Does anyone have experience doing lighting for interior shots? help?

[ShadeOfDawn]

Hey,

I'm going to be doing some shots of a model home for promotional purposes, and so I need to figure out how best to light interiors. I know much of it will hinge on light placements within the room, but I am not even really sure which lights i should rent.

I figured that persistent diffused lighting is better than diffused flash, but I am not familiar with what is out there nor what i should be looking for in a rental.

If anyone has some experience or advice i'd appreciate it.



Here are some examples of test shots i did in other model homes. The homes i will be shooting in are not complete yet. These were done with available lighting and were spruced up in PS. I used a wide angle lens for it and will be using one again, although a better one with less distortion i hope.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Shade17/IMG_1902.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Shade17/IMG_1926.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Shade17/IMG_1937.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Shade17/IMG_2056.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Shade17/IMG_2062.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Shade17/IMG_2093.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Shade17/IMG_2099.jpg

There are definitely some compositional problems in these that i hope not to repeat with my new shots. I will be using a tripod and am considering trying to do some HDR. Also, any advice on what is needed to make the rooms appealing would be helpful. The rooms will be staged, but i think that for the kitchens i might want to add to the staging with cut up fruits and pitchers of water and what not.

Any advice at all for promotional interior lighting and shots would be great.

Thanks

[JonS]

Use strobes and meter them to match the light coming through the windows so you don't blow those highlights.

Open plate (not even a reflector mounted) up high, aimed at the ceiling. Maximum "bounce and scatter" intensity.

Your images that don't have windows in the frame look right on to me.

[Morbid]

You have some problems with the mixed color temps from the windows and the interior lighting. I would try to replace as much as possible of the interior lighting with flash lighting, balanced with gels to match the daylight. If you have some remote controlled flashes you could stick them inside some of the bigger lamps.

Be careful with the white balance, use a greycard if you can.