4.5 Hours Photographing a Studio Apartment

Introduction

How long should it take to photograph a studio apartment? Considering its relatively small size, you might expect the photographer to finish everything within a short time. However, one of my longest high-end interior photography sessions took approximately 4.5 hours, and the property was just a studio apartment with a mini garden.

It wasn't because the apartment was messy or difficult to work in. In fact, it was stylish, reasonably neat and full of interesting photographic opportunities. The owner also left me alone, giving me complete freedom to explore the space and work according to my own creative judgement.

What followed was a surprisingly demanding but thoroughly enjoyable experience. I became so absorbed in styling, experimenting with lighting and exploring different compositions that I completely lost track of time. Even after the photography was over, the assignment still had one unexpected surprise waiting for me.

An Impromptu Photography Assignment

This was an impromptu assignment, so there wasn't much opportunity to plan everything in advance. When I arrived, I found a beautifully furnished studio apartment with a fairly spacious balcony garden. The home was reasonably tidy, but it had been left in its normal everyday condition rather than being specially prepared for photography.

There was nothing particularly wrong with the arrangement. However, a home that looks attractive and comfortable in person doesn't necessarily photograph at its best without some adjustments. Furniture, decorations and personal belongings may look perfectly natural in everyday life, but their placement can affect the balance and appearance of a photograph.

Fortunately, the apartment already had plenty of attractive furnishings and interesting details. Rather than bringing in additional props, I saw an opportunity to work with what was available and explore different ways of presenting the home.

Complete Creative Freedom

One of the most enjoyable aspects of this assignment was that the owner left me alone in the apartment. I didn't have anyone supervising the shoot or asking me to follow a particular sequence, so I could decide where to begin, which compositions to explore and how much time to spend on each area.

I appreciated having that freedom. Instead of simply taking a few photographs of each room and moving on, I could experiment with different ideas, study how the spaces looked through my camera and make adjustments whenever I noticed something that could be improved.

Of course, working independently also meant that I had to make all the creative decisions myself. There was nobody around to advise me on any special lighting arrangements or particular features that the owner wanted highlighted. I had to assess the apartment, understand its character and decide how best to document it using my own experience and judgement.

Although it required considerable concentration, this was exactly the kind of creative challenge I enjoyed. I wasn't merely trying to complete an assignment; I wanted to make the most of the opportunity and produce photographs that I would be proud to include in my portfolio.

Styling, Composition and Endless Possibilities

As the shoot progressed, I found myself working almost like a visual merchandiser. I used the owner's existing furniture, decorations and personal belongings to create different arrangements, looking for ways to make each area appear more attractive through the camera.

Sometimes, even a small adjustment could make a noticeable difference. An object might look awkward from one angle, a decoration might overlap with another furnishing, or a particular arrangement might make the space appear more cluttered than it really was. I spent time studying these details and experimenting with different placements before deciding which compositions worked best.

The open kitchen and living area offered particularly interesting possibilities. As with many condominium apartments, the two areas were connected, allowing me to photograph the overall layout from different positions. I could capture wider views showing how the spaces related to each other, then move closer to highlight individual furnishings, decorations and architectural details.

There was also a beautiful mirror that caught my attention. Rather than treating it as just another furnishing, I experimented with using its reflections to create more unusual compositions. By changing my camera position and exploring different angles, I could produce photographs that went beyond the conventional wide-angle views of an interior.

The apartment's mini garden was another distinctive feature. It was larger than the balconies commonly found in many condominium units, and both the living area and bedroom had access to it. This gave me additional opportunities to show the connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

The more I explored the apartment, the more photographic possibilities I discovered. I kept trying new ideas and refining the arrangements, often spending much longer on a particular area than I had originally expected. It was tiring work, but I genuinely enjoyed the entire creative process.

Experimenting with Different Lighting

Besides styling and composition, I spent considerable time experimenting with lighting. I wanted to explore how the apartment looked under different conditions, so I tried photographing some areas using natural daylight and others using the existing ambient lighting.

