How Professional Photographers May See Spaces and Subjects
How Commercial Photographers May See Spaces and Subjects
Many people think a picture is just a picture—no matter the purpose. Similarly, many believe holding a cellphone steady and snapping a photo is good enough in most situations. While both statements hold some truth, they don’t apply to every case. A commercial photographer approaches the same setting very differently depending on the intended use of the image.
To illustrate this, let’s look at bathrooms as a setting for photography.
Casual Snapshot: Documenting a Space
If a homeowner simply wants to remember a bathroom before a remodel, the approach is simple. I might turn on the lights, stand in the doorway, and take a photo—sometimes even with my phone. That snapshot serves its purpose: a memory of the space. In this context, my approach wouldn’t differ much from anyone else’s. An example:
Real Estate Listings: Selling a Home
When photographing a bathroom for real estate, the goal is entirely different. These images help attract potential buyers and encourage them to schedule a walkthrough.
Interestingly, I’ve had realtors who refused to show bathrooms in listings. In some cases, I understood why; in others, it was simply a matter of practice. But in most listings, photos of bathrooms are expected.
An example of what a realtor would likely not show: 
For real estate work, it’s important to:
- Show the entire room (from one or two angles if necessary).
- Highlight positive features while minimizing negatives.
- Keep the images accurate—buyers must see what they’ll actually get.
The approach is no different from product photography or food photography: honesty matters. A bathroom photo should communicate “clean, functional, and presentable.”
Some examples of real estate-focused images:
Short-Term Rentals (ABnB): Telling the Guest Experience
For short-term rentals such as Airbnb, the approach shifts again. Here, the focus isn’t just on the space—it’s on the experience. Guests want to know what will be available to them. Towels, shampoos, soaps, and even small design details may matter as much as the bathroom itself.
Because of this, I may capture multiple photos of the same bathroom—some wide shots of the room, others close-ups of the appointments and amenities.
In these cases, the products can be just as important (or more important) than the square footage of the room.
Remodeling & Design: Showcasing Craftsmanship
Another common purpose is documenting a remodel or renovation. Here, the intent is to showcase the quality of the workmanship and overall design.
For example, in one recently remodeled bathroom by Drummer Interiors, the counters were white quartz, the walls a pale blue, and the shower walls a gray-white. To accurately capture these colors, lighting was critical.
Room lights alone would have introduced distortions—a yellowish cast from warm bulbs or a bluish tint from cooler ones. Instead, I used daylight-balanced strobes to ensure the photos reflected the actual colors. Without proper lighting, the craftsmanship and design would not have been faithfully represented. Examples:
Key Takeaways
- Intent drives the image. A professional photographer tailors each photo to its intended use and what the client values.
- Same subject, different outcomes. Bathrooms (or any space) can be photographed very differently depending on the purpose.
- Lighting is critical. Ambient light may work when capturing a natural look, but strobes, LEDs, or HDR techniques are often needed for accurate color.
- Accuracy matters. Straight vertical and horizontal lines, faithful color, and overall visual clarity separate professional work from casual snapshots.
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