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The impact of real estate photography is substantial. On the other hand, there are a lot of pitfalls to avoid which can lead to subpar photos that don’t tell the story or even worse distract from it altogether.
More leads and sales may be generated by using high-quality photographs in real estate listings. Make the area look its best and use high-quality equipment to get the greatest photographs. For further information, we consulted the experts and asked them for their top real estate photography ideas and tools to assist you in selling more houses.
The following are 38 of our favorite real estate photography tips from the pros:
1. Examine the reasons why great real estate photographs work.
Diana Bourgeois, Fit Small Business Real Estate Writer
Analyzing outstanding photographs to discover why they work is one of the best methods to learn how to master real estate photography. We all know when real estate agent photography fails, but it’s crucial to consider the angles, lighting, staging, and other factors of amazing photographs when determining how to capture real estate photos for the best results.
2. Purchase a wide-angle lens.
Square One Condos’ Sales Representative, Ivan Ciraj
Ciraj offers two real estate photography pointers. To begin, he claims that capturing the complete spirit of the location necessitates the use of a wide-angle lens. He claims, in particular, that employing a wide-angle camera lens allows for broader images with more depth and clarity.
Second, Ciraj stated that employing HDR photography would help you stand out from the crowd if you want more tips on how to capture real estate images. When you take three shots of the same subject but at various shutter speeds for a combination of diverse lighting, you’re doing HDR photography. These three photographs are combined into one HDR image, which generates a mix of varied lighting and brings out the details.
3. Get Sharp Photos in Natural Light by Using a Tripod
Erin Spain, ErinSpain.com, is a home and DIY blogger.
When photographed in natural light, most houses seem to be considerably more inviting. Pictures shot without a tripod in natural light might seem dark and fuzzy if you don’t have professional flash equipment or a very steady hand. Tripods let you use slower shutter speeds to capture natural light while still maintaining clear shots.
4. Decorate the House, But Don’t Go Overboard
Spade and Archer Design Agency’s Founder, Justin M. Riordan
Houses that aren’t occupied are difficult to see. Furniture gives areas size, demonstrates usage, and adds light. The room would be nothing but walls, windows, floors, and ceilings without it. It’s critical to demonstrate how the area is utilized and how large it is. Stop decorating after you’ve taken care of these objects. When it comes to decorating, there comes a moment when it’s less about the home and more about the décor.
5. Use a 3D Virtual Tour to Showcase Listings
Evan Tarver, Fit Small Business’s General Manager
As technology advances, you’ll be able to provide additional visual possibilities in addition to your professional-quality real estate photography. Many customers may expect you to give a virtual tour of their property as part of your services. Consider Matterport for an easy-to-use tour creation tool. Their high-quality virtual tours aren’t just a complement to a well-rounded MLS listing; posting them on Instagram and other social media platforms may help you reach out to individuals who are truly interested in your neighborhood.
6. For the best viewing experience, choose a landscape orientation.
eXp Realty’s John B. Thomas, Jr. is a Realtor and Associate Broker.
Our brain prefers the horizontal view over the smartphone vertical picture we see far too often because the human eye sees the world in a roughly 4:3 aspect ratio, though the standard ratio is moving to 16:9, and our brain finds the horizontal, or landscape, view more pleasing than the smartphone vertical picture we see far too often.
7. Forget about megapixels and invest in a full-frame camera.
United Real Estate’s Chris Feltus is a Realtor.
When buying a new digital camera, the most crucial parameter to consider is sensor size, not megapixels. Larger sensors, in general, offer greater image quality and low-light performance, but more significantly, a broader field of view, which enables you to photograph more of the room.
Take a look at the sample picture below to see the impact that the correct photography equipment can make on what a real estate agent can capture. Your typical digital camera would capture the pink box. A full-frame camera would catch the dark blue line that runs around the edge of the shot.
8. Highlight the room’s best feature.
Apartable’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Liat Tzoubari
Our #1 real estate photography advice is to capture a shot that highlights each room’s selling appeal, whether it’s the natural light, the spaciousness, or the small nook in the corner that piques buyers’ interest.
