real estate photography Photography Articles

3 Real Estate Photography Cameras to Consider for 2021

3 Real Estate Photography Cameras to Consider for 2020

photo byCentralITAlliance via iStock

Real estate photography is hard enough, which is why it pains me when I see photographers using the wrong real estate photography gear. 

Real estate photography cameras need weather-sealed bodies, for shooting in the cold winter months, great low-light capabilities for those closet and basement shots, and the ability to shoot quality video because almost every single client is asking for video nowadays. 

Real estate photography cameras also need to fit in your price range, because there’s no point in spending loads on your real estate photography gear if your business isn’t bringing that much in yet. 

So, I’ve compiled a list of the best cameras for real estate photography in a wide range of prices to fit every budget.  

Canon EOS Rebel T6

canon eos rebel t6 

First up on our real estate photography cameras list is the all-around Canon EOS Rebel T6. If you read my review on the Canon EOS Rebel T6 a few months ago, then you know this is one of my go-to cameras for people starting their own photography business.

The Canon EOS Rebel T6 is an entry-level DSLR (the only one on this list) and deserves its spot as one of the top cameras for real estate photography due to its lower price tag, its full HD 1080p video capabilities, it's good autofocus system, and the fact that it shoots good real estate photos as soon as you pull it out of the box.

canon eos rebel t6 2 

Canon EOS Rebel T6 Specs:

  • 18MP CMOS sensor with DIGIC 4+ image processor
  • Full HD 1080p video capabilities
  • 9 point AF system
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • 3” LCD screen with 920,000 dots
  • Great battery life
  • ISO range of 100-6400

canon eos rebel t6 3

Canon EOS Rebel T6 Pros:

  • Good battery life
  • Incredible array of compatible lenses
  • Compact 

Canon EOS Rebel T6 Cons:

  • ISO performance isn’t all that great
  • Poor live view mode that drains battery
  • Overexposes images in low light shooting 

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Nikon Z6

nikon z6

Another important factor of real estate photography cameras is that they should be able to shoot high-quality video, which this Nikon Z6 more than handles. It offers 4K video and also comes with 6K time-lapse, although you’re less likely to use this in your real estate photography business. 

The Nikon Z6 is hands down the best mirrorless camera for a DSLR owner, and what I mean by this is the Nikon Z6 is compatible with hundreds of F-mount Nikkor lenses if you have the FTZ adapter, so there’s no reason to sell all of your Nikon gear to make the transition to mirrorless. 

The Nikon Z6 is also one of the best cameras for real estate photography because it comes with an electronic viewfinder, a 3” touchscreen, and easy to understand controls. 

nikon z6 2

Nikon Z6 Specs:

  • 24MP full-frame sensor
  • 4K video capabilities
  • 12fps burst mode
  • 6K timelapse
  • 273 point AF system
  • ISO range of 100-51,200
  • Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 

nikon z6 3

Nikon Z6 Pros:

  • Incredible low-light shooting
  • 4K video 
  • In-body image stabilization 

Nikon Z6 Cons:

  • Poor battery life
  • Single memory card slot
  • Tilting screen, rather than fully articulating 

Nikon D750 

nikon d750

My Nikon D750 by George Rex licensed under CC by 2.0  

The Nikon D750 represents everything I love about real estate photography cameras. The Nikon D750 matches its price, which is to say it functions excellently. It has a 24MP full-frame sensor, can shoot 6.5fps, and comes with a tilting vari-angle 3.2” LCD screen. 

Plus, the Nikon D750’s video capabilities are good; it shoots full HD video and maintains its 1,230-shot battery life while doing so.  

Best of all, now that the Nikon D780 - the D750’s replacement - has been announced, you can expect a significant price drop on the now four-year-old D750.

It was already one of the most affordable full frame cameras on the market, but it should become even more affordable in the coming weeks!

nikon d750 2

Nikon D750 Specs:

  • 24.3MP full-frame sensor
  • 1,230-shot battery life
  • ISO range of 100-12,800
  • 51-point AF system
  • 3.2” tilting LCD screen with 1.2m dots
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Nikon D750 Pros:

  • High ISO performance for low-light shooting
  • 51-point AF system that is fast
  • Tilting LCD screen  

Nikon D750 Cons:

  • Remote shooting needs improvement
  • Expensive add-ons
  • No 4K video capabilities 

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Regardless of the Camera You Use…

best cameras for real estate photography

photo by vicnt via iStock 

Whether you use a mirrorless camera, a DSLR, a crop sensor or full frame, one thing remains true - you should be bracketing your exposures and merging them in post-processing.

Even the Nikon Z6, which has the most robust capabilities of the cameras listed above, can’t accommodate every lighting situation.

This is especially true when the dynamic range in the room is high. If you take a single exposure, the camera will try to expose for the highlights (i.e., a bright window), thus making it well-exposed and leaving the rest of the room dark. 

The converse can also happen - the camera might expose for the darker areas of the room, which leaves the view out of the windows overexposed.

As seen in the video above, bracketing and merging the exposures is a quick way to overcome this issue.

This tutorial is an excellent guideline for learning how to bracket exposures. As you’ll see, it’s a simple matter of adjusting a few camera settings!

Once you have the bracketed exposures, you can easily blend them together in post-processing to create a single image that’s well-exposed throughout.

In a business in which your images can make or break a sale, it’s important to put forth your absolute best work. Using this bracket and merge technique will certainly help you do that.

 



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4 Real Estate Photography Tips for Maximizing Curb Appeal

4 Real Estate Photography Tips for Maximizing Curb Appeal

Photo by Binyamin Mellish from Pexels

The goal of real estate photography is to help sell a house as quickly as possible, and in the coming months amidst coronavirus fears, this is going to become more and more difficult.

So, real estate photographers are going to be in high demand. If you haven’t gotten into the niche yet, it may just be time for you to do so. Diversify! 

Here are some of my best real estate photography tips for new real estate photographers. 

Take Photos in the Spring

real estate photography tips 1

 photo bycan72 via iStock

Unless a house is undergoing major changes, like a roof replacement, it is always best to take exterior real estate photos in the spring. 

Blooming flowers are much more appealing than bare lawns or huge piles of black snow on the street. 

real estate photography tips 2

 photo byBeyondImages via iStock

Exterior real estate photography also showcases exactly how long a home has been on the market, so if your home is still on the market in winter, it may be helpful to take new photos.

This way it doesn’t look like the house has been on the market for months without any takers.

 

Recommended Real Estate Photography Reading:

 

Choose the Correct Time to Take Exterior Photos

tips for curb appeal 3

Photo by vu anh on Unsplash 

Ideally, exterior photos should be taken in the early morning or late evening hours. This allows you to capitalize on soft, golden hour lighting that diminishes the harshness of shadows that you encounter when photographing homes in the middle of a bright, sunny day. 

Of course, your schedule can’t always accommodate photographing a property as the sun rises or sets (nor will the schedule of the homeowner…) so you have to have other tricks up your sleeve in order to get the best possible images.

 

A great tip when you’re shooting in challenging lighting conditions is to bracket your exposures. Learn how to do so in the video above. 

For example, when you’re photographing the exterior of a property in the early afternoon, you’ll encounter bright highlights and deep shadows that can look unbecoming. 

But if you bracket your exposures - which entails taking three or more images, each at a different exposure level - you can overcome the wide dynamic range in the scene. 

The result of bracketing is that you have one image that’s exposed for the shadows, another that’s exposed for the midtones, and another that’s exposed for the highlights.

Then, you merge these images together to create a composite shot that’s well-exposed throughout.

Not only is this trick easy to use, but it also results in much-improved photos. It’s a win-win!

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Stage the House

tips for curb appeal 4

photo by Daisy-Daisy via iStock 

While it shouldn’t necessarily be your job as the photographer, houses need to be staged before you take photos of them. And one of my pro real estate photography tips is that whatever you don’t include in your contract, doesn’t get done.  

So, make sure your client knows they need to do any gardening, landscaping or trash removal before you do their exterior real estate photography. 

Additionally, they need to clean the inside of the house, which includes deep cleaning things like carpets and windows, but also includes getting rid of small things that make the house look lived in. 

real estate photography tutorial 5

photo by tomazl via iStock 

Remove the dish soap from the counter. Get rid of any dog beds or laundry baskets. If the house is still undergoing renovations, make sure these supplies aren’t lying around during your photoshoot.  

Use Your Composition 101 Tips

exterior real estate photography 6

Houses are just like people, they have good and bad angles. A ton of real estate photography tips lists forget to include information on showcasing the most unique aspects of a house.  

So don’t throw out everything you learned in your composition 101 class when you start real estate photography. 

Make sure there aren’t any obstructions in your exterior real estate photography. Try getting low and getting high to capture the beauty of the property. Cropping can occur after your photoshoot, but getting more information into your shot can’t, so widen your view. 

real estate photographer pro

Plus, if you still need tips for curb appeal, you should start taking a real estate photography class, like Real Estate Photography Pro.

Unlike an in-person class, Real Estate Photography Pro allows you immediate access to downloadable content like video tutorials, presets, and templates. But, just like an in-person class, you can still ask questions on their weekly live Q&A sessions. 

Never find yourself wanting for real estate photography tips again. Get the help you need sooner rather than later, that way your images - and your business - will be the better for it!

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4 Reasons Why Good Real Estate Photography is Worth It

5 Reasons Why Good Real Estate Photography is Worth It

 photo byPurdue9394 via iStock

The real estate industry is currently on fire. Demand is absolutely through the roof, mortgage rates have never been lower, and in some places, houses are being snatched up within hours of hitting the market. 

For these reasons and more, people are starting to doubt the benefits of good real estate photography.  

I understand where these people are coming from, too. If their houses are going to be purchased so quickly after hitting the market regardless, then why should they have to pay for good real estate photography? 

But, here’s the thing. Good real estate photography has a lot of benefits and I’m going to talk about a few of them here. 

Good Real Estate Photography Doesn’t Mean Hundreds of Photos

good real estate photography

 photo byPC Photography via iStock

When you DIY your real estate photography, you are either going to make one of two mistakes. You will take far too few pictures or you will take far too many pictures. 

When you take far too few pictures, you will turn off potential buyers because buyers want to understand what each section of the house looks like before coming to view it. When you take far too many pictures, you might be wasting your time and your potential buyers’ time. 

Of course, each property is different, so the number of photos that hits the sweet spot will depend on individual properties.

taking high quality real estate photos

 photo byPC Photography via iStock

But, someone who understands good real estate photography will likely give you around 10-15 interior photos and 5-10 exterior photos for a typical home. With this number of photos, a potential buyer can learn all the information they will ever need about a home.  

Here’s a tip no matter how many photos you take: use HDR techniques to get the best-quality interior photos.

The trouble with photographing interior spaces is that any windows in the room are flooded with natural light while the rest of the room is far darker. Even high-end professional cameras can’t accommodate that wide range of light to dark in a single shot.

The solution is to bracket exposures - take three or more images that are exactly the same compositionally but are exposed at different levels for the light, midtone, and dark areas of the room. See what I mean in the video above.

Then all you have to do is merge the images together into a single composite photo that is well-exposed throughout. This technique is easy, quick, and far cheaper than relying on artificial lights to brighten up interior spaces.

Photography for Realtors: Staging a Home is Half the Battle

professional real estate photography

 photo byJodi Jacobson via iStock

Professional real estate photography ensures that clients can see themselves living in a home and a big part of this is ensuring that the home is staged properly. 

Having no furniture in a home, or worse having bad furniture in a home, means that your potential buyers will not automatically connect with a house the way they otherwise would have.

When a potential buyer is emotionally invested in purchasing a house, they will be far more likely to offer a price that is above asking. Good real estate photography, along with proper staging, may, in the end, make you far more money when your home sells. 

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Good Real Estate Photography Makes a Home Seem Bigger

real estate photography tips

 photo byAnatoli Igolkin via iStock

One of the best benefits of real estate photography is that it features all of the perfect angles of a house. It also showcases a house in the most beautiful light.  

When a professional pairs great lighting with great angles, each room in the home offers its best possible first impression to buyers.

Additionally, properly composed images help showcase the space in each room. This means that if a potential buyer has told their Realtor that they won’t look at any homes under 1,250 square feet, but your home falls just short of this, the Realtor may choose to show it to their clients anyway because the photos make it look big enough to be worth it.

Of course, staging has something to do with this as well - a room that is cluttered with too much furniture will look and feel smaller than it actually is. By removing some pieces and staging the same room, potential buyers will be more impressed with its space.

Post-Production Makes a Home More Desirable

benefits of real estate photography

 photo bysl-f via iStock

Post-production makes the images of a home far more desirable than if you were to simply put every photo you took of a home up online. 

Think about it - buyers don’t want to have to sift through subpar images looking for what they’re really after. They want to be fascinated by each photo they see. 

Culling your images and editing only the best ones will help you highlight the features and amenities of the home more effectively. Whether you use Lightroom, Photoshop, or another program to process your images, take the necessary time to evaluate your images and do the needed touch-ups, that way the properties you photograph are presented in the best possible light.

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4 Tips for a Great Commercial Real Estate Photo

4 Tips for a Great Commercial Real Estate Photo

photo bybuzbuzzer via iStock

Commercial real estate photography is a demanding niche but a very rewarding one as well. It can be demanding in the sheer volume of images needed, the types of extras requested, and the time involved. 

Commercial real estate photography can be rewarding in that you have increased revenue, develop a good reputation in the industry, and in the enjoyment of producing outstanding images. Here are a few commercial real estate photography tips that we have learned through trial and error and frm following the good advice of other photographers.

It’s Not Fine Art

commercial real estate

photo byonurdongel via iStock

I’m a landscape photographer. That’s my main love in this art and I like to make fine art images of landscapes, cityscapes, interesting architecture, and other other styles of photography. Real estate images, including commercial real estate photography, are not fine art subjects.

What do I mean by that? Real estate images are meant to show a realistic picture of a scene, not an artful interpretation. This doesn’t mean we can skimp on quality. In fact, our quality needs to be close to perfect.

Instead of transforming the images by means of exposure and composition methods, we create the most truthful rendition of the scene as a photograph. It’s like commercial product photography. While not changing the reality of the image, we simply make it the best version of reality.

But It’s Still Artful

commercial real estate photography

photo byA_Lein via iStock

We can never get fully past the idea that this craft is an artform. This holds true in commercial real estate photography, too. We take a scene and use our crafting ability of this art, we create an image that shows an accurate and appealing view of reality. 

Using composition tips for real estate photography will let us show a property at its best. A composition such as showing three walls in a room and leveling out the camera with the ultra wide angle lenses we use will show an entire view of a room in as little as two images without straight lines being distorted.

Lighting tips for real estate photography will let us show a huge dynamic range in our images. The art of adapting exposure to encompass the darkest areas and the brightest areas in one image will enable commercial real estate images to be a beautiful work of art as well as being a true representation of the reality within a scene. 

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Bracket and Merge HDR for Exposures

commercial real estate photography tips

photo byonurdongel via iStock

An important method of making the commercial real estate images both artful and realistic is the bracket and merge HDR technique already used by many real estate photographers for residential MLS listing and virtual tours. 

In addition to being able to accurately portray a scene by capturing detail in the deep shadows as well as the bright highlights in an interior room, the bracket and merge HDR method can also be used to create excellent hero or beauty shots such as a twilight image.

Bracket and merge HDR photography is a technique where multiple image files are captured at different exposure levels. Some are optimized for shadow detail, some for highlight detail, and several in between. Then these different exposure levels are blended together into one image file that shows everything clearly.

Here is a YouTube video that explains the process from both sides, the picture taking side and the image file processing side.

HDR photography is a method that has some serious artistic implications, too. Which can really help us out with those hero shots that end up being the front page of a printed flyer or the opening image of a business website. 

Commercial real estate firms are always looking for an edge up on the competition, by supplying them with amazingly detailed photos of the commercial property in general and with gorgeous images for special use, you will give yourself an edge up for being used by these firms over and over again.

Pay Attention to Details

composition tips for real estate photography

photo byNatee Meepian via iStock

Since commercial real estate photography can involve many more images than the standard residential listing, having a reliable system of keeping track of all of the different rooms, spaces, and specialty areas is vital for successfully completing the job.

Other details to be concerned about are the number of rooms, the order they’re shot in, which ones are vital to the property management and which ones might be part of a delivery package. 

You’ll also want to pay attention to how you can access certain specialty areas, such as high security areas (only if that’s part of the contract) or mechanical systems.

A shot list combined with a sign off sheet is old school, but it really does work. Taking blank or black frames between areas and making notation of each area show and in what order with a dry erase board to label rooms and areas as the front image of each grouping. 

Present Yourself as a Professional

lighting tips for real estate photography

photo byProstock-Studio via iStock

As a bonus number 5 in our commercial real estate photography tips list, it’s important to treat your photography business as a business. This is sometimes wearisome to some photographers who are primarily concerned with the art and craft of imaging over the concerns of properly running a business.

While the photographic images are the heart of the business of commercial real estate photography, losing track of standard business practices could mean you lose out on getting to make these images in the first place.

The standard business concerns include but aren’t limited to having enough of the right type of liability insurance, being up to date on all licenses required by the local municipalities, and gathering together the proper releases for being on the properties and being able to use the images commercially. 

Being dressed appropriate to the business involved is also important. For some clients this may mean business casual attire, for others something more formal may be expected. Proper safety equipment and procedures are another essential element of this tip. If steel toe shoes or hard hats are required, you should be prepared for that, too.

Following these commercial real estate photography tips won’t guarantee success, but they’ll certainly put your business on the right track.

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4 Tips for Editing Real Estate Photos

4 Tips for Editing Real Estate Photos

photo byjacoblund via iStock

Editing real estate photos is one of the key elements that will set you and your images apart from the competition.  

There is a lot going on before, during, and after any real estate photoshoot. Some of the decisions you make before and during the photoshoot will have a major impact on your post-processing workflow and how to edit real estate photos. 

Here are some real estate photography tips and real estate photography post-processing tips that help ease your workflow and will also result in better images to deliver to your clients.

Capture RAW Files

editing real estate photos

photo byjacoblund via iStock

To begin our real estate photography editing tips, we have to start with our earlier decisions such as what file type to capture and what method of post-processing we’re going to use. 

Unless you have to hand off your memory card straight out of the camera right to the hands of the person who hired you, RAW is a preferred file format to use for professional photography. JPEGs are readable by almost any device in existence that uses photos, but they are a compressed file format that loses information as it’s written.

RAW camera files require at least some minimum of processing and are often converted to a JPEG for delivery, but you get to choose how much information is used and how it’s used. Plus, you can make large JPEG files from your RAW captures by choosing to minimally compress or smaller files with more compression. 

The color profile or white balance of a RAW file can be assigned after the fact, with a JPEG you will need to decide on a setting (or let the camera choose) that shows the colors of the scene correctly for whatever the lighting conditions are.

Besides all the issues about information compression, RAW files also allow for more leeway in processing for shadow, midrange, and highlights within the image. Plus, if you’re shooting for the bracket and merge HDR technique, the merging part of the operation works better with RAW files.

Bracket and Merge

how to edit real estate photos

photo byAndreyPopov via iStock

Bracket and merge HDR is one of the preferred methods for capturing and editing real estate photos. This technique takes full advantage of the digital format by using several image files blended into one. 

You find the basic exposure for the scene. An average value that captures the midrange values. Then, you make several other exposures at different settings. Have some exposures optimized for capturing shadow detail and some more for the highlights.

In post-processing for editing real estate photos, adjust the settings of the merging or blending program in order to be able to see detail in the deep shadows, the brightest highlights, and everything in between. Usually, 5 exposures bracketed 2 stops apart will work just fine, but some situations may look better with 7 or 9 exposures 1 stop apart.

At first, it may seem as though we’re adding to our workflow by shooting all the extra images and then merging them together in post-processing, but it actually saves time. It saves us time by not requiring us to set up lights and reflectors, spot metering and deciding what detail to let slide, shadow, highlights, or a little of each, and not dodging and burning each image in post.

A lot of the operation of a bracket and merge program can be done in batches, which also eases the workflow. If your computer speed and memory are good enough, you may not see too much time difference in processing the images and batches.

Here is an excellent YouTube video tutorial that helps explain this method of taking and editing real estate photos.

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Calibrate Your Monitor

real estate photography editing tips

photo byNongAsimo via iStock

Using an external monitor (or two) for our editing studio is a nice way to really see what we’re doing with our image file, regardless of what type of photography we’re doing. The larger size makes it easier to see and the sharpness and color fidelity of newer monitors are additional reasons to use external monitors instead of or in addition to our laptop’s screen.

However, if these monitors aren’t properly calibrated for color and for brightness, we could actually lose time and end up with subpar results. Many top-tier monitors have sensitive controls allowing us to fine-tune them for displaying colors properly. 

If we’re using our laptop’s monitor alone, we can also calibrate them to ensure our editing efforts aren’t wasted. There are several moderately priced calibration devices we can use for whatever monitor we may be using.

Save the RAW Files

real estate photography tips

photo byPashaIgnatov via iStock

Save the processed files, too. Backups are good practice in any of our photographic endeavors, but especially so in our paid, time-sensitive projects. 

Making it a habit to save the unedited RAW files may save our butts when the inevitable ‘something wrong’ happens, though hopefully that happens only rarely in our work. There’s few things more time-consuming and reputation harming than calling the realtors and requesting a reshoot due to our error. 

If it’s their error and we have a contract stating terms for them, I’ll schedule reshoots all day long. But it is a big hassle and might cost future business if we lose our image files somehow. More than once, I’ve been grateful I picked up the backup habit early on in my professional career. 

These 4 tips for editing real estate photos in your own business should help you out with regard to workflow, delivering superior results, and developing or maintaining an excellent reputation. Tell us your favorite tips in our forum discussions, we’d love to hear them!

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5 Real Estate Photography Trends for 2021

5 Real Estate Photography Trends for 2021

photo byPeopleImages via iStock

For a photography niche that is more science than art, real estate photography changes a lot and it can be hard to keep up with trends in real estate photography, especially if you haven’t been working in the industry for very long or if you only work in it part-time. 

Real estate photography trends can also be quite stressful, because if you show up for a meeting with your client and you don’t offer some niche type of photo or if you don’t have some odd credential, you might not get the job.

Of course, that’s why you have to play the game and keep up with new real estate photography trends... 

So, we decided to look ahead to 2021 and pinpoint upcoming real estate photography trends so that you can get any needed equipment now.

Some of these real estate photography trends have been gaining popularity slowly over the last couple of years, which means you’ve likely heard of them, and some of them seemingly popped up overnight. We will walk you through all of them. 

Partnering with Real Estate Databases

trends in real estate photography

photo byanyaberkut  via iStock

This is one of those real estate photography trends that seemingly popped up overnight: partnering with real estate databases. 

As far as we can tell, Zillow, one of the most popular real estate databases in the United States, started this trend by offering photographers the chance to become a Zillow-certified photographer. 

In order to become a Zillow-certified photographer, you have to fill out a form on the Zillow website. The form asks some really basic questions about you and a Zillow representative will call you to walk you through how you can create a portfolio through Zillow. 

Once you get into this Zillow portfolio, real estate agents can contact you directly off of Zillow.

Since this is one of the newer real estate photography trends on our list, you can likely be one of the first photographers in your area to be Zillow-certified. We are also expecting more and more real estate databases to begin doing the same thing, so be on the lookout for it. 

Creating Virtual Tours

real estate photography tips

photo bydamircudic via iStock

While your average real estate buyer isn’t using a VR headset to walk through a property they’re looking at, they are expecting to be able to virtually walk through it on real estate databases like Zillow. 

In order to create a 3D tour of a home, you will need to buy a 360-degree camera, which can get pricey depending upon the brand you choose. However, since virtual tours are so popular right now, real estate agents and sellers are willing to spend a ridiculous amount of money to get one created for their home. So, you’ll likely make up any money you spend quickly.

Once you have your camera, you will also need to get a software that can host virtual tours for you. I recommend Cupix, mainly because it's free.  

You’ll then connect to an app on your phone so that you can see a preview of each shot you take of the home.

It’s really quite simple and I don’t know why it wasn’t one of the more popular real estate photography trends before this year.

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Taking Aerial Photos

real estate photography 2021

photo bydjedzura via iStock

I did mention that some of these real estate photography trends started way before 2021. This is one of them.  

But, people love drones. I’ve actually seen inspectors using drones to make sure that roofs are in good shape. If an inspector can use a drone, then so can you. 

Aerial photography is definitely more popular with higher priced properties, so properties with a lot of acreage or outdoor features like pools, but it's also becoming one of the most popular real estate photography trends for averagely priced housing as well.

I have written quite extensively about real estate photography tips, especially tips for using drones, and you can read some of that work here

The number one complaint I get about drones for photographers is that they are expensive and overrated. But, you can make up the cost of a drone in a month shooting real estate if you really want to and whether you think aerial photography is overrated as a trend or not doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. If it’s what real estate agents want, then it’s what real estate agents get. 

Using HDR Techniques

real estate photography trends

photo byPC Photography via iStock

This is another real estate photography trend that isn’t new, but it also isn’t as popular as it should be… 

One of the primary impediments to a great real estate photo is having a dynamic range that’s too much for your camera to handle. This often occurs when photographing interior rooms with small windows. Either the view out the window is well-exposed (thus leaving the room itself underexposed) or the view out the window is completely blown out and the room is well-exposed.

Creating bracketed exposures and merging them together in post-processing overcomes this issue. And best of all, there’s no expensive equipment to buy to make it happen! You just need a good processing program that makes merging exposures quick and easy.

An additional benefit of using this technique is that it’s fast. You’ll spend less time setting up your gear (your camera and a tripod is all you need!) and as shown in the video above, there’s very little processing time needed. It’s a win-win situation!

Outsourcing Editing

hot real estate photography trends

 photo byjacoblund via iStock

My least favorite part about real estate photography is the editing. This should come as no shock to myself, though, because my least favorite part about all photography is the editing. I’ve learned how to deal with computers, but technology was never the reason why I got into this industry. I did it so that I could work with people.

That’s why I love real estate photography trends that have to do with outsourcing anything technical, but particularly this one that has to do with outsourcing editing.

Other people are already excellent at working Photoshop and Lightroom and if I can pay them to do that for me, then I can spend my time bringing in more money working directly with clients. 

Where else do you think real estate photography 2021 will take us?

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5 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Real Estate Photography Business During the Pandemic

5 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Real Estate Photography Business During the Pandemic

photo byImage Supply via iStock

If you own a real estate photography business, you’re no doubt feeling the pressure of this pandemic. My business is pretty well established and we are still feeling the sting of a downward economy. 

But, there’s no need for you to panic because you can use this time to improve your real estate photography business so that when the market turns back up, you’ll have even more clients to impress.  

Let’s take a look at some real estate photography business tips that you can do from home.  

Table of Contents

Teach Potential Clients While You Network

real estate photography business

photo byfiladendron via iStock

If you built your real estate photography business in a large city, then you probably used an old tactic I’ve used a thousand times: trade lunch for some networking. 

You walk into a real estate agent’s office and ask the agents for a little of their time in return for lunch at their favorite restaurant. It works almost every time. 

But, I find that a lot of photographers forget about one of the most important real estate photography business tips while they use this networking move; they forget to teach their potential clients.

Many agents don’t know very much about real estate photography. They know what sorts of pictures their clients like, but they don’t know about the specific equipment necessary to get those shots. 

improve your real estate photography business

photo byRawpixel via iStock

Go to your meeting with a goal other than simply talking about your real estate photography business, teach your potential client something too. It helps to fill more time and they might enjoy learning about other people’s work.  

Now, you may be thinking, this is fine and great once I can actually take potential clients out for lunch. All of the restaurants in my town are closed. What am I supposed to do?

Set up a Zoom meeting. Ask your agent what their favorite meal is and have it delivered to their house. It’s classy. It allows you to get a few minutes with them to talk about your real estate photography business, and it allows you to continue networking from the comfort of your living room. 

 

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Network With Other Photographers 

tips for improving your real estate photography business

photo by LeoPatrizi via iStock 

One of my favorite real estate photography business tips is to network with other photographers in your area. I received a large portion of my clients from other photographers when I was first starting out and it was a great way for me to meet other people so I could fend off those “work from home” blues. 

Well, it’s time to kick it up a notch. I’ve been hosting weekly virtual happy hours with photographers in my area since this pandemic broke out. It’s been a good way for us to share tips on how we’re dealing with slowing business and a nice period for us to vent about how much this pandemic has changed our lives. 

I promise you that if you start virtually networking with others in your industry during one of the worst times, they’ll remember you during the good times and make it all worth it. 

Use This Time to Spruce Up Your Social Media Channels

real estate photography business tips

photo by bigtunaonline via iStock 

I’m definitely guilty of letting social media fall by the wayside when I get too busy, and my real estate photography business hurts because of it. 

Take all of this social distancing time and network with potential clients on Facebook and Instagram. Build the types of pages you see other photographers that you admire in your area building.

Having an active presence online will only help increase visibility to potential clients. It also helps you define your brand and your brand messaging, which also helps you increase visibility to clients.

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Start Learning About the Newest Trends

photo by Kyryl Gorlov via iStock 

Chances are, new photography trends have popped up since you started your real estate photography business. Aerial photos and 3D walk-throughs are two of the latest trends I still see very few real estate photographers offering.

If you have a little bit saved in a rainy day fund that you can afford to spend on some new equipment, then you can take this time to learn a new trick. 

Real estate photography is all about making your properties stand out, and with new and exciting approaches to highlighting a property, you can make the homes you photograph stand out from the crowd. 

Add Services That Don’t Cost You Anything

real estate photography business tips 2

photo by AndreyPopov via iStock 

If you don’t have a rainy day fund that you’re willing to spend on a new drone, you can still work on adding services to your real estate photography business that don’t cost you anything.

For instance, many clients value a quick turnaround time. For example, If the average turnaround time in your area is 3 days, try offering a 24-hour service. As another example, you can waive cancellation fees for returning clients. 

These are simple suggestions that give potential clients all the more reason to hire you, and they don’t cost you a dime!

Learn How to Streamline Your Workflow

real estate photography business tips 3

photo by jacoblund via iStock 

As they say, time is money, so the more time you spend getting photos ready for your clients, the less money you can make. 

If you ask me, one of the best ways to streamline a real estate photography workflow is to ditch artificial lighting and use HDR methods for interior photography. 

Why spend tons of money on lighting gear and tons of time setting it up when you can use your camera’s AEB function to bracket exposures? Doing so gets you well-exposed images in far less time, so it only makes sense to incorporate this practice into your workflow. If you’re not sure how to use your camera’s AEB function to bracket exposures, check out the video below.

Once you have your bracketed exposures, you need to merge them. Doing so blends the bracketed exposures you took into a single composite image that is well exposed throughout the range of highlights, midtones and shadows. 

And if you go about it the right way, you can use this to streamline your workflow even further...

By using software with real estate-specific settings, you can merge your photos. Using Photomatix Pro 6, you can automate the process to save time. You can also use one of dozens of HDR presets to get the precise look you want in the photos.

This is all about working smarter, not harder. Making choices that streamline your workflow will aid you in doing just that!

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5 Tips for Gorgeous Real Estate Photos

5 Tips for Gorgeous Real Estate Photos

photo byPC Photography via iStock

Good real estate photos can be taken with just about any type of camera, but if you want to shoot gorgeous real estate photos, here are a few useful tips for real estate photographers.

You want to be able to present the best images to your realtor clients for their listings and you also want to have a reasonable workflow. These tips will help you do just that.

Streamline Your Workflow

real estate photos 1

photo byTom Merton via iStock

In fact, making sure sure your workflow is streamlined while still offering the highest quality available is one of the most important real estate photography tips for anyone trying to break into this profitable and enjoyable business niche. 

You want to streamline your workflow because you will be taking and processing a fair amount of images. All of this takes time, from setting up your shots to processing multiple batches. While wanting to save time in order to maximize your profitability, you don’t want to sacrifice quality. 

real estate photography tips 2

photo bybuzbuzzer via iStock

The product you’re imaging is a big ticket item, a really big ticket item. The listings can make the difference in multiple thousands of dollars of final prices of the properties, so we want to present the best real estate photos we can while not putting ourselves into a hole with doing too much work for them.

Streamlining a workflow involves the shooting, perhaps standardizing on just one or two lenses, having a general shot list you can adapt to most properties, and a way to keep track of rooms and exposures so nothing important is missed.

Streamlining also involves post processing, making sure we’re developing and correcting as needed without spending hours behind our keyboards. Which brings us to the next of our real estate photography tips.

Bracket and Merge

gorgeous real estate photos 3

photo bySvetlana Mokrova via iStock

More often than not, one of the major differences between good enough and gorgeous real estate photos is HDR photography. HDR, or high dynamic range photography, is the process of taking multiple images at slightly different exposure levels and merging, or blending, them into one composite image that shows detail in shadow, midrange, and highlight areas.

What makes HDR work so well with real estate photos is that taking pictures of houses involves a lot of exposure values. An interior view of a living room will have deep shadows in a corner, midtones along the walls, and perhaps a view of the bright highlights outside through a window. Bracketing and merging allows all of these values to exist together without highlights being blown out or shadows being blocked up. 

We just talked about simplifying our workflow, though. It may seem that all the extra exposures and processing would cause more work, but it doesn’t. It actually makes it easier to get great images, especially if we use one of the fine HDR merge programs that are currently available, as this tutorial shows

You can also find lots of video tutorials online about HDR merging, such as this one which is part of a larger series about making gorgeous real estate photos.

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Manual Focus and Exposure Settings

tips for real estate photographers 4

photo bySavushkin via iStock

In order to capture image files that will work well with HDR merging, we will need to take control of our imaging devices - the camera and lens. Even though our modern digital cameras have superb metering and focusing capabilities, setting things manually is going to work out better for most real estate photos.  

Manual exposure is preferred for the bracket and merge method of HDR photography. This way, we can stay in control of the settings we need to stay the same, such as lens aperture for depth of field. It’s better to let the shutter speed vary instead of the lens aperture so that our carefully figured depth of focus isn’t affected by the bracketing.

essential real estate photography tips 5

photo bySavushkin via iStock

Manual focus is better when bracketing and merging since we can set the focus based on the aperture and depth of field we want and not have to worry about it changing between exposures. In auto AF modes, the focus may change slightly or the camera may decide to hunt for focus right as we’re trying to make our exposure.

You will set your camera for continuous shots and then set the bracketing control for at least 3 different exposures, though with many cameras you may choose 5, 7, or 9 shots, too. Taking 3 or 5 is pretty common, adjusting exposure by 2 stops if shooting 3 exposures and by 1 or 1.5 stops if shooting 5 exposure brackets. Adjust these real estate photography tips to correspond to your specific camera, post processing program, and imaging style.

Meter a Midtone

take gorgeous real estate photos 6

photo byDugwy via iStock

Even with HDR bracketing and merging, you still need a starting point for exposure. A default of sorts for many tips for real estate photographers is to set your ISO between 320 to 640, the lens aperture at f/8.0 to f/11.0, and the exposure bracket control for 3 shots at +/- 2 stops. 

The best results will come if you base your 0 exposure on a midtone. Meter a brick or stucco wall outside. If those walls are extremely bright or dark colored, meter the grass receiving the same sunlight as the walls. Exterior walls, by the way, not the entryway or patio walls which are likely going to be in significant shadow. 

When metering for a midtone inside, choose a well lit wall with a neutral color for best results. If there are not neutral color walls, meter off of tile or carpet receiving the same light as the walls. If nothing is a neutral color inside or outside, set up a gray card in the same light and meter from it.

This will get you the shutter speed to complete your exposure triangle for your initial image file of the bracketed set. You could use your camera meter, but a cheap handheld meter will simplify your workflow. You can find many excellent handheld meters on the used market.

