Phixer

How to master the basics of Camera Raw for Real Estate

For all of your orders, you will go through a pre-production editing process that will help you stay organized as you work on your orders. First, you will create four folders within your main order folder, title these folders Color Corrected, Raw, Fuse, and Flash. Put all of the raw files in the Raw folder. Then create two folders within the raw folder titled Ambient and Flash. Put all of the ambient shots the bracketed exposure photos into the Ambient folder. Then, put all the flash shots which of the shots at the end of each set of ambiance in the Flash folder. Open all the ambient raw files using Adobe Bridge. Select all the files and open the images using camera raw for all photos, check the Lens Profile Correction box, and then remove Chromatic Aberration Box in the Lens Profile Correction panel.

For interior shots set white balance to Auto. In the Detail panel, set the Noise Reduction to around 40 or 50. For exterior shots, keep the White Balance at as shot. Again, adjust the Temperature in 10 as needed, sometimes the photo may be too warm or too cool requiring a manual temperature adjustment. Set the Highlights to around -75 depending on the photo, then adjust Shadows depending on the photo as well, probably somewhere around +35. Lastly, increase Vibrance as needed probably around + 50. Export all the raw ambient files as .tifs or .jpgs into the Color Corrected folder.

You'll do some basic color correcting on your flash files. In camera raw Basic’s panel, select all flash photos and set white balance to Auto. And then check the Lens Profile Correction as well as remove Chromatic Aberrations boxes.

For individual flash photos, adjust Exposure when needed. Usually, you will increase the exposure to make the photograph brighter. Then set Highlights to around -75 to bring back information in the brightest areas of the photos. Afterwards, adjust Shadows, shadow adjustment will depend on each photo and how dark it's shadows are. Afterwards, adjust Contrast, Vibrance, and Clarity according to what looks best for each photo. Use your decision-making skills and edit flash exposures according to what looks best. When you're finished editing your raw flash files export its .tif to the Flash folder within your main order folder.

Now, that you have all of your ambient exposures, color corrected in your Color Corrected folder import these files in the Lightroom. Click on the folders panel on the left side and then select the Color Corrected folder then click the Import button. In the Library tab, stack the ambient images from each exposure. Do this by selecting the group, right-clicking, and then pressing stack. After stacking ambient images from each photo, select all the Stacked images. Go to File, and then Plug-in Extras and then Blend Exposures using LR/Enfuse. Set your output Destination folder to the Fuse folder you created in your main order folder. Finally, click Enfuse Images, after these are done merging and exporting, you will have a well-balanced set of HDR images. Now, that you have all of your photos color corrected infused. We will start the process of editing them in Photoshop. However, there are four different products that we offer, at each product has a slightly different editing process. In each of the next four tutorials, will go step-by-step through the workflow of each product.

Need some help with your real estate photos? We in Phixer can help you achieve a professional level real estate images. Contact us now!

