4 Ways to Shoot a Living Room

Often with our clients, when we first begin the process of shooting, we’ll take some handheld photos of the space sot he client can better see how the space looks through the lens to understand what can be captured. We usually give a few choices to the client before we mutually finalize the correct angle to shoot a room, but sometimes a client needs more than one angle. Here, in four photos, is a living room shot in a few different ways. I would usually push the client in a certain direction but there is value to each of these different perspectives. Which would you choose?

Hoboken Studio

Most studios are either one interrupted area or an annexed area but the studio below has a more interesting layout. Were the bedroom to have windows and a door, it could be legally called a bedroom but it remains a studio, and a unique one to boot.

One Ten Lounge

The Benjamin

Outside of the city, in New Jersey, there are tons of developments in the process. Some of which are nestled right at the train station so you can easily get to the city, or wherever else you need to go, at your doorstep.

605 W 42

Light is a photographer’s tool, and once can never have too much of it. Typically, the higher up you climb a building in NYC the more light you have, and when you pair that with impeccable design its easy to take a great photo.

800 Grand Concourse

New York is full of pre-war buildings that just look boring and bland on the outside, but inside they can be a treasure trove of wonderful design and artistry. Take this 3-bedroom unit in the Bronx, just shy of the Manhattan border.

345 Quincy St

Flipping brownstones in Bed-Stuy seems to be a hot game right now, and why wouldn’t it be? Flipping homes can be highly lucrative and the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant is primed to be the next Bushwick (if it wasn’t already - and if it weren’t for the pandemic). Shooting this space was tricky as the owner wanted us to capture the garden at dusk, which, when you see it, makes sense, but we were losing light shooting the rest of the space as night grew closer. Luckily we shot the basement last, which didn’t have much available light, and we got the perfect garden shot as the sun disappeared.

Shaker House

I was only recently made aware of the Shaker Houses and their wonderfully hygge-like design. This walk-up building featured a small handful of units that had beautiful cabin-esque touches that made you feel like you had stepped out of the city and into the Catskills.

123 PLG

Prospect Lefferts Garden is growing, and 123 PLG is the beacon of change it seems. The massive complex towers the area and has a slew of amenities from rooftop pools, to basketball courts. I used the drone for this one and was able to capture both the rooftop pool with a lovely view of the Manhattan skyline.

277 2nd St

When I walked into this shoot, I didn’t realize that I would be doing a two-fer. In the past, I have had interior designers I work with partner up with realtors to help shoot an apartment they designed, that would also be leased or sold. This shoot was a bit of the opposite, where I walked in thinking I would be shooting for a FSBO (for sale by owner) situation, but lo and behold there was an interior designer running around prepping each room for me before I entered. I can enjoy shooting real estate but I far prefer to shoot interior design and it’s a lovely surprise when the two meet.

North 7th St

It’s widely known that a wide angle lens is a popular choice when photographing interiors, but, particularly with interior design, one can easily find some creativity shooting with a longer lens. Details and vignettes are such a key element of shooting interiors - not so much when shooting real estate - that photographing with a medium or longer lens can really elevate the photos and give an alternative perspective on a space.

26 E 81st St

Due to the natural of real estate, the work can sometimes be a little less exciting than interior design shoots; however, once in awhile you’ll be blessed with a wonderfully designed space that is more photogenic than you can expect. Such was the case with this Upper East Side home.

61 Jane St

I photographed this beautiful unit and was amazed with the staging work done. The owner had lived here for almost 30 years but had since moved. Because of that, the apartment needed to be staged and the owner was able to impressively stage this unit in only 3 days.

266 North 6th

Photographing a ground floor unit is always tricky because the light isn't usually as good as the units on higher floors; however, the designers of this unit placed as many large windows as they could to maximize the light - they also picked a neighborhood where most buildings don't stretch beyond 3 stories. 

American Copper Building

I had the pleasure (and luck) of shooting the new American Copper building in Kips Bay. The building is a monumental achievement or architectural feats, and is comprised of two towers that are connected via a skybridge. I've always been fond of the antiquated and unfortunately defunct sky bridges that can be seen in Herald Square and Dumbo and it's so exciting to, not only see an active one, but one so ornately decorated and fitted for recreational use. Not only can you walk between the buildings but you can take a seat and watch the sun rise over the East River or even play a game of billiards!