utilize ambient luminance or something else. These are things I cover more in-depth in my interiors course, here's a link if you'd like to check that out: ProInteriors.NathanCool.com

[@user-rs1ef6xf5w]

Could you edit these in Lightroom?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

No, both Lightroom Classic and Photoshop are necessary for the flambient workflow. For the basics on this see amzn.to/3N10Awd

[@digitaldreamsmedia-ca]

Do you sell your books on Amazon and do they include your luminance walk around with a flash?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Yep, here ya go: amzn.to/3QtSlHO

[@digitaldreamsmedia-ca]

@@NathanCoolPhoto thank you! Used some of your techniques today. Worked great and honestly was a game changer so will definitely buy your books as a thank you. I really appreciate all the tutorial videos.

[@bl4841]

my only problem is I still get washed out looking images sometimes. I watched your video about that, but its still a struggle in my work

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

If you're only watching my videos then you are likely missing some important steps, settings, or something else. Two things I'd recommend: first, download the interiors e-book and work through that at amzn.to/3QrqCaV And second, if you are still struggling, then I'd suggest scheduling a private Zoom session with me so that I can see your work and determine what you may be doing wrong. You can email me for more info on that at [e-mail]

[@cynthiarogers7659]

just curious what does a pro real estate photographer like yourself charge?

[@matt11210]

Is it possible to do all these edits in affinity photo? I know it would be too much, but I would love to have a conversion table of actions in photoshop to actions in affinity photo, simple because affinity photo is SOOO much cheaper than photoshop for those of us who are just starting out.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Matt, you can do all of this with free software like I show in another video at kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2LGm36jr5Vsaqs Remember that knowledge is more important than steps, so understanding why this works and what's involved are more important than just tables of actions. I would suggest downloading at least ebook #1 in my REP series so that you can get an understanding of the whys behind the whats in not just the workflow, but gear choices and more. Here's a link to that if you'd like to check it out: amzn.to/3vvrCmf

[@matt11210]

@@NathanCoolPhoto awesome, appreciate it! I have 3 of your books and they are awesome! My difficulty in the beginning has been trying to mimick your photoshop edits in affinity photo. I’m not quite ready to make the subscription to photoshop since I’m just learning the skills and have very little business. I will absolutely check out that other video and also, the more I dive into Affinity the more I learn the “work arounds” to do the same thing as you in photoshop! You’ve taken my skill level up immensely already!

[@Thepathof77]

What I don’t understand with this flash photography is are you taking pictures of yourself around the room with that light in your hand and then photoshopping yourself out?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

In some cases, yes, but it's a bit more involved than that. These are things I cover in my pro interiors course at LearnRE.NathanCool.com