Pixiq

In case you have not read the news in the recent years, the real estate market has been a wee bit on the down side lately. It is imperative that today’s real estate professionals do everything they can to get an edge and attract the few buyers to the properties that they are marketing. It has long been known in the advertising industry that graphic appeal has the strongest effect on marketing success.

Photography is a very important—if not the most important—component in real estate marketing. It's the first impression. If the property does not look appealing, why would a potential buyer continue on to read the details? The property might suit their needs to a tee; but alas, they've already moved on.

I am not suggesting that real estate professionals run out and purchase thousands of dollars of high-end photography equipment. However, there are many things that the agent can do. Most point-and-shoot compact cameras are plenty for the task at hand, as long as you know what you're doing. Here are a few tips;

Read the Manual

 Understanding all of your equipment's features is the first step to quality photos. Most user manuals will explain how to compensate for many difficult photographic situations. Knowing what settings to use in each situation is a must.

Get a Tripod

 In many interior spaces, the lighting is not sufficient to produce a clear and colorful image. Using a tripod and the Self-Timer feature of your camera will greatly improve your results.

Schedule Your Session

 Just because you are there does not necessarily mean that it is the best time to take your shots. Make an appointment to shoot with your client. Be aware of the weather and shoot when it's daylight. Midday, when the sun is highest in the sky, may be the best time for interior shots, because it keeps direct sunlight out of the windows. In addition, scheduling gives the owner time to prepare the house. When shooting the exterior, do so early in the morning or just as the sun is setting, when the natural sunlight is illuminating the house from a lower angle. This will reduce harsh shadows and give a warmer tone to the property—soft warm light is better than harsh and cold.

De-clutter

 Be aware of unnecessary items in the rooms. Temporarily remove items from countertops, dressers and floors. Create a photo that will convey the sense of a well organized and maintained home. Make certain to ask the owner to remove any valuable and irreplaceable items from view. The last thing that you want to do is attract a thief! And for goodness sake, put the toilet seats down please.

Take More Photos

 Shoot from many angles. It only takes a few more minutes to walk across the room and shoot again. Different angles may appeal to different people, so cover all your bases.

Keep Up With the Weather

 Revisit and reshoot for several reasons: First, nothing says “no one wants this house” more than a picture of a snow-covered yard being shown in spring or summer. Second, rotate the main photo every couple of weeks. When buyers search the internet and paper, seeing the same photo over and over may make them pass over the house. When the photo is new, it may prompt the buyer to take another look at a property that they had previously eliminated.

Keep It Level

 Take care to ensure that the photos that you take are not at too odd of an angle. Use the viewfinder or LCD screen to get the shot balanced and natural. Making a viewer feel disoriented will not make them feel good about the property.

Don’t “Photoshop” Much

 I do not know what the laws are like in your state, but altering a photo of a property can be construed as misrepresentation. Using photo-editing software is fine for color adjustments, rotations and crops—but that should be all you do. Removing or adding elements that are part of the real estate is a big no-no in most law books.

Be a Natural

 Using software to make the grass fluorescent green or the sky neon blue makes the image appear unnatural. Again, learning the features of the camera and shooting at the right time of day will get a better photo.

Learn a New Skill

 High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography is perfect for interior shots that have difficult lighting. Many cameras cannot expose for both bright exterior light through a window and much dimmer interiors at the same time. But remember not to go overboard! There's lots to read on this subject. 

Get Out of the Car!

 Nothing screams “lazy” like a side-view car mirror included the photo. Enough said.

Putting in the extra effort and using these tips will make the properties that you market more appealing to buyers and show your clients that you are truly the professional that they hired. Best wishes with your listings!

In addition to operating two successful online photography website communities, Todd is a professional photographer and a Real Estate Principal Broker in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.