Whether you’re shooting real estate interiors or showcasing your products, you’ll want your main subject to be sharp and clear to the viewer. However, if you don’t know how to take sharp photos, your images will be blurry, blurry, and blurry.
How to take sharp photos
Knowing how to take sharp photos will help you capture professional real estate photos, whether you’re shooting in low light or handheld. Even if you’re shooting moving subjects or your camera and lens aren’t high-end, the following tips can help you take sharp photos.
Clean the Camera Lens
Although many people often overlook the condition of a lens, dirt or grease can cause image blur. For example, dirt can accumulate faster than expected if you are shooting in dusty conditions. Fortunately, you can remove dirt with a soft-bristled brush or blower. Then, use a soft cloth and a few drops of lens cleaning solution to clean the lens, working from the center outwards. However, if the image is blurred due to condensation, you can give the camera lens time to dissipate naturally.
Use Fast Prime Lenses
The prime lens has a fixed focal length and is the fastest lens with a large maximum aperture of up to f/1.2. Since prime lenses are designed to work at a fixed focal length, they have better optical quality than zoom lenses at the same focal length and aperture. In general, fast prime lenses achieve a shallower depth of field and produce good quality bokeh. This effect makes the main subject look sharper, sharper, and more appealing. However, without the ability to zoom, that means you’ll have to get closer to the subject to get a sharp image.
Note: If you want to make some adjustments to the photo just let me know. I can do it for you at a very low cost. You can hire me to edit your photo
Steady the Camera
Even if you’re shooting a still subject and your camera or lens have image stabilization, there’s still the possibility of blurry photos if you don’t stabilize the camera. Depending on the shooting situation and available camera equipment, you can stabilize the camera by:
Using a Camera Tripod
Whether shooting in low light or capturing moving subjects, a tripod is an ultimate way to stabilize the camera. When using a tripod, you must consider the total weight of the camera plus the lens and the maximum load capacity of the tripod. In general, a sturdy and heavy tripod can better support the camera without wobbling. If you’re shooting in strong winds, you can hang extra weight on a tripod or hook it to a sturdy object for added stability. Unless necessary, you should not extend the center leg of a tripod as this may reduce stability. Instead, spread the legs of the tripod to improve its overall stability.
Leaning on a Firm Object
Even if you don’t own a tripod or find it cumbersome to carry around when shooting real estate, you can stabilize the camera when shooting handheld by leaning against a sturdy object. Hold the camera with both hands, hug your hands to your body, then hug them to your chest. If possible, you can also rest your elbow on a sturdy object to minimize jerks. If you use a long exposure mode, you can avoid a camera shake by taking a deep breath before you start shooting.
Placing the Camera on the Ground
Without a tripod, you can still stabilize the camera by placing the camera on the ground and then remote control. In general, a ground camera is safer and more stable than a tripod. However, unlike a tripod, you may not appreciate the versatility of the viewing angle.
Enable the Camera Image Stabilization Mechanism
Most modern cameras and high-end lenses have built-in image stabilization that reduces camera shake when shooting handheld. Although the name of this mechanism may vary, it is a function that allows you to capture sharp images using shutter speeds up to five times slower. While this feature can help reduce camera shake when shooting handheld, enabling it when using a tripod may result in blurred images. This is mainly because the image stabilization mechanism is designed to minimize camera shake when using a tripod. The absence of vibration causes the search system to move, creating vibrations. Therefore, it is recommended that you turn off the vibration reduction mechanism if you are using a tripod to take pictures.
Switch to Manual Focus
The main cause of image blur is a lack of focus accuracy. Focusing is the process of adjusting the camera lens to show maximum sharpness and finer details in the main subject. This means that blur caused by subject movement or camera shake is not the same as blur caused by poor focus. If the background and surroundings of your main subject look sharp, but the main subject doesn’t look sharp, there is a focus problem. While most modern cameras are equipped with autofocus systems, their performance largely depends on how advanced they are. If you are using a low-end camera or the autofocus is inaccurate due to low light, switch to manual focus mode. Rotate the lens while checking through the viewfinder to see if the subject is in focus. You may need to focus several times when viewing images on the camera monitor.