And the Rest…

real estate photos 7

photo byWavebreakmedia via iStock

The rest of our tips for gorgeous real estate photos are to choose a wide angle lens for most shots. Wider than the widest of our kit lenses. If using APS-C, a lens in the 10mm to 12mm is very usable, so a 10-20mm zoom is an option. For Full Frame format, a lens in the 14mm to 17mm focal length is good, so a zoom like a 14-24mm or 17-35mm will work.

A tripod is a vital accessory for real estate photography, especially if making use of HDR photography or shooting with a very slow shutter speed. Since we want stability between exposures, one of the heavier duty tripods may be preferred. A large, heavy duty, carbon fiber tripod provides extreme stability with lighter weight and better dampening than metal tripods.

real estate photography tips 8

photo bydem10 via iStock

Keeping the camera level will eliminate extra processing work. An ultra wide lens can make straight lines look unusual if the camera and lens is not leveled properly. A simple shoe mounted spirit level will accomplish the task for you.

Following these starter tips for real estate photographers will get you going in a way where you can supply superior images for your realtor clients.

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5 Tips for Improving Your Interior Real Estate Photography

5 Tips for Improving Your Interior Real Estate Photography

Photo by alvarez via iStock

 How is your interior real estate photography game? If you want to improve your real estate photography, even if you’re already working as a professional in this lucrative but competitive field, read on for some helpful tips.

Perhaps your primary business isn’t photography, but instead, you’re a real estate agent. Whether you cater to large properties, smaller homes, or commercial properties, you can use these guidelines to help you better use your investment in real estate photography gear.

Table of Contents:

Interior Real Estate Photography Gear

Interior Real Estate Photography Gear

Photo by Prostock-Studio via iStock

What equipment is necessary for interior real estate photography? If you’re already working in this field, you likely have some of the same gear we will recommend. But it’s always fun to see someone else’s ideas, isn’t it?

Those new to interior real estate photography should know this fundamental fact: A camera is much more preferred than even the best smartphone. 

While our modern iPhones and Galaxy Androids have amazing cameras built-in with several lenses and full-featured photographic and video programs installed, a larger format sensor camera with interchangeable lenses will be a better choice in the long run.

An interchangeable lens camera, mirrorless design or DSLR, and a wide-angle lens start our interior real estate photography gear list. The camera can be any of the three popular formats of digital photography, MFT, APS-C, or Full Frame. Generally speaking, the larger the format, the better, but all three formats are professionally capable. 

The lens should be a wide-angle lens - wider than the kit lenses or all-around zoom lenses we may have purchased with the camera. For Full Frame format, lenses in the 14mm to 17mm range are great. This would become 10mm or 11mm in APS-C format and 7mm or 8mm in MFT format. A zoom lens is a good idea though some photographers will prefer a single focal length prime lens. A moderate aperture will be good. 

Super speedy lens apertures aren’t vital since the next item on our list is a tripod. A heavy-duty tripod that gets tall enough for your eye level is preferable. Adding a spirit level and a remote release improves our workflow and end result. 

Adding lighting equipment is not a major concern since the way we shoot and process a lot of interior real estate photography handles exposures differently. But you may want to add a versatile flash unit or LED light panel in your gear bag. 

HDR for Interior Real Estate Photography

HDR for Interior Real Estate Photography

Photo by onurdongel via iStock 

Bracket and merge photography, also known as HDR for High Dynamic Range photography, is a great method for handling the extreme exposure issues of interior real estate photography. It’s how you can shoot a room with bright areas, mid-range tones, and shadows, all having excellent detail.

A series of exposures are taken, beginning with exposure settings that would be deemed “correct” for the middle tones of a scene. Then, frames are taken at exposure settings up and down from that normal shot. You can use 3, 5, or 7 exposures total, with each shot varying from 1 or 2 stops of the others.

These frames are blended together in a post-processing program so that a balanced exposure of everything in the room looks normal in the final image, from the darkest shadow to the brightest highlights. This mimics how our eyes take in everything in a room as we view it live, but it is difficult to capture in a single photographic exposure.

Use a Tripod for Interior Real Estate Photography

StandDaddy

Tripods are a vital part of our interior real estate photography gear setup. We need a steady tripod to ensure our multiple exposures for the bracket and merge method all line up and register properly. Plus, using ultra-wide angle lenses requires us to be vigilant regarding keeping the camera level to avoid distortion of straight lines.

You can add extra stabilization to a medium to heavy-duty tripod by using StandDaddy brackets and weights to the legs of a tripod.  

Stand Daddy weights

StandDaddy is a set of ring clamps that attach to the lower part of the tripod’s legs, allowing you to use portable and inexpensive barbell weights to steady the rig. The clamps slip right on and are hand tightened in whatever position you need. The large set screws do not mar any finish and are easy to loosen or tighten without tools. 

It should be noted that barbell weights do not come with the StandDaddy clamps. Weights are easy to find, though. There are 2 ½ lb plastic barbell weights available at the big discount chain stores for around $2.00 each. 

With a good tripod and the extra stabilization of the StandDaddy system, you can confidently and easily capture HDR images and use an ultra-wide-angle lens for your interior real estate photography.

The 3 Wall Method of Interior Real Estate Photography

The 3 Wall Method of Interior Real Estate Photography

Photo by gremlin via iStock

When capturing interior real estate photography, real estate professionals and prospective buyers looking online have come to expect an attractive representation of the property. Positioning the camera to capture views of three walls at a time is a good technique for these images.

It doesn’t have to be equal portions of all three walls; it sometimes adds visual appeal if they are asymmetrical. Use that tripod and level to make sure the camera stays level so that all those straight lines don’t look odd to a viewer.

Preview Every Room Before Photographing

Preview Every Room Before Photographing

Photo by mikkelwilliam via iStock

You don’t want to have the mindset that you can fix things in post-processing. That’s a big time waster in any workflow and can be eliminated before capturing a single image by looking over each room or area before shooting it.

Window blinds and curtains should be open but straight. This looks nice, and it lets in sunlight which aids in setting exposures. Lights should be on but the ceiling fans off. In a bathroom, the toilet seat should always be down. There shouldn’t be clutter or trash in any area. 

If a place is not prepped ahead of time by the owner or the agent and is ready for interior real estate photography, it may require rescheduling. Your job is being a photographer, not a maid service or a staging agency. Unless you want to charge for those things, that is.

Farm Out Processing or DIY?

Farm Out Processing or DIY

Photo by svetikd via iStock 

With all that goes into capturing the images for interior real estate photography, what happens after the camera is just as important to the final outcome. We’re talking about post-processing and image delivery.

For the needed post-processing, such as the HDR bracket and merge method, there are two options: farm it out to a service or do it yourself DIY. 

You may be working for a service that requires you to upload directly to them, and they do the processing. Or, you can shop for an online provider that offers services for a fee or as part of a subscription. If you decide on these methods, consider any turnaround time issues and adjust delivery schedules accordingly.  

You can use the DIY approach for your interior real estate photography post-processing. Most of the well-used programs, such as Photoshop Lightroom, have functions for HDR or other batch edits. There are also programs specifically made for HDR photography that could be used. This keeps you in complete control, but it does add to the overall workflow of your real estate photography.

Use these interior real estate photography guidelines to up your real estate photography game or to get into this lucrative field in the first place.

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Anatomy of a Good Real Estate Hero Shot

Anatomy of a Good Real Estate Hero Shot

 photo byirina88w via iStock

Learning how to photograph exteriors involves taking advantage of tips for real estate exterior photography concerning the all important real estate hero shot.

What is a real estate hero shot? Why is it so important? And what real estate photography tips will help us with crafting a good real estate hero shot as we learn how to take real estate exterior photos in general?

The Real Estate Hero Shot - Why So Important?

real estate hero shot

 photo byirina88w via iStock

The real estate hero shot is the cover photo for our virtual property flyer, also known as the MLS listing. It’s the first thing prospective buyers will see and if it captures their attention, then those potential buyers are as good as in your virtual front door.

The real estate hero shot is not new to posting real estate pics online. It was being used when newspaper print real estate flyers were being printed weekly as the listing photo. Some luxury style homes would have brochures or “slicks” printed with a beauty or hero shot on the front cover.

What makes it so special in digital format is that home shoppers can now     browse through hundreds of listings in a brief time. If an image of a home catches their attention, they can immediately see more images of the home by simply clicking on that listing.

Additionally, digital real estate hero shots can take full advantage of the capabilities of digital photography to create uniquely crafted images.

What Is a Real Estate Hero Shot?

real estate photography tips

photo byEpicStockMedia via iStock

While most of the images we present for our real estate clients, or for our own personal listing if listing FSBO (for sale by owner), should be simple, straightforward, and well crafted as opposed to being artsy, a hero image can involve some photographic art.

Instead of a straight on view from the road, we can change the view a little, perhaps moving over a little bit to highlight the beauty of the structure. (Another term for a real estate hero shot is the beauty shot.) 

One of our favorite real estate photography tips, the bracket and merge technique, can be used to make the perfect real estate hero shot. Especially if you use that method to capture twilight views of the home for sale.

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Twilight Shots are Great Hero Images

how to take real estate exterior photos

photo bykaramysh via iStock

A great beauty shot, a real estate hero shot that immediately captures attention, is the twilight image shot with the bracket and merge HDR technique. 

Twilight images shot in HDR have a unique look that tends to set them apart from other beauty shots. When crafted properly, a twilight image will show the house with great colors in the skies and windows while maintaining a relatively normal appearance in everything about the exterior of the house.

If you haven’t yet tried the backet and merge HDR technique for your regular real estate images, watch this YouTube video explaining how you can use it for both interior and exterior real estate images as well as all sorts of other types of photography. 

How To Take Twilight Images

tips for real estate exterior photography

photo byhikesterson via iStock

You already know how to photograph real estate exteriors and make them look great, in order to craft a twilight image as a real estate hero shot, you simply need to take that skill one step further.

First, decide which twilight you want to use, because there are actually two twilights in each day. One is just after sunset, the other is  just before sunrise. Twilights is the time when the Sun is below the horizon, out of view, but the sky still has a lot of illumination. 

One direction of the twilight sky will be brighter than the other, mainly because that’s the direction the Sun is. You’ll want to scout out what direction the house you’re photographing faces in relation to the sun position so you have some of that sky brightness to use.

Turn on the house lights inside and out, open the blinds and curtains, frame the house slightly off center, and with your camera on a tripod take those 3, 5, or 7 exposures to blend together with your HDR bracket and merge post processing program. 

In your HDR processing, use the slider tools to adjust colors and color temperature, exposure and densities for highlights, midrange, and shadows, plus controlling what style of image you want.

Grab Attention for Your Own Real Estate Hero Shot

how to photograph real estate exteriors

photo bychandlerphoto via iStock

Use your new power wisely! Bracket and merge HDR photography for real estate imaging is one of the best new techniques to come along in digital photography.  

It doesn’t have to be a twilight image to be the beauty shot, but the bracket and merge technique can be used any time of day. After using it to make your own real estate hero shots, try it out for all of your other real estate photos and any other type of photography you think could work for you. 

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Architectural Photography Tips

Architectural Photography Tips

 photo byturtix via iStock

Architectural photography allows us to share and experience buildings and areas from all around the world. Architectural photography can include structures such as theTaj Mahal, Angkor Wat, the Sydney Opera House, Rockefeller Center, and the Hoover Dam. It can also encompass structures such as a local city hall, a gazebo in the park, or Grandma’s house.

Architectural photography for beginners may seem daunting at first. But it really is an enjoyable genre of photography. We'll share some helpful architectural photography tips that will let you enjoy this fun photography style.

Architectural Photography Gear

architectural photography 1

 photo byphotovideostock via iStock

What architectural photography gear do we need? Well, any good camera will let you start, but some items are very useful for architectural photography. A good camera that can shoot RAW files, wide angle lenses, a tripod, and a high-quality monitor for editing are just a few recommendations.

A DSLR or mirrorless camera will allow for recording RAW files as will several point and shoot and bridge cameras and a couple of smartphones. The kit lens supplied with many cameras has a decent wide-angle focal length though wider lenses are often preferred for architectural photography.

A tripod gives options for long exposure, HDR photography, panoramas, and leveling the camera. The monitor becomes important during post processing since you want the best view of the images being processed.

Composition Matters

architectural photography

 photo byGalina Shafran via iStock

When looking at architectural photography tutorials, composition and camera angle tends to dominate the conversation and for good reason. We see buildings everyday and everywhere but an architectural photography image can transform those everyday views into an amazing    image.

One of the things to look for in composition for architectural photography is an angle or a view that captures the essence of the building or area but is also unique to your own vision. In other words, is there a view that shows those seeing the image how you feel about it? Or perhaps an angle that exemplifies what makes it special? 

We all know and love the Rule of Thirds composition technique which works fantastically for this subject matter. For architectural photography, also look for incorporating leading lines, the Golden Spiral, symmetry and asymmetry, and negative space.

Camera Angles and Lenses

architectural photography tutorial

 photo byElena Berseneva via iStock

Some of the things to look for in this type of photography are camera angles that aren’t eye level views. Especially with a wide angle lens, a lower camera angle can create a very unique view of a structure. 

Besides those ultra wide angle lenses, a telephoto lens and a different camera angle can also provide views of the architecture that can surprise and delight viewers. Zeroing in on a small portion of architecture can even result in an image that is abstract in nature.

Not to be overlooked is the view from overhead. Climbing up a floor or two, using a long pole and a remote, or shooting with drones are additional options for different camera angles to enhance our architectural photography.

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Post-Processing Choices

architectural photography tutorial 2

 photo bysamfotograf via iStock

One of the wonderful things about photography is that there is as much creative work that can be done after the exposure as there is before taking the picture. Capturing RAW files gives us lots of options for post processing.

Before we take the picture, we decide on what lens to use, exposure settings, depth of focus, and the composition and camera angles. After the exposure, our post processing choices can enhance or alter the image in amazing ways.

For architectural photography, two techniques that take full advantage of these are HDR photography and monochrome or black and white imaging. Both of these architectural photography images require a lot of input while processing, so an excellent computer monitor as part of our architectural photography gear makes good sense.

High-Quality Monitors

architectural photography for beginners 3

While the monitor in our superb laptop is quite good, using an external monitor becomes important for controlling the post processing decisions we’ll need to make for these high-quality architectural photography images.

Ultra widescreen, curved monitors are some of the best choices for any serious photographic or video editing including architectural photography. The fine monitors from ViewSonic exemplify the advantages of high-quality monitors for editing.

Two examples we can recommend are the ViewSonic VP3881 38” curved monitor and the smaller, less expensive 34” ViewSonic VP3481 curved monitor. These amazing monitors have extreme sharpness, superior color capability with the ability to resolve 3.39 trillion colors, and immersive viewing with the large, ultrawide, curved screens. 

These features are important for accurately post processing our architectural photography to take advantage of the skills and techniques we are learning.

Display the Images

architectural photography for beginners 4

 photo bystockfour via iStock

All of the fine work and creative input for architectural photography tends to get a little lost if we restrict our display of our images to social media posts. A great architectural image is just begging to go on display as a large print.  

High-quality images can be printed on paper, canvas, metal, and acrylic in a variety of sizes. This final step is often what makes the image a work of art. There’s just something about physical prints that really enhances the viewing pleasure of our architectural photography.

Worth the Extra Effort

architectural photography gear 5

 photo byshaunl via iStock

The subject matter is worth the effort. Choose a good camera and lens, decide on the right camera angle and composition, and post-process to finish the image, then have it printed. These are the variables we can control to transform what we see into fine art. 

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Artificial Lighting vs HDR Techniques for Real Estate Photography

Artificial Lighting vs HDR Techniques for Real Estate Photography

photo by hikesterson via iStock

What is the best lighting solution for interior real estate photography? Should I use the bracket and merge technique or some form of artificial lighting? What are the advantages of artificial lighting vs HDR photography for real estate photography? 

As we examine the answers to these questions, we’ll also learn some basic tips and techniques for the lighting and exposure of interior real estate photography. 

Importance of Good Images for Real Estate

real estate photography 1

photo byDragonImages via iStock

Real estate photography is a great way for photographers to make money. You can engage in real estate photography as a full time endeavor, as an addition to existing portfolio of services, or as a way to break into professional photography. 

One thing to keep in mind, creating images for listings is important. Consider it as product photography or advertising for a very big ticket item. Buying and selling a home involves quite a lot of money for buyers, sellers, and agents, so providing the best images possible is a priority.

real estate photography 2

photo bygilaxia via iStock

Anyone can use a smartphone to upload some pics, but it requires attention to detail to end up with the clean and clear views expected in real estate photography. How to properly expose for interior real estate photography is a basic skill fully within the capabilities of many photographers.

Artificial Lighting vs HDR Photography

interior real estate photography 3

photo byYvanDube via iStock

The exterior views of a property may be relatively simple to capture, it’s when we get inside that we see how complex a scene might be. This applies to residential and commercial properties alike, and across all price ranges of realty. 

It is generally considered important to show windows in real estate photos, but opening up blinds or curtains causes an increase in contrast in many interior rooms. The parts of a room lit by window light or house lights will be relatively bright while a corner or underneath a cabinet may sit in deep shadow. Adding in furniture increases the chances of a wide contrast range since it adds more opportunities for shadows.

We want to get those dark areas balanced with the brighter parts of the scene so that prospective buyers or renters get an accurate representation of the space being viewed. Which means we either need to add light or adjust exposure.

interior real estate photography 4

photo byAlessandroPhoto via iStock

Adding light can be accomplished with portable on or off camera flash, studio strobes or continuous lighting on stands, or using large reflectors. If you're wondering how to photograph real estate with natural light, not adding any light ourselves, that’s where HDR photography comes in.

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Pros and Cons of Artificial Lighting

artificial lighting vs hdr 5

photo byozgurdonmaz via iStock

Most of the advanced digital cameras we would use for real estate photography have a built-in flash unit. Forget about using it, it’s not really that useful for realty pictures. An on camera automatic flash or speedlight is a better option, especially if they can be used for bounce light. Adding a diffuser is also a good idea. 

The biggest problem with any on camera flash for imaging an interior room is the directionality of the added light. You are limited to the flash directing the light from camera position, which is why using bounce flash is recommended. Even with bounce flash, though, take notice of the direction of any added shadows conflicting with window light or house lights.

Off camera strobes or continuous lights give you more flexIbility of light direction, but they add complexity to the workflow of taking the photos. You could set up a bank of lights to bathe every square foot of a room with light, but it might require carrying a lot of extra gear or being dependent on power outlets. 

A major pro in favor of using artificial lights is that you may be able to shorten post-processing time if your base exposure is well calculated. Using this kind of real estate photography equipment can help you do that.

Pros and Cons of HDR Photography

pros and cons of hdr 6

photo byJamesBrey via iStock

The bracket and merge technique of photography, also known as HDR for high dynamic range, is a method that digital photography makes possible and is widely used for real estate photography. Check out this tutorial of the bracket and merge technique for tips on how to photograph interiors for real estate.

Here’s how it works, multiple exposures of a scene are taken at different exposure values and then a processing program is used to merge them together for a completed image file. It’s the different exposure values part that’s important. In addition to exposure settings that would be considered normal, overexposed and underexposed files are also added for balancing the dynamic range of the scene.

This image shows how a dark interior with bright windows presents a challenge for getting a well-exposed photo.

This image shows how bracketing multiple exposures and blending them together can help you get interior shots that are well-exposed throughout.

With a scene that is typical for interior real estate photography, an uncovered window lets in sunlight and shows the exterior beyond the window while a corner, doorway, or cabinet area in the scene is in deep shadow. The range of light levels cannot be properly recorded in one exposure. 

If we expose for highlights, the shadows are unreadable, vice versa for exposing for shadow. Exposing for the middle level leaves us with the brightest highlights and the darkest shadows unreadable. In this YouTube video, you can see how effective and simple it can be with the right software.

Changes Your Workflow

how to photograph real estate with natural light7

 photo bygahsoon via iStock

Which brings us to the one downside or con of this technique, you add several layers of workflow to your real estate photography. However, the advantages of this technique for real estate photography are huge. This method provides the most natural lighting for interiors since there are few shadow concerns. 

Colors also appear very natural and vibrant, provided you use the program options for natural blending. Which makes it a good method for real estate exteriors as well, since overhangs and other architectural features can also cause an issue of dynamic range.

One other possible con is that you must use a tripod for best blending results. But, you probably already have added tripod use into your workflow to ensure sharper images. It’s essential to take at least three exposures for achieving useful results in processing.  

A good technique is to meter a middle gray value for the base exposure. Remember, middle gray is an exposure value, not a color. Check out the Ansel Adams Zone System for an explanation of this concept. 

Summing Up…

how to photograph real estate with natural light 8

 photo bymustafagull via iStock

When considering the pros and cons of artificial lighting vs HDR, consider the end result and your workflow. You (and your clients) want the best images of the property, inside and out. Using either artificial lighting or HDR, figure out what method works best for you and then take steps to efficiently incorporate it into your workflow.  

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Basic Tips for Photographing Real Estate Interiors

Basic Tips for Photographing Real Estate Interiors

 photo bytulcarion via iStock

Photographing real estate interiors can be relatively easy, but it can also be daunting if you’re a new photographer who hasn’t read many tips for beginner real estate photographers. 

Photographing real estate interiors is also a bit different than photographing real estate exteriors. 

Whether you are photographing real estate interiors for realtors, designers, or contractors, this list of simple real estate photography tips will make your experience a whole lot easier. 

How to Photograph Interiors for Real Estate: Use Depth of Field to Your Advantage

photographing real estate interiors 1

 photo byIryna Kaliukina via iStock

Basic real estate photography tips often suggest maximizing the depth of field in your images, that way everything in the shot from foreground to background is in sharp focus.

But you should not be afraid to minimize the depth of field, either. Creating a blurry background in some of your images can make the viewer excited about a home’s features. This works well for things like interesting hardware on the kitchen cabinets or detail shots of fixtures like the faucets in the main bath. It is almost as if you are slowly unwrapping a present. You don’t know what’s going to be in the next shot.

By mixing in some shallow depth of field shots, you add to the story of the home. Think of these images as the icing on the cake - that finishing touch that can make potential buyers think “WOW!”

Create Simple Shots By Using Clean Angles

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 photo byFollowTheFlow via iStock

Another tip for photographing real estate interiors is to create more simple shots. The simpler your interior photos are, the more likely the home is to shine in the shots. 

Let’s say you’re photographing the living room. To create a simple shot, you can pick any piece of furniture in and shoot it head on, be it the couch, the coffee table, or a side chair.

Doing so showcases the space while allowing you to highlight how the space might be used. Staged photos are far more appealing, anyway, so clean and simple staged photos will go a long way in making a home more appealing.

You also need to ensure that all of the lines in each of your images are nice and straight. Vertical lines need to be vertical and horizontal lines need to be horizontal. If the lines in the shot are distorted, they will be a distraction and draw people’s attention away from the beauty of the space.

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Don’t Be Afraid to Show Details

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 photo byFollowTheFlow via iStock

When I’m photographing real estate interiors, I feel like I get into this disagreement with realtors or owners around half the time. The realtors and owners want me to strictly stick to taking pictures of the actual house. So, full-on shots of each bedroom, the kitchen, and so forth. But, I recommend that they have me take close up shots of some of the finer details of the staging of the home. 

It doesn’t make sense for an owner to spend thousands or tens of thousands of dollars on staging their home, if they don’t let me capture it. The staging is what draws people in. It’s what makes people want to come see it in person. Plus, in our digital age, more and more people are purchasing their homes online without seeing it in person. Of course, I would never do this, but I understand why investors do. 

When you are photographing real estate interiors, make sure to capture all of the details of the way the home looks on the day you see it. Whatever catches your eye is likely to catch someone else’s as well.

Do Before and Afters

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 photo byanatoliy_gleb via iStock

This is another thing that typical real estate photography tips don’t cover: shooting before and after photos.  

Depending upon who you’re working for, you likely didn’t have the opportunity to shoot any of the “before” shots, but that shouldn’t prevent you from asking for them. You can then go back and shoot the same shots after a remodel or even after staging. 

This is not only a great thing for sellers and contractors, but it is also something to add to your portfolio. 

You don’t even have to do before and after photos once a home is remodeled or staged. If the before shots were taken by an amateur photographer, the likelihood that the images of the interior spaces are well-exposed is fairly slim. That’s because photographing interior spaces often means dealing with a high dynamic range between very bright windows and much darker rooms.

Learning how to shoot a house with bright windows is easy if you take bracketed exposures. Doing so allows you to capture a series of images that are exactly the same except for their exposure level.

Then, as shown in the video above, you can merge the bracketed exposures together, which gets you a final composite image that retains the detail both in the bright windows and the darker areas of the room.

Using this technique alone will generate far better images that potential buyers will appreciate. It’s a simple before and after technique that will make the home shine!

Learn More:



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Beginner Real Estate Photography Tips

Beginner Real Estate Photography Tips

 photo byRAUL RODRIGUEZ via iStock

Real estate photography is an amazing business to break into. Just being a good photographer will only go so far, though, so we have some beginner real estate photography tips to help guide you.

Wide Lenses Are King

photographing real estate interiors 1

 photo byasbe via iStock

You likely have already considered adding a wide angle lens beyond the widest focal length of the kit lens.

If you’re using an APS-C format camera, a lens shorter than the 18mm end of the 18-55mm kit lens like a 10mm, 11mm, or 12mm lens or wide angle zoom incorporating that focal length will make the job much easier.

Full Frame format cameras would use focal lengths shorter than 24mm such as about 14mm to 17mm will work out well.

Faster lenses will give you more exposure options but you probably won’t need to shoot wide apertures very often. The sweet spot aperture tends to work well for sharpness and increased depth of field.

Use a Tripod

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 photo byBulgac via iStock

Since you’re shooting a lot of inside shots with medium to small apertures much of the time, one of the more simple real estate photography tips is to use a tripod whenever possible. Smaller apertures will result in longer shutter speeds which means a tripod is a good idea. 

As part of the tripod tips for beginner real estate photographers, use a spirit level and a remote release, too. Since we’re using wider angle lenses, levelling the camera is important to avoid apparent perspective or distortion issues. Using a remote release, wired or wireless, helps prevent unwanted camera shifting or moving.

Shoot in RAW

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 photo bybrizmaker via iStock

General and real estate photography tips extoll the value of shooting in RAW for good reason. You get more exposure detail than in a compressed JPEG, plus you get to assign a white balance or color temperature after the shot during post processing. 

For real estate photography, you will be shooting more often than not in RAW to take full advantage of your camera’s imaging capabilities.

Learn More:

HDR Exposure

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 photo bystevecoleimages via iStock

Though it may be a more advanced photo technique, we include HDR in our beginner real estate photography tips because of how simple it has become to post process for HDR images. 

You will need that tripod for this method since you are shooting multiple frames at slightly different exposures and merging them into a single final image by means of specially designed programs.  

Here is a good idea of how simple it can be to accomplish this with the right methods and a good program.

Open Blinds and Curtains

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 photo byxavierarnau via iStock

We may be bracketing and merging exposures, but we still want good lighting. Opening up shades, blinds, and curtains works as nicely for exterior images as it does for interior real estate photos

If you’re bracketing shots and processing for HDR, you can often see into the home from the exterior views. When imaging the interior, HDR lets us blend all the different highlight and shadow values in the image files.

As far as helpful tips for beginner real estate photographers go, it bears pointing out that we usually want our HDR imagery to look natural and not have that artificial, overly artsy feel to the pictures. This YouTube video offers some beneficial real estate photography tips about bracketing, merging, and HDR.

3 Wall Views

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 photo bysturti via iStock

When shooting the interiors, real estate professionals have come to expect an attractive representation of the property. Positioning the camera to capture views of three walls at a time are valuable in this respect.

It doesn’t have to be equal portions of all three walls, though. In fact, it adds visual appeal if the 3 wall is a little bit asymmetrical in composition. Be sure to keep the camera level so that all those straight lines don’t look odd to a viewer.

Create a Tour

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 photo byhikesterson via iStock

You can create a virtual tour of the photos. A simple slide show is one way to do this. Another way is by creating a walk through viewing of the photos blended into a video. You can do this with your own software or use a service to create and even host the video tours. 

Other Simple Real Estate Photography Tips

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 photo byhikesterson via iStock

Some of the other very useful beginner real estate photography tips are to use staging when appropriate, real life props or virtual staging. Also try out twilight time, morning or evening, for the beauty shot of the property.

Pricing our services is another of the simple real estate photography tips to implement thanks to the internet. Simply check to see what others in the area are charging and what services they offer. Compare with your expectations and go from there.

Use these beginner real estate photography tips to help you break into this profitable and enjoyable type of professional photography. You’re already a good photographer, practice these methods and ideas to a good real estate photographer.

Learn More:

 



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Best Focal Lengths for Real Estate Photography

Best Focal Lengths for Real Estate Photography

photo byugurhan via iStock

Many of the real estate photography equipment questions I get are along the lines of what are the best focal lengths for real estate or which lenses are the best lenses for real estate photography.  

Real estate photography is a wonderful field to work in and can be extremely profitable when done right. The camera and lens choice is an important factor to consider, along with accessories and methods such as post processing.

Real Estate Photography Equipment

real estate photography 1

photo byhikesterson via iStock

While you can make real estate images with any type of camera, in order to capture very high quality image files in RAW format and have the ability to change exposure modes and settings as well as lenses, most real estate photography is done with DSLRs or mirrorless cameras in the Full Frame, APS-C, and MFT formats. 

Lenses for real estate photography are chosen in order to maximize the view of the spaces being sold so they lean toward wide angle lenses. Lighting is an option that requires some careful thought since we generally don’t want to add a lot of contrast into the images but rather have a lot of balance from bright to shadow areas.

A tripod or some form of steady camera mount is a necessity as well, especially if we’re using the bracket and merge technique to craft the best photos for the purpose of moving real estate. (Here’s a YouTube video explaining the technique.)

Best Lens for Real Estate Photography

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photo byPC Photography via iStock

Finding the best lens for real estate photography is an important exercise since good lenses aren’t necessarily cheap. We want the best lens we can afford, but what makes any one lens the best choice?  

For imaging architecture indoors or outdoors, field of view, also known as angle of view, is important to think about. As we’ve discussed in numerous other articles, a “normal” lens for whatever format you’re using will create an image with a field of view that appears unmagnified and well, normal, as in a unaffected perspective.

A telephoto lens narrows the field of view and brings objects optically closer. It also flattens perspective from a normal view in that objects in the field of view appear to have less distance between them. We can take advantage of this aspect for artistic views of architecture but it usually isn’t picked first for real estate images.

real estate photography gear 3

photo byPC Photography via iStock

A normal lens, such as the Nifty Fifty for Full Frame format, is often compact, has a fast maximum aperture, and can be seriously sharp. These are often among the most price friendly in a lens line, too. Since we’re usually wanting enough depth of field or depth of focus to have all parts of a room or exterior view in focus, the aperture or f-stop being fast normally isn’t a prime concern since we’ll be stopping down aperture.

Which brings us to wide-angle lenses. A wide lens encompasses more of the scene than the normal field of view, and tends to deepen the perspective, so things can appear to be further from each other in the frame.  All other things being equal, a wide lens provides deeper depth of focus than a normal lens.

Learn More:

What to Watch For

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photo byrjlerich via iStock

Since it appears that we’re definitely leaning toward wide-angle lenses as the best focal lengths for real estate photography, perhaps we should simply pick up the widest lens our budget and camera type allows.

Well, there are some issues with that thought. One is that apparent perspective we talked about. If we shoot with an extremely wide field of view lens, the apparent perspective of real estate images will look odd.

Another issue is distortion. Some distortion is present in all lenses, but it tends to be especially problematic in extremely wide-angle lenses. The most common type of distortion in wide-angle lenses will cause straight lines to appear curved. 

We definitely don’t want the walls, countertops, doors or floor tile to be distorted, so any wide lens choice we make will need to be corrected for a rectilinear view. So, wide, but not too wide is what we’ve narrowed down.

Wide Zoom Lenses

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Thankfully, we have some awesome  choices in wide-angle zoom lenses for all three common formats that are sharp, have a decent maximum aperture, are corrected very well to avoid distortion, and aren’t likely to bust a budget. Let’s look at a small sample of the available choices. Feel free to adjust for your budget and preferred brands.

If you’re shooting a Full Frame Nikon, the Nikon AF-S FX 16-35mm f/4.0G  lens has the best focal lengths for real estate photography for many Full Frame shooters. APS-C cameras in several mounts can use the Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di-IIlens, this one in Canon mount, is a good choice. An awesome lens for MFT users is the Leica DG 8-18mm f/2.8-4.0 Vario-Elmaritlens available from Panasonic.

What’s Your Lens?

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photo byskynesher via iStock

There is a high quality wide-angle zoom lens for your camera type and brand that will offer the same benefits as these examples for your own version of the best focal lengths for real estate photography. Remember to look for reviews of current equipment, useful tips, and explanations of methods on PhotographyTalk.com to decide just what is best for you.

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Budget-Friendly Real Estate Photography Gear

Budget Friendly Real Estate Photography Gear

Photo by AVANTECTURE on Unsplash

Whether you’re new to the real estate photography game or have been at it for years, we all know one thing: real estate photography gear is not cheap.

In fact, real estate photography is one of the most expensive photography niches to start out in, strictly because of the amount of additional gear you need. 

However, if you know where to find inexpensive real estate photography gear, then you will already have a leg up on your competition. 

Table of Contents

Powerful Post-Processing Software on a Budget

real estate photography gear 2

 photo bydiego_cervo via iStock

One of the biggest challenges for real estate photographers is dealing with dynamic range that’s simply too much for their cameras.

This is a particular problem when photographing dark interior spaces with bright windows.

Some real estate photographers rely on the bracketing technique discussed here, which is a great way to create well-exposed images that have nice details in the highlights, midtones, and shadows of interior rooms.

But you have to merge these images together to get the final composite. This process can be streamlined if you utilize software like Photomatix Pro. See what I mean in the video above.

You get over 70 HDR settings and 40 HDR presets along with six HDR styles to fine-tune your photos.

What’s more, you can batch process images, use the presets and tools specifically for real estate photography, and utilize features like advanced ghost removal and automatic alignment of handheld photos.

Time is money in the real estate photography business, and with Photomatix Pro, you can save time so you can make more money!

Recommended Real Estate Photography Books:

Learn Business Skills on the Cheap 

real estate photography gear 1

Photo by The Climate Reality Project on Unsplash 

I’ve spent my fair share of both money and time on conferences and conventions. I was told it was the best way to learn real estate photography tips and to network at the same time, and while I have met some people through these expensive means, it never seems to quite be worth it. 

I mean, I meet more people in local photography groups that are free anyways!

real estate photographer pro

And, I learn all of my new real estate photography skills through Real Estate Photographer Pro’s online courses. 

Real Estate Photographer Pro was founded by a real estate photographer who realized there were absolutely not enough online resources for real estate photographers when he first entered the business.

The courses here are budget-friendly. They’re totally online so you can get to them when you get to them (I’m a late night learner myself). Plus, they build the exact same type of community that a traditional convention does through a members Facebook group and a weekly Q & A. 

Additionally, whereas real estate photography courses on YouTube only give you just enough to try and attempt a new skill, the videos on Real Estate Photographer Pro come with downloads like templates, raw photos and presets to truly walk you through every step. 

Inexpensive Photography Insurance

inexpensive photography gear

Photo by sturti via iStock

One of the essentials of owning a photography business is having the proper insurance to cover you in times of need.

Equipment insurance certainly comes to mind given that you likely have multiple cameras, lenses, a drone, and other very expensive photography gear that travels with you from one property to the next.

And covering all that gear doesn't have to be time-consuming or expensive....

fullframe

At Full Frame Insurance, for example, you can get coverage day or night on their website, and do so quickly and easily.

