Twilight Photography

Edinburgh, Scotland

Ok, so most homes are not as dramatic as a castle in Scotland.  However, they can look pretty dramatic themselves if photographed at twilight.  The idea is to shoot during the 15, or 20 minutes between sunset and full dark.  The sky takes on a darker blue color and contrasts nicely with the warm incandescent lights from windows.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get the owners to turn on all of the lights for the shot above but that's what you'd get your client's to do for maximum impact.  With all of the lights on you can create a sense of coming home to a warm and inviting home.



To get this type of shot right you'll need a tripod and the camera set to manual mode.  Automatic camera settings won't work for this type of shot.  Since the light will be changing rapidly you'll have to experiment with various shutter / aperture settings until you get the look you want.

Start taking shots just before you think the light is right then keep taking them until it's too dark.  Later you can review them all and pick the best shot for your listing.

It may take a little practice but the results can be well worth the effort.


Commercial properties and properties that just look dull in daylight can often benefit from twilight photography.