Related Videos

Introduction for Real Estate PhotographyIntroduction for Real Estate PhotographyHi my name is Alex and I will be taking you through a photographer training tutorial where you learn the principles and techniques of real estate photography. Make sure you have your camera and tripod on hand so you can change settings accordingly and experiment with some of the techniques intermit...Camera SettingsCamera SettingsNow that you've prepped the house, it's time to set up your camera equipment and make sure your camera settings are dialed in. In no particular order, set your file of numbering settings to continuous so that when you dump your photos onto your computer the files are organized sequentially, and the...Basics of HDR and FlashBasics of HDR and FlashHDR or high dynamic range photography is a popular photographic technique especially for architectural and landscape photographers. HDR photography allows real estate photo editors you to fuse different exposures photos of the same scene captured at various shutter speeds and then do a composite ...CompositionCompositionDeveloping a technical and intuitive grasp of composition and how do you use the laws of perspective to your advantage is one of the most crucial variables in being successful real estate photographer. Here's a quick breakdown of some of the basic principles you want to be aware of and understand. ...Front ExteriorsFront ExteriorsNow that we've done over some basic techniques principles and compositional rules of real estate photography, let’s talk about specific types of shots you'll take it nearly every shoot you do and others you'll come across often. The MLS requires the cover photo of every listing be an exterior shot,...BackyardsBackyardsBackyard vary quite a bit in layout and landscape design. If a property has a substantial backyard space, it's important to gather at least two or three different angles to exhibit the space from varying viewpoints. One common and effective angle is looking from the house deck or patio area out int...Entryways and StaircasesEntryways and StaircasesThe entryway is typically only worth capturing if a property has a decorative front door, french doors or a dramatic entryway space. One good way to approach this section of the house is to take a one-point perspective shot with the french door swung open,leading your eye into the entryway spaces. ...Living RoomsLiving RoomsLiving rooms can vary dramatically in scale and layout but here are a few general considerations. Living rooms primarily display best in two point perspective shots, although if the room is extremely orderly and symmetrical, a one-point perspective can be effective. It is ideal to shoot between two...KitchensKitchensKitchens are another important feature of the house. The trademark real estate kitchen shot is taken from outside of the kitchen and countertop island looking towards the cabinetry and windows. This is typically a two-point perspective shot but kitchens are where one point perspectives can be very ...Dining RoomsDining RoomsDining rooms are pretty straightforward. Typically they look best from a two point perspective backed up as far as possible and shooting towards the windows. Sometimes the dining room back towards the kitchen with show how they're spatially and functionally related. Be sure to prop the camera up hi...BathroomsBathroomsMost single family homes have a half bath on the first floor of the house and sometimes on the second floor or in the basement as well.At risk of stating the obvious, it is important to focus more on the sink and mirror than the toilet. Oftentimes the toilet will be opposite the sink and won't fit ...BedroomsBedroomsBedrooms vary less than many other rooms in how they are designed or organized, thus most bedrooms display best from a two-point perspective looking towards the bed and windows. If necessary back the camera up into the doorway and zoom in to frame the space excluding the third wall. There's also a ...Porches, Views, and PanoramasPorches, Views, and PanoramasPorch photos are almost exclusively two point perspective shots. Often times it's desirable to backup camera up through the sliding doors to capture more of the space. Like backyard shots, use discretion when choosing which corner to shoot from; taking into consideration Sun placement and what you'...TwilightsTwilightsThe last specific shot type we will cover are twilight shots. Agents oftentimes like to include a couple exterior photos taken during dust because the warm orange glow of the properties lights complement romantically the deep blue of the properties ambient lighting. Usually you will shoot the regul...Agent Review Process and ConclusionAgent Review Process and ConclusionOnce you finish capturing all the angles of a particular listing, your last obligation on site is to do a review of the photos with the agent. This process is crucial in avoiding unhappy clients. Not only does it give them a chance to edit out superfluous photos they don't like or need, it also al...How to master the basics of Adobe Bridge for Real EstateHow to master the basics of Adobe Bridge for Real Esta...In the next few tutorials, I will discuss programs outside a Photoshop that you will use to organize and edit your photos. The first program is Adobe Bridge , Bridge, like Finder on the Mac is a browser software, unlike Finder though, it's compatible with and communicates well with other Adobe pro...How to master Flambient Flash Blending for Real EstateHow to master Flambient Flash Blending for Real EstateThe standard real estate photo editing process is almost the same as the HD natural real estate photo editor process except you don't composite any of the windows and you don't use the real estate flash photo even if the photographer took some. Let's go through it again just in case, you’ll start b...How to master removing color casts from real estate photosHow to master removing color casts from real estate ph...The HD Photography style editing process is a more complex version of the HD Naturals and Standard photo process. For HD photos we will follow the same steps except you also remove color casting on the walls and other services, composite the windows, and in some cases the ceiling, and then remove h...How to master advanced tools in Photoshop for real estate editingHow to master advanced tools in Photoshop for real est...The HD Luxury Photography process is exactly the same as the HD Photography process except a little more complex and time-consuming, and there are a couple small differences. It is worth repeating it from the start to finish so you can remember the workflow well. First, import your fuse and flash...How to master the basics of editing interiors for real estateHow to master the basics of editing interiors for real...For our first editor tutorial, we will talk about the basics of a good interior Real Estate Photograph. These are qualities that you will try to achieve in any interior photograph that you're editing. First, your photograph should be well exposed and bright. Nobody likes looking at dark and sad ph...How to master the basics of editing drone photos for real estateHow to master the basics of editing drone photos for r... Aerial photos are shot from a high viewpoint from a drone. And since the drone is always moving a little bit, the photographer can't take a series of bracketed exposures for HDR fusing like they do from a tripod. So there will only be one raw file for each photo. As a result, the aerial editing...How to master the basics of editing twilights for real estateHow to master the basics of editing twilights for real... Twilight shots , which are mainly exterior shots taken right after the sun has set, are really visually appealing because of the deep blues of the sky and the surrounding environment. Which complement well with the glow of the interior lights. The editing process for Twilights is similar to dayti...How to master the basics of editing exteriors for real estateHow to master the basics of editing exteriors for real...We've mainly been talking about interior real estate photos but now we're going to go over how to edit real estate exterior photos . Exterior real estate photos for a number of reasons are much simpler and quicker to edit than real estate interiors and you will edit practically every exterior phot...The basics of blending flash with fuse for real estate editorsThe basics of blending flash with fuse for real estate...So, now that you have all your fused HDR files in the fused folder and your flash files edited in the flash folder. It's time to edit and combine these files in Photoshop. The HD Naturals editing process is simpler than the rest of them. First import your flash Infuse files into Photoshop. Put you...How to master the basics of real estate exterior editingHow to master the basics of real estate exterior editi...Similar to interiors, exterior photographs will have a lot of stylistic qualities that you will need to achieve and think about while editing every real estate photograph . Firstly, like interiors your photographs should be well exposed both in the foreground and the background of sky. Information...