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Humans are visual creatures. We process information better and are more engaged when it’s presented visually in an aesthetically pleasing manner. This is especially true when it comes to sales and marketing, regardless of whether you’re selling a pair of shoes, a vacation package, or a home.
With the growing competition in the real estate market, you need to step up your game to stay ahead. One of the best ways to capture the attention of promising buyers is through amazing real estate photography.
We know there’s always more than what meets the eye, but it’s also true that first impressions last. So in this article, we’ll share tried and tested techniques to produce impactful photos that highlight the best features of a property and resonate with your target buyers.
Whether you’re a professional photographer who wants to master real estate photography, a real estate agent looking to level up your skills in taking photos, or a seller wondering how you can present your home in the best light, this guide will serve as a valuable resource.
If you’re ready, let’s get started!
Mastering Your Real Estate Photography in 8 Steps
1. Scout the Area Before You Start Shooting
Before we go any further, the very first thing that you should do before picking up your camera and starting your shoot is to walk around the property to get a feel of the space.
By exploring the area, you’ll get an idea of the most creative ways to capture the best angles and what items are better left out of the frame. This is also the perfect time to assess which rooms need some tidying up, and which ones are ready for you to start shooting.
If it doesn’t look appealing in person, there’s a good chance it’ll look odd on camera!
2. Use a Wide-Angle Lens
Are you trying to capture the entirety of a room but can’t seem to get it all into the frame?
The trick here is to use a wide-angle lens. Basically, this type of lens’ small focal length captures more background in the frame and magnifies the perspective. This type of lens will especially come in handy when you’re trying to photograph smaller spaces.
3. Choose the Right Time of Day
The more light, the better, right?
Yes and no.
If you’re new to real estate photography, you might think that the best time of day to shoot is when the sun is at its brightest. However, this light can end up being too harsh, particularly for exterior shots.
There’s a reason that photographers love the “golden hour” — those periods right after sunrise and before sunset. It’s because the lighting is perfect. Slightly overcast days can also be excellent for real estate photography.
For interior shots, be sure to open the blinds and windows. A little natural light is still a good thing, and it makes for a more natural and authentic picture. Test taking photos with the lights turned on and off, to see which is better. Only use an additional flash if needed, as it can create unnatural shadows. Finally, try to keep the lighting consistent from room to room.
4. Stage the Room Appropriately
Remember that when potential buyers are looking at real estate photography, yes, they want to see how nice the home is, but they’re also trying to picture themselves there.
Thus, staging a room to feel more “cozy” — without forcing too much of the current owners’ personality onto it — can go a long way.
For instance, are you photographing the kitchen, and the island is looking bare? Consider moving a bouquet of flowers in a vase to the center of the countertop. Little details like this can make a big difference.
5. Bring a Tripod
This is a good rule of thumb for real estate photography in general, but people sometimes ignore it. Tripods are helpful, period, but they’re especially helpful for when you’re shooting using nothing but natural light.
The reason for this is that when shooting in natural light, you’ll usually want to use a slow shutter speed. And this is when blurry photos are the likeliest to happen. Positioning the camera on a tripod will eliminate that.
6. Don’t Over-Edit
It’s a given that your real estate photography will need at least light editing. However, you shouldn’t edit it so much that it starts to misrepresent the property. Avoid things like:
- A fisheye lens, since it can distort the image.
- Photoshopping in objects or elements that weren’t a part of the original photo (like furniture).
- Purposely covering a bad view/feature of the property.
Inaccurate photography will only lead to dissatisfied potential buyers when they eventually see the home in person.
7. Include Aerial Images
These days, you can do so much more with your real estate photography, largely thanks to drones. If a home has high ceilings, you can use a drone to snap a photo from higher up.
And, importantly, drones are perfect for exterior aerial views, to give potential buyers a better idea of the entire property and surrounding area.
8. Take Your Real Estate Photography 3D
Static images are great, but they should work alongside a 3D tour of the home. Especially in the age of COVID, potential buyers will appreciate getting a virtual walk-through of a home before needing to visit it in person.
While some sellers are interested in tackling their real estate photography themselves, it’s always better to leave something like this to the pros. The Brendan King Group is a trusted team of real estate agents and photographers. Contact us today if you need expert help selling your home.
