As a real estate agent, you should understand the value of your images. Images that potential clients see before they even visit a home help them to know if the home fits what they’re looking for. Images help to narrow the search by eliminating homes on the spot.
If your real estate photography is only subpar, it could be costing you sales. That’s why it’s important to know as much about real estate photography as possible. This post will share some insightful tips about real estate photography that will get all of your properties seen.
What is Real Estate Photography?
Real estate photography involves shooting detailed, high-quality real estate photos of the interior and exterior of the homes you list. If you’ve been taking your own photos, you should know that real estate photographers exist and are worth the investment. But, if you prefer to take your own photos, here are some valuable tips you should know.
Equipment You Need for Real Estate Photography
Real estate photography doesn’t require a lot of equipment, but you should have access to the basic tools you need to make your shots come to life.
- Camera: A camera that can shoot manually is a good recommendation for real estate photography. Any crop or full-frame sensor DSLR or mirrorless camera would work.
- Lens: Wide-angle lenses are great for capturing tight spaces because they make the room look more spacious. Do your due diligence and research the best ones on the market.
- Tripod: A tripod is not a necessity but proves useful when you need to shoot long exposures. It keeps your camera stable and ensures you don’t end up with motion blur. Tripods are also good for maintaining consistency in the height of your shots.
- Flash/Equipment: When you’re taking pictures in places with low lighting, flashes prove invaluable. You may want to start with flashguns because they’re more affordable, but eventually, you’ll find that monolights will be a better choice because they have a brighter light output. Make sure to have light stands to support your flash units. It is possible to need multiple stands (1 to 4) in one area.
- Remote Trigger: This is not a necessity but can be beneficial.
How To Prepare for Your Real Estate Shoot
Prepare for the shoot before the shoot. To do this, get familiar with the property to know which rooms you will be shooting and from what angles you will be shooting. If you need props to help the shot, be sure to bring them.
Make sure to pack up all of your equipment, props, etc., the night before, so you have everything you need. Always bring your charger and batteries in case you need them.
Typical shots for a real estate shoot include:
- Two wide-angle shots of each bedroom, the kitchen, and the living room;
- One photo of the bathroom;
- One to three photos of the backyard;
- One to two shots of the front of the home;
- One shot of special features (i.e., garage, firepit).
No two homes are the same, so consider this a starting point and take more or less as you need. Try to take pictures at eye level so the images will be more life-like.
Additional Real Estate Photography Tips
Now that you know what you need and how to get started, apply these helpful tips when doing your real estate photography:
1. Shoot with the light. Without photography training, sometimes it’s hard to know the best way to shoot an area when you have to depend on natural light. Shoot with the light. You may not get everything you want in one image because of the reflection.
2. Use social media. If you have social media accounts, and you probably do, you should also be sharing your pictures there. Don’t just limit your photos to the listing page, let people know what you do and what you’re selling.
3. When staging, create a mood for the season. If it’s summer, show some sunlight; if it’s fall, let’s see some colorful leaves, etc.
4. Edit your photos. Be sure to edit your photos; crop when needed. Fix all defects, adjust photo parameters, and make colors brighter.
5. Turning lights on and off will achieve different things. In most cases, having the lights on will result in a warm look. Play with the lights, but be sure to go for the look you’re after.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the perfect team to grow your real estate business, grow with Lantern Real Estate Group. We have everything you need to market and run your business. Contact us or call 770-765-0005 to learn more about our team.
