How to Correct White Balance in Interior and Exterior Real Estate Photos

In real estate photography, white balance plays a crucial role in delivering accurate, professional-looking images. Whether you’re shooting a sunlit living room or a home’s exterior at dusk, ensuring the colors are true to life is essential for creating trust and visual appeal. In this guide, you’ll learn how to correct white balance in both interior and exterior real estate photos using Photoshop.

Why White Balance Matters in Real Estate Photography

White balance determines how warm or cool the colors in your photo appear. An incorrect white balance can make walls look yellow, blue, or green—distorting how the space actually looks. In real estate, this could turn away potential buyers who rely heavily on visual impressions.

Common White Balance Issues in Real Estate Photos

• Interior Photos: Yellowish or orange tint due to indoor lighting (incandescent or warm LED).
• Exterior Photos: Blue or cold tone from overcast sky or shade.

How to Correct White Balance Using Photoshop

1. Open the Image in Photoshop

Go to File > Open and choose your interior or exterior photo.

2. Use the Camera Raw Filter

Navigate to Filter > Camera Raw Filter. This tool gives you quick access to powerful color correction controls.

3. Adjust the Temperature and Tint

• Move the Temperature slider to the left (cool) or right (warm) depending on the lighting.
• Adjust the Tint to balance green-magenta tones.

4. Use the White Balance Tool (Eyedropper)

Click the eyedropper icon in Camera Raw and then click on a neutral grey or white object in the image (like a white wall, ceiling, or window frame).

5. Fine-Tune with HSL Sliders

If needed, use the HSL/Grayscale tab to fine-tune colors and remove color casts.

6. Save Your Image

When you’re satisfied with the correction, click OK and then File > Save As to export the edited photo.

Example Comparison

Here’s an example of before and after white balance correction in an photo:

Left: Unedited | Right: Corrected White Balance

Pro Tips

• Always shoot in RAW format to allow flexible white balance adjustments.
• Use consistent lighting when capturing interiors (turn off mixed light sources).
• For exteriors, shoot during golden hour to minimize harsh lighting and blue tones.

Conclusion

Correcting white balance in your real estate photos helps create a professional, trustworthy look that attracts potential buyers or renters. With just a few steps in Photoshop, you can eliminate distracting color casts and present properties in their best light.

Start practicing these techniques and watch your portfolio quality soar!