Advice / Feedback - Interior (no natural light)

[Fortune_Lime]

Hello, I usually do more product shots so interiors aren't really my strong point (yet!). Seen some great work on these forums so hopefully someone can give some advice feedback on this set of images. Design is client choice (my boss) and I cannot change it. Basically told to have plain white walls, white marble floor and then black furnishings. Focus point is the long black drain.

How can I improve the overall look and realism please? Lighting feels a bit off and I struggle to find a balance when it's enclosed space with no windows. I was reading the tone mapping forum post recently and actually decided to reduce highlight compression (alongside a few other tweaks) as it was originally looking quite grey / washed out. These are draft at half resolution (further compressed for attachments size limit).



Thanks for any feedback.

[burnin]

First, get yourself 'The Greatest Reference'. There's quite a lot of high class bathroom photography around. Analyze and mimic its look and 'feel' - 'the story'. Because now, you're merely showing some sanitary stuff for a 'dirty-cheap' consumer.

[Fortune_Lime]

Thanks for the reply - I will go back to square one and gather some references as you say. I'm a bit constrained by the design as boss is clear on what he wants to show and the placement of it e.g. sink/vanity on the right, single towel rail on left. Hopefully with some nicer references I can improve this nonetheless.

Cheers

[romullus]

Good news, you're 80% there. Bad news, next 10% will take you twice as much effort to achieve, then next 5% twice as much again and of course you will never be able to finish the piece to 100% perfection. It's up to you to decide where do you draw the line, so your boss will be content and you don't lose your mind.

I would probably start from looking at better materials and higher quality assets - those plastic towels really don't look great. I don't think you can do miracle with the lighting alone, not in this environment at least.

[Fortune_Lime]

Thanks for the feedback, agreed, the towels are awful. More of 'placement' object at this point and intend to make them better before final renders. I will look into assets and materials too and see if I can improve on these. Very determined to improve in general but of course whilst keeping the boss happy with timescales!

Appreciate the replies.