A photograph is a visual representation of something, capturing a moment or subject in a tangible form. While many photographs are fleeting, under certain circumstances they can endure and become everlasting, like Joe Rosenthal's iconic 1945 photograph of U.S. troops raising a flag in Iwo Jima during World War II. This particular image stands out for three reasons: it documents a significant historical event, evokes strong emotions and provokes thoughts or insights into the subject matter.
Though it's unlikely that the photographs taken during your refinishing of a 1980s suburban home will achieve Pulitzer Prize status, it's important not to underestimate the incredible opportunity to capture valuable assets. In this context, I won't delve into the marketing tactics or optimal posting times on platforms like TikTok, as those are certainly important considerations. Instead, think of this article as your guide to Photography 101, with the hope that blurry, out-of-context or poorly composed images will become a thing of the past.
Even the slightest compositional error, such as cutting off the corner of a beautiful inlay you've just installed, can negatively impact the overall perception of your photograph. Therefore, it's crucial to make your images intentional and well-composed. Why does this matter, you may ask? Well, as a floor mechanic, you are not merely a tradesperson, but an artist who produces beautiful work. The media you capture should reflect those high standards. Additionally, if you are already taking pictures of your work, why not put in a little extra effort to capture visuals that convey to the viewer your mastery of the craft? Setting yourself apart from the competition requires moving beyond hasty content.
There's a saying that "the fastest way to make money from photography is to sell your camera." While it's true that a nice camera with interchangeable lenses can be quite expensive, there's another saying that "the best camera is the one with you." Your smartphone camera can serve you well if you direct it in the right direction at the right time. Furthermore, the content you create on your handheld device can be easily uploaded to the platform of your choice.
Here are some key things to consider when taking photos of your work:
While in camera mode, tap the screen where you want the focus of your image to be, you should see a square and sun with lines. This will give you control over focal point, as well as the lighting exposure of your image. With a gentle up or down slide from your finger tip, you can make your photo lighter or darker. Also, most smartphone camera apps have a portrait mode. This mode can give you a little more automatic lighting control if need be.
Lighting
Lighting plays a crucial role in photography, particularly indoors, where it can be challenging. To overcome this hurdle, choose a time of day when natural light is not excessively pouring through the windows, or use shades to control the light. If needed, you can supplement the lighting with work lights or low bay LED retrofit lamps to even out hot or dark spots, ensuring the lighting is even and soft. Avoid relying too heavily on the on-camera flash, as it can create unwanted hot spots.
To optimize your camera settings, consider using HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode, which automatically balances light and dark elements in the frame. Portrait mode can also be favorable in certain situations. When capturing your shot, keep your camera steady and focus on one subject. You can tap the camera screen to prompt the manual focus square and slide your finger up or down the sun icon to optimize exposure levels.
Frame within a frame is an effective way to portray depth in your scene and concentrate the viewer’s eye to a particular part of the image. Here, I really wanted to highlight how the waterfall-step ties the landing into the foyer. I also took care to frame the door in the background in the upper third of the image.
Composition
Framing objects or subject matter in a way that highlights what you want to stand out is essential. Consider the sheen of a fresh finish or a striking custom accent—thoughtfully selecting objects and understanding their relationship to the overall composition will make your photographs captivating. Be creative with different elements such as leading lines, shapes, textures, patterns, contrasting colors and even negative space within the frame. A well-composed photograph strikes a balance between positive space (the part that attracts attention) and negative space (the filler between areas of positive space).
Take the time to revisit your more spectacular projects after they have been furnished, but be mindful not to clutter your images. The top image at right is largely filled with furniture and ultimately, the couch ends up being the subject matter. In the bottom image, I stepped forward and crouched down; this angle still tells the story of a furnished space but is much cleaner. The rug edge was used as a leading line to help draw the eye to what I consider to be the focal point.
Make sure to take advantage of your smartphone camera app’s auto edit features. You can adjust nearly every aspect of your images from this function.
Editing
Editing your photos is a critical step in the process. Most smartphones have integrated photo editing apps, while if you're using an off-phone camera, I recommend downloading the proprietary editing software offered by the manufacturer. If you're looking to upgrade from your smartphone camera, ensure that your new equipment has Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing you to effortlessly transfer photos to your phone for quick editing and easy uploading.
When editing, utilizing the auto-enhance feature in your editing app can be a good starting point. You can fine-tune the edits further by using the slide feature at the bottom of the screen. If the auto-enhance doesn't produce the desired results, try manually adjusting the exposure, contrast, color, and/or tone settings separately by tapping on the respective tool and using the slider to adjust the strength.
RELATED: Advice From a Pro on Hiring a Photographer
Symmetry
When framing up your subject matter, be sure to think about the framing lines along the foreground edges and their relationship with other elements. The image on the left was close to good, but I believe there are too many conflicting angles, and the lines in the image are crooked. I also did not like the clutter in the upper right portion of the window. The image on the right was taken with care to include the door frame, as squared as could be with other elements in the background. I also made note of the statue in the window and kept the clutter of the roof framing out of the image.
Wet finish photos
The image on the left is your typical "wet finish" fodder. Images like this tend to be taken in haste and portray a false narrative of a blotchy, high-sheen finish system. If you are so inclined to take photos during the finishing process, add subject matter. In the image on the right, I included the actual product being applied, as well as the technique and tools necessary to apply finish. This image still shows the floor and the wet finish, but has a more fascinating narrative that explains the subject matter accurately.
Play with angles to make it interesting
The paramount factor that affects depth of field is the distance between the camera and the subject. The shorter that distance, the smaller the depth of field. Here I wanted to draw the viewer's eye to a particularly attractive grain pattern; note that the lines in this image are square to center. Be sure to move your camera around and play with the focus-set on your camera app to best capture the image you desire.
Have fun with your camera. Get down low, play with angles and take lots of pictures. Make sure to capture the most unique features of your project.
Have fun with your camera. Get down low, play with angles and take lots of pictures. Make sure to capture the most unique features of your project.
Tie rooms together
Show your audience how your real hardwood can bring different substrates together, like this concrete kitchen floor. I also played with the lighting a little to add some texture with the handrail balusters. This image is a little cluttered, but I still like the story it tells, as it's shot from near eye level and captures exactly what it's like to walk from one room to another.
Cropping
I wanted to draw attention to the stair riser wrap. The image on the left is the original. The image on the right is the edited version. I made special note not to over-crop the image by keeping the foreground door frame uncut, I was also quite mindful of the leading lines that naturally draw the viewer's eye to the stair details.