9. Get every room you’re going to shoot ready.
Linova Photography produced a room-by-room guide demonstration on how to prepare for a photo session for great guidance on how to photograph real estate images. Here are some pointers for getting your kitchen and bathroom ready for your picture shoot:
To prepare a kitchen for a picture shoot, follow these steps:
- Remove everything from the fridge’s top and doors, including magnets, business cards, photographs, and other mementos.
- Clear and wipe off the countertops to give them a polished, clutter-free appearance.
- Dish soaps, sponges, paper towels, and other items surrounding the sink should be hidden.
- Make a lovely set of plates for the kitchen or dining table.
- If it doesn’t distract from the finishes, place a bowl of fruit or a bunch of flowers on the kitchen counter.
To prepare a bathroom for a photoshoot, follow these steps:
- Place the toilet seats and lids on the toilets.
- Hide toiletries on the counter, in the shower, or in the tub.
- Clean all glass surfaces, including mirrors.
- Remove the old towels from the doors, showers, and bathtubs and replace them with a new pair that matches the paint or tiles.
- Place flowers or a potted plant on the counter, depending on the space.
10. Hire a freelance photographer or editor
Kiah Treece, Fit Small Business Real Estate Writer
You might use an internet marketplace like Fiverr to hire someone who already understands the finest real estate photography strategies. You may discover a freelance photographer by posting a task with your desired parameters and pricing range on Fiverr. You have the option of selecting a freelancer with the appropriate knowledge, experience, and reviews. It also assists you with communication, legal contracts, and payment management.
You may also hire a photo editor via Fiverr if you already have images of your home but they require lighting modifications or the removal or addition of things. You don’t need to go to the trouble of buying editing software and putting time and money into acquiring a talent that can be done for you by someone else.
11. Adjust Your Work Schedule to the Weather
Weather conditions such as wind, rain, snow, fog, and other factors may make or break your real estate photography. If agents in wet locations don’t know how to deal with bad weather, they may end up with muddy images or a growing number of cancellations.
PhotographyForRealEstate.net recommends hiring a professional photographer who understands how to make the most of the circumstances whether you reside in Seattle or another place with a long rainy season. Just be sure they provide “sky replacement” services in case of bad weather.
12. Schedule a photoshoot
Giovanni Farinacci, Keller Williams Prestige Courtier Immobilier Real Estate Broker
I usually direct the shoot as it moves from room to room. For a 3,000-square-foot house, a quality shoot takes roughly two hours.
13. Make use of current technology, such as drones.
Madison White, Washington Capital Partners’ Marketing Assistant
Consider incorporating drone footage for your listing if the property is huge. The technology is inexpensive enough that even a college student could accomplish it (just make sure that they are licensed).
14. Add a splash of color to your photos to make them more vibrant.
HAVEN Real Estate + Design’s Tamela Ekstrom is the owner and broker.
We choose a neutral color palette when marketing properties so that they appeal to a wider range of consumers. Pops of vibrant color, on the other hand, shoot beautifully in real estate photos. To make real estate images shine and attract attention, my best advice is to include bold artwork and vibrant cushions.
15. Shoot at dusk during the ‘Magic Hour’
Willis Allen Real Estate’s Megan Luce and Kelly Dinnsen are Realtors.
One real estate photography trick that might provide striking effects is to shoot exteriors at night. Take a look at this stunning image from Willis Allen Real Estate:
16. Be Conscious of Distortion
One of the most important things to remember while learning how to capture real estate photography is to photograph a room as if you were walking through it. Photos don’t always reflect the human eye’s sense of space, and they may occasionally distort aesthetic aspects. Make sure to go through your real estate photos carefully and correct any flaws.
Alan Carville described an issue known as the “keystone effect,” which happens often around architectural elements. Vertical lines in your images may be distorted by lenses, making tall lines look bent or leaning backward, as seen in the example below. Fortunately, if you know what to look for in Photoshop, you can correct this.