Plus, with equipment coverage that starts at just $55 a year, you can get the coverage you need without breaking the bank.

Whether the properties you need to photograph are right next door to one another or in locations around the world, your policy is designed to respond to equipment insurance claims during transit and while you're on and off premises.

Full Frame also has general liability insurance that starts at just $99 per year.

The policy covers all sorts of eventualities, from medical expenses to property damage, personal injury, and even advertising injury.

When the scope of your work is to enter people's homes to take photos, it's critical that you have the proper insurance coverage. And Full Frame Insurance makes getting the right coverages a painless and inexpensive process!

Budget-Friendly Camera and Lens

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Photo by Tim Graf on Unsplash 

We all know that your camera and lens are the most expensive real estate photography gear you need.  

But, if you’ve read the site for very long, you know all of the editors on PhotographyTalk love buying these expensive items used to save the cash.  

Usually, when photographers think about buying used cameras they think about the process of going through a shady website like Craigslist to try and do so. But, it’s 2020. There are better options for inexpensive real estate photography gear.

gearfocus website

One of our favorites, Gear Focus, is a used gear community built by photographers, for photographers.

Buyer and seller safety is paramount, so you can rest assured that you get the best deals on gear, and that if something goes awry, Gear Focus will work hard to rectify the situation.

Additionally, if you have gear to sell, Gear Focus gives you unlimited free listings, and when an item sells, their seller fees are just 3.5 percent - among the lowest in the business.

Gear Focus is all about building a community for creatives where buying and selling gear is fair and safe. If you need a budget-friendly camera body, an additional lens, or other kinds of gear, Gear Focus is the place to look.

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A Fully-Featured (Yet Inexpensive) Tripod

real estate photography gear

Photo by ISO Republic on Unsplash 

Another incredibly expensive real estate photography piece is the tripod. You can find tripods into the thousands of dollars range, and frankly I’d rather buy myself a well-deserved vacation.

I’ve been a fan of Ikan for years because they have top-shelf products that won’t break the bank. That includes high-quality, sturdy tripods you can use for real estate photography. 

tripod 1 

I’m a particular fan of Ikan’s professional camera video tripod which is under $200, can hold up to 8.8 lbs of equipment, and provides an ease of use you normally can’t find in a tripod under $500. 

This tripod comes with separate locking mechanisms for panning and tilting, can stand anywhere from 30 inches to nearly 66 inches (which is more than enough height for real estate photography), and comes with a carrying bag I can sling under my normal camera bag. 

tripod 2

What’s more, the fluid head has a fixed counterbalance that helps balance out heavy loads, and the middle spreader gives the tripod additional stability.

The last thing you want when you’re taking photos or videos of a property is have your tripod fail you.

I’ve used Ikan tripods for years, and can attest to their build quality and features. The best part is the budget-friendly price!

Low-Cost Gimbal

budget friendly real estate photography gear 4

  photo by Gustavo Muñoz Soriano via iStock

While a tripod helps you to shoot videos of properties with your camera, sometimes you need a hand-held option for your smartphone and that’s when a gimbal comes in handy. 

But, again, gimbals can be incredibly expensive for those just starting out in the real estate photography game, and I’d rather spend that money on other parts of my business. 

gimbal

Again, I think Ikan is one of the best manufacturers for gimbals for real estate photography on the market today.  

Ikan’s FLY-X3-PLUS 3-Axis Smartphone Gimbal is just $75, features 3-axis stabilization, and supports a wide range of smartphones and GoPros. 

Plus, it comes with an extra battery!

This rig is simple to set up and operate so you can start shooting straight away. And with its 3 axes of active stabilization, your videos will have a smooth, cinematic feel that entices buyers to want to learn more about the property.

inexpensive real estate photography gear 5

 photo by scyther5 via iStock 

And that’s what this is all about...equipping yourself so you can tell each property’s story to get it sold.

But creating those stories doesn’t have to be expensive!

As you’ve seen here, there are many inexpensive photography accessories you can buy that will help you achieve better-looking photos without busting your budget.

Learn More:

 



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Circular Polarizers Aren't Just for Landscapes

Circular Polarizers Arent Just for Landscapes

Photo by Evan Dvorkin on Unsplash

Circular Polarizers are one of the most common and most useful tools in our bag of photography gear. Almost any photographer, even absolute beginners, know that circular polarizers can transform your landscape images into better photos with just a little bit of effort.

What some photographers don’t know, or maybe forget in the heat of taking pictures, is that circular polarizers can be used in a wide range of photographic settings and situations. 

Table of Contents

Are Filters Still Relevant? 

why do you need a polarizer 1

Photo by Christian Fregnan on Unsplash

Some photographers have a mindset that on-lens filters aren’t necessary in our modern digital photography world. After all, can’t we adjust everything in Photoshop or another image manipulation or post processing  program?  

Actually, no we can’t. Besides, some of the things that can be adjusted in post-processing are better when done in-camera. These programs are best used to enhance our images. We should still strive to make the best RAW files and JPEGs we can before we get to the processing stage. 

Filter types that I hardly ever even put in my anymore are color correction filters for color films  and the classic contrast filters for B&W films such as the deep red, light green, or yellow filters. Since these were all designed around and used for film photography, there isn’t much use for them for digital imaging.

Two extremely useful types of lens filters for digital photography gear are graduated neutral density (GND) filters and circular polarizer (C-PL) filters. 

 

Recommended Landscape Photography Books:

 

What Does A Circular Polarizer Do? 

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Photo by Tony Reid on Unsplash 

How does a polarizer work? In simple terms, a polarizer filter controls polarized light. Polarized light is everywhere. Many times it’s a reflection. Light is either absorbed by or reflects off of things. From tiny dust and water molecules in the sky, to the surface of a lake or lagoon, to glass covered skyscrapers in the city, so many things reflect and polarize light. 

Other objects you may recognize as reflective but that can be tamed with circular polarizers are the leaves of trees and other foliage, car and truck windshields, and facial skin. 

When considering the question of why you need a polarizer, it pays to think outside the box. Almost anything reflective can be tamed by use of circular polarizers with one notable exception. Metallic reflections aren’t well controlled by a C-PL on the lens. For metal, you need to filter the light source. Easy to do in a studio, but not generally accessible outdoors in sunlight

why do you need a polarizer 2

An excellent example of a high-quality circular polarizer for many different lenses is the Kenko Puro Slim Circular Polarizer Filter

Besides the superb optical characteristics common with all Kenko filters, I also appreciate the slim profile of the rings and mount. Thinner rings lessen the chances of vignetting with wide-angle lenses or the problems of adjusting when combined with rigid lens hoods.

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Styles of Photography that Benefit from Circular Polarizers

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Photo by Ron McClenny on Unsplash 

By the way, I should point out that there are two types of polarizers. The circular polarizers (C-PL) we’re discussing, and linear polarizers (PL). If you have a modern DSLR or mirrorless, stick with circular polarizers, as linear polarizers could negatively affect the in camera metering system and autofocus sensors.

Landscape

photography gear 4

Pretty obvious why... 

Large expanses of open sky. Lakes, oceans, rivers. Leaves of trees in forests and blades of grass in meadows, wet or dry. All of these have polarized light that can be tamed to produce dark blue skies with puffy clouds, deepen colors of plant life, remove glare from water and sand or rocks.

As you can see above, there is a significant difference in the results you get without a C-PL (left) and with a Kenko C-PL (right).

Cityscape and Architectural

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Photo by Maurício Mascaro from Pexels 

Most of the same reasons listed for landscapes apply here. Anything with lots of sky showing could benefit from circular polarizers. Cityscapes and architecture tend to have a lot of glass and stone, both of which can be very reflective. Concrete and asphalt reflect too, especially if wet.

Real Estate

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Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash 

Real estate is architecture. Part of what may need to be shown in real estate photography involves a lot of windows, but also tile flooring or counters, as well as polished furniture. 

For real estate, you want the images to showcase the property in order to give someone a reason to make such a large purchase, so you want to realistically enhance the beauty of the home or business property. 

Aerial and Drone

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Photo by Derek Thomson on Unsplash 

Believe it not, there are more than drone users engaging in aerial photography. Regardless of how the camera gets in the air, polarizers are a virtual necessity for aerial photography. From the air, most of the ground below reflects polarized light for one reason or another. To avoid muddled colors and lack of detail due to haze, use a polarizer.

Automotive

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 photo byMikeVanSchoonderwalt via iStock

Lots of glass, reflective roads, pretty colors, all of these are reasons to use circular polarizers for     imaging cars, trucks, trains, and other vehicles. Just remember that bare metal and even metalized paint may not be affected much, but everything else will. 

A great trick for photographing cars to make them look amazing is to wet down the pavement where they’re parked. The reflection on the ground adds to the visual appeal of the image.

People, Portraits, Weddings 

how does a polarizer work 11

Photo by mohamed Abdelgaffar from Pexels 

In addition to the surroundings having polarized light, the skin of a portrait subject has a small amount of reflectivity. So does some makeup. Using a circular polarizer can enhance the natural beauty or interest of virtually any subject.  

Another plus about using a polarizer for a portrait is that these filters have about 2 stops of density. Thus, you will have to either open the f-stop or change the shutter speed or ISO to compensate. If you open the f-stop, you give yourself some selective focus opportunities.

Helpful Circular Polarizer Reminders

why do you need a polarizer 12

Photo by Marc Kleen on Unsplash 

These filters will affect your exposure, since they add about 2 stops of density. Your camera meter reads through the filter, so compensation will be figured in, it’s just a good idea to be aware of the added density. 

Polarization is not always uniform, so large expanses of polarized scene elements may not record evenly. It’s usually only evident in sky shots, though.

Keep it clean. It’s part of your lens’ optical path, so be aware of dirt or smudges on both sides of the filter before attaching it. 

Don’t relegate that C-PL filter to the bottom of the bag when shooting subjects other than landscapes! As I’ve shown you here, it's useful in many applications. 

Learn More:

 



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Commercial Real Estate Photography 101

Commercial Real Estate Photography 101

Photo by Valeriia Bugaiova on Unsplash

I worked in the real estate photography space for years before I got my first commercial real estate photography gig, and I was nervous. 

I wrongly imagined that commercial real estate photography would be similar to other real estate photography, just with a bigger paycheck. 

Unfortunately, I had to create a new contract, buy a new lens, and finally contact a lawyer friend to make sure I hadn’t messed anything up along the way. 

When I started my commercial real estate photography career I wish I would have known these things.

Table of Contents

Types of Commercial Properties

commercial real estate photography 1

Photo by Orlova Maria on Unsplash

First things first. You need to understand the different types of commercial real estate photography properties, like:

  • Restaurants
  • Hotels
  • Spas or salons
  • Office spaces
  • Shops or malls 
  • Public spaces

commercial real estate photography 2

Photo by Dane Deaner on Unsplash

While there are a lot of physical differences between these types of properties, there isn’t very much you need to change in your routine to shoot them, so long as you keep these two things in mind: showcase the amenities and the entrance.

Potential buyers want to know what this space offers them, and their clients, that other spaces don’t, hence the amenities. They also want to get a feel for the space as quickly as possible, which is where the entrance shot comes in. 

Recommended Real Estate Photography Books:

 

Commercial Real Estate Photography Paperwork 

real estate photography tips 3

 photo by Cytonn Photography via Pexels 

This is the part of the process that nobody wants to talk about but is most important. 

You are going to need a new contract, a commercial model release, a license for use, and a formal quote.

Let’s start with the formal quote, which will be the first document you use in the commercial real estate photography process. 

You will have already negotiated your pricing before you get to the formal quote because the formal quote will be what your client will show to his or her boss when trying to decide if they want to go with your business. So, it needs to look professional and be worded professionally. 

If you aren’t great with programs like Adobe InDesign, you may want to hire someone to create this contract template for you.

real estate photography tips 4

 Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

You will also need a commercial model release form, which allows your client to share your images with different members of the press for public relations purposes and should be factored into your overall formal quote since your photos very well may end up being used in national publications. 

Finally, you will need a license for use, which outlines the ways your client may use your photos, and a contract, which should include information about all of these documents combined in one easy to read document.  

Learn More:

How to Market a Commercial Real Estate Photography Business

drones for real estate photography 5

Photo by Christian Lambert on Unsplash 

Just like with our real estate photography tips list we made, the number one best way to market yourself as a commercial real estate photographer is to make sure your portfolio is perfect.

However, creating the perfect portfolio should never be an endeavor you face alone because it’s important to get second and third opinions from friends and strangers alike.

Who is your target audience for your portfolio? Do you have enough photographs to break your portfolio down into a few separate portfolios, like a portfolio for hotels and a portfolio for office spaces?

Your portfolio should highlight the ways your photography is unique.

drones for real estate photography 6

Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash 

Additionally, if you’re serious about commercial real estate photography you will want to start investing your time online.  

You will need a simple, intuitive website that showcases your portfolio and allows clients to contact you, hopefully from multiple pages on the website. You should also include a page where you explain your business and another page where you give some background about yourself.

Your blog should also be housed on your website so that you can draw more people to your website, but in order for this marketing tactic to work, you must be writing a new blog around three times every week to build a readership base. 

drones for real estate photography 7

 Photo by Evangeline Shaw on Unsplash

Finally, you will want to start networking with professionals in your area, and if you don’t already happen to know anyone in the commercial real estate space then you can join one of the tens of thousands of real estate networking groups in the world.  

Bonus tip: If you’re serious about learning how to market your commercial real estate photography business, you need to do more than read a few articles about it. Real Estate Photographer Pro is an online group of professional photographers who have already learned all of these tips before and can walk you through it.  

There’s no point in reinventing the wheel, and nobody understands that like Real Estate Photographer Pro. They have easy to understand videos on all types of marketing, videos on editing, and a Facebook group where you can ask any question you have! 

You can also take part in weekly Q&A sessions and learn even more tips and tricks for honing your real estate photography skills. It’s simply a great way to connect, learn, and network !

Commercial Real Estate Photography With a Drone

types of commercial real estate photography 8

Photo by Paolo Nicolello on Unsplash 

If you’re just entering the commercial real estate photography industry, and I’m assuming you are since you’re reading a 100-level article about the industry, get yourself a drone and learn how to use it.

No other subsection of photography has embraced drone photography like commercial real estate photography has. 

Let’s face it, most commercial buildings are just too small to capture from the ground.

types of commercial real estate photography 9

Photo by Caleb Semeri on Unsplash 

You’ll need to do a few things before you set out for your first drone shoot, though. First, you’ll need to ensure you can make it out to the property on a day and time where the weather will be clear because it would suck to get there and be unable to send up your drone. 

You’ll also want to plan the exact shots you want, since camera drones have very limited flight times. 

If you’re looking for a recommendation of a great drone that will last you the course of your career, DJI’s Mavic 2 Pro Drone is perfect for you.

This drone features a 20MP Hasselblad camera that shoots 4K video, can handle low light shooting, and can be up in the air for up to 31 minutes at a time, which will give you plenty of time to capture all the footage your clients need.  

It’s an investment at $1,729, but what would you expect of a camera drone that can transmit full HD video at distances of up to 5 miles? It’s an impressive price for an impressive camera that is sure to impress your clients. 

Learn More:

Processing Real Estate Images

types of commercial real estate photography 10

Photo by Zakaria Zayane on Unsplash 

Whether you take photos of commercial properties from the ground or the air, you’ll need to process those images for maximum impact.

One of my favorite real estate-specific processing programs is Photomatix.

It works as a standalone program or as a plugin for Lightroom (or Capture One, if that’s your program of choice).

It comes with 6 HDR styles, over 70 HDR settings, and 40 HDR presets, all of which enable you to create beautifully exposed images of commercial properties inside and out.

There’s even a batch processing feature to speed up the process and a variety of tools - like advanced ghost removal - that help you clean up your images and put the best foot forward for each commercial property you photograph.

Processing your images is not an option here - it’s a must if you want to impress potential buyers!

Learn More:

 



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Commercial Real Estate Photography Tip: How to Photograph Hotels

Commercial Real Estate Photography Tip How to Photograph Hotels

photo byKentWeakley  via iStock

In commercial real estate photography, how to photograph hotels and how to photograph businesses in general, are important skills to have in our virtual tool bag. 

 Selling or leasing commercial properties is only one part of the potential photography jobs involving businesses that we can tap into as professional photographers. In our continuing series of photography tips for commercial properties, we’ll examine some helpful hotel photography tips along with basic interior photography tips.

Bracket and Merge - Inside and Out

how to photograph hotels

photo bydim0n via iStock

Motel and hotel photography is a specialty niche of commercial property photography, which is already a specialty niche of real estate photography. You will be well prepared to offer some of the specialty services involved in hotel photography if you have already been shooting real estate listing images for a while.

 Standard procedures of commercial real estate photography are very similar to residential realty work. For instance, capturing images that involve a large range of exposure values by means of HDR (high dynamic range) photography is the same whether in a small house on Oak Street or in a 5 star hotel downtown on Main.

Bracket and merge speeds up the overall workflow of real estate imaging, though it does require a little bit of extra time while shooting. That extra time for capturing a series of shots, though, pales in comparison to the time spent attempting to balance on camera or light stand mounted flash or LED lights in each different room.

HDR is usable for interior views and exterior shots in commercial real estate photography. Many areas outside will be full of different lighting levels, some things in full sunlight, some things lit by skylight, and other parts of the image view are in deep shadow. Plus, bracket and merge HDR allows for some specialty beauty shots we’ll  detail below.

Here is a great tutorial of the Bracket and Merge method and we also found an excellent YouTube video on using HDR in real estate photography.

Have a Shot List

commercial real estate photography

photo byWorawut Prasuwan via iStock

Among the more vital elements of how to photograph hotels is to have a very specific shot list. A predetermined list of what areas to shoot is important in all real estate photography, but hotel photography has a very specific need concerning this.

The concern in motel and hotel photography is making sure all of the different room types are captured. Also, amenities and any special features require photos. Some chains actually have their own standards of what’s expected, so ask about any published guidelines they can send you. 

Compliance to corporate standards  is essential for completing the job in a way that the client can use and for you to get paid. In several of the corporate standards I've seen, HDR photography is expected, and they will even tell you how many shots and the stops of difference to use for bracket and merge HDR.

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Speed Up the Workflow Onsite

photography tips for commercial properties

photo byInfografx via iStock

If a sign off sheet is included in the corporate standards you’re given, have a couple of copies on hand as you shoot. One will be your worksheet, the other will be what you end up delivering with the images after processing. 

This is how you can speed up your workflow while onsite without losing any required images. It’s a terrible waste of time for you and the client if you have to go back to gather missed shots. That signed off shot list is a good protection for you, too, since you often can’t charge any more fees if the missed photos are your fault. If they neglected to include something, charge accordingly and always be professional in demeanor and tone of voice. 

That shot list is what you use to know what rooms and areas to include. A representation of each different room type is normally included. So if the hotel has a king room and also a king suite with extra furniture or areas, those are two different room types to shoot. The amenities are important as well. Swimming pools, breakfast buffets, fitness centers, and business accommodations all need images.

The hotels have their own labels for these room types, so it’s a good practice to list the room type code along with the room number on the shot list. Including blank frames between rooms or areas also eases the workflow, alternatively you could use a dry erase board, changing room types and numbers between areas and shooting the board before each room type. 

If I seem to be going on a lot about these workflow ideas and shot list protocols, it’s because I’ve learned by the example of others and from some early mistakes I made that these are vital issues to take care of when learning how to photograph hotels and businesses. 

If you have to stay an extra hour onsite to ensure you’ve captured what the business wants, that’s time well spent. Finding out you missed an important area is a workflow killer when you notice it during post processing and you could lose a client if you deliver the job and they have to point it out to you afterwards.

Drones and Panoramas Add Value

how to photograph businesses

photo bybingfengwu via iStock

Added value is how you set yourself apart from other photographers competing for these same gigs. Two wonderful added packages for commercial real estate photography are drone views and panoramas, especially the interactive virtual tour style of spherical panoramic imaging.

Offering drone images will require you to have a drone license in the USA, regardless of the size drone you use. That’s because it falls under those same laws of commercial flight registration and safety. Other countries have similar requirements, just look it up online if you’re not sure. We also have several drone articles here on PhotographyTalk covering drone photography tips. 

As an alternative to using a drone, an extension pole and a wireless remote can othen give you enough height for similar views. Be careful when using a 16 to 30 foot extension pole and your valuable camera and lens. Your commercial insurance may cover the equipment costs, but it still stinks to hear your camera crash into the pavement.

Spherical panoramas are quickly becoming a standard addition to commercial real estate photography packages. In the hotel industry, they are an important marketing tool for these businesses. Other businesses are adding these features to their online presence as well. 

The spherical panorama interactive tour is an amazing function for business web pages. It allows viewers of the website to see certain areas and views in 360 degrees. I like to describe it as a version of Google Street View that goes inside the business or hotel. 

As with drone photography, in order to offer this specialty package, you will be required to use some specialty equipment. A high quality fisheye lens, a nodal panorama mount, and a heavy duty tripod are the gear necessary for capturing the panorama. 

Stitching software is how you then create the interactive panorama. Most hotels require that the panoramic RAW images be captured with the HDR bracket and merger method. Using a detailed sign off sheet will help you keep everything organized.

Golden Hour, Blue Hour, Twilight Beauty Shots

hotel photography tips

photo bymustafagull via iStock

As with residential real estate photography, having the know-how to photograph hotels often means being able to provide a stunning beauty shot, also called the hero shot. Printed flyers or brochures will have this beauty shot as the cover image, online sites will use this for the opening image.

Bracket and merge HDR will help you here, too, since the dynamic range from shadow to highlight detail is usually extremely high when shooting in Golden Hour, Blue Hour, or during twilight. Blue Hour basically covers twilight time periods, but some photographers like to separate the terms for their hero shots.

Oftentimes, the perfect twilight beauty shot is in the early morning, though it really does matter what direction the building faces. I’ve found that being able to stay overnight for the commercial real estate photography shoot is an excellent way to have a nice variety of Golden Hour and Blue Hour images from both twilight periods to choose from for the beauty shot. 

While there is a lot of competition for clients at this level of commercial real estate photography, using your skills as a photographer and as a businessperson should give you the added value these clients are wanting. 

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Common Real Estate Photography Mistakes (Part 1)

Common Real Estate Photography Mistakes Part 1

Photo by Joshua Ness on Unsplash

Like any other kind of photography, there are many mistakes that can trip you up in your endeavor to capture high-quality real estate photos. 

From color temperatures that shift from one room to the next to forgetting to give your clients a to-do list to prepare the home before you arrive, you need to be aware of common real estate photography mistakes, that way you maximize your time and minimize the need for reshoots.

In this quick guide, you’ll learn about five mistakes to avoid at all costs. Let’s get started!

Forgetting to Tell Your Client How to Prep for Your Shoot

real estate photography mistakes 1 

Photo by Jason Abdilla on Unsplash

Selling a home is a stressful event, to be sure. As such, many homeowners are distracted by the big picture element of selling the home and forget other details, like your photos, that can make the sale a reality.

Not every homeowner understands what needs to be done to create the best-looking shots, so assuming that they do is a big mistake on your part.

Just like a wedding photographer has a shot list they create with their clients, you need to create some kind of guideline for your sellers before you take a single photo of their property.

Photo by Jens Lindner on Unsplash 2

Photo by Jens Lindner on Unsplash 

Reminders for the little things are often the most important as they can be easily overlooked. That is, most homeowners remember to clean the kitchen counters and make the bathrooms sparkle, but they might not remember to clean the windows to remove streaks and dirt or to iron the bedsheets so they aren’t all crumpled up.

It’s better to go into a real estate photo shoot thinking that the homeowner needs detailed reminders for preparing the property rather than thinking they already know what they’re doing!

Quick Tip: Provide homeowners with reminders to tidy up both interior and exterior spaces. Their Realtor should also provide home staging tips, and together, these to-dos and reminders will be a good start in prepping the property for marketing. 

Including Crooked Lines

real estate photography mistakes 2

Photo by Kara Eads on Unsplash 

Take a quick look at the above photo. Notice anything odd? 

The vertical lines of the walls aren’t quite vertical, and it makes the room look off-balanced. 

If the photographer of the photo above had looked up “beginner real estate photography tips” beforehand, then they would have known that with a quick shifting of their feet and leveling the camera, these distracting lines could be mitigated. 

While you can fix this problem by changing your shooting position and the position of the camera, you can also easily correct crooked lines and perspective issues in post-processing. Either way, it’s a simple task, yet one that can have a profound, positive impact on your real estate photos.

Learn More:

Being Too Shy to Ask for a Property Release 

beginner real estate photography tips 1

Photo by Thomas Drouault on Unsplash 

I go into every single contract with this mentality: I’m going to shoot the best shot of my career at this house. 

And, if I’m going to shoot the best shot of my career, I’m going to want to show it off at some point.  

But, I won’t be able to unless I have a property release. So, I make it a habit of getting a property release for every house, unless the owners have a really good reason not to sign it (i.e., someone prominent lives there). 

I just send it along with the rest of my paperwork to make it seem like less of a hassle. If you’re my client you get my contract, my property release, and my invoice in the same email chain. 

Beginner real estate photography tips lists always forget to go over the property release, which is a shame because it’s such an important part of being able to grow your real estate photography business. 

Quick Tip: You don’t have to create a brand-new property release form on your own, as there are many excellent templates out there you can use for free.

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Having Photos With Different Color Temperatures

real estate photography tips 1

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash 

It’s just a given that some rooms in a home are going to have warm light while others have cool light.

What’s important is that you strive to create a consistent color temperature across all the photos, that way the images feel like a cohesive set.

Adjusting the color temperature of images in post-processing is quick and simple, but there are things you can do when shooting the photos that will help too.

real estate photography tips 2

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash 

Primarily, you can rely on natural sunlight (more on that in a minute) rather than using artificial lights.

By turning off artificial lights when at all possible (as was done in the image above), you can avoid the color casts of light bulbs and instead get more consistent lighting coloration in each room.

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Not Using Sunlight to Your Advantage 

what not to do in real estate photos 1

Photo by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash 

As noted above, using natural light rather than artificial light for interior photos will make the task of getting a consistent look throughout your photos a much easier task.

Besides, natural light flooding into a room gives it a brightness and lightness that’s difficult to pull off when using artificial light sources. 

The primary difficulty with using natural light is that windows and doors are much brighter than the rest of the room.

Fortunately, this issue can be easily overcome using the bracket and merge technique outlined in the video below. 

As the video demonstrates, bracketing exposures allows you to capture highlights, midtones, and shadows in great detail, and merging them together gets you a final composite image that’s well-exposed throughout.

The sample images in the video show just how valuable this technique is in creating the most impactful real estate photos. After all, there is only one chance for you to help make a property give a good impression, and with this technique, that good impression is much more likely to occur!

 

 



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Common Real Estate Photography Mistakes (Part 2)

Common Real Estate Photography Mistakes Part 2

Photo by Evelyn Paris on Unsplash

The list of what not to do in real estate photos is long. Real estate photography is more methodical than almost every other photography niche, and it shows when someone is new to the sport.

As a follow up to last week’s article on real estate photography mistakes, I bring you part two. 

Not Asking for Feedback From the Market

real estate photography mistakes 1

Photo by Kobu Agency on Unsplash 

Feedback from the market comes in two forms: direct feedback from your client and feedback from other professionals, including other real estate photographers and real estate agents.

I created a standard email that I copy and paste to each client after I finish working with them that asks for feedback.

I ask them to rate things like my communication and the finished product, and I leave some space for general comments. I want to know if one of my clients was expecting something I didn’t or couldn’t deliver. 

You should also be listening to feedback from the property listing agent. While they might not have the photography background that you do, they most certainly have a good understanding of what works and what doesn’t from a marketing standpoint.

Quick Tip: Engage with other real estate photographers to get feedback on your work as well. While you might be in competition with these people for local jobs, the photography community is a welcoming and supportive one. You’ll often find that if you ask for guidance from a more experienced photographer that you’ll get a constructive response in return.

Using Direct Flash

real estate photography mistakes 2

Photo by Awed Creative on Unsplash 

This is a real estate photography mistake that I see way too frequently...

While it might be tempting to set up flashes in a room like the one above, in which there is virtually no natural light at all, there is a better alternative.

 Since artificial light can be so harsh and distracting, a better option is to bracket your exposures and merge them together.

 This technique works great for all kinds of rooms, but particularly those in which there are bright windows. Since bracketing exposures gets you images that are exposed for the highlights, shadows, and midtones in a room, the final composite image is well-exposed throughout, revealing all the details of the space.

real estate photography mistakes 3

photo by alabn via iStock 

However, it can also work for dim rooms with little natural light. Just turn on overhead lights and lamps to illuminate the room, bracket the exposures as you normally would, and merge them together in post-processing.

As I noted in the first part of this two-part series, keeping an eye on the color temperature is absolutely critical. This is particularly important when you have to turn on artificial lights to illuminate a dark room because incandescent lighting has a much warmer color temperature than natural light.

Learn More:

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Editing Photos Individually 

beginner real estate photography tips 4

Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash 

Not only is individually editing your photos a huge waste of time, but it also isn’t what your clients want.

Think of real estate photography more like Instagram than any other type of photography. You want your personal brand to be the same across the board on Instagram the same way you want your house to look the same in each room.

This is where presets come in. 

The next time you edit real estate photos, make sure you save them as presets. Better yet, don’t edit each one of those photos the next time you’re editing, but edit the first one, select the rest of the shots and use the Sync button to copy those edits across the board.

 Quick Tip: Alternatively, you can use a Lightroom plugin like this one to batch edit HDR images quickly and easily.

Not Adhering to a Shot List

beginner real estate photography tips 5

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Beginner real estate photography tips will only get you so far in almost every case, but using a shot list is the one beginner real estate photography tip you need to remember.

If you’re going to make the most efficient use of your time, and you have to if you’re going into real estate photography, you need to keep a shot list with you in your car.

 Most homes are not so unique that you will need to change this shot list very much. Plus, you can always change it if you realize you forgot something or the homes in your part of the world are a little different than anywhere else. 

 A shot list allows you to get in, get out and get the exact right photos you need in the process. 

Learn More:

Shooting with Ultra-Wide Angle Lenses 

shooting with an ultra wide lens

Photo by Kenny Timmer on Unsplash 

There’s no reason to shoot real estate with a lens wider than 16mm. 

While architecture photographers frequently use ultra-wide angle lenses, or fisheye lenses, this does not apply to real estate.

It will distort sizing of objects in your photos and your clients will not use them to list their house.

Plus, we talked about straightening lines in last week’s common real estate photography mistakes list. While using lens profiles will “de-fish” ultra-wide-angle lenses, they can be difficult to work with unless you really know the lens.

Instead, rely on traditional wide-angle lenses (i.e., a 24mm prime) or even zoom lenses (i.e., 24-70mm) for the bulk of your work.

If you follow these quick tips, you’ll be able to minimize your mistakes and create images that help get properties sold!

 



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Common Types of Real Estate Photography

Common Types of Real Estate Photography

photo by Feverpitched via iStock

Real estate photography is big business all around the world. If you want to try providing it in your business model, you should know the most common types of real estate photography. What are they? Should you offer one or more of these types? 

In its most common types, real estate photography includes residential real estate photography, commercial real estate photography, drone-based real estate photography, architectural photography, interior photography, and interactive spherical video tours. There is some overlap among the common types, real estate photography businesses can cover several at once.

Residential Real Estate Photography

real estate photography 1

photo byake1150sb via iStock

Residential real estate photography is the most common type of real estate photography, making up more than half of all real estate images. Most of these images will go on the internet in listings run by co-ops of realty brokers known as MLS or Multiple Listing Services. 

Depending on your location, location, location, an MLS may have dozens or hundreds of listings of homes for sale at any given time. One of the things that makes a property stand out in an MLS is high quality photography. 

While some photographers may use flash units or video lights, a natural view with detail in highlights, midtones, and shadows can be achieved by bracketing and merging exposures, also known as HDR or high dynamic range photography. Some of the methods for this and why HDR works so well in residential real estate photography are explained in this YouTube video about merging exposures.

Commercial Real Estate Photography

real estate photography 2

photo bypastorscott via iStock

Commercial real estate photography is very similar to residential real estate photography, but the properties for sale or lease are business oriented. They could include office parks, strip malls, factories, or individual stores and other types of businesses within a larger structure, such as office space on a floor of a skyscraper.

Most of the same principles and techniques used for residential listings apply to commercial real estate photography, including the techniques of bracketing and merging exposures for natural looking HDR images. Follow this tutorial for merging exposures to learn how much this technique can improve your real estate photography images and simplify your processing workflow.

Drone-Based Real Estate Photography

interior real estate photography 3

photo byjhorrocks via iStock

Some of the best new technologies of electronics have been blended together to create easy to control flying drones with digital still and video cameras at reasonable prices. Aerial photography has long been an option for realtors but drones are able to provide lower level intimate property portraits.

A typical drone for advanced photography and videography has wireless control, gimbal mounts, and professional level optics and sensors. All of this together means that a real estate photographer can provide great images of a property from an above ground level point of view. 

While many drones are capable of flying multiple hundreds of feet above the ground, a typical drone real estate image or video will be from 20 to 100 feet up. Without a drone, you could mount a remote controlled camera to the top of a long pole, but a drone gives you many more great options of the types of images and video you can capture.

Learn More:

Architectural Photography

interior real estate photography 4

photo byxiaoke chen via iStock

This type of real estate photography is more geared towards those who design and build the structures as opposed to owners attempting to sell or lease a property. An architect seeking new clients or a builder doing the same can use these images to show the scope of their qualifications.

With this style of photography, the details are often as important as the overall view of the property, so the HDR bracket and merge techniques also work well. While we want to portray a realistic picture of what was designed or built, a little bit of an artistic flair can create a positive impact, making their work stand out for someone to investigate their services deeper.

That’s the main difference in this style compared to standard real estate images used to sell a house or commercial property. Instead of focusing on the property, the photographer will highlight the work done by the design and construction teams.

Interior Real Estate Photography

architectural photography 5

photo byalvarez via iStock

Similar to architectural photography, interior real estate photography deals more with what’s been done to the space rather than to the space itself. Interior designers desire good images to show off what they do to whatever space is provided to them. 

HDR merging is a simple technique to improve interior photos that will benefit the images greatly, since adding furniture and decorations will cause a lot more areas of light and shadow than an empty space will have. Again, we can make use of a bit more artistic flair with this common type of real estate photography, as long as we aren’t being so “artistic” that the images are unrealistic. The tutorial for merging exposures mentioned earlier will help us see the proper balance.

Another major difference with architectural photography and interior real estate photography as compared to the other common types of real estate photography is that these spaces may not be owned by the person seeking the images. So as a photographer, we should make sure we and our clients have permission to make the images and use them.

Interactive Spherical Video Tours

architectural photography 6

photo bymiodrag ignjatovic via iStock

This is a very specialty niche of real estate photography. It’s most often used by the business occupying the space or the building being imaged. It is generally made with wide angle or fisheye lenses, nodal point panorama mounts, and GUI or other specially designed software. 

A prime potential client for this type of real estate photography could be a hotel, restaurant, healthcare facility, or an entertainment venue. There is a growing market for this type of real estate photography. In essence, you’re providing an in person remote visit of the business.

Though these are referred to as videos, they are actually pieced together from scores or hundreds of images and blended together into a short video or a series of images. The images are interactive in that a viewer can drag their mouse pointer to move the point of view of the panoramic image.

What Real Estate Photography Should You Offer to Clients?

commercial real estate photography 7

photo byPeopleImages via iStock

The most common types of real estate photography are residential and commercial real estate photography. You might find it more rewarding to offer some of the other types, either as an extra service you can provide or as a specialty niche for your own real estate photography business. Use the real estate photography tips outlined in this guide to help you determine the types of real estate photography you wish to offer.