Use Fast Shutter Speeds
Camera shutter speed refers to the shutter speed of the camera. This means that shutter speed determines how long the camera sensor is exposed to light. Generally speaking, a slow shutter speed means longer exposure and a high shutter speed means a shorter exposure. Longer shutter speeds increase the chance of your camera shaking or moving subjects before the shutter closes. As a result, the camera creates a motion blur. You can avoid this motion blur and take sharp pictures by using a fast shutter speed. Remember that shutter speed determines how much light the camera can absorb, fast shutter speeds mean darker images, especially in low light. For an optimal balance between brightness and sharpness, it is recommended to use a shutter speed of 1 / focal length x 1.5.
Shoot in Burst Mode
Continuous mode shooting is a tactic that can help you improve your chances of capturing sharp photos when shooting handheld. This involves taking multiple pictures in quick succession, choosing the sharpest ones, and deleting the others. This technique can help you capture sharp images of a moving subject without a camera shake. The burst mode of modern cameras can let you take up to five pictures per second. However, this mode will require enough storage space, especially if you take pictures in RAW format.
Use Low ISO
ISO refers to the sensitivity of the camera sensor to light. This means that a higher ISO will make the camera sensor more sensitive to light and the image will be brighter. This means that a higher ISO setting can help you shoot even in low light. Consider that a high ISO sensitivity means that the camera sensor amplifies the light signal more, which can lead to digital noise that can negatively affect image sharpness. This digital noise can be seen in an image as blobs and lights. Unless you are shooting in low light, you should keep the ISO sensitivity as low as possible to eliminate this digital noise. If you’re not familiar with the ISO setting, you can set it to auto to allow the camera to automatically adjust based on lighting conditions.
Note: If you want to make some adjustments to the photo just let me know. I can do it for you at a very low cost. You can hire me to edit your photo
Narrow the Aperture
Aperture is the aperture of the diaphragm in a camera lens that allows light to enter the camera. This aperture varies between lenses, and the wider the aperture, the more light can enter the camera. Fortunately, the aperture is adjustable on most lenses. In general, a large aperture results in a shallow depth of field, blurring the background, and subjects in front of the subject in focus. This means that a large aperture will only sharpen the part that is in focus and the rest of the photo will be out of focus. Therefore, you should reduce the aperture if you want a large part of the photo or the entire scene to be sharp and clear. In most cases, this will be between f/7.1 and f/13. However, you may need to use a wider aperture when shooting in low light.
Shoot Using the Remote Shutter Release
A remote shutter is a utility that you can use to command your camera to take pictures from a distance without pressing the shutter button. If you’re shooting handheld, a remote shutter can help you avoid a camera shake when the shutter button is pressed. The Remote Shutter also lets you focus on your subject, position the camera on the subject or the ground, and then release the camera remotely, allowing you to capture sharp images. However, there are different types of remote shutters and you should make sure that the one you choose is compatible with your camera. For example, some wireless remote shutters use an infrared connection, which some camera models do not support.
Shoot in RAW Format
A RAW file format is a form of digital negative that contains lossless, unprocessed image data directly from the camera sensor. This means you will have the raw components to process an image. You can then turn this data into a digital image using photo editing software. While this technique won’t help you capture sharp images directly, like shooting in burst mode, shooting in RAW allows you to improve your results later on. Remember that RAW files are larger than processed and compressed image files, so make sure you have enough space on your memory card. You’ll also need to access an app like Lightroom, Capture One, or Photoshop to edit and manipulate the images to improve their sharpness.
Improve the Scene Lighting
Often, improving lighting conditions is the ultimate way to take sharp pictures without having to mess with camera settings. In general, good light will allow you to shoot at a low ISO, a high shutter speed, and with a narrower aperture. While sufficient ambient light will produce the best results, it may not be enough if you’re shooting real estate interiors. You can use the following tips to improve your results in different lighting conditions:
- Instead of using front lighting that can suppress the texture of your subject foreground, it is advisable to use side lighting to emphasize the texture
- Move your source of light closer to the subject to help it appear broader and illuminate the subject uniformly and naturally
- If you are shooting using ambient light, you should keep the color temperature in mind. Although it is not visible, the color temperature is bluish during midday and a warm tone during the late afternoon and early in the morning
- If you are using artificial lighting, fluorescent lighting can help you get a bluish color temperature, and Tungsten lighting can help you get a yellow color temperature
- In case you don’t want the color temperature in your photos, you can neutralize it using the camera’s white balance
- Instead of shooting using narrow light directly from a CFL or flash, consider broadening the light using a diffuser or a reflector to minimize the shadows it casts
- Include shadows in your photos to make them look realistic and have a three-dimensional appearance. Typically, a shadow on the background will make the foreground subject appear sharper
Use the Live View
Enabling the camera’s live view allows you to see the subject as the camera lens sees it. Instead of looking at the subject through the optical viewfinder, you’ll see the subject from a magnified image on the camera’s LCD monitor. In this way, you can compose an image from what you see on the LCD monitor. Depending on the brand of the camera, you can activate live view with the LV button or switch. If you are new to live view, you can experiment with different camera settings and focusing techniques until you get the sharpness you want before shooting. However, the live view can drain the battery faster.