17. Use a wide-angle lens rather than a fisheye lens.
The Magic Brush, Inc. owner Jennifer Allwood
In real estate photography, there is a current trend of using low-quality fisheye lenses to photograph properties. This not only looks absurd, but it also deceives the prospective customer. Using a lens that distorts the area to make a place seem bigger than it is would not pique a buyer’s attention. They will come expecting to see a mansion but instead will see a hut. The finest images are those that portray the place in its true light.
18. Emphasize space and natural light in your photographs.
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services’ Leah Brown | Anderson Properties
Home purchasers are always on the lookout for space and natural light. That’s why Leah Brown of Berkshire Hathaway’s #1 real estate photography suggestion is to think about space and natural light. Check out her comparison photos below for a great illustration of this method. Which one seems to be more appealing?
19. Don’t Overdo It With Photo Editing
Founder of 399Retouch, Miles Abernathy
We are sometimes requested to edit real estate images in order to improve the appearance of a home on the internet. Making a picture seem the same way the eye views the genuine situation and making alterations that do not portray truth may be a tight line to walk.
Photos shot in direct sunshine, for example, often show deep shadows beneath the eaves. We were instructed to enhance the shadows so they appeared in the shot as they would to a person. We’ve also “switched on” and “turned off” the outdoor lights, since the switch may be set to either position.
A request from a European hotel was a little more dubious. The owner had just planted a hedge with no leaves on the individual plants. He wanted us to depict how it will appear in a few months when it sprouted some leaves. We also tweaked certain interior photos, such as removing a person, removing a reflection from a mirror, and plumping up a couch cushion.
20. Begin by using the pre-programmed editing options.
Tanya Goodall Smith, WorkStory Photography’s Lead Photographer
Smith recommends starting with preset editing settings in Photoshop or Lightroom if you want to learn how to produce professional-quality real estate images. She recommends the SLR Lounge Lightroom presets in particular for giving your real estate photos a professional touch.
21. Enroll in a video course
Consider taking a photography school if you’ve ever wanted to perform a twilight outside picture session for a listing. Although it may seem that capturing great sunset shots is straightforward, there is an art to achieving the ideal image, and the lovely light may make it incredibly challenging. You can, however, make the most of your camera and make your properties sparkle with internet photography instructions like those supplied by renowned photographer Mike Kelley.
22. Think About Taking Your Own Photographs
Long & Foster Real Estate’s Robyn Porter is a Realtor.
I take all of my own images as a real estate agent. I engaged a “professional” photographer when I had my first multimillion-dollar listing, believing I should spend the additional money on nice images. I hired a prominent photographic studio in the Washington, D.C. region that was well-liked by the agents in my office. The photographer arrived (late! ), and it became out that shooting shots were a side job for him. He also worked as a real estate agent. He claimed the images will be ready the following day. Given his expensive camera and equipment, I had high expectations.
What a waste of time. His images were mostly of furniture, with the ceiling taking up the majority of each one. I ended up utilizing just one photo—an outside shot—after spending hundreds of dollars on my own and retaking the photographs myself. I never hired another “professional” after that dreadful experience. In fact, sellers have chosen me over another agency because of my images, despite the fact that I’ve never attended a photography lesson!
23. Light on Vacant Land
Photographing vacant property is difficult for any agent. While they may have wonderful qualities that make them the ideal location for a variety of possibilities, displaying these advantages in real estate photos might seem unattainable. Natural elements should be highlighted, and the property’s view should be highlighted, according to LotNetwork.com. Include images of the surrounding area and, if available, drone video to give a bird’s eye perspective of the location.
24. Make Use of Your iPhone or a Simple Camera
CoMax Properties’ owner, Joe Cordes
In terms of camera equipment, it all relies on your circumstances. If you’re a one-person or small team capturing your own images, you have a few possibilities. The first is to just use or invest in a high-quality phone. The newest iPhones take fantastic shots, feature portrait mode, and would be perfectly capable of photographing most rooms in a home (if the correct lighting is available).
