Skip to Content

Tips to Help You Take the Best Photos in Your Home

During those long winter months when the days are shorter and we are less likely to spend time outside due to the cold and school, finding ways to take the best photos in your home can become a challenge. There is less light and when you turn on the lights in your house, it gets worse! But life and the memories we want to capture continue, even in these low light winter months.  Today, I have a few tips to help you to continue to document your life and take the best natural light photos in your home.

Natural Light Photography tips to help you take photos in your home

This post contains affiliate links. If you click-through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Read more here.

Tips to Help Your Take the Best Photos in Your Home

photos in your home

Pay attention to the light in your house

The best way to do this is to start a light journal. The goal is to find out where the light is: when it’s soft, when it’s harsh, when it’s strong, when it’s weak, etc. You want to know what light does in your home. That way you can make the best decision on where to take your photos.

Turn off overhead lights and open the blinds

When you mix natural light with artificial light, it generally gives you crazy, wonky colors in your images. To make it easier on yourself when you go to edit, it’s best to stick with just one light source. And during the day, it’s best to stick with natural light. So make sure you turn off light sources like table lamps, overhead lights etc.

photos in your home

Use window light

A nice sized window will give you wonderful light. Avoid windows with direct sunlight coming through. North or South facing windows are ideal. If your window is east facing, avoid it in the morning. If it is west-facing avoid it in the afternoon.

photos in your home

Place your subject near the light

Placing your subject in front of the window, while keeping your back to the window will give you nice even flat light that will give you beautiful skin tones and light that evenly covers everything. But if you want a little more depth, place your subject 45 degrees to the window. Either way, make sure you capture the catchlights in your subject’s eyes when they face the window.

photos in your home

Don’t be afraid to Raise your ISO

I know I know, when you first learn about shooting in manual, raising your ISO is forbidden. BUT, the key is a well exposed photo. And when you are working indoors with low light, one of the best ways to do that is to increase your ISO.

photos in your home

Invest in a lens with a low aperture

If you are shooting with a DSLR, invest in a lens with that has a wide aperture. Like 2.8 and below. I tend to use mainly my 50mm 1.4 lens and my 35mm 2.0 lens. Both will open up wide to let in more light.

So hopefully these tips help you to continue to capture memories and take the best photos in your home during these cold winter months. Questions? Sound off in the comments!

Get a FREE EBook!

When you sign up for our newsletter. Get tips, ideas and eyecandy right in your inbox!


Powered by ConvertKit

lisalisa

Wednesday 14th of February 2018

Great images! I've been taking a lighting course and I love it, it has really opened my eyes on how to capture a good image. I do find sunlight is great, I took a food photo the other day with my blinds wide opened and it came out great!

Audrey

Wednesday 14th of February 2018

It never fails, I have to re-shoot pics inside due to poor lighting and shadowing. I appreciate your tips and look forward to putting them to use.

Kathleen

Wednesday 14th of February 2018

I definitely have noticed photos are much better with natural light. My house sucks which is why it's easier for me to do photos in the summer when I can go outside. Thanks for the tips to make my lighting better.

Crystal

Wednesday 14th of February 2018

Natural light is crucial for me. My lights are so yellow, so photos aren't great with anything overhead. Researching and studying the light in the house is on my to-do list.

Betty

Wednesday 14th of February 2018

Thank you for these great tips! I take most of my photos at home, and realized the east vs. west-facing windows are definitely a factor. It's hard to catch the right moments at certain times of day, but knowing this helps me anticipate and plan for better photos!