15 January 2019

Real Estate Photography Tips

Introduction

Want to learn how to take amazing real estate photos that attract more buyers? Well you’ve come to the right place! In this article, world class real estate photographer Brad Filliponi shares some of his tips and tricks on how to make your property images stand out.

Setting Up The House

Preparation is essential before shooting a property. In fact, preparation is equally as important as the shooting itself! Make sure that:

1. Kitchen stools and dining chairs are pushed in neatly.

2. Leave in items like fruit bowls as they can add an extra pop of color to your image.

3. Open up doors to outside areas to create space.

4. Straighten blinds evenly to give a clean look.

5. Remove pet related items including eating bowls and toys. Hallways are a great place to temporarily place unnecessary items as you generally don’t shoot them.

6. Straighten kettles and coffee machines.

7. Switch on all lights. It’s simple to do and makes a big difference.

8. Make sure to turn off fans as moving subjects in photos don’t look good.

9. If there is a view outside, make sure to pull the blinds up and show it! This will open up the whole room and will make the shot look a lot more spacious.

HDR Photography

HDR photography is where multiple exposures of the same shot are taken. Detail from each exposure can then be blended together seamlessly to create a professional final image.

Blending brackets together is time consuming which is why we offer this service under Image Enhancement edit.

Brad shoots with the D7200 which is ideal for real estate photography. The D7200 automatically brackets and takes 5 sequence shots at 5 different exposures. Brad personally shoots using 5 brackets (rather then 7 or 9).

Composing Your Shot

Try and find the happy medium when composing your shot. Avoid aiming too high and shooting too much ceiling or sky and avoid shooting too low and shooting to much ground. Pin point the shot evenly in the middle and you’ll always get the best shot.

What Not To Shoot

There are a few areas that are generally best to leave out when it comes to real estate photography (as they simply don't sell well!). These areas include:

1. Laundries
2. Separate toilets
3. Pantries
4. Garage interiors

Only shoot these areas if the seller specifically requests for these rooms to be shot.

How To Find The Hero Shot

The hero shot is the best shot of your property (to showcase your listing).  If the property has a pool, 9 times out of 10 the hero shot is going to be by the pool area shooting back towards the house.  It is always best to shoot multiple angles to find the best aspect of the property.

Shooting Exteriors

When shooting exteriors, it is generally good practice to:

1. Include the front garage if the property has one

2. Try and fit in the front door as well

3. Additional items like solar panels are great to feature if the house has them

4. Be mindful of overhead foliage as including this can really make the shot look pretty

5. Don’t shoot gutters. Zoom in if needs be and shoot over it.

So that’s our real estate photography tips for this week! We hope this article taught you a few things to help improve your photography skills.