Eliminate the Shutter Shock
The shutter is a blurred image that occurs due to the camera shaking when you press the shutter button. Normally, this vibration occurs in the camera body when the shutter mechanism opens to initiate the exposure. This blur is more noticeable when using a high-resolution camera. Sometimes the effect may be too large and the outline of the object may be duplicated. Fortunately, most modern cameras have an electronic first-shutter function (EFCS) that can help eliminate shutter shock. However, the EFCS activation procedure varies between camera models. The electronic first-curtain shutter works by opening the shutter and exposing the camera sensor before the actual shot is taken. This means you won’t trigger the mechanical shutter when you press the shutter button. Then the mechanical shutter will close after exposure.
Use the Right Autofocus Settings
If you’re using a high-end camera or are unfamiliar with manual focus settings, you can still capture sharp photos using the camera autofocus mechanism. However, for the best results, you need to understand the different autofocus settings such as:
- Autofocus Hybrid: The Autofocus Hybrid is an ideal autofocus setting for shooting subjects that are moving or not
- Autofocus Continuous: The Autofocus Continuous is an ideal autofocus setting for shooting moving subjects such as wildlife
- Autofocus Single: The Autofocus Single is the best autofocus setting for shooting stationary subjects such as buildings. In most cases, this is the setting you will use to capture sharp photos in real estate photography
The camera will also indicate the different focus points in the viewfinder. You can leave this option for the camera to automatically select or manually choose one of the following focus modes:
- Eye Autofocus area mode: It’s the best mode to use when capturing portraits
- Dynamic-area mode: It’s the ideal area mode for capturing moving subjects
- Single-Point area mode: It’s the best mode for shooting stationary subjects like buildings or landscapes
- Group area mode: It is the ideal mode for shooting sharp group photos
Use Mirror Lockup
When you press the shutter button to take a photo with a DSLR, the mirror flips up to allow light to enter the camera sensor. If you are taking a photo with a long telephoto lens, flipping the mirror can cause a shake that results in a blurred image similar to the effect of a camera shake. When you activate mirror lock mode, the camera flips the mirror when you press the shutter button the first time, and then takes a photo when you press the shutter button a second time. However, using mirror lock mode means you won’t be able to see through the camera’s viewfinder because the mirror is locked. In addition, not all camera models are equipped with this feature, and the activation process varies between brands.
Consider Your Lens Filters
Camera lens filters help protect your lenses from damage, improve colors, reduce glare, and adjust the amount of light entering your lenses. However, the quality and type of lens filter you use can affect how sharp the lens is for taking pictures. In general, there is a high chance that light will be degraded, distorted, or bent as it passes through the various elements of the lens filter. As a result, there can be color casts and artifacts, resulting in blurred images. Unless you are shooting in difficult conditions such as wet or dusty situations, you should avoid using protective filters such as UV filters. You should also avoid the stacked filters as they only exaggerate the effect on the sharpness of the image.
Shoot Tethered
Connected photography means using a third-party photo editing app like Capture One to view and compose your photos. This can be of great help if you are not familiar with the different settings of the camera model you are using. The app gives you a live view and an easy-to-use display of camera settings. Usually this gives you the flexibility to use different settings until you get the sharpness you want.
Consider the Weather Conditions
Weather conditions can affect image sharpness, especially when using a long lens to zoom in and capture distant subjects. Since you are not shooting in a vacuum, the quality of the air between the camera and the subject can affect the sharpness of the image. For example, shooting distant subjects in foggy conditions may result in blurred images. In such cases, it is better to get closer to the subject to get a clearer picture than to zoom in. Watch the lens to make sure there’s no such thing as moisture build-up.
Note: If you want to make some adjustments to the photo just let me know. I can do it for you at a very low cost. You can hire me to edit your photo
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