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Are you trying to figure out how to edit a day to dusk image for real estate photography in Photoshop?

Then, you’ve come to the right place.

By learning how to turn a daytime shoot to dusk, you can add a warm, welcoming glow to any real estate photograph.

In this post, we’ll show you how to edit a day to dusk image for real estate photo editing in Photoshop. But before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s first explain why the time of dusk is so desirable for real estate photography.

Why Is Dusk Desirable for Real Estate Photography?

There’s a reason why photographers and cinematographers call dusk ‘the golden hour’.

That’s the time when the harsh white light of the day softens, the colors come out and everything in the frame is washed with a golden glow of light that makes everything look “picture perfect” (pun intended). 

Most real estate photographs look better at dusk, and if you can’t shoot at dusk, you should learn how to recreate the look of a dusk shoot digitally. Or, even better, work with a partner, like PhotoUp, who can do it for you. 

Before day to dusk Photoshop
Before: Dull Looking Real Estate Photo
After day to dusk Photoshop editing by PhotoUp
After: Yellow Sky – Day to Dusk Photo Editing by PhotoUp
After day to dusk Photoshop editing by PhotoUp
After: Purple Sky – Day to Dusk Photo Editing by PhotoUp

Shooting a day to dusk image is only half the battle. There are additional steps to remember when editing a day to dusk shoot.

Everyone knows that you need to transform the sky into an evening scene, but lots of people forget that you also need to work on a house’s interior and exterior lighting to ensure that it remains the star of the show. 

The last thing you want is a sky so pretty that it attracts attention away from the property you’re trying to sell. Instead, you need to make sure to keep a viewer’s attention on the focus of the image, the house itself. 

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How to Create a Day to Dusk Edit in Photoshop 

That said, let’s show you how to edit a day to dusk image using Photoshop next. You can watch along with the video while you follow the steps outlined below. 

Start With the Windows

Step 1. Import your image into Lightroom and do basic adjustments. Make it a little darker as it’s a dusk image.

Step 2. Next, create a Virtual Copy.

Step 3. On that copy, adjust the glow of the windows to make it look like the light is on. Boost the Exposure and Temperature to create a glowing effect. 

Step 4. Now, move your images into Photoshop.

Step 5. In Photoshop, make the Window Layer on top and add an Inverted Mask (press and hold the ALT key while clicking the Masking button).

Step 6. Select the windows using the Pen Tool (P), then press the Delete button.

Step 7. Next, add an Outer Glow using the Layer style.

Step 8. Within the Layer Style, use the Sliders to adjust to an appropriate level.

Next, Edit the Sky 

Once you’re happy with the windows of the house, it’s time to work on the sky:

Step 1. Duplicate the base photo and go to the Channel panel and duplicate the Blue channel.

Step 2. Adjust the Levels in the Sky by pressing CTRL – L on your keyboard.

Step 3. Select the Non-Sky area, make it black, and use the Dodge Brush (O) to lighten the sky.

Step 4. Now, you want to Load the Channel as a Selection, and then click the Masking button.

Step 5. Next, Import the dusk sky photo that you want to use behind the building.

Step 6. Adjust its position and make sure to Blend it properly with the house. E.g you may want to use the Burn Tool to darken the house overall. Then, Save the new image. 

Step 7. Back in Lightroom, you can make one or two adjustments to the white balance until you’re happy with the final product. 

Use the Dusk Scene to Showcase the Property

Real estate photo editing by PhotoUp
Day to Dusk Photo Editing by PhotoUp

Keep in mind that you’re showcasing a home for a potential buyer and not trying to create an award-winning nature photograph.

The dusk scene is there to show off the best features of the property and put the viewers in a calm, welcoming state of mind, so they look favorably on the listing.

The goal is to make home buyers think of themselves living in this incredible home and taking in the beautiful evening sunset.  

Get Editing Help From the Experts at PhotoUp!

If you don’t have time to edit your day to dusk images, PhotoUp’s team of professional editors are eager to take your real estate photo editing off your hands.

PhotoUp has more than 10 years in the business and employs several hundred photo editors around the world, so it’s hard to match PhotoUp’s quality, service, and pricing. 

No matter what kind of editing you’re looking to outsource, PhotoUp’s editors will make sure your photos are of the highest quality.

For example, our real estate editors can help you with:

  • Image correction and enhancement
  • Color and tone adjustments 
  • Window masking and glare reduction
  • Clutter and object removal
  • Line and angle corrections
  • Improper exposure levels
  • HDR editing
  • Harsh shadows, lack of light, etc. 
  • And more.

On top of that, PhotoUp also offers additional services such as: 

We have everything you need to enhance and market real estate listings under one roof!

How to Get Started

To get started using PhotoUp’s real estate photo editing service is super easy.

All you need to do is sign up for a free PhotoUp account, upload your images, choose export setting and turnaround time, and that’s it!

PhotoUp Real Estate Photo Editing Uploader Tutorial

Check out our real estate photo editing uploader tutorial to see how easy it is to get started:

And that’s it!

Let us show you how we can help you elevate your real estate marketing.

Sign up with PhotoUp today, and take your real estate photography to new heights! Plus, for a limited time, you even get 10 free edits when signing up for an account!

We hope this post helped you understand how to edit day to dusk in Photoshop. Before you go, you may also want to check out the following resources:

Devon Higgins

CMO

Devon is a business owner, entrepreneur, licensed realtor, and sports enthusiast. Devon graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Marketing and he currently lives with his wife and two daughters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Devon's background in marketing and the deep knowledge of the real estate industry make him an integral part of the PhotoUp team.

Connect with Devon