Key Points for Professional Looking Real Estate Photography
Sunday, July 5th, 2009
Todd Levinson asked:
The power of the image is of paramount importance in this internet driven real estate market. Before curb appeal and the inviting set-up of your front entrance way, viewers will see your property advertised on-line. Truly the images you present are the first impression that will either guide potential buyers to set up an appointment to view your home, or on the flip side deter them from looking any further into your property. If you’re taking your own photos for the sale of your home then pay particular attention to the following guidelines. And remember, a good picture, can mean a thousand potential buyers!
Use the Optimal Number of Images
There is a balance between not enough images and too many. You’ll certainly want to have more than one, high quality, high resolution photograph to represent your listing effectively, but studies show than between five to nine images is all the brain can absorb in 30-60 seconds. Remember that the way users use the internet is different than how they might use, say a brochure. There’s a lot of fast browsing going on- so you’ll want to present something that has great immediate impact, but that doesn’t overwhelm.
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
Take note that photos of the ceiling are of no interest to viewers. Really, have you ever heard of a ceiling that sold a house? Many inexperienced photographers end up taking in a large amount of ceiling in their photographs while cutting out much of the important elements and features that’ll sell a room. Don’t make this mistake and focus your sights on the room at eye level.
Don’t Only Describe the View… Picture It!
If your home has an incredible view, don’t think you can sell it just by mentioning it in words. Find a way to get at least one great shot of that view for your on-line listing.
Light it Right
A universally important selling feature of a home is how light and bright it is. With many amateur photographers, photos end up coming up looking dark and dreary- and often are not the best representation of an otherwise bright space. This can be due to a few things. Often the problem is the result of the photographer relying on their camera flash to provide proper lighting for the photograph. Make sure you invite in as much light into the space as possible before taking the photograph. Open up blinds and curtains and let all the natural light flood in. Also, use the help of the lights in the room and make sure they’re turned on while you’re shooting. Take a few shots from different points in the room and test the lighting.
Once you have the image, you can use the simple wonders of digital photo tools such as Photo Shop to help lighten and brighten your images. Adjust them by playing with the brightness and contrast elements on your photo editing software.
The Winning Outdoor Shot
A great shot of your home from the outside is important. With regards to outdoor lighting, remember that a slightly overcast day will provide the best lighting for your image, and you can always add in a blue sky with photo editing after the fact. In terms of the perspective of the image, most folks opt to just stand across the street, aim and shoot. If you want to look professional and capture more depth in your shot, then try standing just to the side of your home and take the photo at an angle.
Have Plenty of Stock to Choose From
Take more than one image of the spaces you are shooting, and from different angles and perspectives. You’ll want to be able to choose the best shots for each room and area, so make sure you give yourself some options. It’s not always easy with digital cameras to know what is a “great shot” until it is uploaded to your computer and blown up to actual size. For this reason it is always better to err on the side of having too many images to choose from.
The power of the image is of paramount importance in this internet driven real estate market. Before curb appeal and the inviting set-up of your front entrance way, viewers will see your property advertised on-line. Truly the images you present are the first impression that will either guide potential buyers to set up an appointment to view your home, or on the flip side deter them from looking any further into your property. If you’re taking your own photos for the sale of your home then pay particular attention to the following guidelines. And remember, a good picture, can mean a thousand potential buyers!
Use the Optimal Number of Images
There is a balance between not enough images and too many. You’ll certainly want to have more than one, high quality, high resolution photograph to represent your listing effectively, but studies show than between five to nine images is all the brain can absorb in 30-60 seconds. Remember that the way users use the internet is different than how they might use, say a brochure. There’s a lot of fast browsing going on- so you’ll want to present something that has great immediate impact, but that doesn’t overwhelm.
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
Take note that photos of the ceiling are of no interest to viewers. Really, have you ever heard of a ceiling that sold a house? Many inexperienced photographers end up taking in a large amount of ceiling in their photographs while cutting out much of the important elements and features that’ll sell a room. Don’t make this mistake and focus your sights on the room at eye level.
Don’t Only Describe the View… Picture It!
If your home has an incredible view, don’t think you can sell it just by mentioning it in words. Find a way to get at least one great shot of that view for your on-line listing.
Light it Right
A universally important selling feature of a home is how light and bright it is. With many amateur photographers, photos end up coming up looking dark and dreary- and often are not the best representation of an otherwise bright space. This can be due to a few things. Often the problem is the result of the photographer relying on their camera flash to provide proper lighting for the photograph. Make sure you invite in as much light into the space as possible before taking the photograph. Open up blinds and curtains and let all the natural light flood in. Also, use the help of the lights in the room and make sure they’re turned on while you’re shooting. Take a few shots from different points in the room and test the lighting.
Once you have the image, you can use the simple wonders of digital photo tools such as Photo Shop to help lighten and brighten your images. Adjust them by playing with the brightness and contrast elements on your photo editing software.
The Winning Outdoor Shot
A great shot of your home from the outside is important. With regards to outdoor lighting, remember that a slightly overcast day will provide the best lighting for your image, and you can always add in a blue sky with photo editing after the fact. In terms of the perspective of the image, most folks opt to just stand across the street, aim and shoot. If you want to look professional and capture more depth in your shot, then try standing just to the side of your home and take the photo at an angle.
Have Plenty of Stock to Choose From
Take more than one image of the spaces you are shooting, and from different angles and perspectives. You’ll want to be able to choose the best shots for each room and area, so make sure you give yourself some options. It’s not always easy with digital cameras to know what is a “great shot” until it is uploaded to your computer and blown up to actual size. For this reason it is always better to err on the side of having too many images to choose from.