Learn More:

 



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Critical Real Estate Photography Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make

Critical Real Estate Photography Mistakes You Cant Afford to Make

photo by ucpage via iStock 

I’ve made my fair share of real estate photography mistakes in my career. We all have.  

While some of these mistakes are mistakes we all need to make in order to learn, there are a good number of real estate photography mistakes I see rookies make all the time that are so cringe-worthy. 

Below, I offer a quick list of some common real estate photography mistakes that you need to avoid at all costs. 

Mistake #1: Catching Flash Shadows in Your Photos

real estate photography 1

photo by Studio Peck LLC via iStock 

Using a flash for interior real estate photography is a mistake, if you ask me. 

Why?

Well, aside from the expense of buying lighting gear and the time it requires to set it up for each shot, flashes can leave harsh shadows in your photos if you aren’t careful.

A better option is to use natural light, create bracketed exposures, and merge them together.

As you can see in the images above and below, this creates a seamless look without any ugly shadows from a flash.

real estate photography 2

photo by HRAUN via iStock 

What’s more, merging bracketed exposures gets you a well-exposed image throughout - note how the room itself is beautifully bright and that the detail is retained in the window. 

Without bracketing and merging, you’ll often find that the interior space is dark and the window is well-exposed or the window is completely blown-out and the room is well-exposed.

So, by using this technique, you avoid all kinds of problems, not just ugly flash shadows! 

Mistake #2: Not Learning the Necessary Business Skills

not learning the skills you need

Photo by zeljkosantrac via iStock

It's one thing to understand how to take quality real estate photos.

It's another thing to understand how to run a photography business - and a successful one, at that.

Ideally, before you dip your toes into the world of real estate photography, you'll take the time to learn the requisite photography and business skills. And a great way to do that is by learning online from the best in the business!

I recently came upon Real Estate Photographer Pro, and was impressed from moment one by the sheer volume of materials from which you can learn how to be a successful real estate photographer.

As mentioned above, you need to learn photography and business skills, and that's precisely what you do in this course.

With more than 80 video lessons on everything from marketing to camera settings to post-processing, this is truly a one-stop-shop for learning all-things real estate photography.

And it isn't some kind of one-and-done learning experience, either - there are dozens of downloadable assets and you get full lifetime access to the course, too.

That means that you can learn at your own pace, reference course materials when you need a quick refresh, and learn new skills as you go for the duration of your career.

With Real Estate Photographer Pro at your side, there's nowhere to go but up!

Mistake #3: Giving Away Extras for Free

real estate photography 3

Photo by Derek Thomson on Unsplash 

There are a lot of photographers that give away work for free, myself included. 

But there’s a difference between giving away an add-on - say, sky replacement in the primary exterior photo - and giving away all of your work for free.

There are many photography tutorials that tell you that working for free is a great way to generate a client list. I have to disagree. 

If you start out working for free, you’re not only making zero money, but you’re also conditioning clients to expect your work to be cheap.

Then, as you gain experience and begin to raise your rates, even low rates will seem high compared to the free services you used to offer.

Working for free undervalues you and your work. Don’t do it!

In the video above, True Homes Photography discusses different real estate photography pricing structures.

It helped me out a lot when I found it. Hopefully it will do the same for you!

Learn More:

Mistake #4: Using All of Your Income to Buy New Gear 

real estate photography mistakes 1

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash 

Photographers are passionate about their careers. You need to be passionate in order to run your own business, but you also need to be passionate when you work in an industry that traditionally undervalues your work.

So, it can be difficult to not direct this passion into the latest and greatest photography equipment. 

I was discussing this article with a friend who is a graphic designer. We were primarily talking about gear acquisition syndrome, which is when you basically take your entire paycheck and put it back into new equipment for your business. It’s a dangerous game to play!

real estate photography mistakes 2

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash 

She gave me a good metaphor for this problem. Up until 2015, the university she works for required all of their employees to upgrade their computers every 2 years since equipment was just that much better with every new edition. 

The university ended their policy in 2016. The new policy is to use the equipment you have until it absolutely falls apart (or your skills outgrow the equipment).

Photography gear is not improving at the rate it has been for the past century. I still use a Canon 5D Mark II for goodness sakes! 

Unless you truly need new equipment because the equipment you have can’t do something you need it to do (like, shooting 4K video), then you should stick with what you have.  

Use the extra money to invest in marketing or to put in retirement instead. 

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Mistake #5: Getting Cocky

real estate photography mistakes 3

Photo by Marco Xu on Unsplash 

I had been working as a real estate photographer for two years before I was asked to photograph my first million dollar home.

It was a huge deal for me. I couldn’t stop talking about it for weeks and I didn’t sleep the night before at all.  

But I have to say the shoot went off without a hitch despite my nervous energy about photographing a very expensive home.

After that, I got a little to big for my britches. I actually turned down a few jobs for “lesser” properties because I was convinced other million-dollar homes were right around the corner.

It’s one thing to be confident in your abilities. It’s another to be cocky about it.

When you find success, don’t let it get in the way of continuing to learn and grow. Be confident, but be humble too. No one like a photographer that’s a jerk, so if you want to score more real estate photography jobs, keep yourself in check, put your head down, and work hard!

Learn More:

 



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Critical Tips for Interior Real Estate Photography

Critical Tips for Interior Real Estate Photography

photo byYinYang via iStock

Though the exterior photos of a property will likely be the first ones that prospective buyers see, it’s often the interior shots that compel them to request a showing or put in an offer. 

The interior of a home is where the story of the property is told - where they can envision themselves having family dinners, playing with their kids in the family room, and enjoying a soak in the bathtub in the master bath. 

But getting high-quality interior photos of properties is much more than just pointing your camera and pressing the shutter button.

Instead, to get the best-quality images, follow these interior real estate photography tips.

Beware of Using Ultra-Wide-Angle Lenses 

interior real estate photography 1

photo by gerenme via iStock 

First and foremost, you want to avoid using wide-angle lenses that are too wide.

Lenses in the 10-12mm range often offer a fisheye look - with distorted and warped lines (the example image above is a panorama, not a single wide-angle shot, but it demonstrates how lines can appear warped). This is not what we want when photographing interior spaces!

Instead, use a wide-angle lens that allows you to capture most of the room in a single shot, but has less distortion - say, in the range of 24mm (or around 14-16mm on a crop sensor camera).

There are some caveats to this, however.

First, distortion is an issue with any wide-angle lens, so some measure of lens correction in post-processing will be needed for barrel distortion and chromatic aberration, even if you shoot at the narrow end of the wide-angle range, like 24mm.

Secondly, there are a variety of rectilinear lenses that go as wide as 10mm. These lenses are specifically designed to minimize or even eliminate the barrel and pincushion distortion that make straight lines appear warped. In that case, you can go much wider than you could with a traditional lens and still get stick-straight lines.

It’s important to have a lens that’s quite wide in your bag so you can get whole-room images in a single photo. That’s difficult to do with a 24mm lens, so shop around for a wider one - particularly a rectilinear lens - to add to your bag.

interior real estate photography 2

photo by DenGuy via iStock 

Where ultra-wide lenses create images that are distracting with all that distortion, regular wide-angle lenses allow you to highlight the space in the room, include foreground interest, and capture a view that gives the room a feeling of more space and dimension, as shown above.

Learn More:

Interior Photography Composition Tips 

real estate photography tips 1

photo by Bulgac via iStock 

When composing interior photos, it’s helpful to get back to the basics of photography to find tricks that can help you capture the most pleasing shots. 

Leading lines, for example, give the image improved depth while also helping guide the viewer’s eye through the shot and around the room.

In the image above, the lines of the wood floors help move your eyes toward the back of the room, which gives the impression of greater depth.

real estate photography tips 3

Also rely on the rule of thirds to create photos that are well-balanced and have good proportion.

As shown above, primary features in this photo - the light fixtures and bar among them - adhere closely to the rule of thirds grid.

The resulting image is quite balanced. Notice how the large countertop area doesn’t overwhelm the shot, even though it takes up quite a bit of the frame.

real estate photography tips 2

 photo by alabn via iStock

When composing photos, think about whether the shot warrants more foreground space or more background space.

For example, if a room has beautiful flooring, you want to highlight that by dedicating more of the composition to the foreground. If, on the other hand, a room has an intricate ceiling, shift the eye level upward to give more space to viewing that detail. 

As shown in the image above, this change in eye level needn’t be severe - just a slight increase in the height of the camera allowed the photographer to include more of the coffered ceiling and range hood. 

Though these are simple tips, they can have a profound impact on the quality of interior photos!

Quick Tip: When altering the eye level of the camera, strive to maintain the camera at level. Tilting it up or down can cause straight lines like walls to appear as though they’re tilting.

Creating Depth in Interior Photos

real estate photography 1

photo by hikesterson via iStock 

Homebuyers love space, and by creating depth in your images, you can give them the impression of space in your photos. 

As mentioned before, leading lines are an excellent tool to use to create depth and dimension in your interior photos.

But there are other tricks you can use as well.

real estate photography 2

photo by YinYang via iStock

For example, by incorporating a foreground element - like the couch in the image above - you create layers of interest for the viewer’s eye to inspect as they look around the image. 

In this case, the couch in the foreground, the ottoman behind it, the dining table in the midground, and the kitchen in the background give this shot incredible depth. The fact that the view out the doors and windows is on full display certainly helps as well.

It’s this kind of intention - with staging, furniture placement, and the perspective from which you shoot - that will result in the most pleasing photos of interior spaces. 

Learn More:

Maximize the Impact of Interior Spaces With a View Outside

how to photograph interior spaces 1

photo by asbe via iStock 

As explained earlier, creating images with depth will give buyers a better impression of the size of the rooms they’re looking at in your photos. 

One of the best ways to do that is to ensure that the viewer’s eyes can travel beyond the room.

One of the most common difficulties you’ll encounter when photographing interior spaces is that windows tend to be blown out, as shown above. Naturally, this overexposed box does nothing for creating depth in the shot or showcasing what the view from this room might be.

how to photograph interior spaces 2

photo by hikestersonvia iStock  

Fortunately, the fix for this issue is quite straightforward.

By bracketing the exposures and merging them together, you can create a photograph that’s well-exposed for the shadows, midtones, and highlights in a room.

The result, as you can see above, has far greater visual appeal than the previous image.

In this case, the view out of the window is crystal clear, and allows our eyes to travel further into the photograph.

With that said, this technique, paired with the other interior real estate photography tips outlined earlier, allows you to tell a better story about the property, one that highlights space, depth, and the view!

 



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DIY Real Estate Photography Tips for Realtors

DIY Real Estate Photography Tips for Realtors

 photo byAleksandarNakic via iStock

If you’ve been in the real estate business for very long, then you know the importance of incredible real estate photos. 

People want to see their new potential houses before ever contacting you, especially with the rise of websites like Zillow. So, if the photos of their new potential houses are of poor quality, then they’ll probably immediately move on to the next potential house. 

And, in a time like ours, you can’t be losing leads just because you didn’t use a great real estate photographer.  

So, this DIY real estate photography list is for you.  

Table of Contents

  • Let the Photos Speak For Themselves
  • The Benefits of Hiring a Professional
  • Understand the Basics

Let the Photos Speak For Themselves

diy real estate photography 1

 photo bySDI Productions via iStock

Visuals are 43% more persuasive than written words. Even before the advent of photography, marketers knew to create prettier type fonts if they were going to sell their products.

But, we have now come to expect a certain type of quality in our photography as consumers, thanks to rapidly increasing technology. 

This is especially true of the real estate industry. A full 86% of homebuyers state that the listing photography is why they decide to come view a home. So, why do so few realtors choose to work with professional real estate photographers? 

real estate photographer pro

If you feel like you could use some help learning the best strategies for creating clean real estate photos, try Real Estate Photographer Pro. 

Real Estate Photographer Pro was created by a real estate photographer who got fed up learning all of the tricks of the trade for himself, so he decided to create a course where he collected all of the tips he could. 

The course includes video tutorials, a members-only Facebook page with live Q&A sessions held on a weekly basis, and hundreds of downloads of presets and templates.

In other words, not only does this course provide you with all the learning opportunities you need to grow your business, but it also has loads of support tools to help you along the way.

 

Recommended Real Estate Photography Reading:

 

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional 

real estate photography tips 2

 photo by jacoblund via iStock 

DIY real estate photography can only get you so far, as can repeatedly Googling, “real estate photography tips.”  

There are a ton of benefits of hiring a professional real estate photographer. Here are a few:

Properties with professionally-taken photos sell 32% faster

Real estate photographers know how to work with a small, cluttered property

You won’t need to purchase specialized photography equipment

beginner real estate photography tips 3

 photo by PeopleImages via iStock 

Of course, hiring a professional real estate photographer also means that the property will take longer to list. You’ll need to find a professional in your area that you trust and schedule them. Depending upon the market in your home city, it may take a few weeks.  

Additionally, professional real estate photographers will run you anywhere from $100-$500, depending upon the specificity of your request and the background of the photographer you hire.  

So, we’ll list some beginner real estate photography tips below if you do decide to do a DIY real estate photography shoot. 

Learn More:

Understand the Basics

photography tips for realtors 4

 photo by SDI Productions via iStock 

If you’re going to do a DIY real estate photography photoshoot, then you’ll need to have a basic understanding of photography tips for realtors.  

Here’s a quick and dirty version for you. 

DIY Real Estate Photography Tips

diy real estate photography 5

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash 

Declutter. Make sure personal items are removed from your shots, and the home is clean. 

Use natural lighting. If possible, never use artificial lighting. Artificial lighting will throw off the color of the lighting in your shot and will require a ton of work in your editing software. A better option is to bracket your exposures and merge the images. This generates a composite image that is well-exposed throughout. 

Take all your photos from eye level. This is the easiest way to ensure that the house is accurately represented in your photos. 

How to Choose Your Shots

diy real estate photography 6

Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash 

You’ll need to build your shot list before going to your property to photograph it.  

Typical real estate photography shot lists include:

  • 5-6 photos of the outside of the home from different angles
  • 3-4 photos of the backyard
  • 2-3 photos of each bathroom
  • 2 wide shots of each bedroom
  • 2 wide shots of the kitchen
  • 2 wide shots of the living room
  • 1 photo each of any special features 

Just make sure to showcase anything special about the home. Custom millwork, fireplaces, the view...all are well worth a photo!

Staging 101

diy real estate photography 9

Photo by The Honest Company on Unsplash 

You’ll want to get rid of all clutter, like we talked about earlier. You’ll also want to get rid of personal items (especially if they are political in nature). People want to see themselves in a home and they won’t if other people’s belongings are in the photos. That’s why staging is so important. 

Also, make sure that you clean anything that could be considered a pet peeve. Make the beds and make sure the sheets aren’t wrinkled. Clean the windows thoroughly. Put the toilet seats down. These are super simple tasks that can have a profound impact on how your photos look. 

How to Choose an Editing Software

real estate photography tips

Photo by Kevin Bhagat on Unsplash 

I’d be joking if I said that choosing an editing software isn’t mostly about finding something in your price range. 

Photoshop and Lightroom are both the most popular real estate photography editing softwares. However, Photoshop is around $250 while Lightroom is $120 a year. Both editing softwares require monthly or yearly memberships. 

Instead, I’d recommend something tailored specifically to real estate like Photomatix Essentials RE. It’s $79, so you can save money over Photoshop and Lightroom, and it has special presets for real estate photography that can help speed up your workflow too. 

Learn More:

 



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Drone Tips for Real Estate Photographers

Drone Tips for Real Estate Photographers

photo byRyan Herron via iStock

Real estate photography is a profitable business open to many skilled photographers. We have many articles covering real estate photography tips and also a lot of articles covering drone video tips. So, we’re combining these thoughts as some useful drone tips for real estate photographers.

Using drones for real estate photography can put you ahead of the curve in finding clients since there are many photographers without drones or don’t yet know how to use a drone for real estate photography. 

If you have or are planning to acquire a high quality drone, here are a few drone photography tips for making good images to include in a real estate photography package or service.

Use a High-Quality Drone

Quality for drones involves more than camera resolution, it also covers the flight and control characteristics of the drone. First off, though, you want the camera and lens to be able to provide video footage and still images on par with the camera you’re using for the regular photos. 

By on par, I mean being close enough for online imaging to not show a definite difference in quality. So, if you’re using a Full Frame or APS-C DSLR or mirrorless, you won’t need an exact match of sensor, but you want one that is better than the cameras included in hobbyist style drones.

DJI Mavic drones like the DJI Mavic Air 2 with a ½” sensor and DJI Mavic 2 Pro with a 1” type sensor in its Hasselblad camera. Both are reasonably priced for professional photography with the Mavic Air 2 coming in at a little over half the cost of the Mavic 2 Pro.

Intelligent Flight Modes

drone tips for real estate photograph

 photo byFototocam via iStock

Part of the quality of the drones for real estate is how well they fly and how smooth the control of the drone is. Many of the better drones have specialty flight modes that are very usable to ensure higher quality images and video.

A wobbly flight means poor quality photos, just as if you had poor technique for holding your DSLR causing unsharp images. Intelligent flight modes such as what is found in the DJI Mavic drones provide smooth and even control of the flight and shooting the photos.

Learn More:

Shoot In HDR Mode

drones for real estate

 photo bygolubovy via iStock

If your drone has the mode available, HDR will provide the most balanced exposure for the aerial scenes being pictured. HDR is High Dynamic Range photography, a method of bracketing several frames taken at the same time and then merged in post processing in order to capture good detail in highlights, mid range tones, and the shadows.

Here is an excellent YouTube videoexplaining how to use HDR for real estate photography. 

I consider this one of the top drone tips for real estate photography because you should already be shooting in HDR for real estate photography. The bracket and merge technique of HDR photography has many advantages for all types of real estate photography from residential and luxury residential to commercial properties. 

So if you’re using the bracket and merge technique for your ground based images and interior images, you want the drone photos to have the same great looking detail across the entire dynamic range of the scene and the entire package of images.

Follow the Rules

drone photography tips

 photo byRemus Kotsell via iStock

One of the most important drone tips for real estate photographers is to meet all the requirements for drone operation in your area and follow all the safety protocols. For drones of a certain size, this will include the regulations for drone flight and registration. In some jurisdictions, this will involve testing and licenses. 

Since using drones for real estate photography is likely part of a business venture, you will also want to have the proper insurance coverage to protect yourself against any liability claims, both personal and property.

How to Take Real Estate Photos: Post-Process for a Natural Look

how to use a drone for real estate photography

 photo byRobert Ingelhart via iStock

Even though we are using what some may consider to be an artistic technique, HDR, for our real estate photography, the end results we’re after should have a natural appearance. The bracket and merge technique can supply us with beautiful, full range images, but we want to keep the colors and details as natural and true to life as possible. 

We may be presenting the property in the best light, but the images should remain realistic, accurately portraying the real estate property. Cleaning up the images is a good idea, but major alterations might prove to be problematic in the long run. 

It’s a good idea to post-process your drone images to the same standards used in the rest of the images. In other words, the color balance, sharpness, and exposure values from both cameras should complement each other instead of being obviously and glaringly different. 

Offer Pricing Packages

real estate photography tips

 photo bygrinvalds via iStock

In order to get paid for using your drones for real estate work, it helps to offer a variety of pricing packages that include drone images, beauty shots, and twilight images. Adding these services to your pricing packages, either one at a time or as multiple combinations, can create interest in them and possibly result in more clients opting for them.

Take advantage of these drone tips for real estate photographers to learn how to use a drone for real estate photography and to improve your techniques using a drone in order to supply the best images for your real estate clients which will give you more profitable success in this fascinating field of professional photography.  

Learn More:

 



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Easy & Effective Real Estate Photography Tips

Easy Effective Real Estate Photography Tips

photo bySDI Productions via iStock

The housing market all across America is incredibly hot right now, which means you could be finding yourself in a spot where you’re needing tips for photographing real estate.

Whether you are selling your own home, or you’re starting to photograph real estate as a business, you need to follow some basic requirements to make sure that your photos are of a high enough quality to attract plenty of potential buyers.

If you’ve ever been on the other end of purchasing a house, then you know just how big a deal photos of properties are. I’ve personally passed on plenty of homes, whether I was looking to buy them or even just rent them, because the photos were cluttered, poorly lit, or worse, nonexistent. 

Tips for Photographing Real Estate: Strictly Use Natural Lighting

tips for photographing real estate 1

photo byhikesterson via iStock

This is one of the better known exterior real estate photography tips, but I think you can and should apply it to indoor real estate photos as well. You should always use natural lighting.

Of course, natural lighting just looks better than artificial lighting, but if you use artificial lighting you’re also setting yourself up for disaster while editing your photos later.

Think about it. If you use artificial lighting, then the chances are that each light bulb will be a different brightness and different color than other light bulbs in the house. This means you will have to go in during the editing process to try and make all of the lighting throughout the house look as if it is the same color.  

Besides, artificial lighting can be harsh, create deep shadows, and it requires that you invest in a lighting system that you then have to set up and take down for each room in the house.

A much easier solution is to utilize HDR photography techniques. By bracketing the exposures, you can blend multiple images together to create an image that retains the details of the room throughout the dynamic range in the scene - including the view out of the windows! See how easy it is in the video below:

Setting up your camera to take bracketed exposures is simple and straightforward, too. And as the video above shows, the results are well worth it!

Tips for Photographing Real Estate: Beware of Distortion

real estate photography tips 2

photo byCardmaverick via iStock

ost photographers will use some type of a wide-angle lens when photographing real estate because wide-angle lenses make the space look larger. This isn’t always necessary, but if you’re shooting a rather small home, then it can make the home look more open and more appealing.  

But, one thing that you have to consider is the fact that wide-angle lenses also distort the exact thing that the photographer is trying to sell: the house.

A wide-angle lens will distort features of the room, particularly at the edges. So, if you’re photographing a dining room that has a round table, and you use a wide-angle lens, the table will appear to be oval in shape.

Additionally, objects nearer the camera will be exaggerated in size while objects further away will be smaller than they actually are.

To help mitigate distortion, move the camera back as far as you can and zoom the lens in a little bit. If you use a full frame camera, try to keep the angle of view at 18mm or wider, at a minimum. If you’re using a crop sensor camera, don’t go wider than 12mm.

Learn More:

Tips for Photographing Real Estate: Keep Your Camera Low

interior real estate photography tips 3

photo byCreativaStudio via iStock

A lot of real estate photographers recommend that you take real estate photos from an eye level or around 5.5 feet. This is so that each of your photos accurately represents what an average person will see when they’re walking through the house.  

While this is a good recommendation, I do not always shoot at an eye level of 5.5 feet. I typically shoot my real estate photography closer to 4.5-5 feet in children’s rooms because the furniture is lower to the ground. Conversely, in areas like bathrooms, I bring the eye level up so potential buyers can see the countertops and fixtures on the vanity. 

I’d say err on the side of having the eye level a little lower in most situations. This allows you to show potential buyers more of the flooring and less of the ceiling. And by and large, buyers care much more about what they’re walking on than what’s on the ceiling.

Tips for Photographing Real Estate: Photograph Small Details, Like Furniture

effective real estate photography tips 4

photo byAsiaVision via iStock

I was photographing a house sometime last year with one of those clients who is very hands on. He was there the entire time I was shooting. At times, he was trying to direct me. I would normally find this quite annoying, but he and I have a good working relationship and he has been flipping houses for decades, so he typically knows what he’s talking about.

Still, I was taking a photograph in the living room and was trying to frame the couch that had just been set up by the stagers. My client started telling me that I didn’t need to focus on the furniture, because the furniture wasn’t being sold with the house. 

I personally believe that this was a huge mistake on his part, firstly because he spent thousands and thousands of dollars to stage that house, and secondly because photos of furniture in real estate photography help people to imagine themselves in that space.

I always recommend that you take the time to take photos of all the details of a space, even if some of those details aren’t for sale. It helps build a story of the home - one that potential buyers can better envision themselves being a part of.

Tips for Photographing Real Estate: Use a Tripod

effective real estate photography tips 5

photo byKatarzynaBialasiewicz via iStock

I always find it really frustrating when a homeowner takes a ton of time learning how to photograph their homes for sale, reading all about spring cleaning tips for real estate photography, and then they don’t use a tripod while they’re shooting the photos.

It honestly doesn’t matter if the house looks incredible if the photos you’re going to take of the home aren’t. 

By using a tripod, you’re giving yourself a greater ability to take high-quality photos. You won’t have to worry about handshake, plus to utilize HDR techniques like bracketing exposures, a tripod is essential for getting multiple exposures that are framed up in the exact same manner.

Use these tips to improve your real estate photography, and I think you’ll find that the homes you photograph have more interest from potential buyers.

Learn More:



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Easy Real Estate Photography Tips for Better Interior Photos

Easy Real Estate Photography Tips for Better Interior Photos

Photo by Michael Glass on Unsplash

It’s hard to sort through real estate photography tips online because you’re never quite sure what competing information to listen to, and this is especially true when it comes to grabbing the “perfect shot,” because the “perfect shot” is different to everyone.

But, there are some real estate photography basics just about everyone agrees on. In an attempt to boil down all the information floating around online, I wrote this real estate photography tips list for people just starting out in the trade. 

But, don’t thank me, thank Mango Street for creating the awesome video on which I based this list. It’s filled with real estate photography tips for shooting interiors, but more importantly, it’s only a few minutes long, so even if you’re cramped for time, you can catch their tips. 

Check out the video above, and for more details, keep reading below! 

Table of Contents:

Shoot From the Hip

real estate photography tips 1

Photo by Chastity Cortijo on Unsplash 

This is one of those photography tips made popular in street photography. But you can use a version of it to take better real estate photos, too. 

With street photography, you’re literally shooting from the hip - just holding your camera low and snapping away. 

Shooting from the hip in real estate photography is a little different in that it refers to shooting from hip height with your camera on a tripod. 

Doing so allows the room to appear neutral with natural-looking lines. For instance, if you shoot from eye height, the image can have odd angles and look as though you’re looking down into the room rather than across it. 

In the image above, this issue is rectified by shooting at hip height. Notice how the vertical lines are parallel with the edges of the frame - just what you want!

Quick tip: Always use a tripod to ensure you get a perfectly sharp image. Even if you feel as though you have steady hands, they aren’t as steady as a tripod!

real estate photography tips

Photo by Random Sky on Unsplash

Shooting from hip height can also have the added benefit of making a room appear larger. 

When people are shopping for properties online, they typically want large spaces. This is especially important with high-dollar or corporate clients. 

In the image above, dropping the eye level to hip height allows more of the incredible view to be taken in by potential buyers. Since views often sell properties, this is a simple trick to both improve your photos and make a sale more likely.

 

Recommended Real Estate Photography Reading:

 

Bring Props 

real estate photography interior photos 3

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

One of the hardest real estate photography tips to listen to is this: view your furniture as people.  

Now, I understand that doesn’t make sense right off the bat, but in real estate photography, the furniture is an important subject. If you’re switching to real estate photography after having worked in another photography niche, then you’re going to need to get used to viewing your furniture as one of the stars of the show.

But, sometimes the star of the show needs makeup. For instance, a coffee table without a book can look pretty bland. Or, a shelf without any plants just sort of looks like a boring shelf. 

real estate photography tips 4

Photo by Hutomo Abrianto on Unsplash

I always recommend real estate photographers bring a few books, small plants, neutral-colored throw blankets and pillows to their shoots to liven up any particularly boring shots. 

Though many realtors ask their clients to stage their properties (or stage the property for them), this isn’t always the case. It never hurts to have a few eye-catching accessories in your trunk to bring a little more interest to your interior real estate photos. 

Quick tip: Composition works the other way around as well. Did the homeowner forgot some dish soap by the sink? Remove it. Is a dog bed in the corner of the room making your shot look messy? Put it in a room you’ve already shot. Adding accessories can benefit your shots, but so too can decluttering!

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Use Natural Light

real estate photography 5

Photo by Random Sky on Unsplash

Real estate photography interior photos that use artificial light almost always look less welcoming. Artificial light can cast harsh shadows on walls and ceiling fixtures and mess with the color temperature of your shot. 

As such, it’s important to shoot during the most bright time of day (typically between 10am and 3pm), that way the property is as filled with light as possible. 

But using natural light doesn’t just offer the benefit of looking better. It’s also free! 

Why would you want to lug around expensive lighting equipment when you can just rely on natural light while also getting a better result? 

If you use HDR techniques and bracket your exposures, you can merge them together in post-processing to create a final image that is well-exposed throughout.

Doing so means you don’t have to worry about blown-out highlights or blocked up shadows. Instead, the images you create showcase the room’s features and help you put the property’s best foot forward. 

If you’re not sure how to merge bracketed images together, check out the tutorial video above for a quick primer. 

Learn More:

Use a Wide Lens

real estate photography interior photos 6

Photo by Ashkan Forouzani on Unsplash 

While it’s great to have a wide variety of lenses to choose from, you’ll probably find yourself reaching for two lenses the most often: either a 24mm or 35mm and your nifty fifty.  

The 24mm or 35mm is just wide enough to capture an entire room without being so wide that the room starts to look warped and distorted. This is a great option for exterior photography as well because it allows you to highlight the property in the context of its surroundings. 

You can use your nifty fifty to snap close-up images of details you love about the property - interesting architectural details, custom features, and the like. 

Granted, these focal length recommendations assume that you’re shooting with a full frame camera. If you use a crop sensor camera, you’ll need to take its crop factor into account.

Join a Real Estate Photographer Class

how to photograph interior spaces 7

photo by dusanpetkovic via iStock 

Real estate photography is a high stakes game because one client can make or break your career.  

With that being said, you should exert additional energy into learning everything there is to know about how to photograph interior spaces, but moreover into learning everything there is to know about real estate photography as a whole. 

Fortunately, others have learned the ins and outs of real estate photography through trial and error so you no longer have to.

real estate photographer pro

I joined Real Estate Photographer Pro based on the recommendation of a friend and I’ve never looked back.  

Real Estate Photographer Pro has a ton of features like video tutorials, a members-only Facebook group, downloadable pictures, templates and presets, and, most importantly, access to a live Q&A every week. This course is basically a networking seminar and a certificate all wrapped into one. 

Plus, if you purchase a membership and don’t love it as much as I do, there’s a 30-day money back guarantee. With no risk to you, why not give it a try?

You might just find that the tips you learn with Real Estate Photographer Pro help take your business to the next level. 

Learn More:

 



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Essential Real Estate Photography Marketing Tips

Essential Real Estate Photography Marketing Tips

Photo by adamkaz via iStock

Real estate photography is a nice job to have. We can add this genre of professional photography to our existing business model, or we may want to specialize in it. Either way, it’s rewarding, both financially and as an enjoyable endeavor.

You may be wondering how to break into this market or, if you are already in the business, how to increase your bottom line. Real estate photography marketing is the key to both of these concerns. 

I’ll present some real estate marketing ideas for your consideration, which will help you get started or create growth for your existing business. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents:

Real Estate Photography Marketing Basics

Real Estate Photography Marketing Basics

Photo by LOUOATES via iStock

Some real estate photography marketing ideas are basic to all types of photography businesses. 

I find that the old standby of having a business card is still one of the best methods of real estate photography marketing, or any photography business promotion for that matter. Yes, all sorts of modern ideas have been presented to me. Each says this will supplant old-style business cards, but nothing has beaten the low-cost factor and ease of presentation that a business card provides. 

You’ll also want to ensure you have all of your I’s dotted and your T’s crossed about business practices. Follow local regulations covering forming a business, have the proper insurance, and create a simple method for accepting payments. 

From the very beginning, getting all of that done ahead of time will enable you to concentrate on your efforts for real estate photography marketing.

Real Estate Photography Marketing - Target the Right People

Real Estate Photography Marketing Target the Right People

Photo by Three Spots via iStock

You’ve heard the old saying that someone is such a good salesman that they could “sell snow to an Eskimo.” My thought is, why would I waste my time and theirs on that fruitless pursuit? 

The same idea flows over to real estate photography marketing. While we definitely want to be accessible to all sorts of people when the time comes for them to want our services, we can also focus some efforts on people and businesses that are involved in real estate in one way or another.

Using the idea of business connections, such as forming connections, is part of this tip on targeting the right people. Make your presence known to local real estate offices, individual realtors, building contractors, insurance agents, service providers, and the like.  

Make it worthwhile for them to pass on your information to their clients, and be sure to reciprocate in kind with referrals and suggestions that benefit them. This is one of those real estate photography marketing ideas that can work well with many photography business models.

Real Estate Photography Marketing - Show a Portfolio in Person

Real Estate Photography Marketing Show a Portfolio in Person

Photo by liebre via iStock 

It used to be all the rage for photographers to have a portable portfolio of physical prints compiled into a portfolio. Online, web-based marketing has supplanted many thoughts about this, but it still is a very effective method of real estate photography marketing.

I like to print out some of my more outstanding images in a large enough size for people to be able to see minor details that I can point out to them as I talk to them about their real estate photography needs. 

Fine Art Paper Prints from Artbeat Studios are a fine way to create a portfolio. You don’t need to make a giant portfolio; I find that 8x10” or 11x14” prints work just fine. This smaller size also is not quite as intimidating as larger sizes, and an 8x10” print lets me point out many small details in an image.

When making up your portfolio, you’ll want to use an ultra-high-quality print from a professional printer, so the Breathing Color® Fine Art Paper used by Artbeat Studios is an excellent choice. It’s 310g weight, bright white with no color tint, museum-grade, velvety finish fine art paper that is made from 100% cotton fiber that is both archival and acid-free.

Real Estate Photography Marketing - Use a Website

Real Estate Photography Marketing Use a Website

Photo by andresr via iStock

While the physical portfolio has many advantages for an in-person meeting, being online can reach more people in a few minutes than we can see in a whole week of face-to-face meetings.

You’ll want the type of web design that allows you to add images easily, plus having a Contact Us page is extremely important. Keep it simple and focused; you can always discuss details in person, over the phone, or through email and texting.

How to get traffic to your website to make it an effective marketing tool is the focus of this video from LYFE Marketing:

Spreading the word about your website is every bit as important as having one, but creating a website is the first step. 

Real Estate Photography Marketing - Make Large Display Prints

Real Estate Photography Marketing Make Large Display Prints

If your business model includes having an office, home-based office, or studio space, you may want to consider your wall space for real estate photography marketing.  

A large, specialty process print such as the Metal Prints and Acrylic Prints made by Artbeat Studios is an eye grabber. You will want to use your best beauty shots of real estate photography; I find that twilight imaging is a great option for using this real estate photography marketing tip.

What I like about these styles of enlargements is that they are all image, no matting, no frame. Your artwork, skill, and capability for crafting the best images for them stand out to your potential clients.

Real Estate Photography Marketing - Use Prints as a Business Flyer

Real Estate Photography Marketing Use Prints as a Business Flyer

Photo by xavierarnau via iStock

Business cards are cheap, but you can only put so much on one. I like including a web address or social media account on business cards to give them something more to see when they want to know more.

Another approach for real estate photography marketing is creating another physical thing for them to have, hold, look at, and respond to. Business flyers are a fine method to use for that. 

As a photography business, I find that using photographic paper really stands out, reminding people instantly that this flyer is promoting a photography business. Sizes that work well for this are 4x6”, 5x7”, or even 8x10” prints.

Luster Paper Prints from Artbeat Studios are perfect for this method. The semi-textured finish doesn’t show fingerprints like a glossy print would, so they can handle some repeated handling. 

To be most effective, you’ll want to use text to convey some of your specialties and how to contact your business. You can use a large background image or put together multiple images as a collage.

