Dressing your property for a photoshoot with Neil Fraser
Neil Fraser is a professional photographer of interiors, architecture and design. His passion for high quality imagery has taken him all over the world. His work has featured in a number of magazines, reports, brochures and various marketing materials.
Following his previous column, where he consider what should be removed before a photoshoot, Neil considers how you can dress your property using props to really make your photos pop. It’s good to create a lived-in look, like someone has just left the room. Try to approach each photo as a story. Think about what the person or people have been doing before they left and dress the scene appropriately. When I turn up on a shoot, I always take plenty of interesting props but it’s not always easy to ensure they are the right fit for the property. If you have decorated and been responsible for the interior design of your property, you can choose exactly what will work best. Items that I always pack include: 1. Candles. Useful in Dining rooms, Living rooms, Bathrooms and also outside. 2. Fairy lights. They add atmosphere to outdoor shots. 3. Interesting fruit and veg which add colour. 4. Pastries for breakfast scenes. 5. Flowers.
Can't afford a professional photographer? Neil has a wealth of knowledge concerning holiday home photography. Neil will be contributing to the next few magazines to provide insight and experience to help you with your own holiday home photography skills.
Living Room
This is the room for relaxing in so, again, try to make it look as though someone has just left the frame and that they have been enjoying a relaxed evening. What is the story you’re trying to tell? Has there been a group of friends in here, maybe they’ve been playing cards or chatting over cheese and wine. If so, you’ll need some cards laid out on the table, or some cheese on a board next to a bottle of wine and a few glasses. Has there just been one person sitting on the sofa reading a book with a cup of tea? If so, place an interesting book, a pair of glasses, a tea cup, maybe a plate of biscuits. A couple of other things to include:
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1. Throws and blankets - you’ll often see them draped over sofas or on the back of chairs in professional photos. They break up the image and add interest but don’t overdo it. 2. If you have an open fire or wood burner, light it. They are a major feature and always make the place feel warm and inviting. 3. TVs - I know that many of your guests will actually be watching TV in the evening, but don’t ever take photos with it switched on and, even if it’s the most expensive TV on the market, don’t make it the main focus of your photos. Prospective guests are looking for an aspirational lifestyle and watching TV like they do at home is not something most people will get excited about.
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20/07/2021 10:55
