Indoor vs Outdoor Shooting: Pros, Cons, & Tips
Indoor vs Outdoor Shooting: Pros, Cons, & Tips
The setting can make or break a shoot. Lighting, composition, mood, and, ultimately your creative vision, are all impacted by the environment you choose to shoot in. Here, we’ll guide you through the advantages and disadvantages of indoor vs outdoor photography and videography. We’ll also share the secrets of which environment is suitable for which type of shoot. Take a look:
Indoor vs Outdoor Photography
Indoor Photography
Pros
- Controlled lighting conditions - Make precise adjustments to your lighting setup as you please with no outside interference.
- Consistent environment - You don’t have to worry about the weather conditions impacting your shoot.
- Greater privacy - It’s easier to focus on the subject and create an intimate atmosphere to get the most from your subject.
- Safer equipment - There’s no need to worry about equipment getting damaged by the elements.
Cons
- Limited space - There may be less opportunity to experiment with angles or compositions.
- Artificial light - It takes more time and resources to create sometimes complex lighting setups.
- Artificial atmosphere - There may be less ambience indoors, less opportunity to create candid moments, and you must create the atmosphere/mood you hope to achieve in the shot.
When to Choose Indoor Photography
Indoor photography is the best option when you need a clean, minimalist background plus full control over the lighting and environment. Examples include portraits, product photography, headshots, corporate photography, and editorial shoots.
Recommended Lens: Sigma Art Series
Engineered for high-performance indoor photography, Sigma’s Art series offers excellent low-light performance and high-speed primes ideal for a studio setting.
Outdoor Photography
Pros
- Dynamic backgrounds - Diverse, moving backgrounds allow for more creative flexibility on shoots.
- Natural light - You have the opportunity to capture stunning or even dramatic lighting effects, e.g. golden hour, blue hour.
- Sense of scale - You can capture large open space and provide dramatic contrast between subjects and location.
- Variety of shots - An unpredictable environment, change of weather or lighting means the ability to capture unique shots.
Cons
When to Choose Outdoor Photography
Opt for outdoor photography when you want to capture dynamic or candid shots, need large-scale images, natural light, and/or a vibrant background. Examples include landscape, lifestyle, urban, travel, and wildlife photography.
Recommended Lens: Sigma Contemporary Series
When shooting outdoors, switch to a versatile lens from Sigma’s Contemporary series. These lightweight lenses are ideal for everyday use.
Indoor vs Outdoor Videography
Indoor Videography
Pros
- Fewer distractions - You don’t need to worry about background noise or unwanted subjects entering the shot.
- Greater set control - You get to create a consistent, controlled environment for professional-looking videography.
- Detailed set design - It’s easier to create the exact set you require from scratch when you’re indoors and you have the flexibility to make even the most minor adjustments.
Cons
- Limited mobility - It’s difficult to execute tracking shots, wide angles, or larger movements in indoor environments.
- Echo/reverb - Audio quality may be impacted by echo/reverb, requiring acoustic treatment in post-production.
- Less creativity - An indoor environment may feel static and less engaging to the viewer.
- Less natural diversity - There are fewer natural changes to the environment, e.g. lighting shifts.
When to Choose Indoor Videography
Keep it indoors when you need a controlled environment, the use of green screens, or advanced lighting setups. Examples include interviews, demonstrations, tutorial videos, and narrative scenes.
Recommended Camera: RED Cinema Cameras
RED cameras are an all-in-one solution for professional cinematographers, providing rich cinematic shots both indoors and out.
Outdoor Videography
Pros
- Dynamic settings - From urban settings to natural landscapes, you have more aesthetics to choose from as your backdrop.
- Natural lighting - The natural light impacts the mood of your video, e.g. adding warmth.
- Sense of realism - Ambient sounds and natural scenes add a sense of authenticity for example at events.
- Interesting soundscapes - Outdoor sounds can add to the storytelling.
Cons
- Time constraints - Filming may be limited to the number of daylight hours you have or regulations in public spaces.
- Unpredictable setting - Weather and temperature changes can impact subjects, scenes, and even equipment.
- Less consistency - Lighting can change rapidly outdoors meaning you have to adjust composition, filters, and positioning more often.
When to Choose Outdoor Videography
Opt for an outdoor setting when filming an event or dynamic/location-specific content. Also go outdoors when you need to capture subjects in their natural environment. Examples include sports videography, travel vlogs, and documentaries.
Recommended Camera: Insta360
Insta360 cameras are built for the great outdoors, allowing you to capture clear, crisp footage in 360° and even the most rugged of environments.
Capture the Best Shots Every Time
Now you have the knowledge to choose the right setting for every project, all you need is the perfect equipment. DIGI TECH has a vast catalogue of photography and videography equipment that will help you fulfil your creative goals - browse our catalogue to find the perfect camera today.