Real Estate Photography Marketing - Be a Thoughtful Business

Real Estate Photography Marketing Be a Thoughtful Business

Photo by RAUL RODRIGUEZ via iStock

With all of these real estate photography marketing thoughts, ideas, and tips, perhaps the most important tip of all is to keep your business as friendly and accessible as possible. The client is how you make your money; there would be no profit if you can’t please your customers or potential clients.

Providing great customer service, being clean and honest, and creating the best possible images will go a long way in how your business succeeds!

Recommended Photography Gear

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Fall Photography Tips for Real Estate

Fall Photography Tips for Real Estate

 photo byKorisbo via iStock

Fall or autumn may be full of intense colors where you are or things may be more subtly colored, but it’s a good season for outdoor photographers of all types. Fall photography tips for real estate can benefit from the opportunities this season presents.

How to take good exterior real estate photos is a top concern for real estate photographers regardless of the seasons, so you can use many of the real estate photography tips for fall as general exterior real estate photography tips for shooting any time of the year.

The Colors!

real estate photography tips for fall

 photo byaimintang via iStock

The colors of the leaves and other plants is one of the most appealing aspects of any type of fall photography, real estate photography included.

Much of the coloring will be trending towards the warm end of the color wheel. Red, orange, yellow, and all of the various hues and combinations such as rust, burnt ombre, and so on. 

An amazing photographic opportunity also exists with the juxtaposition of the cooler colors along with those warm shades. Examples could be including the deep blue sky or a large swath of reddening leaves with spots of green from trees that have yet to turn or from evergreens. Vice versa works just as well, spots of warmth inside a mostly green view.

A polarizing filter is a very useful tool for creating these vivid color contrasts or for deepening the saturation of whatever colors dominate the view. A circular polarizer can eliminate glare, creating the deep blue skies that look so pretty with autumn trees and also removing glare from the leaves, allowing the true colors to shine through.  

It’s not merely the trees that can have intense colors, wildflowers, grasses, shrubbery, can also exhibit an amazing array at different times during the fall season. Keep your eyes open for pretty views that can be incorporated into your exterior real estate photography. 

Afterwards, go out and shoot some personal images for your portfolio or just for fun. I love fall photography for all sorts of imaging opportunities, including outdoor portraits and macro photography.

Composition

exterior real estate photography tips

 photo by Korisbo via iStock

Real estate photography composition tips follow the basic photography tips in that we primarily want to capture a balanced view of the subject. 

For the exterior views during fall season, one method used by real estate photographers is to treat the house as a portrait subject. Some portraits look great as a straight-on frontal view, similar to the posing used for ID pics.

Straight-on curbside views present the property in a manner that lets people see exactly what and where the property is and are an essential image in real estate portfolios and listings.

As an extra view, consider posing the home as you would a ¾ view portrait. It’s similar to moving the camera position over a bit and asking the portrait subject to turn their shoulders.  

With a house, moving just a little bit to one side of the property or the other and including a slight angle of a second exterior wall accomplishes the same effect. While still realistically showing the property, this view is more like showing it off than a straight-on curb shot does. Being able to include a bit of fall color will also add extra appeal. 

Learn More:

Bracket and Merge HDR

how to take good exterior real estate photos

 photo byDavel5957 via iStock

The bracket and merge HDR method is one of the techniques used by many real estate photographers for capturing realistic views of the properties that show detail in the highlights, midrange, and deep shadows of the exposures.

Bracket and merge HDR is every bit as usable as a method of how to take good exterior real estate photos as it is for interior images. It can be especially useful for blending the extra colors in order to make them appealing without overwhelming the property itself.

Check out this YouTube tutorial explaining the technique and how it is used for real estate photography in general.

Less Is More

real estate photography composition tips

 photo bynikitsin via iStock

We have to consider the question, what’s being sold? Is it a residential real estate property or artsy images of fall colors? The answer for real estate photography is obvious, it’s the property. So, we add this idea to our autumn photography tips for real estate, use the colors available but showcase the property.

Fall foliage colors can enhance the property, but the focus of the imaging is to showcase the property to potential buyers. Showing the beautiful scenery around the home can definitely add curb appeal, but a house exists all year long, so we want to present it both realistically and in the best possible way.

Offer Extras

autumn photography for real estate

 photo byJamesBrey via iStock

Here is where we can add in some gorgeous images of the beautiful colors on the property. A high-level perspective, from an extension pole or a drone, is one method we can use to showcase the fall colors in the neighborhood or throughout the property.

A nice hero shot could also take full advantage of the autumn foliage that may add scroll-stopping viewer appeal. Using the bracket and merge HDR method will allow us to fine-tune the images to their best potential.

Many times we use HDR for creating twilight views as a hero or beauty shot, but in the fall season, Golden Hour may be a better choice. With twilight, the cool sky colors might compete with the warm plant colors. In some cases, this contrast might be useful. During Golden Hour, the scene’s color temperature is naturally warmer and we can use that to enhance the autumn view. 

Use our fall photography tips for real estate as a starting point for crafting realistic views of the property in general and for creating beautiful extra images such Golden Hour hero shots and high vantage point views that have instant eye appeal.

Learn More:



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Full Frame vs Crop Sensor Cameras for Real Estate Photography

Full Frame vs Crop Sensor Cameras for Real Estate Photography

photo byTrongNguyen via iStock

Like many other professional photographers and photography teachers, I get asked a lot about choices for types of cameras for real estate photography. It’s a valid question to be sure. A good portion of those asking also wonder about full frame vs crop sensor cameras in their real estate photography gear options.  

So, let’s take a look at some of the important factors is picking the right cameras for real estate photography, talk about some pros and cons regarding full frame vs crop sensor cameras, and also some important features of cameras in order to take advantage of basic to advanced real estate photography tips.

What Camera Do You Have Now?

cameras for real estate photography 1

photo bydem10 via iStock

My first replies to the questions about cameras for real estate photography and full frame vs crop sensor cameras are invariably questions for them. I like to find out what camera they already have, what type of photography they do now, and what is their budget and business plan?

More often than not, the person asking me is already an advanced photographer with a decent camera and some investment in other photographic gear. What turns out is that the camera they already have is really nice and likely usable for real estate photography. There's no point in buying a new camera if you already have a good camera for real estate agents.

However, some of you may have a really good camera but the camera isn’t an optimal choice as cameras for real estate photography. This is usually due to resolution and / or features. In these cases, an upgrade may be in order. So, what resolution and features are important?

Recommended Features and Quality

full frame vs crop sensor 2

photo byalvarez via iStock

If you are desiring to upgrade your camera and want to know what features and quality are required, I like to highlight the benefits of prosumer level cameras and lenses. The resolution of many newer cameras, even entry level cameras, are more than enough for real estate     photography.  

It’s the advanced features and higher levels of durability that tend to make prosumer models better cameras for real estate photography over entry level cameras, bridge cameras, and smartphones. 

Obviously, we want to have interchangeable lenses as a basic camera type and feature. That could mean either a DSLR or mirrorless. It could also mean any one of three different sensor formats. More on lenses and sensor size in a minute.

Another very important feature is the ability to bracket exposures. The reason why this is a vital feature is because we can create outstanding realty images with an HDR merge program and several bracketed exposures.  

Bracketing and merging is a basic operation for high quality real estate photography. It’s HDR or high dynamic range photography that allows an image in a listing to accurately portray the property with excellent detail. Here is a very informative tutorial for using HDR in real estate photography. You may also enjoy this YouTube video explaining the subject of HDR merging.  

Learn More:

Real Estate Photography Equipment: Full Frame Vs Crop Sensor

real estate photography gear 3

photo bygeogif via iStock

All other things being equal, the larger the sensor, the better imaging capability it has, especially in low light sensitivity. The thing I like to stress when discussing full frame vs crop sensor is that all other things are rarely equal.

The megapixel count, type of pixel, generation of camera image processor, anti aliasing filter (or not), and other technical issues factor into any consideration of what sensor size is better for your own situation.

Even though it might make sense to simply invest in a larger format sensor, we also need to keep in mind that costs will increase. And not just the camera cost, full frame lenses are often significantly higher priced than similar lens types for crop sensors. 

Besides the Full Frame 35mm format, the other two digital formats that can work well for real estate photography gear are APS-C and MFT.  If you already have a system in one of these three formats, then the cameras for real estate photography you could look at will include cameras of these formats.  

You might also decide the camera you’re currently using is what you will use to start real estate photography. A prosumer level camera in any of these three formats will be very usable and capable. 

Prosumer simply means that it is designed as a higher level camera that entry level cameras but not the full fledged top-of-the-line pro model in the camera brand. Prosumer cameras are built more rugged and have advanced features useful for paid or other serious photography. 

Pros and Cons of Full Frame Vs Crop Sensor

types of cameras for real estate photography 4

photo by4kodiak via iStock

Before I give some specific new camera suggestions for your real estate photography gear, let’s quickly highlight the advantages of the three formats, especially as they relate to choices of cameras for real estate photography. 

Full Frame Pros:

  • Higher image quality possible
  • Excellent low light capabilities
  • Most models are prosumer or higher level

Full Frame Cons:

  • Camera prices are high
  • Lens prices are also high
  • Image files can be very large

APS-C Pros:

  • Very high image quality
  • Lighter weight and smaller size overall
  • Many very reasonably priced camera and lenses

APS-C Cons:

  • Crop factor limits wide angle usability
  • Crop factor also affects depth of field 

MFT Pros: 

  • Smallest and lightest prosumer and pro models
  • Most have excellent video
  • Common lens mount for lots of lens choices

MFT Cons: 

  • More extreme crop factor
  • Prosumer models tend to cost more than comparable APS-C

Camera Recommendations

real estate photography tips 5

photo byARTYuSTUDIO via iStock

Now for the fun part, suggestions of what cameras for real estate photography! I’ll list a couple of ideas for each format. Check out their features and quality and then look for something similar in your preferred brand.

You’ll notice that I haven’t discussed the options of DSLR vs mirrorless. Primarily because it is really more about full frame vs crop factor than mirrorless vs DSLR when discussing real estate photography gear.

Full Frame Cameras:

  • Nikon D750 - Compact DSLR, 24.3mp sensor, vari-angle LCD viewscreen, exposure bracketing, built-in Wi-Fi.
  • Sony Alpha 7 III - Compact mirrorless, 24.2mp sensor, exposure bracketing, 4K video.

APS-C Cameras: 

  • Canon EOS 90D - DSLR, 32.5mp sensor, exposure bracketing, vari-angle viewscreen, 4K video.
  • Fujifilm X-T3 - Mirrorless, 26.1mp sensor, exposure bracketing, vari-angle viewscreen, 4K video.

MFT Cameras: 

  • Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mk III - Mirrorless, 20.4mp sensor, exposure bracketing, vari-angle viewscreen, built-in Wi-Fi, 4K video.
  • Panasonic Lumix G9 - Mirrorless, 20.3mp sensor, exposure bracketing, vari-angle viewscreen, 4K video.

real estate photography 6

photo byscyther5 via iStock

Please check out our other articles for other ideas on cameras, lenses, accessories, and other real estate photography tips.

Learn More:

 



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Get Your Real Estate Business on Track With These Tips

Get Your Real Estate Business on Track With These Tips

Photo by Digital Marketing Agency NTWRK on Unsplash

Starting a business is hard work, that’s for sure.

And when it comes to starting a real estate photography business, there are some added hurdles to overcome…

You have to have the technical knowledge to take great photos, of course. But you also need to have some level of business acumen to start, grow, and sustain the business over the long term.

But, if you follow these real estate photography business tips, it’ll be just a little bit easier!

Use This Easy Real Estate Photography Tip to Receive Payment

real estate photography business 4

Photo by Matthew Kwong on Unsplash 

Receiving payment, in the proper amount, on the proper date, is definitely the most difficult part about owning your own real estate photography business. 

I struggled with it for years. Every once in a while, I still do. For some reason, a lot of people in this industry either don’t understand that photographers should be paid (like everyone else) before they deliver their final product, or they don’t care.

And, since we each own our own businesses, there isn’t a union out there fighting for us to get paid properly and on time, so we need to fight for ourselves.  

No matter what your contract says, you will still have people not abide by it. So, I started sending previews of my final products to my clients when they are finished so that my client can see I’ve upheld my end of the bargain.

I’ll then inform them that, if there aren’t any issues with the photos, I’ll send them the download code for them as soon as I receive my payment. 

It usually works, unless I’m dealing with an especially difficult client. 

real estate photography business 5

photo by AntonioGuillem via iStock 

What happens when you come across that especially difficult client that absolutely refuses to pay? This article walks you through some recourse you can take. 

You should always discuss your pay with as many people in the company as you can before taking the legal route. Chances are, whoever you are invoicing is not the one who will have to deal with the court fees. Try and find that person first. They’re the most helpful because they’re just as worried about the legal process as you are.  

Make Sure You Know What Is Expected of You

real estate photography tips 3

photo by SeventyFour via iStock 

These first two real estate photography business tips definitely go hand-in-hand. Your client deserves to know what they can expect in terms of payment, and you deserve to know what types of shots your client is expecting from you. 

But, moreover, you should also ensure your client knows what to expect from you in terms of preparing the house for your shoot.  

If you aren’t planning on mowing the yard and doing 3 hours of laundry in order to make sure the house can be photographed to the best of your ability, you need to ensure that the homeowner or real estate agent or whomever hired you knows what to prep. 

This is also a good time to outline your reshooting fees and your Photoshop fees too. How much do you charge to come back if your client forgot to iron the bedspread? What about when your client wants you to Photoshop the dead grass in the yard? 

For planning purposes, my answer is $60/hour for Photoshop and my minimum location fee also applies to reshoots. 

Jessica Kobeisi runs a wedding photography business, but the way she built her photography contract is universal.

If you need help learning how to build your real estate photography contract, watch her video above. 

Learn More:

Don’t Just Rely on Yourself 

real estate photography 5

photo bynd3000 via iStock

You’ll never get better if you’re not asking for constructive criticism.

Forums, like the one on our site, are a great area to ask for feedback from fellow photographers because everyone is there for the same reason - to try and improve their photography.

Another way to improve your photography is by taking a class with fellow photographers, or by joining a group of local photographers who all shoot together.

The benefit of joining a photography class is that they are often taught by mentors who have been in the business for decades, but you can also find groups of like-minded people (and that’s a free and very valuable resource!).

get real estate photography instruction

Photo by James Brey via iStock

More to the point, while I'm all for learning independently and building your skill set on your own, sometimes the best route to success is to take advice from people that have been there, done that.

If you're considering a move into real estate photography, there's no better resource than an online school specifically for real estate photographers.

Real Estate Photographer Pro is one of the top schools in this niche, and I even included it on my list of the best online schools for photographers for 2019.

There's some very specific reasons for this...

First, you get lifetime access to Real Estate Photographer Pro, so it's not like you have to ram and cram and try to learn everything before a specified time period is up.

Second, this course provides you with tons of resources like videos, private community support, downloadable assets, and even direct access to the course instructor and founder of Real Estate Photographer Pro, Eli Jones.

Third, this course is as comprehensive as it gets! You'll learn the ins and outs of taking breathtaking photos, but you'll also learn how to operate your business. If you ask me, it's this business instruction that's the most valuable, because if you're like me, you probably have the skills to take great shots, but might get lost when it comes time to actually establish and run your business.

So, while self-sufficiency is awesome, so is learning from experts that have come before you. Get a leg up on the competition and learn how to be the best real estate photographer with Real Estate Photographer Pro!

Photoshop is Great, But It Can’t Do Everything

real estate photography 6

Photo by Jye B on Unsplash

Photoshop is an incredible tool that we abuse to a serious degree.  

I can be lazy some days. Some days it takes a lot of effort just to get myself out of bed, so I’ve been guilty of the, “I’ll just Photoshop that out later,” line.

But, unless you can’t fix the problem with a house in under 5 minutes, it’s always easier to do it the old fashioned way of doing things right to begin with.

real estate photography business tips 6

photo by BongkarnThanyakij via iStock  

In real estate photography, one of the best things you can do to get your photos right is to bracket your exposures.

As this tutorial explains, bracketing exposures is really quite easy. It’s a simple matter of dialing in the right settings and using your camera’s auto exposure bracketing function.

What you get as a result of this is a series of photos, each of which is taken at a different exposure level - for example, one that’s exposed for the highlights, one for the midtones, and one for the shadows. 

Once you’ve bracketed exposures, you merge the images together to create a final composite that’s well-exposed throughout. There’s no need to use Photoshop to brighten the shadows or to recover detail in the highlights because you have all the details you need already!

Not only does this technique get you improved results, but it also saves you time in post-processing. Likewise, by relying on the bracket and merge technique with natural light, you don’t have to spend money on expensive lighting equipment either. 

That, my friends, is a win-win! 

Learn More:

 



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Helpful Business Tips for Real Estate Photographers

Helpful Business Tips for Real Estate Photographers

 photo byEricVegavia iStock

If you ask me, there are not enough business tips for real estate photographers readily available online. I’ve found in my personal experience that real estate photographers are especially cutthroat due to the difficulty in entering the industry.

But, I’ve always believed that you get what you give and we should all welcome beginners to the real estate photography game, especially in a real estate boom like our country is currently dealing with. There’s plenty of jobs to go around. 

With much effort, I’ve decided on my five most important business tips for real estate photographers that you can read all about below.  

Table of Contents:

Build a Foundation of Photography Knowledge

business tips for real estate photographers 1

 photo by Poike via iStock 

Marketing yourself in any industry is difficult, but marketing yourself in an art-forward industry is impossible without art knowledge to begin with. 

There are conventions, networking groups and industry-leader discussions for almost every industry, yet the photography industry is lacking these basic tools for photographers looking to break into real estate photography.

It seems that business tips for real estate photographers are few and far between and most real estate photographers had to figure out how to do it themselves. 

Thankfully, I recently came across a site that truly helps you build the basics of real estate photography

Real Estate Photographer Pro is an excellent resource for photographers of all skill levels. It helps photographers in the real estate industry connect with other real estate photography professionals, learn how to edit their photos with the perfect templates (that you can directly download from the site), and learn all of the basics from traditional classroom-like videos.

In fact, this site even hosts weekly Q & A’s with a group of real estate photographers who make upwards of $1 million a year. This type of mentorship is something that is not easy to come by in such a dog-eat-dog industry, and it’s also something I still appreciate today, years into my career. 

It’s important to remember that you won’t get very far in the industry without direct connections - the type of direct connections built directly into this course offering. 

Set Yourself (and Your Clients) Up For Success

business tips for real estate photographers 2

 photo by kate_sept2004 via iStock 

We all know clients can be… particular. But, these clients are especially particular when they are high-powered realtors.  

And by “particular” I mean trying to get whatever they want out of you. Out of all of my real estate photography business tips, I think this is the most pertinent: you need to stand your ground and set clear goals and clear expectations. 

This way you won’t disappoint your clients, but you also won’t disappoint your family by constantly working overtime for someone who is too demanding. 

real estate photography tips 3

 photo by Kerkez via iStock 

Before you even form your business, you should be thinking about the exact terms you want to set in your contract. 

Contracts are the most important way for you to communicate the reality of your work to your clients, whether they’ve never worked with a real estate photographer before or whether they have hundreds of times. 

You should also think of the contract as more of a process than a piece of legalese that is “one and done.” While the legalese may save you from a court date in the future, you should also have all of the information in your contract broken down into easy-to-understand text that you can send in an email.

For example, important parts of the contract you may want to reiterate include: your net terms (when you need to be paid by), your fees for additional photos, editing work, and last minute requests, and exactly what types of photos and how many of them your client can expect by the end of their transaction. 

This will save you - and your client - a lot of frustration down the road. If there are any real estate photography tips you need to be worried about, it’s this one. 

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Allocate Time for Marketing

Focal Point Photography LLC has an incredible video about viral marketing on Facebook, and while this information is useful it isn’t as useful as making sure you set aside time each week for marketing. 

I oftentimes find that real estate photographers forget to market because they’re so caught up in all of the different aspects of running a business. Once your real estate photography career is established enough to keep you busy full time, the tendency is to stop networking, to stop social media marketing and to stop tracking your marketing efforts at all. 

real estate photography tips 4

photo by Chainarong Prasertthai via iStock 

But, while you may have a full schedule, you could be shooting for bigger and better clients, but you’ll never get there without a concerted marketing effort. 

Concerted marketing means not only having a marketing tactic, but tracking this tactic through the weeks to determine what platforms have worked for you and which have not. 

Real estate photography marketing can be intimidating for newcomers, though, which is another specialization that Real Estate Photographer Pro can help you with. They’ve done it before, so you don’t have to. 

Don’t Give Too Many Freebies

real estate photography business tips 5

photo by Zerborvia iStock 

The next time I see someone include freebies in their list of business tips for real estate photographers, I may lose it.

Freebies devalue our work. They devalue the industry, and they devalue you as an individual. You spent time learning your art, just like a nurse or a professor, and need to be compensated fairly, no matter if the market is oversaturated or not. 

One frustrating thing that I see given away for free all the time is additional editing work.

This video by Pro EDU Photography Tutorials shows you how retouchers price their work, so that you can base your own editing work off of it.  

Clients will always ask you if you could just edit one last thing out of a photo, or if you could do something last minute before they hand the photos off tomorrow morning, and when you give an inch they might take a mile.  

Appreciate your work for what it is - work - and price it accordingly. 

Related to this issue of editing work is this - don’t make it so hard on yourself.

real estate photography business tips 6

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash 

You often hear in other genres of photography that you should strive to get the shot right in-camera, that way the editing process is more about enhancing the beauty that’s already there and less about trying to correct mistakes. The same holds true for real estate photography.

One of the most common challenges for real estate photographers is overcoming dynamic range problems - in other words, photographing rooms that are a little dark, but have super bright windows.

When you try to photograph a room like this in a single shot, you’ll find that the camera either exposes for the bright windows, thereby leaving the room underexposed, or exposes for the room, thereby leaving the window overexposed.

The solution to this problem is simple, though - bracket your exposures and merge them together!

The video above offers a nice demonstration of how bracketing works. It literally takes a few seconds to set up, but it will save you all kinds of time on the back end of things. 

Instead of having one frame, you’ll have multiple shots of the room, each at different exposure levels. Then, you merge those shots together for a final image that is well-exposed throughout.

Not only does this get you a better-looking image, but it also saves you tons of time - you don’t have to try to bring down the highlights or bring up the shadows to see the detail in the room. It’s there already!

real estate photography business tips 7

 Photo by Matthew Kwong on Unsplash

For some reason, I never see payment clearly discussed in lists about business tips for real estate photographers...and it is frustrating.

For one, I don’t understand why so many real estate photographers are stuck in the past. It is 2020. You should have at least 5 ways for your clients to pay you for your work. 

Use technology to your advantage so that your net 60 terms can come down to a net 30 or, hopefully, net 15. 

I personally use PayPal, Venmo, Square, Google Pay and Zelle’s QuickPay to receive payments. 

And if you are one of the many real estate photographers who have yet to join the technology revolution, there’s no need to fret because Sleeklens did a video covering the two most popular: PayPal and Square. 

It takes about 5 minutes to set up an account on both of these sites and your client will never be upset with more options. 

Alright, that’s all for our business tips for real estate photographers. Take this advice, build a better business, and enjoy seeing your business flourish!

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We Recommend


Homeowner Tips for Spring Real Estate Photography

Tips for Photographing Real Estate in the Spring

photo byKatarzynaBialasiewicz via iStock

Spring is one of the best times of the year for real estate photography. The snow is melting, so yards look prettier. Flowers add a pop of color to homes that are otherwise drab (I’m looking at you, HOA-enforced suburbs). Plus, people are more willing to move because the weather is nicer so there are a ton of people on the market for a new house.  

Homeowners need tips for photographing real estate too. Your real estate photographer can’t do much if you have piles of trash in your yard or windows that nobody can see through. If you are selling your home, here are some great spring cleaning tips that homeowners can do to help make their homes look as beautiful as possible in real estate photos. 

Make Sure Your Roof Is Clean

tips for photographing real estate 1

photo byghornephoto via iStock

This is one of the more difficult spring cleaning tips for real estate photography, so don’t be ashamed to ask for help if you need it. 

You’ll need to either power wash your roof or sweep it to get all of the leaves and debris off of it. If you have large, mature trees in your yard, this may be the last step you want to take to prevent more leaves from falling. 

And, after you sweep your roof, make sure to clean out the gutters as well. It’s fine details like this that are going to make your real estate photography more appealing than anyone else’s in your neighborhood.

 

Recommended Real Estate Photography Reading:

 

What to Do About the Driveway 

spring real estate photography tips 2

photo by welcomia via iStock 

Hose down the driveway and your walkways while you’re at it. As cute as your children’s chalk drawings are, they probably won’t add much value to your home. 

Roll up your garden hose and put it away.  

You’ll also need to hide your trash cans. This one is a little more difficult since they’re large and you can’t simply stuff them in your junk drawer. Either ask your neighbor to hold them for you for the day or move them as the photographer works. Either way, nasty trash bins aren’t going to do photos of your property any favors.

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Don’t Forget About Landscaping

exterior real estate photography tips 3

photo by ozgurcoskun via iStock 

A lot of tips for photographing real estate leave out what I think is the most important portion of your house’s exterior: the landscaping.

Firstly, rake any leaves lying around in your yard that are decomposing. They may be cute in the autumn, but by this point they’re all dead.

Secondly, think about bringing some new life to your house by planting flowers or other bright plants. 

Thirdly, re-mulch your flower beds (if you have them). Flower beds make for a beautiful photograph when they strongly contrast with the other colors in your yard, which means you need brand-new mulch.  

Some Miscellaneous Tasks

spring cleaning tips for real estate photography 4

photo by lissart via iStock 

Clean your windows. I can’t reiterate this point enough. People don’t typically include this item in their exterior real estate photography tips because it’s also so important for photographing the inside of your home, but dirty windows are a huge turn off. 

You’ll also want to powerwash the siding on your home, especially if your home is painted a bright color. 

Finally, get rid of cobwebs hiding in the corners. Nothing says welcome home like spider webs all over the front porch! 

Taking Photos Yourself? Make It Easier!

prep a home for photos 5

photo by baona via iStock 

If you’re taking photos of your home on your own, there are plenty of things you can do to make the final results much better.

Aside from having the right gear and a shot list for the interior and exterior spaces, you need to understand how to use natural light to get the best shots 

If you head outside and take photos of your home in the middle of the day, you’ll find that the sunlight is very intense. This results in bright highlights and deep shadows that distract from the charm and beauty of your home.

To get around this, you can bracket the exposures and merge them to create a composite image that’s well-exposed throughout.

In the video above, you can learn how to bracket exposures quickly and easily. The tutorial focuses on interior real estate photography, but the process is the same for photographing exteriors.

Merging these images together can be a quick and easy task as well.

In the video above, you can see how to merge images using Photomatix Pro. Again, the tutorial is for interior photography, but the process is the same for shooting photos of the exterior.

Using this approach, you will be empowered to take far better photos of your home, and the better the photos, the more interested buyers you will have!

Learn More:

 



We Recommend


How to Edit Real Estate Photos

How to Edit Real Estate Photos

 photo bynycshooter via iStock

Here are some post-processing tips for real estate photography to help you be comfortable with how to edit real estate photos. We’ll include several editing tips for real estate photography plus how to improve your real estate photography workflow. 

Editing real estate photos can be surprisingly simple when the images are shot properly in the first place, so we’ll start with that tip first.

Shoot In RAW Format

editing real estate photos

photo bynicolas_ via iStock

Whenever shooting with any sort of editing in mind, I find it’s best to shoot in RAW file format. RAW files hold much more exposure information than JPEGs, especially in regards to shadow detail.  

Also, RAW files are uncompressed, so you are working with the entire image detail provided by the camera's sensor. As with most other photographic, audio, or video work, it’s a preferred practice to record in the highest quality available and then edit down the file quality and size to the need for the job at hand. 

In addition to recording in the RAW format of your camera, you might also check if you can record in a higher bit depth. This helps to increase color depth and the dynamic range of the exposure. In 12-bit RAW, each sensor pixel can record 4,096 steps or levels, while a 14-bit RAW file can hold 16,384 steps in each pixel. Quite a difference.

You’ll probably never need to deliver a full resolution image file to a realty client, but as I said earlier, when learning how to edit real estate photos, or any photos actually, it’s a good practice to capture in the highest quality available and then edit down to whatever image file type and size is preferred.

Bracket and Merge Method

post processing tips for real estate photography

photo byLucas Ribeiro Avila via iStock

The HDR technique, also known as the bracket and merge method, is one of the preferred methods of capturing the image files for editing real estate photos. It adds a little bit to your real estate photography workflow, but it actually saves time in the long run by easing up the time spent editing real estate photos.

To see how to edit real estate photos with the bracket and merge HDR method, check out this excellent YouTube video explaining the method and workflow. There’s a nice tutorial here you can follow, too. 

This technique of bracket and merge HDR is also a very valuable tool for many other genres of photography. You can play around with the settings a lot for an artsy rendition or process for a natural look and feel. 

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Color Balance For a Natural Look

real estate photography workflow

photo byluchschen via iStock

Since you’re post-processing with a program that blends bracket and merge image files for editing real estate photos, you’ll want to keep an eye on the color balance and naturalness of the final image output. 

Besides the adjustments for contrast and several styles of presets, the color balance is a very important consideration. 

When blending the HDR image files for real estate photography, there will be several different color temperatures in each image. An incandescent lightbulb has a warm color balance, window light isn’t as warm but can vary depending on the time of day but is often going to be much cooler, more like the temp of skylight or open shahid. Flood and fluorescents have yet another color temperature. 

Blending it all together is controlled by program controls for color, blending modes, and contrast levels. The exposure values get blended in these steps as well, making the bracket and merge post-processing program an essential part of the real estate photography workflow.

Remove Noise

editing tips for real estate photography

photo byalengo via iStock

The last step, or near the last step, of how to edit real estate photos, whether using bracket and merge processing, RAW files or JPEGs, but before sampling down to the image type and size for delivery, is to remove the digital noise from the finished file.

Many programs have an automatic setting for this which really simplifies the real estate photography workflow for processing, although you can input any value you want at this stage.  

A word of wisdom, the presets built into most post-processing programs are very well balanced, we can actually do too much adjusting to the different aspects of noise removal when we start adjusting on our own.

Final Steps

Learning how to edit real estate photos

photo byCOMiCZ via iStock

The final steps in our workflow are resizing and compressing to the resolution, file size, and file type needed for delivery to either your client or to your own MLS listing site if shooting as a real estate agent for your own listings. 

Be sure to keep the full resolution processed image files for accessing later on as necessary. 

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We Recommend


How to Fix Bright Sunlight in Listing Photos

How to Fix Bright Sunlight in Listing Photos

photo bytammykayphoto via iStock

As a professional photographer and a photography teacher, I get asked questions on subjects from portraits to landscapes to real estate photography, and everything in between. Which is nice because as much as I love photography itself, I also like talking about it with others. 

How to photograph interiors for real estate, how to fix bright sunlight in listing photos, how to make real estate photos look better, and other real estate photography tips are on the minds of many realtors and beginner real estate photographers since the real estate market is super busy right now.

Exterior Real Estate Photography Techniques

real estate photography tips

photo byKatarzynaBialasiewicz via iStock

In real estate online listings, the first picture seen is often a view of the frontal exterior. If you’re a realtor shooting your own photos, you might have limited opportunity of specifying when to take the images. Depending on what direction the house is facing, bright sunlit areas and areas in deep shadow might be seen at the same time.  

The bracket and merge technique of shooting for a wide range of brightness levels, also known as HDR for high dynamic range photography, is a method used by digital photographers to ensure you get good detail showing in the brightest parts of the image as well as those deep shadows.

Bracket and merge is one of the best answers I know for the problem of how to fix bright sunlight in listing photos. Several different frames, anywhere from 3 or 5 up to 9, are shot at differing exposure settings. 

Some settings in this bracketed group are optimized for keeping the highlights from washing out, some are for ensuring getting adequate detail in the shadows, and then all are blended together in a post processing program. This YouTube video helps explain the idea and the technique itself. 

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Interior Real Estate Photography Techniques

interior real estate photography techniques

photo bypepmiba via iStock

Inside the properties, there may be all sorts of different lighting conditions that cause a very wide range of exposure values. A common scenario is going to be a room with windows on one side of the room and the corners of other walls with almost no light hitting them. 

One technique of how to shoot a house with bright windows and dark corners is to add lights such as a flash bounced off the ceiling or a couple of portable LED softbox lights pointed into the corners or other dark areas of a room.

With the advanced metering solutions of current digital cameras, it is easier than ever to add multiple lights and  be able to calculate a decent exposure. Which will work in many situations, but it adds the complication of carrying around more equipment and still won’t solve the dynamic range issue we run into with bright windows.

An alternative for how to shoot a house with bright windows is to use the same bracket and merge HDR technique for blending the extremely bright window light with the darker further walls or cabinets.

This method of how to fix bright sunlight in listing photos has an interesting and beneficial side effect. It lets us see the scene through the window without blown out highlights. For some listings, this simultaneous view of what’s outside along with the inside shows off home features in a realistic view that mimics someone being in the house themselves, a valuable tool for real estate listings that result in showings.

Other Useful Techniques

how to photograph interiors for real estate

photo byDrazen_ via iStock

Real estate photography benefits from our having a good understanding of basic exposure, composition, lighting, and post processing methods, plus how certain tools work to enhance our photographic capabilities.

A circular polarizer is one of the most useful filters we can have for photographing exteriors since it can eliminate or reduce reflections in windows, water features, and other shiny elements. 

A tripod is an essential piece of equipment for most real estate photography, especially if we’re using HDR photography. The technique uses multiple frames of the same view with different exposure settings. In order for the frames to register properly, there should be no movement between exposures.

Tripod use is also encouraged for real estate photography because the wide angle lenses used tend to make straight lines look off if the camera is tilted a little bit, so leveling out with a tripod is an important thing to keep in mind as we start shooting.

A checklist really helps, too, because we don’t want to miss any rooms, areas, or features as we shoot on the usually very limited schedule time available for taking pictures of the property. 

That’s pretty much the basics for how to fix bright sunlight in listing photos  and several other solutions concerning proper exposure. A couple of practice runs on your own home will likely show any areas where you might need to make use of other useful techniques for controlling exposure, composition, and processing.

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How to Make Interior Photos Brighter Without Flash

How to Make Interior Photos Brighter Without Flash

photo byVlajs via iStock

We have some more real estate photography tips for you! We’ll cover how to make interior photos brighter without flash, how to shoot a house with bright windows, and how to fix bright sunlight in listing photos.

Bracket and Merge HDR

make interior photos brighter without flash

photo byismagilov via iStock

A method used by many real estate photographers for creating images that show interior rooms and the exteriors of homes with amazingly accurate detail is known as Bracket and Merge Technique, also called High Dynamic Range Photography or HDR. 

Here’s how it works: all scenes have a range of light levels from the brightest tone in the image area to the darkest. The entire range from the dark to bright is called the dynamic exposure range of that scene. 

Our eyes and brain compensate automatically for these differences, so quickly and effortlessly that we seldom notice it except for the most extreme of rapid changes, such as walking into a dark room from a bright outdoor patio at Noon. 

Cameras are able record to most of the common ranges, whether using a digital sensor or film, but there is a limit to how wide the range and how much detail is rendered properly at the extremes of either bright or dark. 

Because of that limitation, any image of a scene that has a wide range is going to suffer in one way or another. The highlights could bunch up and be almost invisible through the brightness, the shadows could be so dark that details are obscured, or changing the contrast or other variables in post processing could make the  final pic look odd or unnatural.

Blended Exposure Level

real estate photography tips

photo byasbe via iStock

The technique of bracket and merge changes the rules in that we can blend multiple exposures into one image. It’s one of the best capabilities of digital photography technology and can be used for many types of images, not just how to photograph interiors for real estate. 

