Two types of interior photography: HDR (High Dynamic Range) and Flash combined with Ambient (the luminance of normal room light) called “Flambient”.

HDR - Taking five different exposures from the same position. You have a normal, middle exposure with two more exposures captured at one and two steps up in exposure and one and two steps down. These are then combined to show as much detail as possible while retaining the richness and dynamics of the color.

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The result is a single image created out of the five previous. Details are visible in the shadows and highlights. A good editor will know how to master these elements to make the best image possible, some will use Lightroom or another application to render this method and some will outsource. This is by far the most used method in real estate photography today.

Done well, this looks great. However it is a TON of data which makes things easy to mess up. It can be a tightrope walk for an editor. This example is the result Lightroom produces. Some images can look overly processed almost bordering on an oil painting.

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The first fundamental of Flambient is to create high quality natural feeling, color-correct images by taking two primary shots: one that’s purely ambient and another shot using a flash. Those two shots are then blended in a unique way that avoids problems that are common with HDR, such as color-cast from various lighting sources throughout a scene, unnatural shadows and a whole lot of other artifacts that can come up out of doing lower grade HDR.

The ambient shot, which is the first shot taken in the workflow is used for adding light and shadows only. Color is not used from the ambient shot, only it’s luminous. The flash photo which is taken at a neutral 5500 Kelvin, is the dominant shot guaranteeing color accuracy. If the wall is white, it will appear white. If it has a hint of blue, you will see that hint of blue. This is the photo process for high-end publications, which is streamlined for today’s common residences.

The Flambient method of photography gives the most accurate representation of what the room actually looks like, with proper exposures out windows and minimal shadows.

If you’re looking for interior photos that truly sell a space, the Flambient method outshines HDR, literally. While HDR blends exposures to balance light, it often leaves behind color casting. Flambient combines flash and ambient exposures to deliver crisp, clean images with accurate colors, true-to-life lighting, and professional polish.

It’s the difference between “good enough” and “luxury.”

Flambient doesn’t just show a room - it sells it.