Another alternative is to get a basic DSLR camera (the most popular probably being the Canon or Nikon). At this stage, a basic one (without features like autofocus) would be a pretty low-cost business expenditure and a decent investment for you. The DSLR will produce better images if you have the money, but it will have a steeper learning curve. Regardless of which of those two methods you choose, the most important thing is to make sure you have adequate light and that you snap images from intriguing perspectives.
25. Avoid taking photos of an apartment’s exterior.
Yoreevo LLC’s James McGrath is a co-founder and a real estate salesperson.
We usually deal with apartments since we’re based in New York City. I would not recommend starting an apartment listing with outside images of the building. You only have one lead picture to catch a buyer’s eye, and a generic architectural photograph is unlikely to do so.
More significantly, I believe that purchasers have an unconscious prejudice towards outside photographs. If an apartment is a mess that requires a lot of maintenance, there will only be external photos—so that’s what I assume when I see a lead exterior shot. You don’t want customers to come in with low expectations right away (if they even click past the initial photo).
26. Make Your Staging Appeal to Everyone
NextHome, Inc.’s Chief Strategic Officer, Keith Robinson
First and foremost, ensure that you stage as required. People design their houses to their preferences, which is fine, but a stager will do it for the masses. To put it another way, it will appeal to a bigger audience. When you go into a Pottery Barn shop, there’s a reason it looks the way it does.
Their staging may not be as practical in real life, but it is certainly attractive to the eye. You only have one opportunity to create a good first impression on a possible buyer, so make the most of it. Always stage the house so that it has the greatest chance of connecting with a buyer.
27. Practice taking photos to get the right angles.
The Hiscock SOLD Team, Kyle Hiscock, Realtor
If you’re new to real estate photography, the easiest approach to figure out which angles would best represent your listing is to practice and shoot a lot of images. You can always delete bad photos, but you won’t be able to select one if you haven’t taken it yet. I recommend photographing each room from nearly every angle possible.
28. Improve Angles
SVN International Corp.’s Chief Development Officer, Solomon Poretsky
Your eyes and feet are your most potent photography instruments. Moving a few feet (or inches!) in either direction may make a major impact if your angle is off; simply glancing at the photo after you’ve shot it (assuming you’re using digital) can tell you whether it’s a keeper or if you need to do anything else.
29. Use a website to display your best photos.
Miranda Paquet, The Close’s Director of Operations
If you hide your real estate photography on your website or neglect to include it in your listings, it will have no effect. Use a firm like Incom to create a real estate lead-generating website for your company, with your real estate images front and center, to ensure that your top-notch photos are attracting prospective buyers. All you have to do is provide the images, and they’ll make sure your site is simple to browse and has relevant listings.
30. Only share the best photos.
Tokeet, Joel Bennett, Content
Take a variety of images of each room, but don’t include them all in the listing. Use the best photo of each room—maybe two if it’s a huge one, an unusual form, or simply really detailed. Nobody wants to look through your whole photo collection; they only want to know whether the home is worth purchasing. Show them the finest, and they’ll take care of the rest.
31. Rearrange Furniture to Make More Room
It might be tough to picture a whole room at once in flats, ancient houses, and other compact areas. Moving furniture about to obtain the right perspective and filming through doors to capture the whole room are two methods to make the most of the space, according to Design Sponge. You may also remove distracting elements from your images, such as cables, furniture, or distracting artwork, to make them more generally attractive.
32. Make Use Of Up-To-Date Photographs
Todd Jones of Rodeo Realty, HomeLight, is a full-service real estate broker.
Great images are the most significant aspect of listings. I’ve seen listing agents advertise homes and not include a single picture for whatever reason. And it is a heinous crime. That’s doing the vendor a terrible disservice. Uploading fresh or updated photos whenever you can is a wonderful little technique. If someone rearranges the furniture, take a fresh picture and upload it since this will assist the MLS to start a new search. Someone may have seen it previously, but it may have piqued their interest in a new manner.