The important part of the process is that it uses multiple exposures that are recorded at different exposure settings and then blends them together by means of a post processing program. An exposure that is optimized for shadow detail will blow out the highlights, and exposing for highlights obscures shadow detail.

Bracket and merge HDR allows you to combine the shadow detail with the highlight detail and everything in between. The program is doing the difficult job for us and also allows for user input to determine just how much of each exposure level is used in the blended final image. This YouTube video helps explain it as you see it happen in action. 

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Make Interior Photos Brighter Without Flash

how to photograph interiors for real estate

photo byismagilov via iStock

So now we’ll put bracket and merge to use with those three scenarios we mentioned at the beginning. First, how to make interior photos brighter without flash. 

The problem we run into with real estate photography is that we need the entire room to be easily visible with proper exposure. What happens is that a flat wall with a neutral color may look fine, but the corners of the room are dark.

Adding lights isn’t always the best solution, either, because we need to spread the light around quite a bit and if we don’t use light modifiers such as bounce flash or a softbox, the lighting can look hard.

The bracket and merge technique works well for this purpose. Opening up the shadows by exposing for them on one end of the HDR sequence and then blending them in with the other frames results in an image that looks much brighter than a single shot exposure and doesn't have any hard light or directional shadow issues.

How to Shoot a House With Bright Windows

how to fix bright sunlight in listing photos

photo byScovad via iStock

When you look at most listings today, you’re probably looking at an HDR image. One sure way to tell if you can see detail in the window lit by direct sunlight, perhaps even some of the exterior through the window, and detail in the unlit corners of a room.  

If you expose for the windows, the room corners will be too dark. And if you expose for the dark parts of the room, the windows will be blown out with brightness, not showing any detail. Using the bracket and merge HDR technique, you get both extremes properly recorded. 

In scenes with a lot of bright to dark variation, it may be better to shoot more frames than the minimum. So, if you have settled with a 3 frame bracket, try out a 5 frame bracket. Many newer cameras allow for 7 or 9 frames of auto bracketing, which gives the bracket and merge program a lot of useful exposure values to work with.

How to Fix Bright Sunlight in Listing Photos

how to shoot a house with bright windows

photo byalabn via iStock

If the images of the exterior in a listing look too bright in some areas and not bright enough in others, then that means the dynamic range has been exceeded and you should try HDR. The outside walls and roof lit by direct sunlight have a much greater exposure value than the front door under an overhang or a covered patio.

So, the HDR bracket and merge technique could be used for exteriors, too. In fact, I don’t know of too many real estate photographers not using some form of this method. It really is a fantastic method for real estate photography.

One of the best sources for a beauty shot or cover image that really stands out and gets attention is a twilight shot. Either morning or evening twilight usually has a gorgeous red or violet glow, the color depending on far down the Sun is. 

But you won’t see much detail at all in the home if you expose for capturing the sky colors. Exposing for the house will cause you to lose all the subtle sky colors due to them being overexposed.  

So once again, we use HDR bracket and merge to give us a final image with all of it showing beautifully. It really is a great method for real estate photography and can be used for taming dynamic range issues in many photographic styles such as landscapes, cityscapes, environmental portraits, and small product photography. 

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We Recommend


How to Market Yourself as a Real Estate Photographer

How to Market Yourself as a Real Estate Photographer

Photo by Joshua Case on Unsplash

Real estate photography is a profession that is becoming increasingly popular, and that means more competition for jobs.

That being the case, you’ll need to work harder than ever to differentiate yourself from the crowd and draw customers to you.

The question is, how does one do that?

I’ve put together a short list of marketing tips for real estate photographers that will help you find your niche. 

Marketing Starts With a Quality Product

photography business tips

 photo by hikesterson via iStock 

Clearly, the first step in marketing yourself as a real estate photographer is to produce a quality product.

This means putting forth the time and effort to plan each photoshoot, ensuring that the property has been staged appropriately, and that you adhere to common-sense composition rules to create the best photos.

But as I explain in this article, one of the most common ways that real estate photos go awry is due to complicated lighting - a dynamic range that’s too great for the camera to accommodate in one photograph. This situation results from a dark interior and bright windows.

You can’t very well provide clients with photos in which the room is well-exposed and the view out of the windows is overexposed, nor can you give them images in which the windows are well-exposed and the room is underexposed.

The solution is to bracket your exposures and merge them together to get a final composite image that’s well-exposed throughout, without expensive lighting equipment.

If you’re not familiar with the process of bracketing exposures, consult the video above. It’s a simple process that will have a profound, positive impact on the photos you create.

Learn More:

Market Yourself Using Your Name 

marketing tips for photographers 1

photo by Rawpixel via iStock 

As noted in the introduction, you need to find ways to stand out from the crowd, and one of the best ways you can do that is to market yourself using your name instead of a business name.

For starters, doing so gives you immediate uniqueness. After all, there’s only one of you!

Secondly, using your real name in your marketing activities instantly makes you more authentic to potential clients. Would you be more drawn to Kevin Jones to be your real estate photographer or KJ Photography Enterprises?

In that regard, using your real name gives potential clients something concrete on which to latch - they can put a name to the face, so to speak. That’s simply not possible when you’ve marketed yourself with an abstract moniker.

marketing tips for photographers 2

photo by Panuwat Dangsungnoen via iStock 

A third factor that makes using your own name for marketing a good strategy is that it’s often easier for people to remember - and that’s a good thing!

Word of mouth is one of the very best types of marketing for photographers, so having an easy-to-remember name will help facilitate the spread of positive reviews from satisfied clients to potential customers.

Now, there are exceptions to the rule - if your last name is very long or difficult to spell, for example, you might shorten it to just your last initial. But by and large, your marketing will be much more successful if you use your own first and last name.

Take a Multi-Modal Approach

real estate photography tips 1

 photo by izusek via iStock

An effective marketing strategy is one that endeavors to find clients via a variety of methods.

That is, you can’t expect your business to grow to its potential if all you do is take out targeted Facebook ads.

Don’t get me wrong - targeted ads on Facebook are certainly a wise investment. But not every client that might need your services is on Facebook.

Your best bet is to spread your marketing out over various mediums: use social media, set face-to-face appointments with local real estate agents, and place an ad in a real estate magazine.

real estate photography tips 2

Photo by Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash

Better still, it’s advantageous to use platforms where you can share your work and demonstrate your expertise in this field.

For example, Instagram is an excellent marketing tool because you can share the photos you’ve taken of properties. It doesn’t get much better than putting your work out there in a place where millions of people are hanging out…

Likewise, having a YouTube channel is virtually a must these days. 

Not only does it afford you the ability to share your expertise with behind-the-scenes videos, tutorials, and the like, but YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world second only to Google. If people are looking for a real estate photographer, you certainly want to be taking advantage of those searches by having a high-quality YouTube channel.

Learn More:

Use Your Prices as a Marketing Chip 

photography business tips 2

photo by porcorex via iStock 

Some photographers think that if they market themselves as a “bargain” that it will bring more customers their way.

But experience tells us that this is not always the case.

The problem with promoting yourself as an inexpensive option for real estate photography services is that people begin to associate your photos, products, and services as being cheap.

“Cheap” is not something you want people to think of when they see your work!

photography business tips 3

 photo by Jirapong Manustrong via iStock

If you offer high-quality services to your clients and have built trust with the buying public by marketing yourself in an authentic manner across a variety of mediums, then your prices need to reflect that.

This isn’t to say that you should crank up your prices to be exorbitantly high, but they should be indicative of the quality of the products you create, the attention to detail, and the dedication to customer service you bring to the table.

After all, just like any other type of photography, real estate photography is about evoking emotions and making people experience something when they see your photos. It’s also about real, tangible results - do properties sell faster when you’ve photographed them or not?

If you have a demonstrated ability to make properties shine and help get them sold faster, then by all means, your prices should represent that accordingly!

 

 



We Recommend


How to Photograph Real Estate During the Holidays

How to Photograph Real Estate During the Holidays

photo by bauhaus1000 via iStock

As a working professional photographer or a real estate agent confident of your photography skills, you may find yourself needing to photograph real estate during the holidays.

What challenges does that type of situation produce and how do you handle them?

Holiday Decorations

real estate photography

photo by AlpamayoPhoto via iStock

When we photograph real estate during the holidays, we often find that homes or businesses are decorated with a specific holiday theme. Especially is this true when photographing commercial real estate properties.

While the lights, wreaths, dioramas, signs, trees, gourds, and goblins (depending on exactly what holiday) might look amazing, anything that draws attention away from the property itself can be problematic. 

For commercial properties wanting year-round ad images, these decorations also identify only a short period of time during the year and might lead viewers to the wrong conclusions. Unless the commercial property is a holiday-specific business, of course.

It may be best to have the client avoid putting up holiday-themed decorations up until after the photography is done. For an inhabited home, we may not have much control but we can turn off the exterior lights if they’re already up.

Working with Client Schedules

real estate photography tips

photo by Daniil Dubov via iStock

Scheduling when to photograph real estate during the holidays can become a real headache for the homeowner or business operator, so being very flexible ourselves is going to be important.  

Having a flexible schedule and working with the clients are important business photography tips in general. Developing a good reputation with realtors and with clients is easier when we are seen as adaptable, as well as being very good at real estate photography. 

In addition to the scheduling issues from the client or homeowner, weather can also affect our scheduling. Using the bracket and merge HDR method for handling lighting and exposure allows us a lot of flexibility for shooting in less than perfect weather, but you may still need to reschedule for snowfall, ice, heavy rain, and so on. 

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Service Provider Turnaround Time

real estate during the holidays

photo byPixelci via iStock

One of the photography business tips I tend to forget when I photograph real estate during the holidays is that our service providers may have a much higher workload and thus their turnaround times lengthen. 

If we’re doing our own bracket and merge HDR processing, this may not affect us too much, but other services are also affected such as any physical photo printing or legal and financial services. So, again, flexibility ourselves becomes very important. Plus, we may want to inform our clients of possible delays.

Basic Real Estate Photography Tips

Holiday real estate photography

photo byFeverpitched via iStock

All of the other real estate photography tips apply during this time. So, as we photograph real estate during the holidays, we will still level our cameras to avoid distortion, show 3 walls of interior rooms as we can, and take advantage of our skill with the bracket and merge method of managing exposure and lighting concerns. 

Something I like to stress in my own mind and also tell anyone else who may be present as we work is to take extra care for safety issues. Tiled and wood floors can get really slick with melting snow from our jackets or shoes.  Exterior walkways can be slippery for all sorts of reasons during this time of year. 

Snowfall might also obscure low spots and holes in the ground, on sidewalks, in driveways, and other spots around the property. Plus, winter weather may cause some traffic hazards, most of which are readily handled by the oft-repeated advice to slow down. 

I usually double-check all my insurance policies too, for my vehicles, for my office, and my liability coverages. Just to be on the safe side of thieves - it gives me peace of mind to have one less thing to be concerned about while juggling all the other issues as I photograph real estate during the holidays.

Don’t forget to schedule yourself some personal time, all work and no play, as the old saying goes. Take care, have fun, be safe!

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How to Photograph Real Estate in the Winter

How to Photograph Real Estate in the Winter

photo byewg3D via iStock

In climates in which winter means cold air and a blanket of snow, real estate photographers have to get creative to capture the best images. 

There are plenty of challenges, too: unattractive piles of snow, iced-over walkways, flat light, and exposure challenges that come with photographing a mostly white scene.

These obstacles can be overcome with the right approach, though.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn a few essential tips on how to photograph real estate in the winter.

Timing is Everything

how to photograph real estate 1

photo byKenWiedemann via iStock

If you’re faced with photographing a home in the midst of a wintery scene, the time of day you plan your photo shoot can make all the difference in the world. 

Photographing a home in the middle of the day is often not the most ideal situation regardless of the season. The harsh light can create areas of high contrast with bright highlights and deep shadows that can look unappealing.

Add in the exposure challenges of photographing a snow-covered scene (discussed next), and you have the makings of a potentially difficult photo shoot.

how to photograph real estate 2

photo byWillowpix via iStock

A better option might be to photograph the property during golden hour when the sun is lower in the sky. 

Not only is the light from the sun softer during golden hour, but it’s also warmer in color temperature. This can help offset all the cool tones of the wintery scene. 

Quick Tip: Keep an eye on the forecast for snow. If you can photograph the exterior of a property after freshly-fallen snow, the images will have a fresh, clean look that will make just about any property shine. 

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Watch the Exposure

how to photograph real estate 3

photo byUSGirl via iStock

By far, one of the biggest challenges you will encounter with wintertime real estate photography is getting the right exposure.

Your camera is calibrated to base its exposure on 18 percent gray, but when most of the scene you’re shooting is covered in white, it can trick the camera’s meter into thinking the scene is brighter than it actually is.

The result of this is underexposed images that have snow that looks dull and gray rather than crisp white. Wedding photographers have the same problem when photographing a bride in her white gown.

how to photograph real estate 4

photo byRichLegg via iStock

The trick to overcome this issue is to use exposure compensation. The exact amount of compensation needed will depend on the specific situation, but one to two stops of compensation is probably a good bet.

When using exposure compensation, take care not to overdo it. If you dial in more than a couple of stops of positive compensation, you run the risk of blowing out the highlights in the photo. 

Quick Tip:Try using spot metering, metering off the snow, and dialing in +1 EV compensation. That should give you a good starting point for getting a well-exposed image.

Bracketing and Merging Exposures Gets Great Results

how to photograph real estate 5

photo bydiane39via iStock

An even better option for getting good exposures in the challenging lighting conditions of winter is to bracket your exposures and merge them together in post-processing. 

Bracketing exposures is a simple task. Using your camera’s Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) feature, dial in +/- 2 EV (or the highest your camera supports). Mount your camera to a tripod, set your camera to continuous shooting mode, and take the series of shots.

By bracketing the exposures, you can better manage challenging winter light - one image in the brackets is slightly underexposed, one is the “proper” exposure, and one is slightly overexposed. Merging these images together in post-processing gets you a final result that is well-exposed throughout. 

This method is particularly useful if you have to photograph properties during the daytime when the dynamic range of the scene is its greatest, but it can also be a useful procedure for golden hour photos. 

Quick Tip: Not sure how to merge bracketed images? Learn how in this detailed tutorial 

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Carefully Compose Your Shots

how to photograph real estate 6

photo byTomFawls via iStock

Unless you photograph a property right after fresh snow has fallen, you’re going to have some unique obstacles to try to overcome.

While fresh snow is beautiful and clean, snow that’s been shoveled into piles is not. Additionally, sand and salt that’s used to melt snow can make sidewalks and driveways look particularly dirty.

wintertime real estate photography 1

photo byAarreRinne via iStock

To avoid these eyesores, you’ll want to walk around the property to find the most pleasing angles. Look for ways to minimize the impact of snow that’s piled up or has otherwise been disturbed.

Altering the eye level of the shot is a good bet for doing this - dropping the eye level will help mask dirty sidewalks. Photographing the property from the side opposite of the driveway will also do wonders for masking how much potential buyers can see the mounds of snow piled up.

Quick Tip: Do your best to avoid making fresh footprints in the snow. Landscape photographers will tell you that nothing ruins a wintery landscape photo like footprints in an otherwise pristine shot. The same is true for winter real estate photography!

 



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How to Photograph Restaurants

How to Photograph Restaurants

 photo byEsin Tellioglu via iStock

Commercial real estate photography is a fascinating genre to work in and it can also be quite profitable. As a part of commercial real estate photography, I also include general business photography as used on many business websites today since it incorporates the same techniques for running and promoting a business as real estate photography does for selling the property.  

How to photograph restaurants is a valuable skill to own, since hotels and restaurants are a vibrant part of this style of business photography. Photography tips for commercial properties in general, especially interior photography tips, also work as excellent restaurant photography tips. 

Here are 4 tips covering how to photograph businesses in general and specifically how to photograph restaurants to showcase them as operating businesses.

Empty, Clean, and Ready

commercial real estate photography

 photo byPetardj via iStock

Restaurant photography is much like other commercial property photography. You want to capture as much as possible and you want it to look good.  

Staging becomes an integral part of the photo shoot. For a restaurant, staging may or may not include food, since food photography is a different set of needs and techniques. But the area can be staged by having tables set, lights on, candles on the table if that’s normal for that business, and a fully stocked salad bar, breakfast bar, buffet, or whatever they usually have.

Basically, it should look like the business is ready to have you come in - clean floors, all the lights and displays on, chairs in place, but no people. Unless the business is wanting to present the staff, leaving people out of the basic interior images is a clean look. 

Plus, it reduces the chances of people streaking or smearing because they moved during the HDR exposure sequence and having to keep track of multiple model releases to allow the business to use a person’s likeness.

Include the Kitchen?

photography tips for commercial properties

 photo byansonmiao via iStock

A big question to address ahead of time when considering how to photograph restaurants is whether or not we include the kitchen and how much of it if we do.

A good rule of thumb is that restaurants with specialty meals of celebrity-type chefs will almost always want kitchen shots, but with other restaurants it’s sometimes more of a hassle than it’s worth.

Fine dining establishments may desire to have the kitchen featured in action. You will need model releases for anyone recognizable, and safety becomes an issue to keep to the forefront, there is a lot happening at once in a busy kitchen. 

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Turn On the Lights and Use HDR

how to photograph businesses

 photo bymiodrag ignjatovic via iStock

Exposure settings and techniques for how to photograph restaurants follow the basic interior photography tips covering how to photograph businesses in general.

If the exterior is interesting, open up the blinds on the windows. If it isn’t, adjust the blind so that light is coming in but the view is somewhat obscured. Turn on all of the interior lights including any special displays such as a neon sign or a jukebox.

We want the viewers to see what the restaurant normally presents to the public, so we don’t need to drag in a bunch of photo lights. The tried and true method of bracket and merge HDR that is used in much of residential and commercial real estate photography will capture detail in highlights and shadows and then blend it all together for a pleasing image.

Here an excellent YouTube video that also describes how bracket and merge HDR works for restaurant photography and interiors in general.

A question may come up of how bright to have the restaurant for imaging if the dining area is normally kept very low-key and intimate. Well, if you can get at least a little bit of light into the deep shadows, that helps create a balanced view. 

If the establishment wants the low-key effect to be obvious in the images, simply adjust your contrast and exposure to make that happen. With HDR programs, that’s actually a relatively simple procedure. This variable is a huge reason why it’s important to have these things spelled out before the shoot, so you know what to capture and how.

Beauty Shots are Vital

interior photography tips

 photo byewg3D via iStock

As with residential and general commercial real estate photography, the beauty shot or hero shot is a vital part of the package we deliver as photographers. 

With restaurants, there may be more than one hero shot. An exterior twilight image makes a good one, but you may want to craft an interior hero shot or two. Extra care is taken in composition and staging in order to craft a usable interior beauty shot.

The bracket and merge HDR technique is used for these images as well, in order to fully present the feel and quality that the restaurant is desiring to portray to future patrons.

Menu Illustrations & Food Photography

restaurant photography tips

 photo byМаксим Крысанов via iStock

When considering how to photograph restaurants as commercial real estate photography, we usually don’t deal with the food illustrations and images, except for some possible elements of a staged scene as detailed earlier. 

Food photography is a demanding discipline that uses a different set of photographic skills. It’s more similar to small product photography than it is to how to photograph businesses.

Food photography and menu illustrations can be included in your restaurant photography package, but be prepared to shift gears mentally and creatively between imaging the business and crafting appealing food pictures. It will also require additional time so be sure to consider what to charge for adding this specialty feature to your packages.

Restaurant photography is an in-demand skill, your commercial real estate photography skills will let you deliver high-quality images to the businesses and you will enjoy the process as much as the clients will enjoy your high-quality images.

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How to Prepare a Property for Real Estate Photos

How to Prepare a Property for Real Estate Photos

 photo byKLH49 via iStock

How to prepare a property for real estate photos is an essential part of capturing good images for real estate listings. 

Oftentimes, the photographer won’t be required to do much of the preparation themselves, but knowing staging tips for real estate photographers is good information to have on hand in general.

Why Preparation is Needed

real estate photography

 photo byEvgeniiAnd via iStock

Real estate photography is advertising, ads should present the best view to potential customers whatever the product. Who actually does the prep work doesn’t have hard and fast rules.  

The homeowner is usually very involved in any major preparation, such as fence repair, replacing pieces of siding, fixing tile, repainting, and things like these. But all of that is generally done well before the property is due to be listed, unless there are other considerations involved.

Once the property is ready to be listed, it’s ready to be photographed, so we follow some basic real estate photography tips for this step.

What Prep Should Be Done?

real estate photography tips

 photo byvalentinrussanov via iStock

Now we’re at the time just before the photos get taken, maybe from a day or two ahead up to as the photographer is getting the camera and tripod set up.

Here is a partial list for how to prepare a property for real estate photos:

  • Mow the lawn. This would include weeding flower beds and sweeping up any of the stuff that tends to find itself in yards and driveways but does not have to include major landscaping or pruning. Just get it neat. Hiding any trash cans is helpful as well as parking any cars in the garage or away from the property..
  • Remove cobwebs, clean up exterior features. Underneath porches and overhangs is where we might run into cobwebs, spider webs, wasps nests. Sweep off or wash off really dirty brick or siding. Power washing is in the earlier repair category, if needed at all.
  • Clean the windows. Windows are a vital picture element in real estate photography, especially when using the bracket and merge technique, so clean the glass, dust the blinds, straighten the curtains.
  • Dust and vacuum. Make ready specialists will tell you to dust first, vacuum last. Good advice.
  • Clean the kitchen and bathrooms. Put away food and dishes, and empty the trash. Hang clean towels and put that toilet lid down!
  • Turn on the lights. Outside lights, overhead lights, under cabinet lights, stove lights, any lights highlighting artwork displays, all should be turned on. Leave the TVs off, though, also the ceiling fans.  
  • Open the blinds on windows. This adds a lot of character. If there isn’t a decent view from any window, open enough to let in the light. If there is a view of the yard, garden, neighborhood, or any special features, open them up all the way. This YouTube video explains how you can blend in an exterior view to your indoor shots.

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Staging or Not?

staging tips for real estate photographers

 photo byProstock-Studio via iStock

Staging is used in real estate photography to make a house look more like a home. It allows people to imagine themselves inside the property as though they lived there. 

When the property being listed is actually occupied, staging tends to run along the lines of keeping things neat and tidy, not adding too much personalized material. Of course, when an office is being used or a home is lived in by someone, there is going to be some personalization. The trick is to keep it minimized, closer to generic than eclectic.

For empty or vacant properties, there are two options for staging, real and virtual.

Real staging businesses are available in most major markets and quite a few smaller ones. For a fee, they come in to arrange furniture, fixtures, and add some faux personal items to give the home or office a lived in look. 

Virtual staging is another amazing tool made possible by digital photography. Since you’re probably already making use of post processing software for the bracket and merge HDR technique and for minor enhancements like color correcting, it isn’t a stretch to use 3D rendering to populate an empty space with furniture.

What’s great about virtual staging is that you can furnish the space in multiple styles that can be viewed and compared with a click of a mouse or a finger swipe on a mobile device. There are a few user friendly programs for photographic D-I-Yers or you can use online or in person pros for this step.

Photography and Post-Processing

real estate photography 2

 photo byFOTOGRAFIA INC. via iStock

The last step in how to prepare a property for real estate photos is to determine what style, method, and technique for imaging the property will be used.  

Many photographers also include in their prepwork a few checklists for the actual appointment time.  

First checklist is similar to the bulleted points above, making sure the property is ready to be photographed. How much of that work you pitch in and do as the photographer is up to you, but it’s a good idea to have it all spelled out ahead of time. Even if not specifically in a contract, it isn’t a bad idea to help finish it up, within reason. 

Another checklist covers all of the photographer gear, such as tripod, charged batteries, clean memory cards, bubble level, and so on. Whatever our gear kit is, there is always a chance to leave something behind accidentally, so double checking is prudent.

A checklist of shooting order and what’s actually being shot is also very important. Generally, because of scheduling concerns for all involved, it’s very hard to go back and reshoot that one room we left off, so having a predetermined checklist and then actually using it are vital.

Please check out all of our other articles for additional helpful real estate photography tips.

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How to Set Your Real Estate Photography Pricing

How to Set Your Real Estate Photography Pricing

Photo by Jan Baborák on Unsplash

Real estate photography pricing is one of the most elusive figures to find on any photography tip website. 

For one, photography pricing varies widely by niche. For another, photography pricing varies widely between different countries and states. 

Plus, a lot of photography pricing is based on the individual. Nobody knows how much your life costs better than you. 

But, there are a series of things you need to account for when setting your real estate photography pricing. Here are some things you might fail to take into account.

Build Driving Time Into Your Invoice

real estate photography pricing 1

Photo by Alexander Popov on Unsplash

Every hour you’re on the road is an hour you’re not working for another client. And, trust me, they add up.  

Plus, all of that driving means you’re going to need to start replacing parts of your car sooner rather than later. 

So, when building your real estate photography pricing sheet, make sure you’re building driving time into it.

real estate photography pricing 2

Photo by why kei on Unsplash

I build my driving time into my contracts in two ways: mileage and time.

For mileage, I just go by the IRS guidelines every year. Currently, the IRS allows taxpayers to deduct 58 cents for every business mile driven. Instead of deducting this amount from my taxes, I charge it to my clients.

I also account for the amount of time I will be driving to and from the location. If the location is within 25 miles of my house, I don’t charge anything because I figure this is a reasonable distance I would otherwise be commuting to and from an office with. 

But, that’s a personal choice. You need to sit down and establish yours. 

 

Recommended Real Estate Photography Books:

 

Create Different Packages Based Around Editing Time 

real estate photography tips 3

Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash 

You know how there are clients that want five rounds of revisions and then there are clients who are happy with whatever you hand them?

You need to charge the first client for that additional time. 

The way I do this is by simply building revisions into my contract. This way the client has my pricing sheet from day one and will pay a lot more for last-minute revisions.

real estate photography tips 4

Photo by Kevin Bhagat on Unsplash 

Also, clients who have never worked with a photographer before don’t understand how difficult some editing is. Outline what you can and cannot do before the project starts. 

It also helps to have software that makes editing your real estate photos an easier process.

For example, so many interior shots require the use of HDR to get well-exposed images throughout.

Processing those images can be laborious in some programs. In others, like Photomatix, it’s a clean and simple workflow that enables you to process your images in short order.

You can align the images, reduce noise, apply HDR presets, and use sliders to adjust the effects. You can also crop, sharpen, and straighten your images, among many other edits. There’s even batch processing!

Time is money in photography, so the less time you have to spend editing your images, the more time you can be out taking more photos.

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Expedited Turnaround Means Additional Fees

real estate photography business tips 5

Photo by Malte Wingen on Unsplash 

I have spent a fair share of my time finishing work up at 1 a.m. I also didn’t charge for last-minute requests for the first few years of my business.  

But, one of the most life-changing real estate photography tips I ever received was to not be afraid to say “no” to clients. 

After a few years of having your work responsibilities trump your personal responsibilities, you’ll think again about all of those short turnaround times. 

real estate photography business tips 6

Photo by Victoria Heath on Unsplash 

Now, thanks again to a “pricing tips for real estate photography” article I read a few years back, if I’m working before or after work hours, I’m getting paid for it. 

You’ll need to figure out how much your personal time is worth to you before establishing this part of your contract. 

Do Some Market Research

real estate photography business tips 7

 photo by USGirl via iStock 

Photographers in Alaska get paid differently from photographers in Mexico.  

Beginner photographers get paid less than photographers who have been in business for over a decade. 

Wedding photographers get paid differently from real estate photographers.  

There’s a lot of conflicting information about pricing out there, so it is absolutely essential that you do individualized research on your market.

pricing tips for real estate photography 8

 photo by KatarzynaBialasiewicz via iStock 

How much do other real estate photographers get paid near you? While internet research may be enough for you to figure out a good number, in other circumstances you may need to reach out to other professionals in your area.

Honestly, I’ve never had trouble finding someone to tell me how much they’re charging, because they’ve probably been in your shoes before and know it’s hard to establish a good goal. 

Pay Yourself First

pricing tips for real estate photography 9

Photo by Omid Armin on Unsplash 

This is the most important tip of all these real estate photography business tips.  

You need to sit down and budget your personal life before you can ever budget your professional life. Some of us simply need more money, whether it's because you have kids or you can’t give up your yearly vacation to Barbados. 

pricing tips for real estate photography 10

Photo by Simon Migaj on Unsplash 

Take into account all of the things you will no longer receive from a regular 9-to-5 job, like health insurance, retirement savings, and life insurance. 

Once you have a list of all your personal expenses, then you can begin to work out a more refined pricing strategy that covers all those expenses, your business expenses, and allows you to put money toward retirement too.

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How to Shoot a House With Bright Windows

How to Shoot a House With Bright Windows

photo byCreativaStudio via iStock

As you scroll through multiple listings and check out the photographs showing the houses or commercial properties, you will probably see a wide variation in the quality of the images from liusting to listing.  

In one, you might see a house with bright windows all blown out in exposure, while in another you notice an excellent balance between bright areas and darker ones such as under cabinets or in room corners.

One of the most important real estate photography techniques is knowing how to shoot a house with bright windows and not have the photos look amateurish.

Bracket and Merge

house with bright windows

photo byasbe via iStock

So, how does one capture images of a house with bright windows and dark corners with the exposure balanced in a way that both extremes have clear detail in them? It’s by a technique that is one of the best real estate photography tips ever, bracket and merge HDR.

Bracket and merge HDR is a method that blends image files at different exposure levels and creates a natural looking picture with detail visible in the brightest highlights, the darkest shadows, and everything in between.

High Dynamic Range Photography

tips for real estate photography

photo byEloi_Omella via iStock

High dynamic range photography, also known as HDR or bracket and merge, was a photographic technique made possible by the very nature of digital photography, namely electronic imagery.

While the electronic sensors react to light in a way that is analogous to celluloid film, the reaction medium is completely different. So is the way the information is stored. Without going deep into the science of the differences and similarities of film and digital photography, let’s just say that digital files can be used in a manner that wasn’t even imagined by the average film photographer of 30 years ago. 

The scenes available to photograph are still the same, there can still be a huge difference from the lightest to the darkest parts of the scenes. Such as a house with bright windows and dark corners.  But both film and digital can only handle so much. 

The difference between light and dark is the dynamic range of a scene. The ability to accurately record light to dark is the dynamic range of the recording medium, in our case digital sensors. 

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What Happens?

real estate photography techniques

photo bygremlin via iStock

When the dynamic range of a scene exceeds the dynamic range a camera is able to capture, something has to suffer. Either the dark parts of the shadows are so deep that there is no detail in them or the bright parts of a scene are so blown out that there is no detail.

So that house with bright windows ends up photographing like all of the bad listings you’ve seen. But you know that some photographers have figured out the dynamic range issues because you see images with detail in the darkest parts of the rooms and detail in the external view in those bright windows.

What’s happened is that whoever photographed that listing used photography tips for real estate images that involve taming or narrowing that dynamic range, knowing how to shoot a house with bright windows and dark parts of the same room.

How It Works

photography tips for real estate

photo byrunna10 via iStock

You will often have to take pictures of a house with bright windows and dark corners as you start taking real estate images yourself, either for your own listings as an agent or as a photographer for a real estate agent. 

To use the bracket and merge method of real estate photography techniques, you will need to mount your camera on a tripod and take multiple exposures of each view you’re imaging. 

Meter with a handheld exposure meter or with your camera to find a good middle ground to start with. A blank, neutral colored wall in good light will often work well. From that setting, set your camera to AEB or auto exposure bracketing for 3 to 5 shots, changing the exposure by 1 or 2 stops between each exposure.

You will want the camera set to manual focus and manual exposure. An f-stop or lens aperture of about f/8 or f/11 is a good idea for depth of field in the focusing. Set your focus ring of your wide angle lens at about 1 meter or 3 feet and everything from about 2 feet to infinity will be in focus. Set the AEB to only change shutter speeds. 

An ISO of 320 to 800 should be fine and setting your camera to capture RAW files is preferred for the next steps.

The next steps are to load your image files into a computer program that processes HDR images and adjust the settings or the presets of that program to deliver the style you prefer. Here is a YouTube video that explains the method in an easy to understand way.

Deliver or Show Great Listing Photos

bright windows pose challenges to photographers

photo byCreativaStudio via iStock

And that’s pretty much the essentials  of how to shoot a house with bright windows by using bracket and merge shooting and HDR processing real estate photography techniques. Whether for your own listings or for your realty clients, these photos will have better success in showing prospective home buyers the best views of the properties.

After getting used to the bracket and merge HDR photography technique, you’ll find other types of scenes to use the method on, opening up a whole lot of creative  possibilities.

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How to Take Gorgeous Interior Real Estate Photos

How to Take Gorgeous Interior Real Estate Photos

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

Interior real estate photography doesn’t need to be daunting. In fact, any photographer can do it with the right tools. 

But, that doesn’t mean it isn’t technical. You need different camera settings while learning how to photograph interiors vs. exteriors. You need the right equipment. But most of all, you need to sift through a lot of disinformation, and a lot of competing opinions.

After all, real estate photography is still an artform, and art is subjective. 

So, I’ve put together a list of real estate photography tips that just about everyone agrees on. 

Rely on Natural Light

interior real estate photography 1

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

A lot of real estate photographers take the time to bring in artificial lighting to take interior photos.

While this doesn’t always completely throw off a photograph, sometimes these artificial lights can throw bad shadows on walls, ceilings and the floor. These are bad shadows that you will later need to fix.

Instead of relying on the use of artificial light, instead focus on using as much natural light as humanly possible. Map out the layout of a house before a shoot to ensure you’ll be able to photograph each room right when the most sunlight is streaming through the windows.

interior real estate photography 2

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

Natural light lends an openness to interior spaces that cannot be replicated with artificial light and can make even the dreariest of rooms come to life.

If you try to photograph an interior room, exposing the image for the room will result in windows that are completely blown out. Conversely, if you expose for the windows, the room will be far too dark.

The question is, how do you capture images like the one above, in which both the room and the view out the windows are well exposed?

The solution to this is simple - bracket your exposures and merge them together.

As explained in the video above, bracketing exposures is a simple process of using your camera's auto exposure bracketing feature to capture multiple images, each of which is taken at a different exposure level. 

Then, simply merge the images together in a post-processing program like Photomatix to create a final image that is well exposed throughout. It’s as simple as that!

Create Images With Depth

real estate photography tips 1

Photo by Outsite Co on Unsplash 

Just because you’re shooting real estate photography now doesn’t mean all of your old rules of photography fly out the window. 

You need to draw the viewer into your photos through depth. You’ll want at least three distinct layers to each photo.

In the case of the photo above there are many more - the plant in the foreground, the couch and the fireplace in the midground, the TV area and window in the background, and so forth. 

Notice how everything in this shot is beautifully sharp - when creating images with depth, this is of the utmost importance.

real estate photography tips 2

Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash 

Think of what items you can place in the foreground, middle and background of your photos to lead the viewer’s eye into the entire photograph. This can be a strategically placed plant, a chair you moved just so, or a rug.

Or in the case of the photo above, the lines created by the kitchen cabinets (and the grout lines on the floor) help drive your eyes from the foreground to the background of the image.

This is particularly important for this space because of the garden area in the background. All of these lines leading your eyes toward the doors and to the outside help connect these spaces.

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Think Purposefully About Composition 

real estate photography composition tips 1

 Photo by Loewe Technologies on Unsplash

The photos you take of interior spaces will often be the first opportunity a potential buyer has to inspect the home. As a result, your images need to be composed in a way that makes the space look inviting. 

Relying on the old standard rules like leading lines and the rule of thirds will get you improved interior real estate photos.

real estate photography composition tips 2

Photo by Greg Rivers on Unsplash 

In this example, you can see both of these rules at work - the lines created by the arm of the couch, the desk, and the wood flooring help move our eyes from foreground to background. 

