Need Your Advice on Eliminating Window Glare in Photos

[Elaine Reese]

I try to take very good photos of my listings - don't want to end up on the Sockpuppets Bad MLS Photos section, ya' know!

I haven't found a good solution for incoming window glare. I use a Nikon Cool Pix 2 and use the the BackLight setting so the flash goes off a couple times to light the interior and counter the sun coming in the windows. It seems to be more of a problem now because the winter sun is lower.


So even though the room lighting is OK, there's always that awful glare through the window. The Sockpuppet makes fun of this quite frequently.


I took new photos today of a now empty home (it will look better) and because all the lamps are gone, I had to wait for a sunny day to light the interior. But the downside is the glare. The windows in the above example face north and east and it was late afternoon when I took the photo.


On an occupied home I try to take the photos on a cloudy day, and let the interior lights brighten the room.


How do you guys work around this problem of window glare?

[Kim Mettille]

Elaine,
I wouldn't want those Sockpuppets get you. :0) I would try a couple different methods for this issue. 1. I would try a faster & slower shuttle time. Usually you leave a shutter open longer in dark areas in order to get more details. But you have bright light which needs a fast shutter time.

2. You can adjust your flash location. This works the best for me. I either set shop lights up to highlight dark areas OR you can use BOUNCE FLASH method. This is where you turn your flash UP. Bounce flash can be used with any tilt or off camera flash. You will point the flash at a white surface (ceiling, wall, backdrop, etc) This spreads the light out and softens its edges. It creates an attractive and natural looking light for interiors.

You can change the direction of the light for dimensional lighting by aiming the flash at surfaces angled toward the subject. The easiest way is by using the flash to bounce off of the ceiling. Note: Don't get to close to the light or straight under the flash. It will cause additional problems.

Hope this helps!
Kim

[Real Estate Remix]

Without going out and buying strobes and all that...

The best solution for this problem is to go either at dawn or dusk, sure it is inconvenient for everyone, but wow it pays off in great photos with beautiful blue windows. Use a tripod when you do it though.

[Elaine Reese]

Yes, I'm not interested in hauling a bunch of equipment into a client's home. ;-)

We have a lot of cloudy days in central Ohio, so that is almost like dusk/dawn. But occasionally, timing just doesn't allow so I must take them when it's bright outside.

Love your comment about beautiful BLUE windows. The only time we have BLUE is when the sun shines which is when I have the problem. ;-)

[Vlad Molchadski]

Elaine,

Try using what's called a polarizer, or circular polarizer. No additional equipment, just a tiny ring.. Availability depends on what camera you have. Hope this helps.