33. Consider yourself a buyer
Director of Homewares Insider, Bryan Stoddard
One of the most crucial pieces of advice I can provide is to keep the photo’s composition in mind. The aesthetics and composition of your images should be a top focus. Put yourself in the position of prospective customers before snapping a snapshot. What do you think they’d want to see? What areas of the house would they be most interested in seeing?
Once you’ve decided what you want to display in your images, set up your camera in such a way that the composition is balanced and organized. It should have an underlying logic that demonstrates exactly what you want your clients to view. If you decide that the kitchen is the most significant space, for example, take images that clearly demonstrate the kitchen’s capacity and location on the property.
In any event, even if it doesn’t come easily to you, you should always place the primary subject of your shots in the third third of the frame.
34. Concentrate on the Main Image
Founder of Agent in a Box, Craig Heppel
Getting your primary picture correct is my single greatest photography recommendation for selling your house. With the majority of house buyers looking through hundreds, if not thousands, of listings, this image’s impact is critical. It’s typically the deciding element in whether or not someone clicks on your ad. It’s the “money shot,” as they say. So experiment with various angles and pictures, and then ask your friends and family for their feedback.
35. Work with the light
Emily Wood, G2D Group’s Marketing Director and Photographer
Focus on light is my one piece of advice for real estate photographs. The time of day and quantity of natural light is important to me. For exterior building photographs, for example, I prefer to have a variety of alternatives to pick from, such as stunning blue sky, overcast clouds, and sunset possibilities. The sunset photographs allow for any outside lights on the buildings to be highlighted, clear blue sky for overall appeal, and overcast to accent the exterior colors.
Natural lighting is always preferable for inside images, an overcast sky is ideal for shots with clean white windows, and blue skies are terrific for highlighting a stunning vista. The difference is all in the light. If you’re shooting in an area where there’s no natural light, bring studio lights with you.
36. Make use of a virtual staging service
Biproxi’s Head of Sales, Patrick Frank
Agents may also use virtual staging, which is a relatively recent option. When prospective buyers see the area filled with furnishings, it may significantly improve the space and pique their attention. It’s also far less expensive than hiring a staging business to furnish your property.
37. Don’t Ignore the Negatives
Alyson Silverman, KW Calabasa Broker Associate
To be honest and realistic, take images of the plainly required fixes as well as any potential drawbacks. If it’s a fixer-upper, take pictures of it so you don’t irritate the individuals who took the effort to set up an appointment to view it.
38. Make Use of Appropriate Camera Settings and Equipment
My Active Agent’s Founder, Benjamin Ross
For inside shots, use a camera wall mount, particularly in smaller dwellings. Because your body takes up space, a suction cup mount allows you to capture more picture areas.
On bright days, use UV and polarizing filters for your outside photographs. If the subject is photographed with too much light, a lot of information might be lost. These lens coverings might help you prevent overexposure.
If possible, adjust the aperture, ISO, and shutter speed manually. If you want a genuinely professional output, don’t depend on automated settings. When it comes to photography, a little research may go a long way.
Use caution when utilizing lamps and light fixtures as a source of light. If at all feasible, natural light should be used instead of artificial light.
Final Thoughts
With high-quality, professionally chosen images, you can take your real estate marketing to the next level. Make the most of the local weather conditions, emphasize attractive characteristics, and use the necessary equipment to make your property stand out. After you’ve taken your photos, utilize editing software or pay a professional to fix the lighting and touch them up. When you combine these with thorough listings, you’ll have purchasers in no time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best practices in photography for real estate?
A: The best practices in photography for real estate are to make sure you have a high-quality camera, that your subject is well lit, and that youre doing the right thing by getting up close.
How can I make my real estate pictures look professional?
A: If you are taking pictures of homes and they come out dark or blurry, one option is to use a tripod. Another idea would be to invest in a DSLR camera and lenses that cover wide angles.
