In an industry where first impressions are everything, beautiful photos can help attract potential buyers and increase the value of a property. According to recent studies, homes listed with professional photos sold 32% faster than those without – that’s why learning how to take stunning real estate photos is important.
Capturing great shots requires preparation, equipment, and technique. From setting up your camera correctly to using natural light creatively, there are plenty of tips you should keep in mind when taking property pictures. This guide discusses helpful tips on taking amazing real estate photographs.
Must-Have Equipment for Real Estate Photography
Executing stunning real estate photography requires the right equipment. Here are the essential equipment and gear you will need for real estate photography:
- DSLR Camera
- Wide Angle Lens
- Tripod
- Lighting
- Remote Trigger
- Drone
Tips for Taking Outstanding Real Estate Photos
Following these tips, you can take outstanding real estate photos that will surely impact the viewers and ignite interest, making your efforts worthwhile.
Prepare a Shot List
A shot list is a checklist of all the photos you must take of each room or angle to capture it from its best angles and perspectives. Make sure that your shot list contains at least one wide-angle view of each room and property feature and close-up shots that capture its details.
For example, for a living room, you might include the following in your shot list:
- One wide-angle view from the entrance
- A medium-angle shot showing all or most furniture pieces
- Detail shots of any artwork, fireplaces/mantles, and other focal points
- Close-up shots of any unique details that make the room special
Ensure the Property Is Clean
Photographing a clean property is crucial to ensure your pictures are professional. This includes removing all clutter, cleaning surfaces of dust and debris, vacuuming the floors, cleaning smudges of windows, and anything else necessary to ensure the home looks its best in photos.
It also helps to remove any personal items from the property—such as family photographs or souvenirs—as these can be distracting in the final photos. Also, clean up any outdoor areas, such as patios and decks.
Schedule the Shoot Mid-Afternoon
Many real-estate photographers use artificial lighting to light up the room and dark corners. There’s nothing wrong with that. You can use umbrellas and flashes to take sharp and well-lit pictures. But using natural light from the windows makes all the difference in outstanding real estate photography.
It is best to schedule the shoot for mid-afternoon. This ensures that the sunlight is not harsh and is at an angle that will fill your home with a warm, inviting glow. Natural lighting can make a huge difference when taking real estate photos, so you want to take advantage of this window of opportunity.
Stage and Add Props
Using props is key to making your images stand out and draw the attention of potential buyers. When staging a property, consider adding items that will enhance the image and give it an inviting look. You want potential buyers to imagine living in the space without being distracted by any props that might detract from the overall look.
This includes furniture, indoor plants, area rugs, artwork, decorative pillows, throws, etc. The props should complement the property’s existing features and create a warm, cozy atmosphere.
Find the Best Perspectives
Real estate photos should convey a sense of space and depth in each shot. To do this, try and incorporate elements of perspective into your shots. This can include using lines that lead from the foreground to the background, such as fences and pathways, or wide-angle lenses that capture more of the room’s expanse.
When using a wide-angle lens, be mindful of converging lines that may make the photo look distorted or unnatural. The best way to avoid distortion is to shoot from straight angles.
Edit
No matter how good you are at photography, it is always wise to cleanup pictures. Lens correction is a great place to start. This involves fixing any distortion caused by wide-angle lenses or zooming in too much. Then you can focus on adjusting highlights and shadows to remove unwanted blacks and whites from your pictures.
Next, adjust the color temperature to balance the colors in your photos and enhance a welcoming feel. Finally, you’ll want to crop the image to remove unnecessary elements to ensure they don’t grab any attention.
Key Takeaways
Using these real estate photography tips, you can create stunning photos to draw potential buyers and help you sell the property quickly.
When taking real estate photos, it is important to:
- Prepare a shot list to know exactly the kind of pictures to take
- Ensure the property is clean and neatly staged with props that complement its existing features.
- Schedule the shoot for mid-afternoon to take advantage of natural lighting.
- Find perspectives conveying a sense of space and depth in each shot.
- Edit pictures to enhance their overall impression.
