How To Edit Luxury HDR Real Estate Photos In Lightroom (+ FREE PRESET) // Window Pulls, Brushes etc

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of editing luxury HDR real estate photos in Adobe Lightroom. By following these steps, you will enhance the quality of your images, making them more appealing for real estate listings. This guide is particularly useful for photographers looking to improve their editing skills and achieve professional results.

Step 1: Understanding HDR Photography

• HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography involves capturing multiple exposures of the same scene and merging them to create a single image with a greater range of light and detail.
• Typically, a 5-bracketed exposure is used, meaning you take five shots at different exposure levels.
• Ensure your camera is set to a tripod to maintain alignment between shots.

Step 2: Importing and Merging HDR Images

• Open Adobe Lightroom and import your bracketing sequence.
• Select the five images you want to merge, right-click, and choose "Photo Merge" then "HDR."
• In the HDR Merge Preview window, check the box for "Auto Align" and "Auto Settings" for best results.
• Click "Merge" to create a new HDR image.

Step 3: Basic Adjustments

• Select your merged HDR image and navigate to the Develop module.
• Start with basic adjustments:
  • Exposure: Adjust to brighten or darken the image.
  • Contrast: Increase for more depth, or decrease for a softer look.
  • Highlights/Shadows: Use these sliders to recover details in bright or dark areas.

Step 4: Color Correction

• Fine-tune the color balance:
  • Use the White Balance selector to achieve accurate colors.
  • Adjust the Temperature and Tint sliders to fix any color casts.

Step 5: Using Presets

• To speed up your workflow, apply presets:
  • Download the free interior preset from the provided link.
  • In the Develop module, go to the Presets panel and select your downloaded preset.
• Adjust the preset settings as necessary to fit your specific image.

Step 6: Enhancing Details

• Use the Detail panel to sharpen your image:
  • Increase the Amount slider to enhance edges.
  • Adjust Radius and Detail sliders to control sharpening effects.
• Use the Noise Reduction sliders to reduce graininess, especially in shadow areas.

Step 7: Local Adjustments

• Utilize brushes and gradients for local adjustments:
  • Select the Adjustment Brush and set it to increase exposure or contrast in specific areas.
  • Use the Graduated Filter to adjust skies or foregrounds separately.

Step 8: Final Touches

• Check your image for any distracting elements and use the Spot Removal tool to remove them.
• Review your adjustments and ensure the image looks balanced and appealing.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you will be able to create stunning HDR real estate photos that stand out. Remember to practice with different images and experiment with the various tools and presets available in Lightroom. For continuous improvement, consider exploring additional courses or resources on real estate photography and editing techniques. Happy editing!