Fact: 63% of consumers believe that good quality images are more important than product descriptions. We have to face it, photos are the name of the game when it comes to property marketing today.
If you know a thing or two about photography, then you can produce professional-looking images to showcase your property. All you have to do is to know the right techniques – and this is what I am sharing in today’s blog. Read on to know my top real estate photography tips!
Declutter and decorate the place
Don’t rush into clicking the shutter button. The shoot does not start when you actually take photos, the preparations before that are equally as important, if not more.
Put aside your equipment and declutter the place. Take out items that are not needed, dust surfaces, wipe clean all mirrors, bring out your best linen, install new light bulbs, buy some flowers, and basically set the property to look its best.
Anticipate weather conditions
Check the weather forecast and make sure that your shoot is on a day when the skies are clear. Good weather is necessary for natural lighting and to show the views of the beautiful outdoors.
The timing of the sunrise and sunset also needs to be considered. The best time of the day to do photoshoots is during the golden hours which is the hour after the sun rises and the hour before it sets.
If your property has a lovely evening vibe, then you should also schedule a nighttime shoot.
Shoot using a wide-angle lens
When shooting a contained space, like the interior of a house, most professional photographers recommend using wide-angle lenses. This specific type of lens features a wide-angle focal length which enables it to capture most of the room within the frame.
Avoid lenses or filters that produce distorted images such as fish eye lenses.
Identify the best angle for each area
Before taking a shot of a room, examine the space and determine the best spot for the camera. It should be at a viewing point where most of the content can be seen including the furniture, fixtures, and windows.
If the area has a special architectural feature such as a staircase, a vaulted ceiling, an arched doorway, or an accent wall, then it would be good to highlight these too.
Maintain vertical lines
A general rule that most real estate photographers follow is to shoot straight. This means you have to maintain all vertical lines upright. These include walls, posts, door and window frames, curtains, and railings. Maintaining the vertical alignment provides a more accurate visual perspective.
Be informative
There is no question that you want your property to look good but you should not disregard the informative aspects too. Your photos should highlight both the aesthetic and practical features of the place.
This can be done even in the most subtle of details. For example, if a bedroom is ensuite, leave the door open to see that the bathroom is accessible directly from the room. If a room has a ceiling fan, then make sure to include it in the frame.
Add some creative shots too
While real estate photos are meant to be straightforward, it does not hurt to also explore with more creative shots. Feel free to take some shots with portrait orientation or close-up images with a bokeh effect.
This is especially useful if you also intend to market your property on Social Media.
Insert ‘touches of life’
Remember that you are presenting your property to an audience who may want to live in it. Therefore, show that is it not mere brick and mortar, but an actual home looking for people to reside in it.
You don’t need to have real people to model for you, but you can insert elements that can represent some human presence. It could be decorative plants, some lighted candles, a coffee mug on the table, or a crackling fire in the fireplace.
Don’t be pretentious
Sometimes, there is a temptation to over-represent the property as it is. However, it is important to stay authentic and credible. Many people can get turned off by photos that are obviously edited. You also should not include features that are technically not part of the property.
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