Architectural & Interior Photography | Ascot, Berkshire & Beyond

The Art of Interior Photography: Traditional and Modern Designed Spaces

I love interior photography, where architecture & design come together to tell their own stories. I capture the essence of beautiful spaces showcasing both contemporary minimalist designs and lovingly restored historic homes that celebrate their original character.

Step inside rustic barn conversions with their warm, weathered beams and natural textures. Explore sleek modern kitchens where clean lines create elegance. Each room is thoughtfully designed and photographed to highlight its unique personality.

Whether capturing a cosy cottage in the Berkshire countryside or a stylish London apartment, I focus on the light, texture, and colour that make a space unique.

I work with designers, architects, and homeowners to showcase design concepts and those little details that make a space feel like home.

Interior spaces have changed dramatically over time, with today’s most compelling designs often blending historical elements with contemporary functionality. The images in my portfolio showcase examples of historic houses transformed into stunning living spaces that keep their old features while embracing modern life.  It was also great when William at Elysee Kitchens & Interiors sent me this link to the article they published the photos at: KBBFocus – How Elysee Kitchens & Interiors designed a space for a unique property

When photographing interiors, I focus on:

1. Finding the optimal angle that showcases the room or design.
2. Capturing both the overall design concept and meaningful details for the designer.
3. Using natural light whenever possible to highlight textures and materials.
4. Keeping the vertical lines, particularly in cabinetry and architectural features.
5. Creating balanced compositions that guide the viewer through the space.

Would You Like to Showcase Your Design?

Whether you’re an interior designer, architect, or property developer looking to document your project, contact me to discuss how I can capture your next design.

For my interior photography, I love using natural light and creating the authentic ambience of the room.

Exposure Blending Technique

My style of photography involves combining multiple exposures of the same image to capture the full dynamic range of a space.

This technique allows me to:

• Preserve highlight details in bright windows and light fixtures
• Reveal shadow details that would otherwise be lost
• Maintain the natural colour and texture of materials
• Create images that closely match how we naturally perceive spaces

By carefully blending long exposures for shadow areas with shorter exposures for highlights, I create photographs with depth and dimension—without the artificial look that can come from excessive flash or artificial lighting.

Lighting Techniques for Interior Photography

The Challenge of Interior Light

When photographing interior spaces there are many lighting challenges, from bright windows to dark corners, reflective surfaces, and artificial lighting with varying colour temperatures.

I schedule shoots to make sure we get the best natural light for each space. For east-facing rooms, morning light creates a bright, airy feel. West-facing spaces often benefit from the golden afternoon glow. Understanding how light moves through a space throughout the day is essential to capturing its best character.  I can also add sunshine to any location! For rooms with extreme contrast, I capture multiple frames at different exposure levels:

• Longer exposures (often 1-4 seconds) to show detail in shadowed areas
• Medium exposures for mid-tones and general room structure
• Quick exposures to preserve highlight details in windows and light fixtures

These images are then blended in post-processing to create a final photograph that represents the space as our eyes would naturally see it – so we see both the brightest and darkest elements simultaneously.

While technical skills are essential, equally important is the ability to see how light shapes a space—recognising subtle reflections, how light bounces between surfaces, and which angles best capture the designer’s intent.

Every space has its ideal perspective and lighting scenario. I work closely with the designers to ensure their design is photographed as they see it.

Based in Ascot, Berkshire, I provide professional interior photography services throughout the region and UK – I’m always happy to travel to other locations.

Collaboration with Interior Designers and Architects

I always love a collab, especially with designers & architects! A creative partnership to create images that capture the essence of designed spaces.

When I work with a client it is essential to effectively collaborate with the designer before and on the shoot day:

• Design Intent: I need to understand the designer’s vision, inspirations, and the story behind each space. So, I will have a call with them to find out what their brief is ahead of the day.
• Technical Briefings: Designers share information about challenging materials (highly reflective surfaces, dark fabrics, etc.) that might require special photographic techniques.
• Styling Coordination: Decisions about what accessories to include, remove, or add specifically for the photoshoot are made collaboratively to ensure the space looks its best while maintaining authenticity.

The Shoot Day:

During the actual photoshoot and where possible it is always better to meet the designer at the location:

• Adjustments on the Day: Designers will often help by making minor adjustments to furnishings, lighting, or accessories as different angles reveal new perspectives.  I am more than ready to help move items not needed in the photo, too!
• Prioritising: Together, we decide which angles and features best represent the space, focusing on elements that tell the most compelling story about the design.
• Problem-Solving: When unexpected challenges arise (poor weather affecting natural light, unexpected reflections, etc.), we will make creative solutions together!

The most successful collaborations are built on mutual trust:

• Designer’s Trust: Designers must trust me to interpret their three-dimensional work in two dimensions, sometimes requiring photographers to make executive decisions about composition and lighting.
• Photographer’s Respect: I must respect that designers have invested months in perfecting details that might seem minor but are crucial to the overall design integrity.

Thank you Elysee Kitchens for your sending me your review!

“I love working with Debbie, her professionalism and the way she brings our projects to live is outstanding. Thank you, Debbie!” Hamid Abdi

Cost Interior/Exterior Photography (2-3 hours) starts from £200

• Professional property showcasing
• Architectural details
• Lifestyle elements

To Book an Interior Photo Shoot, please email me at Hello@debbieharephotography.co.uk

Please see recent work here: https://www.instagram.com/debbieharephotography/