These approaches could produce noticeably different moods. Natural light could give the space a fresh and airy appearance, while the apartment's interior lights could introduce warmth and emphasise certain details. I wasn't simply looking for the brightest possible photographs; I wanted to see which lighting arrangements best complemented each composition.

However, experimenting with different lighting also required additional work. Changing the lighting could affect exposure, colour balance, reflections and the overall appearance of a scene. I sometimes had to reconsider my camera settings or composition before deciding which version I preferred.

Since the owner wasn't around, I couldn't ask for guidance on any special lighting arrangements or preferences. I relied on my own judgement, exploring different possibilities rather than following a fixed set of instructions.

Between rearranging furnishings, experimenting with reflections and testing different lighting conditions, I became completely absorbed in the shoot. I was so focused on what I was doing that I barely paid attention to the time passing.

The Garden I Left Too Late

Unfortunately, spending so much time exploring the interior created an unexpected problem. By the time I finally moved outside to photograph the balcony garden, the sunlight had become harsh. The difference in brightness between the sunlit areas and the darker parts of the scene was considerable, making it difficult to capture the garden to my usual standards.

This is one of the challenges of photographing spaces with strong natural light. Our eyes can adapt to a wide range of brightness, but a camera may struggle to preserve details in both bright highlights and deep shadows within the same exposure. Depending on the composition, some areas can appear excessively bright while others look too dark.

Looking back, I had underestimated how much time I would spend on the interior and hadn't paid enough attention to the changing sunlight outside. I should have considered photographing the garden earlier, when the lighting conditions might have been more favourable, rather than automatically leaving it until the end.

Fortunately, I had brought a speedlite with me. I eventually used it to introduce additional light and help balance the contrast, giving me more control over the difficult conditions. Although it wasn't the lighting situation I had originally hoped for, having the equipment available allowed me to continue working towards the results I wanted.

This was a useful reminder that even when I intend to rely mainly on natural light, bringing suitable lighting equipment can provide valuable flexibility. It also reinforced something I already understood but hadn't planned carefully enough for this assignment: outdoor lighting conditions deserve attention before the shoot, not only when I finally step outside with my camera.

An Unexpected Ending

After approximately 4.5 hours, I was finally ready to leave. I was physically tired from moving around, adjusting furnishings, experimenting with compositions and concentrating on the photography, but I had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was one of those assignments where I became so involved in the creative process that I didn't realise how much time had passed until everything was over.

Before closing the apartment's main door, however, I had to be especially careful. The owner had left me alone without an access card, so I couldn't simply return if I accidentally left something behind. I checked my equipment and belongings repeatedly, making absolutely sure I had everything before closing the door.

I thought that would be the end of the assignment, but there was one more surprise. I decided to take the stairs down and somehow discovered that the exit door at the first storey was locked. For a moment, it seemed that I might be trapped inside the building's staircase.

This happened a long time ago, and I honestly can't remember how I eventually managed to get out. What I do remember is the absurdity of the situation: after spending hours photographing a small apartment, carefully checking that I hadn't left anything behind and finally making my way downstairs, I almost couldn't leave the building!

Thankfully, I did manage to get out. Otherwise, this might have become a very different photography story.

Final Thoughts

This remains one of my most memorable interior photography experiences, not because anything particularly dramatic happened during the shoot, but because of how much creative freedom I had. I could explore the apartment at my own pace, experiment with styling and lighting, and discover compositions that I might otherwise have overlooked.

Although the assignment was exhausting, I enjoyed every part of the photography itself. The experience also showed me how easily a small property can demand substantial time when the goal is to create carefully considered photographs rather than simply document each room as quickly as possible.

For homeowners and property agents, it's worth understanding that the size of a property is only one factor affecting the shooting duration. Preparation, styling, lighting conditions, the variety of photographs required and the photographer's creative approach can all make a significant difference. I've discussed these considerations further in Why Real Estate & Interior Photography Takes Longer Than You Think.

A small property doesn't necessarily mean a quick photoshoot. Sometimes, the more possibilities I discover in a space, the harder it becomes to put my camera down.