The five rules. The failure modes.
The shot guide gives you five rules. This page is the honest companion: what still fails when you follow them, why, and what to do about it.
Half of re-shoots we send back are hallways and glass. Learn those two and you'll ship almost every walk.
- 01 · Challenge
Glass, mirrors, and TVs
The reconstruction treats reflective surfaces as depth. A wall of glass at sunset can add ghost geometry outside the house. Cover TVs before you film. For glass balconies, film the interior twice — once with the balcony as a background, once with the door closed — and pick the better result.
- 02 · Challenge
Dark textiles and matte black
Deep-charcoal couches and matte-black kitchens absorb light where the reconstruction is looking for it. They come back as soft blobs. Raise the ambient light in those rooms (turn on the ceiling fan light, add a floor lamp) or accept a softer result on that surface.
- 03 · Challenge
Long hallways
Corridors are where cameras track worst — nothing to lock onto. Film the hallway from both ends, and add a mid-way pause where you rotate 360°. Half of our re-shoot recommendations are hallway problems.
- 04 · Challenge
Ceiling height + skylights
Double-height ceilings need vertical coverage. Include several shots that tilt up (and back down) to give the pipeline camera samples above head height. Skylights can wash out; shoot on an overcast day if you have the option.
- 05 · Challenge
Outdoor at midday
Direct overhead sun creates hard shadows the reconstruction reads as texture edges. Golden hour (~1 hour before sunset) is best for exteriors. Overcast is a close second.
Ship a tour. If it fails, you're never charged.
Your walk is the only variable. Everything after — the reconstruction, the hosting, the analytics — is on us to get right.