Seven expert tips for shooting Instagram-worthy interiors

Interiors

There are over 98 million images tagged with #interiordesign on Instagram, making it the perfect place to go for interior design inspiration.

If those breathtaking shots are feeling impossible to achieve, then we have seven expert tips that will help you create Instagram-worthy interior shots. 

Victoria Erdelevskaya, interior photography specialist at Heal’s shares her top tips for snapping photos of your home.

Victoria’s advice will help solve your indoor photography woes, and reveal how you can inject some magazine-worthy wow-factor into your Instagram imagery. (Want more Instagram followers to see your photos? Many people are using an Instagram followers app.)

1) Use the (natural) light 

When photographing an interior space, natural light should always be the go-to option. Aim to take your shots when the light is at its peak. 

Light from household light bulbs can cast a blue or yellow hue which can dampen the true colours and stop them from shining through your image, but if you colour balance your image you can avoid this altogether. 

Victoria’s top tip

Keep an eye on your room throughout the day. Every room faces the sun at a different time of the day, so make a note of when your room is bright, but not flooded with direct light.

A bright but cloudy day is the holy grail for an interior photographer. The clouds act as a natural filter, providing a soft light throughout your space. 

2) Get to know the tools on your phone

You don’t need a professional DSLR to take magazine-worthy shots of your home. Modern smartphones come loaded with useful tools to help level-up your photography. 

Victoria’s top tip 

My favourite trick for making photos look lighter and brighter is to slightly up the exposure setting. For a darker space, drop the exposure for a moody, dramatic feel. 

3) Don’t over-style the shot

For an unforced and authentic look, don’t overthink the styling. Instead, opt for the lived-in look.

Victoria’s top tip

Instead of shooting a perfectly made bed, why not take a shot of the crumpled linens or for a sofa shot, sit down and use the space as you would normally. The texture this natural movement adds will be picked up in the shot, making the overall look feel genuine. 

4) Allow for negative space… 

Try to avoid cramming too many elements into one photo as this can make your image (and your Instagram grid) look too busy. 

Give your images room to breathe by incorporating negative space. Shooting a whole room at once can sometimes look like a commercial or estate agent photoshoot. Try and focus on one one element, such as a perfectly styled fireplace, or a sideboard.  

Victoria’s top tip 

If you’re taking a picture of a shelf or any other styled, flat surface try pulling all of your items closer to the front edge, rather than having them pushed back against the wall, as this will draw the eye into the frame. 

5) …and plenty of depth

Use layers of accessories to add depth and texture to your picture. Try adding a throw to the end of the bed, a plant on the floor close to the camera, a cushion on a small stool to give the eye plenty to take in.

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Photo by Nathan Fertig