Likewise, notice how elements of interest are placed along the imaginary rule of thirds grid - the door, for example, is positioned at the right-most one-third like while the fireplace is placed at the leftmost one-third line.

real estate photography composition tips 3

Photo by Ostap Senyuk on Unsplash 

When composing your shots, try to find ways to photograph the room at an angle as well. 

Where a room can look flat when photographing it straight on, doing so at an angle - even a slight angle as shown above - can help improve the feeling of depth in the room.

Remember, you only get one chance to give a home a good first impression on buyers. The more you concentrate on composing eye-catching photos, the better the chances that your photos will capture the attention of a potential buyer.

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Learn Skills to Aid You in Taking High-Quality Shots

learn skills

Photo by JamesBrey via iStock

Of course, there is no substitute for preparing yourself to take gorgeous real estate photos than actually learning the skills needed to do so.

They say practice makes perfect, but if you don't have the proper instruction in what to practice, how can perfection be achieved?

I don't know about you, but when I learn a new skill, I want to (a) learn it from an expert and (b) want to have the flexibility to learn at my own pace.

If you want to expand your real estate photography skills, Real Estate Photographer Pro has expert instruction that you can learn as quickly or as slowly as you need!

What has impressed me with Real Estate Photographer Pro is that it isn't just a course about camera settings and composition.

Instead, you get expert instruction in all sorts of topics, from editing your photos to making sales to tips on customer service and everything in between.

This isn't just some one-off course with a few tidbits of knowledge you can get in any YouTube video...

Instead, it is as comprehensive a real estate photography course that you'll find, and it will help set you up for success as a real estate photographer.

You get tons of downloadable materials and you get lifetime access to the course, so it truly is a resource that you can rely on for the entirety of your career.

Being a success in this business is about much more than taking great shots. If you want to rise to the top of your game, invest your time and energy in acquiring the total business skills you need. To do that, check out Real Estate Photographer Pro!



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How to Take Real Estate Photos

How to Take Real Estate Photos

photo byjhorrocks via iStock

There are many you might want to know how to take real estate photos.  

Most likely, if you’re reading here, you’re either a real estate agent wanting to get listing photos yourself that are as good as what you get from a professional photographer, a homeowner wanting to do it all yourself, or you’re a photographer hoping to break in to the field.

Either way, we’ve got you covered with real estate photography tips for realtors and a discussion of how to move up from real estate photography for amateurs to producing professional results.

Useful Techniques and Equipment

real estate photography for amateurs

photo byPC Photography via iStock

Understanding real estate photography for beginners, whether a real estate agent or a beginner photographer, isn’t so much about the art of photography as it is the crafting of a usable image. How to take real estate photos is more about realism than artistic vision.

Instead of looking for interesting compositions such as we do with the Rule of Thirds or the Fibonacci Spiral, we try to use the Three Wall Method. With the Three Wall Method, we try to get parts of 3 walls into each room image. 

Instead of using exposure to create interest by means of modeling with shadows, we use exposure methods that optimize balance and some that tame dynamic range issues, having too much light and very dark in the scene.

Equipment that is useful for real estate photography includes a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a bracketing feature, a wide angle or wide angle zoom lens with a much wider view than the kit lens, and a sturdy but easily transportable tripod, and a spirit level.

Wide Angle Lens

real estate photography tips

photo byfocalmatter via iStock

In order to optimize being able to capture as much of a space as possible, especially with indoor areas, we need a lens wider than the 18mm on APS-C or 24mm on Full Frame kit lenses. These are generally great lenses with fantastic performance, but we want a wider field of view. 

Shooting with Full Frame format cameras, a focal length range wider than 20mm is preferred, perhaps even as wide as 14mm. Using APS-C format cameras, a lens in the range of 12mm or 10mm is ideal. There are many zoom lenses with these focal lengths that have high levels of optical performance. 

Learn More:

A Good Tripod

real estate photography for beginners

photo byKatarzynaBialasiewicz via iStock

With an ultra wide angle lens, a major concern is distortion in straight lines. Our rooms with a three wall view tend to have a large percentage of straight lines within the image. The way to take care of that issue is to level out the camera so that the long straight lines don’t look odd.

A tripod is invaluable for handling this. It doesn’t have to be a super heavy duty tripod but we do want it to be sturdy enough to avoid any camera movement. In addition to carefully leveling out the camera and lens with a shoe mounted spirit level, having a tripod allows us to take advantage of the bracket and merge HDR method.

Bracket and Merge HDR

real estate photography for amateurs

photo byPC Photography via iStock

Bracket and merge HDR is how real estate photographers get a handle on the issues of dynamic range mentioned earlier. The method uses multiple image files at different exposure settings which is another reason to use a good tripod for real estate photography.

You can see a great explanation of the backet and merge HDR method in this YouTube video tutorial

Besides the interior views, HDR also works great for exterior views of the property. As an extra part of our real estate photography tips, using the bracket and merge HDR method lets you make amazing looking twilight views of the exterior of the house which makes a perfect beauty shot for listings.

Stay Organized

real estate photography tips for realtors

photo bysturti via iStock

An important element of how to take real estate photos is to stay organized. Especially when already working as a realtor or starting with real estate photography for amateurs does one need to keep completely organized.

Creating a basic list of rooms, room views, exterior views, and special features will avoid the problem of not having images of each necessary image for a full listing. It is generally very difficult to go back to a property to capture the missing images, so making sure to capture all of them in one visit is very important. 

And that’s basically how to take real estate photos in a nutshell. Obviously, there are details we skimmed over, so check out  all of our how to take real estate photos articles for more in depth coverage. 

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How to Take Real Estate Photos That Make Your Home Stand Out

How to Take Real Estate Photos That Make Your Home Stand Out

photo by Jodi Jacobson via iStock

As a homeowner or a real estate agent, you can take the pictures for your listing yourself if you’re a competent photographer. All it takes is time and a little effort to educate yourself on how to take the most compelling real estate photos.

Here are a few important real estate photography tips for how to take real estate photos that will help your house sell.

Real Estate Photography Tips for Homeowners

how to take real estate photos

photo byRidofranz via iStock

One of the more important real estate photography tips for homeowners is to depersonalize the house if at all possible. For an unfurnished home, this is easy. It’s when you’re taking pictures for listing your home and you’re still living there that this tip comes to the fore of how to take real estate photos.

Depersonalizing means that all of those knick-knacks that say so much about you and your family may say so much that people viewing the listing may not be able to imagine themselves there. It’s a good idea to follow these real estate photography tips for sellers to have a wide appeal.

You’re probably already making some changes in order to make your home more appealing to a large number of people, such as clearing out overgrown bushes or repainting some rooms to neutral colors, so just take it all a couple of steps further and show off your house to prospective buyers. 

Real Estate Photography Tips for Realtors

real estate photography tips

photo byLOUOATES via iStock

Real estate photography tips for realtors include becoming familiar with the tools and techniques that real estate photographers use to maximize the viewership and appeal of homes being listed. 

Such as leveling out the camera when using wide-angle lenses, bracket and merge HDR for showing the details of the home, and composition tips such as showing 3 walls. These listing photo tips are what the photographers for other homes are doing, so use them yourself for showcasing your listings. 

Learn More:

Level the Camera

listing photo tips

photo byDownload it via iStock

Wide-angle lenses are a real estate photographer’s friend. Ultra-wide-angle lenses allow us to capture a great view of the interior spaces we are showcasing. However, there is a major concern to be aware of when using ultra-wide-angle lenses.

The concern is to watch for the wide lenses introducing distortion into our images. Modern lenses are fantastically corrected for this, but straight lines, especially near the edges of the image, can still look distorted by our wide lenses when the camera is not leveled out properly. 

The technique to fix this is a basic rule of thumb for how to take real estate photos, namely, use a tripod and a spirit level. The level can fit in the camera hot shoe and barely costs anything, the price of a fast-food lunch.

Tripods also let us take advantage of the next tip for how to take real estate photos.

Bracket and Merge HDR

real estate photography tips for realtors

photo by Download it via iStock

Bracket and merge HDR photography is a marvelous method for capturing incredible detail inside and outside the home in both shadowy areas and bright highlights. 

Here’s how to take real estate photos with bracket and merge HDR in 3 easy steps: 

  • Mount camera on a tripod.
  • Take multiple exposures, bracketing between each image capture.
  • Develop with a bracket and merge program to blend the exposures. 

It’s really not that much to actually do in real life. Here is a YouTube video that describes this method of how to take real estate photos. 

Show 3 Walls 

real estate photography tips for sellers

photo byPC Photography via iStock

As a real estate photographer, our main goal is to show prospective buyers an accurate view of the property as opposed to creating art. It’s still art, but art with a very specific purpose.

Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines, S Curves, are all great composition tools, but the one composition idea used for real estate photography that makes the most difference is the 3 Wall composition tip.

Simply put, for interior room views, try to capture parts of 3 walls. There are a lot of ways to make this happen, but using our first tip for keeping straight lines straight by leveling the camera is very important to have technique work out properly. 

Using these listing photo tips for how to take real estate photos will work whether you are a real estate agent, the homeowner, or a photographer starting out in this excellent genre of professional photography.

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Introductory Real Estate Photography Tips

Introductory Real Estate Photography Tips

photo byhikesterson via iStock

Learning how to fulfill the requirements of good photography while showcasing your creativity is going to make you an incredible real estate photographer. 

But, in order to make a name for yourself in real estate, you first need to sift through a slew of introductory real estate photography tips (many of which say the same, nondescript things). 

In an effort to actually be informative for you, I’ve put together some instructions on top real estate photography tips ranging from very specific editing techniques to gear information (and lots of things in between). Let’s get started! 

Table of Contents

Create a Shot List That Works for You

real estate photography tips 1

 Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash

There are hundreds of introductory real estate photography tips on the internet and they all won’t mean anything if you don’t first draft a shot list that works for you.

A real estate photography shot list should basically act as a step-by-step guide for what you’re going to do immediately upon entering a house for one of your clients.

A shot list that works for you is going to save you time and money by ensuring you don’t have to return to a house for a reshoot. 

real estate photography tips 2

 Photo by Ralph Kayden on Unsplash

While you should personalize your real estate photography shot list (and continue to personalize it as you become more familiar with your business), there are some basic shot list tips that will help you learn how to take better real estate photos.

For example, your bedroom shots should be clean and inviting with a made bed and no clutter or dirty clothes on the floor. Furthermore, taking photos from the corners of the room (as shown above) allows you to highlight the space more easily than if you were to stand in the middle of the room along the wall.

real estate photography tips 3

photo by hikesterson via iStock 

Your living room shots should also be inviting, since most of a prospective buyers’ time will likely be spent here. Living room shots should include any natural lighting sources, like windows or skylights, and they should also show you what other rooms the living room leads to.

When taking photos like the one above - in which there are windows with a view - it’s best to bracket your exposures. This enables you to get exposures for the bright windows, the darker areas inside the room, and the tones in between that you can then merge together to get a beautifully exposed photo.

If you tried to capture this scene in a single image, you’d likely find that the windows are well-exposed but the room is dark, or that the room is well-exposed but the window is bright. In either case, it’s not an ideal situation!

If you’re not sure how to merge bracketed exposures together, consult the video above to learn a quick, simple, and effective technique.

Your kitchen shots should include all of the appliances (if the home comes with them) like the oven, fridge, and stovetop. Your goal with kitchen shots should be to showcase the ease with which someone can function in that environment.

real estate photography tips 4

 photo by adamkaz via iStock 

As for your bathroom shots, many prospective buyers base their decision to buy a home, in part, on the bathrooms, so the point of bathroom shots is to showcase the different amenities in them. 

If you’re having trouble starting your own list, there are a variety of options online to get you started. 

Give Yourself Enough Time

how to photograph real estate 5

Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash 

One of my favorite accessories when I go on a shoot is a wristwatch, which may sound old fashioned but it helps keep me on track.

Everyone feels the pressure of timed shoots, whether you’ve been in the business for a decade or three weeks, and that pressure can translate to bad photos if you’re not careful.

how to photograph real estate 6

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash 

In the end, there’s only so much planning you can do. You need to get out into the field and adjust your times as you become more proficient at real estate photography. 

And becoming more proficient is the goal - the less time you need to photograph a property, the more time you have to schedule other properties after it.

Do a Walk Through on the Property

As Dombowerphoto shows you in this video, a walk through on the property is an absolute necessity. 

Firstly, you want to make sure the property was accurately described to you. You’d hate to not know that there was a pool on the property and leave it off of your shot list.  

But, you also want to get a feel for the property.

While introductory real estate photography tips are great, they can only get you so far. You need your intuition for a lot of real estate photography.

how to photograph real estate 7

 photo by Bulgac via iStock 

While you’re going on your walk through, be thinking about what kind of shots you’d like to see of this house if you were thinking of buying it. 

What aspects of the house stand out to you while there? If you can capture these aspects on film, your client will love your work. 

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Focus on Your Composition

There are hundreds of videos out there about real estate photography composition tips, but this video by JRDNPWRS gives you a short, digestible introduction to it. 

Learning how to photograph real estate is really learning how to take your Photography 101 techniques and applying them to photographing homes and other properties that vary widely from one to the next.  

Basic rules like the rule of thirds will come in handy to create balanced images of exterior and interior elements.

how to take better real estate photos 8

Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash 

You’ll also want to only shoot from angles with the best, natural lighting.  

Natural lighting isn’t always possible in real estate photography, but there are windows in most rooms. Use them! Natural light combined with the bracket and merge technique mentioned earlier will get you much more pleasing results than if you rely on complex artificial lighting setups. Using natural light is faster and less expensive, too!

Get Multiple Shots Until You Understand Editing

how to take better real estate photos 9

Photo by jana müller on Unsplash 

Until you understand how to take better real estate photos, you’ll need to overshoot. The absolute worst thing you can do is need to go back to a house a second time because you didn’t get enough photos the first time around.

Of course, there are easy introductory real estate photography tips, like the ones discussed in this video by Stallone Media:

Use videos like this one to introduce yourself to editing and never stop practicing. Eventually, you will understand the exact shots you need, but until then, getting more shots is going to be essential for you. 

Learn More:

 



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Must-Have Real Estate Photography Gear

Must Have Real Estate Photography Gear

Photo by Jokic via iStock 

I’ve delivered a lot of real estate photography over the years. In doing so, I have found new methods of capturing images, developing them, and delivering them, all of which add to my skill set.

Along with those real estate photography tools like bracket and merge HDR, multiple light sources, drone imaging, and video tours, I’ve also found some great real estate photography gear that either helps me do a method more simply or allows me to do something I couldn’t do without that gear.

Here are a few ideas for real estate photography gear that you can find online and put into use immediately.

Table of Contents:

Real Estate Photography Gear - Ultra-Wide or Fisheye Lens

Real Estate Photography Gear Ultra Wide or Fisheye Lens

 After your camera, choosing a good lens is a top priority for real estate photography gear. Since many photographers starting out in real estate photography as a side hustle probably have APS-C format prosumer or other advanced-level cameras, I’ll key in on lens ideas to cover that format.

The wide-angle zoom range of lenses is one of the more useful lens types. Another fantastic lens option, especially if you want to create spherical panoramas, is a true fisheye lens. Here are two fine lenses that fit these categories: Sigma 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Fisheye lens and Tamron 11-20mm f-2.8 Di III-A zoom lens.

The Sigma 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Fisheye lens (like this one in Canon EF-mount) is a true fisheye lens, providing 180-degree coverage across the diagonal of the film frame. It shows as a 180-degree circle inside of Full Frame format images, so this lens can be used in both formats. 

The fast lens aperture of f/3.5 means your “sweet spot” aperture will be in the range of f/5.6 to f/8.0, allowing for using the lens hyperfocal depth of field of less than 1 foot to infinity while simultaneously having the sharpest lens aperture. 

 Tamron 11 20mm f 2.8 Di III A zoom

The Tamron 11-20mm f-2.8 Di III-A zoom lens (like this one in Sony E-mount) combines features and quality that are essential as real estate photography gear. The maximum lens aperture of f/2.8 means you can shoot in low light and also gives a sweet spot that is also fast, around f/4.0 to f/5.6. 

A zoom lens is useful as real estate photography gear so that you can instantly adjust to capture just the right amount of space when switching from room to room. It’s a pro-style lens, so it can withstand some more extreme usage than the common “kit lens” styles of lenses available for our cameras.

Both of these lenses are available in all of the popular camera mounts and can also be used on either DSLR-style cameras or mirrorless.

Real Estate Photography Gear - Camera and Light Mount

Octopad

With most real estate photography, you’ll need to keep your camera as motionless as possible, either for capturing an HDR bracket and merging a series of images or a long exposure image. Additionally, you find yourself requiring some extra light from portable LED lights or off-camera flash units.

A good heavy-duty tripod is going to be a major part of your real estate photography gear kit. Still, some situations call for using a tripod alternative. My go-to choice for a tripod alternative is the Octopad Camera Mount.

Octopad is a unique tool that I think is an essential part of my own real estate photography gear bag because of how versatile it is. It is a semi-rigid (more rigid than not) disc that is heavy enough to securely hold a tripod head on top with a camera and lens mounted.

It has a unique non-slip pad underneath that, when combined with the slight give in the material, lets you place the Octopad on almost any type you might run into, even if that surface is slanted by up to 45 degrees. 

Octopad 2

Besides holding a camera, I also use mine for holding other items, depending on what type of photography or videography I’m doing. A prime thing I use the Octopad for is holding portable lights and mics. I keep a couple on hand for whatever venue I’m in or what type of camera work I’m doing.

Real Estate Photography Gear - Panoramic Nodal Point Mount

nodal point panoramic mount

To make those spherical panoramas mentioned earlier, a nodal point panoramic mount is a valuable piece of our real estate photography tools. 

SunwayFoto CR-3015A is one of the better options for a nodal point panoramic mount. It has great stability and lots of easy-to-set controls to let you control the specialty movements needed for this style of real estate photography. It can be held on a tripod or the Octopad. 

The video shown above is from the YouTube channel of Todd Norman Kamp and is part of a series on creating Spherical panoramas. This segment is all about using PTGui to stitch together all of your images into the interactive panorama that can be attached to commercial and residential real estate jobs.

Real Estate Photography Gear - LED Lights

Neewer 660 LED panel light

Sometimes, even with the HDR bracket and merge technique, we find ourselves needing to add in some more controlled lighting. 

Portable LED lights are my go-to choice for handling this job. They are usually powered by rechargeable batteries and have adjustments for controlling the light level and the light color balance.

An example that can also be used in a photography studio and for videography production, in addition to being an essential part of our real estate photography gear outfit, is the Neewer 660 LED panel light. It can be battery-powered or plugged into AC power. 

These can be mounted on a light stand or use the Octopad listed earlier when you don’t have enough room or a flat enough surface for light stands.

Real Estate Photography Gear - Wireless Remote

 Real Estate Photography Gear Wireless Remote

When shooting for real estate, you will want to use a remote release to ensure you have no movement during exposure and no movement of the camera and lens between exposures for the HDR or panoramic imagery you’re capturing.

Personally, I prefer the wireless style of remote releases, such as the Pixel TW283-DC0. This wireless release comes in models to fit most of the current digital cameras in use today. In addition to triggering the shutter remotely, this remote has a long exposure timer and an intervalometer.

Real Estate Photography Gear - Google Sheets

Real Estate Photography Gear Google Sheets

Photo by Inside Creative House via iStock

The subject of real estate photography tools covers more than the physical pieces of technology that we need as real estate photography gear. Business software is an important part of the real estate photography business model.

One of the best tools is the online suite of technology known as Google Sheets. What makes this tool so usable is that it is accessible from mobile devices on multiple platforms. I can use it on my smartphone for shooting lists, helpful reminders, and instructions, and I can even share spreadsheets online with clients and business partners.

Add all or several of these real estate photography gear ideas to your tool kit and see how much you can get done in your side hustle or main photography business!

Other Recommended Photography Gear 

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Photography for Realtors

Photography for Realtors

 photo byXacto via iStock

Realtors, are you trying to take your own pictures for some of your listings and want to get the same type of results you receive from the professional services you’ve been using? There are several good reasons to know how to take real estate photos yourself making it a good idea to learn photography for realtors.

I’ll list five of the most critical real estate photography tips that help you be able to know how to take real estate photos yourself when you need to. The outside shots seem easy for most people familiar with casual photography, it’s the interiors that many find difficult.

Why Learn Photography for Realtors?

real estate photography tips

photo byvan Pantic via iStock

There are a couple of reasons why it’s good for realtors to know how to photograph interiors for real estate as well as all of the exterior views that showcase a home in the best light possible. 

One of the reasons to know photography for realtors is to be able to meet a super tight deadline. As a realtor, you may have a favorite photographer you use most of the time or an arrangement or contract with a photography company, but when you need to put up a listing today, doing it yourself might be the best option.

Another reason to really know photography for realtors is to be able to accurately communicate to homeowners the need to clean and stage properly and to be able to understand what your regular photographer is offering you. When everyone is on the same page, the resulting images and virtual tours will be of superior quality.

Invest In Excellent Photo Gear

how to take real estate photos

photo byPeopleImages via iStock

I have nothing against smartphones with their amazing level of photo and video quality but there are reasons other cameras still exist. A Full Frame or APS-C mirrorless camera or DSLR with advanced exposure controls and interchangeable lenses, when used properly, will provide better images than the best smartphone camera. 

There, I said it! Seriously, the larger the format, the higher the overall quality a good photographer can achieve. But if we don’t know how to take advantage of the larger formats and advanced features, then we won’t get all of the benefits of these cameras.

The basic needs for a real estate photography camera gear kit are an interchangeable lens camera, a wide angle lens (wider than the kit lens), a tripod, and a post processing program. 

The cameras and lenses don’t have to be the top line pro series equipment, but some entry level cameras may not have all the features required for better photography for realtors. Prosumer level cameras usually do, though, and many of these don’t cost too much more than entry level.

Learn More:

Real Estate Photography Camera Settings

how to photograph interiors for real estate

photo bydeepblue4you via iStock

Current camera technology provides amazing automation for exposure and focus. However, we will usually be overriding the automation to capture the best images for real estate. 

What should we use as real estate photography camera settings? An aperture that provides adequate depth of field for focus is helpful. With an ultra wide angle lens such as 10mm to 12mm for APS-C or 14mm to 18mm for Full Frame, an aperture of f/8.0 will likely work well. 

The shutter speed will need to be adjusted to get correct exposure for that lens aperture, so using the camera meter or a separate meter will give us an idea of where to set this control. Remember that indoors, the resulting shutter speed for a smaller f-stop (aperture) will be slow enough to require using a tripod. 

Setting the ISO is the third part of the Exposure Triangle for capturing images. We will be tempted to use an ISO that is more sensitive to light, a higher number, but that will lower the image quality. So, an ISO of 400, 640, or 800 is a good setting. 

Setting the focus manually avoids the camera hunting for correct focus in low light or in a large room. Learning our lens’ hyperfocal distances will assist us with maintaining good focus. All of these settings and controls are explained in some of our other PhotographyTalk.com articles and courses. Please check them out.

The Right Software

real estate photography camera settings

photo byskynesher via iStock

A fantastic technique for creating the best real estate photography images is called Bracket and Merge Technique or HDR Photography. The idea behind this technique is to take multiple images of a scene with different exposure settings and use a post processing program to blend them together for an amazingly detailed and nice looking image.

A program specially designed for this technique is required for best results. Thankfully, these post processing programs are readily available for relatively low cost and are pretty simple to use. Here’s a YouTube video that explains the technique and programs.

Light It Up

how to photograph interiors for real estate 2

photo byExperienceInteriors via iStock

Turn on those lights, open up blinds, and maybe add some additional lighting so that viewers will be able to see all the features of the home or business being listed.  

The bracket and merge technique allows us to capture most interiors without requiring adding extra lights, but having a couple of portable battery powered LED lights will help open up extremely dark rooms such as we might find in a finished basement.

Use a Checklist

how to take real estate photos 2

photo byRalf Geithe via iStock

In order to be certain of capturing all of the images we need for a listing, having a checklist for properties  in general is good practice. We can adjust it for a particular property as we do our walkthrough to ensure the place is tidy and ready for photography.

These are a few ideas to help you create the best photography for realtors when you need to capture the images for a listing yourself. 

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Real Estate Photography - A Beginner's Guide for Getting Started

real estate photography a beginners guide

Photo by hikesterson via iStock

Real estate photography jobs can be tough to come by. You have to go about it the right way to get the clients you need to build a successful business.

But, if you aren't careful, you can accidentally end up with fees from the government, equipment you don't need and can't use, and angry clients. 

So, while real estate photography jobs can be lucrative, they can also cost you. 

Thankfully, I've been writing about real estate photography for PhotographyTalk for a few years and have covered everything from real estate photography pricing to real estate photography camera settings and everything in between.

If you're just getting started in your career, this is the right place for you to be because in this article I'm going to cover all of it!

Starting a Professional real Estate Photography Business

starting a professional real estate photography business

Photo by andresr via iStock

So, you have a basic understanding of how to shoot real estate photography, you found your first client, and you've read all of the real estate photography tips you've come across.

Now what?

The first thing you need to do is ensure you're legally able to run a real estate photography business, which seems overwhelming at first but will only take you a few days to complete with my help. 

Unfortunately, business licenses and permits for photographers vary from state to state and from city to city.

Business permits allow you to collect sales tax, which is required under state and federal law and will allow you to form an LLC if you want to. 

Business licenses, on the other hand, allow you to complete your taxes easily at the end of the year because you're keeping your income and your business' income separate. 

In order to get either a business license or permit, though, you'll need to apply for an Employer Identification Number on the IRS website (it's simple; don't worry). 

 Additionally, you may be interested in getting a DBA, which you can learn about in the video below by 180 Law Co.

The Small Business Administration is another great resource that can walk you through how to obtain all of the permits and licenses you need. 

Now that you are legally able to operate, it's time for you to develop a real estate photography business plan. 

Your business plan will help you get small business loans, but it will also help you to organize your business.

Your business plan needs to include:

  • An executive summary, i.e., an outline of what your business is.
  • A company description, where you hammer out the details like target market and pricing.
  • A market analysis where you determine whether real estate photography jobs are going up or down in your area.
  • An organizational chart, which may just be you right now, but might include front office staff, social media people, image editors, and more as your business grows.
  • Proposed products and services you intend to offer, from prints and photo albums to the specific types of photography you plan to provide.
  • A marketing strategy that outlines how you intend to reach potential clients.
  • Financial projections for the short-term (i.e., the next year) and the long-term (i.e., the next five years).

This video by Gillian Perkins is really useful. 

For more details about starting your business, check out the learn more links below. 

Learn More:

Real Estate Photography Pricing

 This video by Aperture University is a good starting place for you because...

I'm not going to tell you what your real estate photography pricing should be for a few reasons, but namely that there are a ton of factors that affect real estate pricing. 

But, I can tell you that these factors should play a role in your pricing:

  • Driving distance to and from jobs
  • Additional equipment (I'm looking at you, real estate drone photography enthusiasts)
  • How much editing time the client is asking from you
  • How tight of a deadline the client is giving you
  • Region of the world
  • Any miscellaneous costs

Once you've established a baseline real estate photography pricing guideline for yourself, you'll also want to think about adding services to increase your real estate photography pricing. 

For me, there are three optimal services every real estate photographer should offer, but many don't:

  • Videos
  • Real estate drone photography
  • 3D virtual tours

I haven't come across a client in the past year who wasn't interested in real estate photography videos once I mentioned that I offer them. Why isn't everybody taking advantage of this?

Plus, videos are really easy to learn, as showcased in this real estate photography tips video by Parker Walbeck.

Real estate drone photography is another hot topic nowadays, especially if you're planning on branching out into commercial real estate photography at any time in the future. Clients will want to see you have experience with a flying camera.

real estate drone photography

Photo by Derek Thomson on Unsplash

 Finally, you can offer 3D virtual tours of properties as another means of earning income.

Though it might sound like a complicated undertaking, as this excellent post by iGuide explains, it's really just a matter of planning and execution to get the best results.

Recommended Real Estate Photography Books:

Best Camera for Real Estate Photography

best camera for real estate photography

Photo by Mario Calvo on Unsplash

I know the title of this section is sort of misleading, but let me start off by saying that there is no single best camera for real estate photography.

When people are arguing over what the best camera for real estate photography is, they are really arguing their preference because it's 2020 and every professional-grade camera that is built for real estate has essentially the same features. 

But, you definitely will want to watch for some features when you're camera shopping. 

Firstly, you'll want a camera that you can use with a variety of lenses, offers Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB), and comes with a continuous shooting mode. 

For the record, almost every professional mirrorless and DSLR camera on the market today offers all three of those things.

Secondly, don't let a salesman sell you something you don't need. For example, you won't need a camera with a built-in flash because you're going to be relying on other methods for getting well-exposed photos (more on this later).

Personally, if I were in the market for real estate cameras today, I would also purchase a camera drone.

best camera drone for real estate photography

Photo by Jared Brashier on Unsplash

Again, when you're shopping for a camera drone, focus less on the brand and more on the drone's capabilities. 

If you're just starting your real estate photography career, you can probably get away with a less expensive drone that only has a short flight time of around 20 minutes. 

You can always upgrade later on!

Learn More:

Best Lens for Real Estate Photography

best lens for real estate photography

Photo by theverticalstory on Unsplash

The best lens for real estate photography, like the best camera, also doesn't exist.

I mean, think about it...you're definitely going to need at least two or three lenses to capture everything you will need while photographing homes.

For most real estate photographers, a wide-angle zoom lens is going to be a great first option.

Zoom lenses offer the versatility of a range of focal lengths, and wide-angle zooms give you that nice field of view that encompasses the entire room in a single shot.

Look for a wide-angle zoom lens like a 16-35mm f/4 if you shoot with a full frame camera or a 12-24mm f/4 if you shoot with a crop sensor camera.

Note that you do not need to spring for a fast lens, like an f/2.8, f/1.8, f/1.4, and so on.

Primarily, this is because you will most often be shooting at f/8 to f/11, so you don't need all that light-gathering power of a fast lens anyway.

Best Real Estate Photography Lighting

best lighting for real estate photography

Photo by lucas Favre on Unsplash

Would you be surprised to find out I rarely bring external lighting with me to my real estate photography jobs?

Realistically, with modern photography technology, you no longer need to. 

Instead, I take three different shots, one exposed for the shadowed areas of a room, one for the midtones, and one for the highlights and merge them together in post-op. 

It's faster, cheaper and easier than bringing heavy lighting gear with me, that's for sure.

Using the bracket and merge technique is not only budget-friendly, but it's also much faster.

As discussed in the video above, you make a few changes to camera settings, put the camera on a tripod, and take several shots.

Then, you simply merge those shots together to create a composite image that's well-exposed throughout. It doesn't get much easier than that!

Learn More:

Real Estate Photography Camera Settings

best camera settings for real estate photography

Photo by Evan Dvorkin on Unsplash

First, let's discuss your camera settings for real estate photography exteriors.

There will typically be two types of exterior real estate photos, ones taken during the day (like the one above) and ones taken during the evening. 

Your camera settings will change for both of these types of photos, but the aspects you'll want to be paying attention to are the same. 

These are:

  • Exposure mode
  • Aperture
  • ISO
  • Shutter Speed
  • Focus Mode
  • Metering Mode

You'll want to become familiar with all of these settings, but you can use the following as a guide.

For daytime photos:

  • Exposure mode - aperture priority
  • Aperture - f/11
  • ISO - 100
  • Shutter speed - determined by camera
  • Focus mode - single-shot autofocus
  • Metering mode - matrix

If the images keep coming out too bright at these settings, then step the aperture down to f/13 or f/14. 

If the images are too dark on these settings, do the opposite and open the aperture by a stop or two.

For evening photos:

  • Exposure mode - aperture priority
  • Aperture - f/8
  • ISO - 200
  • Shutter speed - determined by camera
  • Focus mode - single-shot autofocus
  • Metering mode - matrix 

The aperture, in this case, was stepped down to allow more light in and the ISO was increased just a little, again to brighten the image.

best camera settings for real estate photography 2

Photo by fran hogan on Unsplash

Figuring out your camera settings for real estate photography interiors is a bit more complicated, namely because you can have weird amounts of light in different rooms of a house.

For rooms with plenty of natural light, set your camera settings here to start:

  • Exposure mode - aperture priority
  • Aperture - f/8
  • ISO - 400
  • Shutter speed - determined by camera
  • Focus mode - single-shot autofocus
  • Metering mode - matrix

For rooms that don't have any natural light, try this:

  • Exposure mode - aperture priority
  • Aperture - f/8
  • ISO - 400
  • Shutter speed - determined by camera
  • Focus mode - single-shot autofocus
  • Metering mode - spot

While I've given you enough information here to start exploring your camera's capabilities, please check out the learn more links below for a full in-depth review. 

Learn More:

Real Estate Photography Tips

real estate photography tips

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

When you're learning how to shoot real estate photography, you're essentially learning different composition tips.

And, as with all things in real estate photography, composition for the interior and exterior of houses is different. 

Let's start with interiors.

You'll want to make sure that your lighting is the same across the board, which is the number one thing you should be worrying about. 

I touched on that in the lighting portion of this list, but you can also read more about it in the learn more link below.

You'll also need to pay attention to the height of your camera. 

Mostly, you'll want to keep the camera at eye-level, but for things like a beautiful view out of a tall window, you can bend this rule.

Lastly, get shots from every angle. You want to give potential buyers multiple views of each room and of the exterior of the property.

how to photograph exteriors

Photo by Evan Dvorkin on Unsplash

For exteriors, you're basically just fighting the weather and the time of day.

But, don't be afraid to shoot in cloudy weather, or in the evening, because clouds can act as a diffuser for your photos and the evening light provides a softer look to your homes.

You will need to find unique angles for your homes.

There's nothing more boring than viewing the exact same photo of every single house taken from dead-on in the front of the property. If a house you are shooting is shaped differently, use it to your advantage.

Use your angle to highlight unique features.

While a wide-angle shot is important for potential home buyers, so are the features of the home. If there's a gorgeous pathway running through a garden, capture it with a tighter shot to show off its shape and detail. 

Finally, make sure to get different shots of the entryway. Go wide to show the entryway in the context of the front of the home. Take a medium shot to give potential buyers a closer look at the front porch or front door. Then get detail shots of any interesting elements, like stained glass in the door, unique door hardware, and so forth.

Again, providing potential buyers with a varied collection of images will help you tell them the story of the home.

Learn More:

Real Estate Photography Classes

There are thousands of real estate photography classes available to beginners and it can be hard to determine where to start.

But, I've been doing this for quite a few years now, and I find it's typically best to go with small businesses owned by real estate photographers...

Firstly, because these individuals know exactly what they needed to know when they were in your spot. Secondly, because they have the time to devote specific attention to you and your individual needs.

But, a lot of times finding a small business that runs classes means you're getting a less technologically-savvy class. This is not the case with Real Estate Photographer Pro.

It's a small business with tons of videos to teach you everything you need to know about real estate photography, from how to create presets to how to get people to pay you on time. 

Plus there's a Facebook group for members that hosts a live Q&A every week, so if there's information you can't find through their classes, you can ask it to the owners. 

They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and the lifetime membership pays for itself in the first few months. If you need additional guidance for getting your business off the ground, this is it!

Real Estate Photography Jobs

real estate photography jobs

Photo by KAL VISUALS on Unsplash

The question I get asked the most often in my line of work is, "How do I get real estate photography jobs?"

