Low Contrast vs High Contrast for Real Estate Photography

Lighting plays a crucial role in all kinds of photography. To be able to take sharp images, you need to make sure there is appropriate light to capture every detail of the subject you are clicking. The key factor that determines the dramatic mood of a photograph is the contrast. If you understand the clear difference between high contrast and low contrast lighting, your images will come out strikingly beautiful and they will also clearly highlight the features of the property you are clicking.

In this blog, we will talk about how you can maximize the use of high and low contrast in photography and make your images stand out:

What is Contrast in Photography?

Contrast is the difference between bright highlights the dark shadows in an image. Which simply means it is the difference between the light and dark areas of an image. Contrast shows how much difference is they’re between these areas. It is the contrast that sets the tone of the image like subtle and soft or a bold and dramatic image.

High contrast will have bold tones, low contrast will have soft tones. Let’s understand these two in more detail.

What is High Contrast Photograph?

A high-contrast photograph will have very well-defined bright and dark areas. The highlights and the shadows will be obvious and the mid-tones will be minimal. There will be depth and dimension in these images and the image will be bold and striking.

There is sharpness and clarity in these images. The bright areas will have clear shapes, textures, and features that are clear. The dark shadows will be visibly dark or completely black and anything that is a middle tone will either be minimal or completely absent.

High contrast is usually used by street and nature photographers or real estate photographers to define clear textures, and sharp lines and to highlight key features. Contrast in real estate photography needs to be used carefully to avoid making the place look uninviting or too bold.

What is A Low Contrast Photograph?

If the clear distinction between highlights and shadows is not visible in an image, it means the contrast is low. The dark and light places will not look very different from one another with low contrast. Low-contrast images have a low transition between bright and dark. There are a lot of midtones and the colours are subtle and soft. If you want to create a dreamy look, the contrast has to be kept low.

Low-contrast photography involves images being understated. The highlights and the shadows blend into each other in a balanced manner. This kind of photography uses a balanced tone. The edges will not be very defined and the image will be flat to create a soft mood.

The low contrast images are used by photographers who want to capture soft portraits and landscapes. In real estate, low-contrast images are used to highlight natural light, soft textures and neutral colours. These images create a warm and inviting image for properties like homes that want to highlight comfort and a relaxing environment. It is important to use this contrast properly to avoid blurring out important details.

How to Achieve Stunning Low and High Contrast in Real Estate Photography?

• Using Physical Colours- This can be done by being manipulative with colours. If you understand the wheel of colours, you will know that colours across the wheel are the most contrasting and the colours next to each other are similar tones.
  
  For real estate photography, using an orange with a navy or a red with a green will give the image the bright contrast it needs compared to an orange with a yellow or a pink with a red. To create that striking distinction, you must use opposite shades. 
  High Contrast image:
  
  
  Low Contrast image:
  

• Using Tone- Using tones to create high and low-contrast images is very simple. As a photographer, you must create a maximum difference between highlights and shadows. Brighten the highlights and darken the shadows to create a high-contrast image.
  While shooting for real estate, you can expose the area from where the light is coming in and let the furniture and room corners fall into the dark shadows to create a contrast.
  High Toned Image:
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• Using Editing- Editing an image in high and low contrast can make the image look dramatic or subtle depending on which look and mood you want to go for high contrast images. If the mood you choose is laid back, calm and peaceful you need to slide your editing slider towards low contrast. E.g. a photograph of a backyard with a pool on a sunlit day or a twilight shot
  In real estate photography, Photographers usually prefer high contrast for the properties with sharp lines, textures and edges along with minimal to no furniture. Low contrast is chosen when there is natural light coming in, the place has a cozy vibe to it and the look you want to go for is harmonious and balanced. E.g. an image of a living room, a spa or a restaurant.
  Opposite to contrary belief high contrast image photography is not limited to black and white or bold hues, even a brightly colored flower can be shot perfectly with a subtle background. You need the right understanding of color grids and exposure to be able to get that perfect look.
  Both High and low contrasts are powerful tools, it depends largely on what you are looking for.

Let Styldod Handle Your Real Estate Photo Editing!

Post-production for photography can take hours, especially the editing of your photos. It is smarter to outsource your editing work to professional experts and do more real-time clicking instead. Make your photos stylish with Styldod. At Styldod, we take care of all your editing work for you, making sure you can focus on your photography and you can get more work without having to worry about timely deliveries and lack of time altogether.

Our Experts at Styldod are happy to help with any kind of edits you want. Be it advanced or basic, they will make your photographs look as gorgeous as ever.

• Do not worry about bulk orders- we work equally professionally with every image
• Make fast deliveries even in a time crunch with our rapid 2–24-hour turnaround time.
• Get a basic to advanced and dramatic look for your photographs with automated or manual settings as per the image requirement
• Get customized solutions for your photographs with our editors working their magic as per your requirements.
• Get Top- tier, superior finish to your work that will stand out in the market

Whether it is a technical job like object removal, sky replacement, twilight editing and lawn enhancement or a simple exposure enhancement that is needed, our experts will do it with the same enthusiasm. Get premium results and classic photographs with Styldod to create a brand image that lures clients into trusting only you for the job.