[ Real Estate Marketing ]

How to Improve Your Real Estate Photography Listing Photos

Stunning photographs complementing your homeowner’s property play an important role in attracting potential buyers. We live in the age of the internet, where visual information through real estate photography can make the most impact on getting your listings found. It has become a vital tool in the home search process with nearly 97 percent of home buyers using it to search for homes and 43 percent stating that using the internet was their first step taken for the home buying process according to the National Association of Realtors Buyers and Sellers Report.

To quickly grab the buyers' attention, you need to present your property as beautifully as you can on the internet. Online listings without optimized pictures fail to interest prospective buyers.

Why Is High-Quality Real Estate Photography Necessary?

Improve real estate listing photos

MLS listings with high-quality photographs attract more buyers as compared to those with poor quality images. It also inspires the potential buyers to imagine how the property will look like when they own it. To quickly close the deal, you need to create visuals that captivate potential buyers' hearts and minds.

Listings with professional photos are much more competitive than their counterparts. They draw in higher initial offers and more serious buyers. This creates an ideal scenario for the sellers and ensures a quick deal.

Taking the highest quality pictures of your seller’s property requires so much more than merely owning an expensive DSLR. It might help you take higher quality pictures. However, you will still need to capture the mood of the property. People love dynamic images that tell a story. It is easier for a buyer to imagine personalizing the property into a living space of their own.

You can turn your real estate photographs into an essential marketing tool with thoughtful compositions. A few basic pointers will enable you to capture the essence of the real estate into pictures. Let's learn how these pointers can help you capture dynamic for your listings.

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Ways to Improve Real Estate Photography

Real Estate Photography Tips:

1. Consider using a Professional Photographer

real estate photographer

Taking high-quality photographs can be a challenge if you don't have professional photography skills. By hiring a professional photographer, you can rest assured that your property listing will stand out. Look for professional photographers that specialize in real estate listing photos. They don't just have the right experience but also understand what buyers look for in a property listing.

To make the process even more successful, make a list of real estate features you want to highlight. By following your instructions, your real estate photographer will create a set of photographs that effectively advertise your property on online platforms for real estate buying and selling.

2. Use a High-Resolution Camera

hig resolution DSLR camera

Hiring a professional photographer can cost you around $200 or more. Not every real estate agent can afford that. If your budget doesn't allow you to hire a professional, you can take the job into your own hands. Invest in a good camera and a tripod stand if you are going to take the pictures yourself.

You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a camera for real estate photos. Any high-resolution DSLR camera will serve your needs. Even some smartphone cameras or your iPhone can get the job done. However, remember, your pictures are going to represent your seller’s property. Buyers will make the initial contact request for a viewing based on these pictures. So be sure your camera can capture high-resolution photographs that sell.

3. Prepare The Property for The Shoot

preparing the property

Staging the property doesn't mean that you have to spend thousands of dollars to create an aesthetic exterior and interior. You only need to make it presentable. Work with the homeowner to get things ready for the photo shoot.

Set the day and time. Natural light plays an important roll in photography so If possible check the weather forecast and book the shoot for a partly cloudy to partly sunny day.

Take the exterior pictures sometime close to noon to avoid harsh shadows.

Have the seller’s prepare for the photo shoot. Now that you know when you will be taking the listing photos, it’s time to educate your homeowners on how to prepare their home for the best results.
Give your clients a Homeowner’s Prep Checklist ahead of time so they can properly prepare for the photo shoot..

You will be taking lots of photos for the listing and other real estate marketing, so you want them to be exceptional. Provide your sellers with a detailed list that include these basic steps:

  • Turn on all the lights
  • Open the windows to allow as much natural lighting as possible.
  • Clean off the kitchen counter
  • Remove magnets from refrigerator
  • Clear the house of clutter

Get the best MLS – required property-front shot. A standard ground level shot of the front of the property is usually adequate. However, there are some situations when using a tripod or drone to take an elevated shot can show off the property better. Real estate aerial photography works is appropriate is some situations. Homes with large front yards, overgrown trees and bushes, or located on a steep hill are a few examples

Recommended List:
Interior and Exterior Shots

Exteriors
Exterior Front Wide
Front walk-up
Exterior Back Wide
Pool/spa
Details and Features

Twilight Shoots

Kitchen and Dining Area
Kitchen
Eat-in Area
Indoor-Outdoor
Dining Room

Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Master bedroom
Master bathroom
Master closet
Other bedrooms
Other bathrooms

Main Living Area
Entrance
Open concept wide
Living room
Family room
Fireplace
Stairs

Miscellaneous
Den
Office
Loft
Man Cave
Laundry room
Media room
Basement
Subdivision Amenities

4. Get Diagonal Shots

prepare real estate listing photos

For real estate photography, diagonal shots are the most effective. They are ideal for covering the interior of your property. Diagonal photographs show the flow and the depth of the living space and capture all the right angles.

Diagonal shots also work great to capture the natural landscape. While purchasing a property, the buyers look for a lot more than space and pricing. They look for that comfortable feeling that makes them feel at home. By using high-quality images, you tap into the dreams and expectations of your potential buyers. Therefore, you are attempting to capture the feeling of the house through your real estate photographs.

5. Shoot What's Important

real estate listing photos

Shoot pictures with an interesting subject matter. Don't include uninteresting images. Before you start the shoot, make a list of the property's features you want to highlight. No one is interested in looking into a closet or a cluttered garage. Only include those images that are going to help you sell the house.
 
Skip the rooms that don't complement the overall impression you are trying to convey through the pictures, for example, the laundry area. Shoot the strengths of your real estate but keep in mind the goal behind real estate photography. These photos are not going to be used to document the property for insurance. So try to create visuals that inspire buyers to think of their future in this property.

Easy Ways To Improve Your Real Estate Listing Photos

Selling your property online can be a challenge if you don't have high-quality real estate photographs. Hiring a professional photographer can help. However, if you have a limited budget, use the above real estate photography tips and tricks that add more life to your real estate photography. As a real estate agent, you or your photographer should use a high-resolution camera with a tripod. Take diagonal shots of both the home's interior and exterior, preferable in natural light. Stick to the areas that complement the feel you are trying to create around the property. By listing high quality interior and exterior photos, you will attract more buyers which can lead to quicker sales.

Online Real Estate Photography Classes

To elevate your listing photos to the next level, consider taking advantage of the incredible opportunities available on Skillshare.com. Their online real estate photography classes offer a convenient and cost-effective way to hone your skills and capture stunning property images. Skillshare provides a wide range of courses taught by photography experts, covering everything from composition and lighting to advanced editing techniques. By enrolling in these courses, you can gain the knowledge and confidence needed to create visually captivating listings that set you apart in the competitive real estate market.

take better real estate photos
improve your real estate photograpy