For Orange County real estate photography: In small spaces, especially in bathrooms or other rooms with larger mirrors, you always need to pay attention to a number of factors.

• Reflections. Ensure that mirrors don’t catch an unwanted picture of the photographer or the flash, at least not directly, a halo like the one on the side of this photo might provide a desirable effect. This shot has lots of mirrors, any of which may reflect something unwanted. Awareness of what you’re photographing is key.
• Lighting. The lighting in such a small space, especially with flash added can be very dynamic. You may need to take several shots to get the right balance. Some cases may need bracketing and/or post-processing in Photoshop.
• Composition. Don’t forget, after getting your lighting and reflected parts of the picture to compose well. Use the rule of thirds or the golden proportion in your composition for the best appearance.
• Focus. What is the desired focal point? Sometimes the best focus might be placed on what’s in the mirror instead of directly on the objects in front of the mirror- a subtle difference. Keep your aperture setting appropriate for the depth of field you want. A few shots at different aperture settings might be a good idea.

Dave Keys provides real estate photography in Orange County and surrounding areas.