Most of the properties I photograph are staged (thank goodness!). But occasionally I do run across a booking where staging is impractical (in the case of a site still under construction, as below) or it simply isn't utilized.

This is undoubtedly more difficult to photograph. Even more vexing is that such properties are often painted bright white which can make everything look really flat, details are lost, and depth is very difficult to capture.

I ran into just such a property recently and I thought I'd cover a few basic tips that might help when you have to shoot in this type of situation.

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1. When you have a situation where everything is 'really white' you run the risk of losing key details due to improper exposure. Expose to long and everything really will be flat white, too little exposure and you'll get a gray melange. Ugh.

Solution: Do your best to expose for median light on the white surface...your cameras meter will typically be at the center area of focus...make sure that area is over the 'average' light area on the walls (or where ever). This will help your meter make the right exposure for the available light (assuming you are in some kind of auto mode).

If you have the ability consider 'bracketing', taking multiple exposures. Typically this means you take one at the 'correct' level and two more at +/- 1 or 2 stops. You'll need a tripod for this, if you want to blend the images or you can do it by hand if you plan to just use a single image.

Another approach is to push areas of color as much as possible. You can go a little farther with things than you might normally want to. It's important to give your viewer some sort of contrst!

Finally if you can shoot on a sunny day you might want to try to incorporate angled patches of sun on floor or walls, this will help add a little more interest (it's ok to let these blow out).

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2. When a property is unstaged it's really difficult to communicate depth and space like you can when you have defining elements present. Especially at wider angles (remember that distortion we love so much that makes rooms look bigger? It's working against you here). Large rooms with standard ceilings are especially problematic in most cases.

Solution: There's only so much you can do here, fortunately there is a strategy I've found effective. Do your best to use the lines of the room itself to create interesting shapes. A good eye for lighting will help also in regards to creating areas of interest and supplimental lighting will really help.

Examples below:

:)

Cheers, -B