So, here's a comprehensive list of how to get real estate photography jobs:

  1. Build a portfolio
  2. Create a beautiful website
  3. Put a blog on your website (and write on it consistently, say, once a week at a minimum)
  4. Develop your brand (create a logo, tell people about yourself, be consistent in your marketing)
  5. Create social media accounts and schedule posts on them, again, doing so frequently 
  6. Create offers for referrals, that way you get additional business from your existing clients
  7. Find clients on freelancing sites like Upwork
  8. Connect with as many realtor networking groups as possible

Is starting a real estate photography business easy? No...

But with the tips and tricks I've outlined here, you have a ton of resources to help you get on the path to success.

Now all that's left to do is to put your learning into action and get your business up and running!

 



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Real Estate Photography Camera Settings for Exterior Photos

Real Estate Photography Camera Settings for Exterior Photos

 photo byPC Photography via iStock

Knowing how to take photos of real estate involves several skills that can be readily learned. Figuring out the right camera settings for exterior photos is a little different from the outdoor photography we’ve been doing, primarily because of the need for detail showing clearly in the shadow areas as well as the sunlit areas.

What are the best real estate camera settings for exterior photos? Many of our modern digital cameras have metering systems that work in all sorts of exposure situations, including some that might be considered difficult.

What usually makes real estate photography camera settings different is that we’re concerned with more than reaching what might be considered as correct exposure, but also with the entire dynamic range of the scene.

What IS Dynamic Range Anyways?

real estate photography camera settings

 photo byirina88w via iStock

What is dynamic range, why should we be concerned with it, and why is so often discussed in real estate photography tips?

The dynamic range, photographically speaking, is the entire gamut of bright to dark within a scene. What we’re concerned with is that the correct exposure for bright parts of the scene will usually render whatever is in the shadows unreadable. And the opposite is true also, correctly exposing for the shadowy areas will cause the brighter parts to have no detail.

Talking about dynamic range is a beneficial real estate photography tip because we’re looking for a more accurate rendition than an artistic one. Artistically, we use the play between shadow and light to our advantage. 

When engaging in real estate photography, the people who see our images don’t want to see an artistic vision, they want to see what they might be spending tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on.

Bracket and Merge HDR

real estate photography tips

 photo by irina88w via iStock

Which brings us to trying to figure out the real estate photography camera settings. One of the best things about high quality digital cameras is their ability to capture and use exposure and color information in ways barely dreamt about in the heyday of film photography.

In order to tame the issue of a wide or high range of light values in film and paper photography, we rely on exposure calculations, filter use, film processing variations for contrast control, and advanced techniques of selective adding or subtracting exposure value during printing.

Digitally, we can take several exposures optimized for the different parts of the scene and blend them together into one final image. This is called HDR or high dynamic range photography, named for the issue itself. It’s also sometimes called bracket and merge, based on the actual technique and method used for handling dynamic range of light and shadow.

HDR, or bracket and merge, can be used for interior and exterior real estate photos, as well as for more artistic images such as twilight photography. Twilight images are great beauty shots for real estate listings. Here is a helpful YouTube video discussing bracket and merge technique for real estate photography.

Learn More:

Exterior Real Estate Photography Tips

how to take photos of real estate

 photo by PC Photography via iStock

You should check out our entire series of articles on real estate photography, as we discuss several aspects and give a lot of real estate photography tips we’ve learned from other pros and that we’ve adapted from other aspects of photography.

To close out this tips article, let’s examine several exterior real estate photography tips and some actual real estate photography camera settings.

First off, let’s assume you’re going to try out the bracket and merge HDR technique for the images. A set of 5 exposures, 2 stops apart, is a good starting place. This gives a starting range of 9 stops in 5 exposures, +4, +2, 0, -2, -4. If the 0 exposure is calculated for the scene’s average light value, this will provide an extraordinary amount of dynamic range in the final photo.

real estate photography

 photo byrafalkrakow  via iStock

You’ll need to be on a tripod since the bracket and merge program will blend together several image files and you don’t want the camera to move between exposures. 

The time of day is a huge variable, we like to recommend late morning or early afternoon. You really don’t High Noon since the shadows will be extremely deep. Too early or late in the day and the light is very directional. Good for a balanced exposure of one side but all the other sides could have exposure issues. So, 2, 3, or 4 hours before or after Noon is good.

Actual Camera Settings

camera settings for exterior photos

 photo by irina88w via iStock

Hopefully it’s a nice day so we can use our Sunny 16 Rule for our starting settings. Using what we know about the Exposure Triangle concerning the camera settings, Sunny 16 states that the shutter speed for a lens aperture of f/16 on a sunny day will be the reciprocal of the ISO setting. 

So, if we’re shooting on a clear day around 10:00am or 3:00pm, and our camera ISO sensitivity is dialed in at ISO 400, our shutter speed at f/16 would be 1/400th of a second. Let’s round it up to a shutter speed that matches what’s marked on many cameras, 1/500th of a second. For our purposes, this will work just fine.

With the bracketing set for 5 exposures varying by 2 stops each, our final shutter speed settings would be 1/30th, 1/125th, 1/500th, 1/2000th, 1/8000th. The f-stop or lens aperture should stay the same because that setting also affects depth of field in our focus and it looks weird to have the focus depth change.

exterior real estate photography tips

 photo byjhorrocks via iStock

Obviously, we could change the ISO to be less sensitive, which decreases digital noise and provides a different range of shutter speeds. At ISO 100, our starting shutter speed would be 1/125th, with additional exposures at 1/8th, 1/30th, 1/500th, and 1/2000th. 

Blend these separate exposures together in a bracket and merge program, and you will produce a final image with detail showing accurately and naturally in the deepest shadows and the brightest highlights of the house or business being photographed.

This is all a starting point. Your own initial meter reading may cause you to decide from the Sunny 16 Rule settings. Time of year, latitude, clouds, lots of tall trees, and other things can alter your starting exposure. 

A review of your images on the camera viewscreen or on a wirelessly tethered device will confirm which way up or down you need to adjust. Practice on your own home to see what initial settings will work for you.

Learn More:

 



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Real Estate Photography Camera Settings for Interior Photos

Real Estate Photography Camera Settings for Interior Photos

 photo byhikesterson via iStock

Would you like to see some real estate photography camera settings and other helpful interior real estate photography tips? Read on! 

Knowing how to take photos of real estate is a beneficial skill for photographers wishing to add a revenue stream or for real estate agents to be able to make appropriate images for their own listings.

For many serious photographers thinking of doing real estate photography, the camera settings for interior photos might cause some confusion. 

Balanced Exposures - How?

real estate photography camera settings

 photo byPC Photography via iStock

A good photography already knows how to take pictures in low light conditions or under mixed lighting, but it’s the completely balanced exposure from extremely bright highlights like the view through a window to the darkest shadows of an unlit corner or under a cabinet that is seen in premium real estate listings that might make one wonder how it’s done.

Interior real estate photography is a  special situation in that we’re generally not looking for an artistic image with interesting contrast. What the viewer expects to see in a listing is an accurate representation of the rooms. 

However, since we often have such a mix of bright to dark in the scene that it exceeds the range of what the sensor can pick up, we have an issue to solve. Because if we expose accurately for the highlights in the scene, such as the window view, the shadowed areas of the room will obscure detail. Likewise if we expose for the shadow detail, then the highlights block up and have no detail.

So we try a middle of the road approach, exposing for the midtones, but then we usually end up losing some detail in both the highlights and shadows. This is called a dynamic range issue.

Fixing Dynamic Range Issues

real estate photography tips

 photo byRichman21 via iStock

The dynamic range of a camera sensor is the total spectrum from lightest bright to darkest shadow that can be recorded showing accurate detail. We measure the dynamic range in stops of exposure. 

As an example of possible real estate photography camera settings we might run into, let’s meter that bright window and dark corner, see what the settings would be. 

A bright window view in full daylight is going to be very close to an exterior exposure value. So, if our camera ISO is at 200, our shutter speed and lens aperture or f-stop could be around 1/250th and f/11 or so. These exposure values will accurately capture the exterior view through the window if we use that as our real estate photography camera settings. 

The rest of the room will look very dark, though, except for any parts of it exposed by the sunlight streaming in through the window. Even when we turn on all the house lights, there will still be areas relatively unlit. Not too useful for real estate photos.

Now look over to the under cabinet area or an unlit corner and take a meter reading there. If we want to have an aperture that provides sufficient depth of field, it could very well be suggesting 2 full seconds at the same lens aperture. 

That’s 9 stops difference from the previous exposure values. Exposing correctly to show adequate detail in those darker areas of the room will seriously overexpose anything lit by the window and whatever is viewed through the window. Also unacceptable for the real estate listing photos.

Learn More:

Bracket and Merge HDR Technique

interior real estate photography tips

 photo byalvarez via iStock

There are two techniques or methods used to overcome this challenge. Add extra artificial lighting or use High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography. Both are good methods, both require more photographer input, and the real estate photography camera settings are substantially different between the two.

In order to balance out the lighting in a room with artificial photographic lights, we use flash units or continuous lights and position them and modify their power output to achieve a natural look. For best results, some sort of light modifier is used, such as softboxes or bouncing flash or LED lights off of the ceiling. 

Using bracket and merge HDR photography, we take several exposures at camera settings for the lighting involved. An exposure optimized for the brightness, an exposure optimized  for the deep shadows, and several more in between. Then the separate exposures are blended together into one final image using a program designed for that.

In addition to the fine tutorial linked above, here is a helpful YouTube video on how to use the bracket and merge technique and how to calculate the real estate photography camera settings involved.

Camera Settings for Interior Photos

camera settings for interior photos

 photo byrarrarorro via iStock

Depending on the circumstances, I will sometimes add extra light either with LED lights or a camera flash, but I really prefer the bracket and merge method for real estate photography. Besides balancing out the dynamic range exposure issues in a scene, HDR processing programs provide lots of options for fine tuning the final images. 

So now we come to figuring out actual real estate photography camera settings using the bracket and merge technique of HDR photography. Let’s choose a representative camera and lens, a prosumer APS-C camera with a wide angle zoom lens. 

Mount the camera and lens on a good tripod, level it out with a spirit level in the camera hot shoe or using the camera function if it has one. Zoom out to the wider end of the lens, for this lens, 10mm and compose with the three wall method discussed in some of our other articles.

Our prosumer camera (and several newer entry level models) has a control labeled AEB for auto exposure bracketing. Set the control for 5 bracketed exposures, 2 stops apart. Have the AEB change shutter speed, not lens aperture. This will provide us with an exposure value range of 7 stops. With that 9 stop scene we described earlier, this leaves only 2 stops of unaccounted exposure value.  

Now let’s find a neutral color wall space in a mid tone value of the scene to get our base exposure setting. From experience in several hundred rooms in all sorts of buildings from small homes to large factories I am probably shooting at ISO 400, f/8.0, and 1/8th of a second and inputting these manually. 

No A, S, or P on the control dial for these pics, use M for manual. Turn off autofocus as well and manually focus to 1 meter or 3 feet, since a 10mm lens at f/8.0 has a lot of depth of field.

With the AEB control changing shutter speeds to provide the bracketed exposures, the camera will expose at 1/125th, 1/30th, 1/8th, ½, and 2 full seconds, all at f/8.0 and ISO 400. Shooting on a tripod with a remote release, we can input these image files into our merging program without losing any detail in the brightest light part of the scene to the darkest shadow.

Use these real estate photography camera settings as a jumping off point for your own specific situations and fine tune as you go.

Learn More:

 



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Real Estate Photography Gear List

Real Estate Photography Gear List

photo byEKKAPHAN CHIMPALEE via iStock

With the housing boom that has been happening over the last year, more and more people are getting into real estate photography. You could be someone looking to sell your house during this boom or you could be someone who is getting into real estate photography for the first time in order to diversify your photography income during the pandemic. 

Regardless of your reasoning for getting into real estate photography, you’re going to need a real estate photography gear list. While a lot of photography gear can easily translate to real estate, there are a few pieces of real estate photography gear that you’ll likely need to purchase specifically for shooting real estate. 

In this real estate photography equipment article, I’ll walk you through the exact equipment for real estate photography you’ll need to get started.  

Tripod

real estate photography gear

photo byKatarzynaBialasiewicz via iStock

The most important piece of real estate photography gear is not your camera or your lens. It’s actually a tripod. Tripods allow you to ensure that every photo of a home is taken from exactly the same height, which gives potential buyers the feeling of walking through a home digitally.  

Tripods also help every one of your images to be as sharp as possible, even if you find yourself shooting in low-light situations. 

If you’re transitioning to real estate photography from another photography niche, then you likely already own a tripod that will work. But, if you have a small travel tripod, an upgrade to something that’s taller and more sturdy is a good idea. 

Lens

equipment for real estate photography

photo byVasyl Dolmatov via iStock

The next piece of real estate photography gear you need to worry about is your lens. Unfortunately, one real estate photography lens likely won’t do the full job. You’ll need to buy a few.

For the outside of homes, you’re going to need a mid-range zoom camera. If you’re working with an APS-C crop sensor, then you’ll need to purchase a lens that is either 18-55mm or 16-50mm. If you’re working with a full-frame camera, then you’ll be looking for something like a 24-70mm. 

For the inside of homes, you’re going to need a completely different lens. Since the size of the interior will be far smaller, you’re going to need a lens that is capable of taking wider shots. So, for interior shots, you should be looking for a focal range of 14-24mm or 16-35mm. Again, if you’re going to be shooting with a cropped sensor, then you will likely find something more like 10-20mm. 

Thankfully, you really don’t need to spend a ton of money on your lenses, which will make it more affordable to buy two. This is because you don’t need a fast aperture to take real estate shots. 

If you can afford to purchase an ultra-wide lens for better interior shots, then I recommend you do. 

Learn More:

Camera

real estate photography camera

photo byEvgeniia Ozerkina via iStock

I realize that it may not make a ton of sense that a camera is so far down in my real estate photography gear list, but tripods and lenses will make or break a shoot, while you can feasibly work on a cheap or old camera. Some modern cameras have far too many high-end specs for real estate photography and I’ve even seen excellent real estate photos done with a great tripod and a smartphone. 

So, if you already have a camera because you’re a photography, or because you are a photography enthusiast, then you should be able to use that camera for real estate purposes just fine.  

real estate photography lens

photo bystructuresxx via iStock

Still, should you feel that you need to purchase a real estate photography camera, then you’re going to be looking at one of two options: crop-sensor or full-frame. While both of these cameras have their pros and cons, it is important for you to not solely purchase one of them for your real estate photography needs, since they will both work. Make sure you’re thinking about what other types of photography you may use them for. 

I’ll start with a crop-sensor camera. Crop-sensor cameras are usually far cheaper than a full-frame camera, because full-frame cameras offer more high-end options to photographers. But, an APS-C or Micro Four Thirds camera, which are both types of crop-sensor cameras, will allow you to shoot real estate photography beautifully. 

If you do opt for a full-frame camera, you should do so because you’re planning on using it in future photography endeavors outside of real estate. 

HDR Software

real estate photography tripod

photo byMixMedia via iStock

No matter the kind of camera and lens you use for real estate photography, you will want to invest in HDR software. 

But why?

One of the most common issues in real estate photography is the high dynamic range that interior scenes often present. That is, the windows in the room are often very bright while the interior spaces are far less bright. Even a high-end camera might struggle to accommodate all that dynamic range. 

That’s where HDR techniques come in…

By bracketing your exposures and merging them together, you can create a single composite image that accounts for the bright highlights and the dark shadows in a room.

As you can see in the video above, merging the images together is a quick and simple process. 

This is an investment for your real estate photography that will pay dividends over and over again. It’s a small price to pay, but the quality of your interior images will be far, far better, and that’s a good thing!

Drone

drones for real estate photography

 photo byHuseyin Bostanci via iStock

This is likely the only piece of real estate photography gear on this list that you don’t already own, aside from the real estate photography software. 

And, depending upon the type of property you’re photographing, you may not need to purchase this specific piece of real estate photography gear right away. However, drones for real estate photography are becoming more and more popular, so you would be wise to learn how to shoot these sorts of aerial shots sooner rather than later, especially if you’re planning on doing real estate photography in the long term.

The primary thing you should be looking for when buying a drone for real estate photography is one that takes RAW images. They allow you to edit the photos much more easily because RAW files retain all the details that the sensor captures. Thankfully, most photography drones include this feature now. 

Learn More:



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Real Estate Photography Pricing Guide - Part II

Real Estate Photography Pricing Guide Part II

photo by kali9 via iStock

Google “real estate photography pricing guide” for how to set real estate photography prices and you will find a lot of ideas for how to price real estate photography. One seemingly glaring omission for newcomers into real estate photography is the actual dollar amounts.  

This is actually a good thing, because there are many variables affecting pricing for real estate photography. A huge variable is the market you’re in, both in regards to actual location and the type or style of real estate photography you will be offering. 

Just as the actual home prices will differ from Marin County, California to Jackson County, Missouri, to Glades County, Florida, so will prices for related products and services, photography being one of those services. 

Since our previous real estate photography pricing guide already directed you towards doing local market research and calculating your real labor costs, we’ll talk about market positioning and adding on real estate photography packages.

Commercial, Residential, Luxury Residential

real estate photography pricing guide

photo bybuzbuzzer via iStock

In addition to your area, the actual type of market will have a huge impact on pricing. I separate my real estate photography genres into three types: Residential, Luxury Residential, and Commercial. Each gets priced differently because of the amount of images I’m delivering, the time I spend creating them, and the resources of the potential client.

As a newcomer to real estate photography, I used to wonder if it was proper to vary any of my prices based on what the client could afford and I found out that the answer is Yes. If it’s an average homeowner, they may be searching for price points, while still wanting high quality. Commercial and luxury clients still want value but are willing to pay more for the extras we provide to them.

A home of 1500 to 2500 square feet will generally have fewer rooms than a 4000 or 5000 square foot home, so price accordingly. Additionally, luxury homes (you could also label these residences as upscale) tend to have more specialty rooms, such as a breakfast nook, study, or gameroom, which may require more images of these special features.

A commercial property might have dozens of similar rooms, cookie cutter style, which means you can simply shoot representative rooms or areas. On the other hand, it could have dozens of different specialty floor areas, all of which would require separate imaging. 

Basic and Upscale Packages

real estate photography

photo byanyaberkut via iStock

Real estate photography packages are an excellent way to create your own real estate photography pricing guide. Packages work well with the three genres of real estate photography detailed above, residential, upscale or luxury residential, and commercial.

It makes good sense to deliver the same high quality in all of your packages, the variations you could make would likely include how many images you deliver, the types of add-on available, and if you want to offer extra processing besides your regular bracket and merge processing.

The bracket and merge technique, also known as high dynamic range or HDR photography, will be useful for any real estate photography packages you offer. It lets you deliver superior images that show detail in the highlights and shadows as well as the midrange portions of each exposure. Here is an excellent YouTube video showing why it should be part of your regular workflow.

Your own real estate photography packages might be priced according to providing a set number of images and then add-on other services or extra images. Common packages often include one for X number of images, one for XX number of images, and one for XX number of images with enhanced processing, and then add-ons. Use this real estate photography tip to develop high-value packages for your clients.

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Beauty Shot Add-On

how to set real estate photography prices

photo byhikesterson via iStock

Beauty shots are sometimes called hero shots and these are the images that show up as the main photograph of a listing. If it was a printed sales brochure, it would be the cover photo. Each of your packages will have an image used for the cover shot but beauty shot goes a little bit beyond.

An enhanced beauty shot might include some clean up of the image. Such as cloning grass over a small bare spot in the yard or editing the window reflections. Be careful not to enhance it to the point where it’s not a true representation of the property, but it’s okay to pretty it up a bit. 

A cover image, hero image, or beauty image is meant to grab a viewer’s eye, the rest of the images show the full extent of what the property has to offer potential buyers.

Drone Photography Add-On

pricing for real estate photography

photo byJohnrob via iStock

If you have this capability to offer, make it an add-on that has an extra charge. Drone shots add value to the real estate photography packages in that it shows a view not readily apparent to the prospective buyer. A drone image often makes an excellent beauty shot.

Twilite Images Add-On

real estate photography packages

photo bykaramysh via iStock

Twilite (twilight) images can be quite pretty and intriguing, adding interest and thus value to the real estate photography package. In order to provide this image, you will need to be there taking the photos during either morning or evening twilight, so be sure to figure that into your pricing. 

A twilight image requires bracket and merge image processing to come out properly since you might need to shoot more than usual three HRD images, more likely 5 or 7, to get all the detail and nice coloring. The twilight image also makes for an excellent beauty shot.

How to Price Real Estate Photography

how to price real estate

photo byielanum via iStock

With this extra information added on to our previous article, you should have a workable real estate photography pricing guide that will work in your area, with your intended clientele, and for the style of real estate photography you’re offering. 

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Real Estate Photography Services You Should Offer

Real Estate Photography How to Improve Marketing

 Photo by Evan Dvorkin on Unsplash

Real estate photography means real estate marketing.

Your job isn’t just to take a few nice photos of the property and leave it at that.

Instead, to get the most exposure for the properties you photograph, you need to create a diverse portfolio of marketing materials for your clients.

Let’s take a look at a few steps you can take to ensure you’re providing your clients with the best resources for marketing their properties.

Add Drone Photography/Videography to Your Portfolio of Services

real estate photography tip

photo by RyanKing999 via iStock 

The best advice I can give about how to market real estate is to provide a lot of content.

This means going above and beyond traditional property images and providing a portfolio of content that highlights the property.

Many real estate photographers have added a drone to their kit to get aerial views of the property. Whether it’s a bird’s eye view of the backyard, a flight from the street to the front door, or a still shot of the property with the view in the background, drone footage allows potential buyers to see the property in the context of its surroundings.

real estate photography tip 2

photo by PBFloyd via iStock 

Today’s drones are so sophisticated that they can be flown inside the house, too, through doorways, down hallways, and so forth. There is little better way to give a comprehensive tour of a home than by creating smooth, stable video footage with a drone.

And if you’re gun shy about flying a drone, don’t be! Check our tutorial on drone photography for real estateto get started. 

Create a 3D Virtual Tour

With investors relying more heavily on real estate, real estate marketing is getting more technically advanced - and rapidly.

That means that you need to keep up with the competition and ad learn how to use virtual reality to make 3D tours of properties.

Like photos and videos from drones, 3D virtual tours help potential buyers develop a better understanding of the layout of the home’s interior and exterior spaces.

What’s more, virtual tours can be used as fodder for social media posts to reach a broader range of clients, specifically, people that might be too busy to attend traditional open houses or walkthroughs with their Realtors.

It’s easy to embed links to virtual tours on websites like Zillow and Realtor.com, so it gives real estate agents just one more method of making homes attractive to potential buyers.

Plus, as Ben Claremont demonstrates in the video above, the process seems pretty easy!

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Work With the House 

real estate marketing 1

 photo by Sisojevia iStock 

The name of the game in real estate marketing is selling the product you’re photographing. To do so, find the aspects of each room that are most interesting and highlight them in your marketing materials.

Whether it’s a fireplace in the living room, a balcony off the master bedroom, the outdoor kitchen on the back deck, or something in between, honing in on the special features a property has to offer will go a long way in making it more attractive to potential buyers.

Of course, not every home has spectacular features like the ones listed above, so you’ll need to work with the house to make it as appealing as possible.

One of the best things you can do to improve the look and feel of a home is to use HDR techniques to create images that are beautifully exposed.

Often, you’ll find that taking traditional photos of a property results in images that are either well-exposed for the bright areas or well-exposed for the dark areas, but not both.

But as you can see in the video above, by bracketing your exposures and merging them together in a program like Photomatix Essentials RE, you can present potential buyers with images that are well-exposed throughout.

Not only do HDR photos look more pleasing and more professional, but they also give buyers a detailed view of each area of the property

Don’t Forget About Video 

While taking video of a house isn’t necessarily as good as shooting the house in virtual, it’s still pretty good. Parker Walbeck gives you a complete tutorial about how to shoot walkthrough real estate videos above.

Most tips about how to market real estate focus on video, and if your client knows that and you don’t, you’re going to look unprofessional.

Make sure while you’re taking videos inside the house that you shoot a complete walkthrough so potential buyers know what it feels like to walk from their potential new kitchen to their potential new garden.  

As Parker explains, video helps us focus. It keeps us engaged. It’s an excellent supplement to real estate photos.

how to market real estate 1

photo by Sergey Peterman via iStock

Of course, just like real estate photos, videos have to be done well to maximize their impact.

This means using a tripod to stabilize the camera to reduce camera shake, or even better, use a gimbal (as shown above) so you can walk through the property and get smooth, cinematic footage.

Additionally, avoid panning or zooming too fast or too much. In fact, there aren’t many reasons to zoom at all - just use a wide-angle lens to give a broad view of each room and outdoor area to buyers.

Between videos, HDR techniques, 3D tours, and the use of drones, you have plenty of tools at your disposal for improving marketing for the properties you photograph.

Remember that it’s about quality, not quantity, so don’t use these techniques just for the sake of doing so. Practice and get comfortable creating these different types of materials, and once you’ve mastered them, then, and only then, begin offering them as part of your services.

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Real Estate Photography Staging Tips

how to stage a house for photos

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

Selling a home is one of the most stressful events one can undertake.

That being the case, homeowners often need a little assistance when it comes to getting their homes market-ready. That's where you come in.

Real estate photography staging is never as difficult as buyers think it's going to be, especially if they follow advice from the pros. 

So, if you're looking for tips on how to stage a house for photos, give the following quick and easy tips a try.

Don't Forget that Cameras Can See Through Windows

staging tips for real estatePhoto by Bulgac via iStock

As I discussed in this real estate photography tutorial, one of the biggest challenges photographers face is wide dynamic range - super bright windows and darker interior spaces.

When you bracket your exposures and blend them together, you get an image like the one above, in which the room and the view out the window are both well-exposed.

A related problem is that sometimes the view out the window might not be all that pleasant.

From utilitarian items like unsightly walls, power poles, or trash cans to backyards littered with kids' toys to a busy street lined with traffic, there are many things that can ruin that all-important view.

real estate photography tips

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

So, when staging the home, it's important to remember that the camera doesn't just see what's inside the house, but what's outside as well.

Some well-placed patio furniture, exterior rugs or curtains, fresh landscaping, and so forth can make the view out of the home's windows equally as beautiful as the view inside the home.

Besides, these elements can also help mask less-than-desirable features, and that's certainly better than them being on full display!

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Keep Bright Colors to a Minimum

real estate photography staging

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

I tell all of my clients that their color schemes need to tend toward neutral. What this means is that you can have as many whites, browns, beiges, and other neutral colors as you want, but only one bright color that draws attention to itself.

The above photo is a great example of this concept. The blues in the throw and the artwork pop and bring attention to themselves, but not so much attention that they become a distraction.

Remember - the purpose of interior real estate photography is to highlight the space,not what's in the space.

Imagine if a the footstools in this image were orange or red - it would simply be too much. Instead of looking at the size of the room or the natural light coming through the large window, potential buyers might instead find themselves looking only at the bright, overpowering colors of the furniture.

Quick Tip: One of the most impactful staging tips you can recommend to clients is that they paint interior walls with a fresh, neutral color. New paint has an immediate, positive impact on how a room looks and potential buyers will appreciate that they don't have to take the time to re-paint!

Sweep The Carpets!

home staging photography tips

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

Obviously, properties need to be neat and tidy when you arrive to photograph them.

But aside from being clean, there needs to be an extra level of attention to detail to make the space pop.

For example, if there are carpets in the room, they should be freshly vacuumed. This removes footprints and streaks from moving furniture around and makes the carpet less likely to draw attention away from the room itself.

In the image above, notice how the area rug is perfectly clean, but also fluffy. Buyers can imagine kicking off their shoes and feeling the softness of the rug under their feet. This might not be the case if it's covered with footprints!

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Steam Everything

real estate photography tip

Photo by Christopher Jolly on Unsplash

The above photo is a perfect example of what not to do...

Those wrinkles on the bedspread don't affect your sleep at all, but they do affect the perspective of a potential home buyer. 

This room, instead of looking well put together, now looks like the staging was an afterthought, even though the rest of the room looks quite nice.

Again, it's the attention to small details like this that will make your interior photos of real estate shine.

And don't forget about things like curtains too. Anything that can be steamed to get rid of wrinkles should be steamed!

Quick Tip: In bathrooms, make sure that bath towels and hand towels are neatly folded. This is a small trick, but the clean, crisp lines of a neatly folded towel can go a long way in making the bathroom feel more luxurious and well put together.

Remove Furniture If Need Be

real estate staging tipsPhoto by Eoneren via iStock

Buyers want a home that has good interior space - room to hang out with friends and family without being cramped.

If you're photographing a property that has small rooms, it might be prudent to recommend the seller omits some of their furniture in order to make the room look bigger and have improved flow.

The same can be said for large rooms with too much furniture. Editing the pieces in a room can go a long way toward making the space more appealing.

Besides, if the rooms you're photographing are stuffed with furniture, your job of getting images from varying angles will be that much more difficult!

Learn More:

Staging Tips for Real Estate Photography

staging tips for real estate photographyPhoto by Django via iStock

Though some homeowners might think that staging is a luxury they don't need, as I've shown here, simple, inexpensive fixes can have a lot of positive impacts on how buyers perceive a home.

As a real estate photographer, you only have one chance to help the homes you photograph make a good impression. That being the case, pay attention to the issues raised above and strive to implement these quick staging tips so your images have improved appeal.

Be sure to consult the Learn More links throughout this article for more tips and insights that will help you improve your real estate photography.



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Real Estate Photography Technologies You Should Be Using

Real Estate Photography Technologies You Should Be Using

photo byWavebreakmedia via iStock

Following real estate photography trends may give our clients more incentive to keep using us or for new clients to find us. I’m not talking about social media fads or memes, but actual trends of where professional real estate photography services are going.

There are several real estate photography technologies that we should be using or at least considering for our own businesses. To be honest, we may not need to use all of the technology for real estate photography that is available, still, we should want our decisions about them to be well-informed.

So, let’s start with a couple of real estate photography technologies that have become virtually an industry standard and a couple of other techs that may be useful in our specialty niche such as if we work in commercial real estate. 

Ultra-Wide-Angle Zoom Lenses

real estate photography technologies

photo byWavebreakmedia via iStock

Photographing interior spaces and getting the entire exterior of a building in one shot means we’re using wide-angle lenses. You already know the composition tips such as including three walls for interior views whenever possible and leveling the camera so straight lines don’t look askew, essentials to good real estate photography. 

Modern technology that helps us out in this category are the ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses available from multiple manufacturers including 3rd party lens makers. For many photographers, any lens wider than about 24mm (Full Frame format) can be considered ultra wide. 

A 20mm lens has a much wider angle of view than 24mm, but a lens with 17mm or 14mm focal length offers an even wider angle of view, substantially more. What makes lenses like this so usable for real estate photography is that many of these are available now as zoom lenses. 

Current ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses are made for Full Frame, APS-C, and MFT formats. These lenses are extremely well corrected and have high-quality in sharpness, contrast, and lack of distortion.

real estate photography trends

photo byOlezzo via iStock

Ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses, provided that they are high-quality, help our workflow because they are variable, letting us change the angle of view without repositioning. Generally speaking, these are usually going to be pro-style lenses.  

Many will be quite fast for a zoom lens as well, just look at what many photographers shooting DSLR or mirrorless in the major brands call the holy trinity of zoom lenses such as the Nikon F mount 14-24mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f.2.8, and 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom lenses.

Many current or recent lenses from major manufacturers are included in the corrections that some of our post-processing programs have embedded in the programs, making it even easier to reduce or eliminate any optical aberrations that may still exist.

Bracket and Merge HDR

real estate photography editing

photo byLeonid Andronov via iStock

Bracket and merge HDR is the one real estate photography editing tip that I offer most often. It not only greatly eases up our workflow for shooting and editing, but I feel like it actually improves the usability of images delivered for my real estate photography clients. 

This technique uses multiple image files taken at different exposure levels, blends them together, and outputs an image file that has no holes in the detail. In other words, the detail of the scene is there in the final image whether we’re looking at deep shadows, almost blown out highlights, or anything in between.

Here is a very good explanation of the technique in this YouTube video.

You couldn’t do this back when we shot film and printed on photo paper - it’s a digital technique. What makes it so valuable to real estate photography is the versatility of the method. 

Bracket and merge HDR means we don’t have to carry around lights or strobes and continuously change the settings depending on distance to the subjects and ambient lighting. Parts of the view that are difficult to well lit, such as underneath cabinets or a vaulted ceiling can be blended in to match the lighting values of the rest of the scene.

Bracket and merge HDR truly is a vital part of real estate photography editing skill set. Plus, it’s a technique that can be used creatively for other types of photography such as landscape, architecture, and nature photography. Try it out with your regular lighting set up when making small product images for an enhanced view of hard-to-light items. 

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Drones

technology for real estate photography

photo bySKatzenberger via iStock

The first two technologies are what I consider essential real estate photography technologies, now we’re into the territory of options we should be seriously considering in order to be able to offer our clients more.

Drones are pretty close to mainstream technology now for a lot of different photographic applications. They are making a big impact in real estate photography, residential and commercial. 

Many commercial real estate clients are specifying drone point-of-view images for their larger properties and residential realtors love both neighborhood views and an overhead look at the property. We can use drones creatively for special shots of any unique property features.

Most drones that are good enough for real estate photography still images will also be able to capture very high-quality video. We may not deliver videos to many real estate clients, but some will appreciate the option. Plus, we could use these same drone skills for enhancing our own promotional YouTube videos, they make great B-Roll cameras.

Spherical Panoramas (Virtual Tours)

professional real estate photography services

photo byaapsky via iStock

On many hotel websites you can see a special feature known as a virtual tour or a spherical interactive panorama. You see the opening view of a scene but you can click your mouse or finger inside the image and drag it around to see up, down, and all the way around the scene.

This is another one of the real estate photography technologies that only exist because of digital imaging. It is similar in nature to bracket and merge HDR but adds a few layers of imaging technique, equipment, and skill.

The equipment used usually consists of a Full Frame or APS-C format pro-style or prosumer camera, a 180-degree fisheye lens, and a nodal centering panoramic mount. 

The lens should be high-quality, not a novelty lens, something like the very popular Sigma 8mm f/3.5 lens. It’s made for various mounts of DSLR cameras and shows 180 degrees corner to corner in APS-C format and a circular image in Full Frame. That’s just one lens example, by means of adapters, you could use virtually any older or current high-quality fisheye lens on your mirrorless camera.  

The panoramic mount that lets you center the rotational axis of the rig to correspond to the true optical center of the lens is a vital piece of equipment for this type of imaging. You take a series of exposures, rotating the camera between them, and they have to line up properly when post-processing to ensure a distortion-free view.

The final part to this puzzle is the specialty program that lets you blend together all of the views and deliver a final image file that is interactive. You can do it yourself with a variety of programs or you can pay a fee for having it done by a service on the web. Both methods give photographers a lot of creative control and produce excellent final results.

There’s More!

real estate photographer

photo by Wavebreakmedia via iStock

But wait! There’s more! These are what I consider 4 very important real estate photography technologies, 2 of them being virtually essential in today’s marketplace. 

Some other technologies can also be incorporated into our mix of services and images we can offer as a real estate photographer, such as 3D imaging, virtual staging, and time-lapse filming, but these 4 are my top choices.

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Real Estate Photography Tip: How to Photograph Exterior Elements

Real Estate Photography Tip How to Photograph Exterior Elements

Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash 

Real estate photography for beginners can be a complicated undertaking. But if you’ve been following our series on real estate photography, there are many simple, concrete steps you can take to improve the quality of your photos.

This tutorial follows the same footprint. Below, we’ve outlined a few tips for photographing exterior elevations that will ensure your photos highlight the curb appeal and exterior amenities of the property.

Table of Contents

Observe the Property Layout

real estate photography 1

Photo by Bailey Starner on Unsplash 

The first thing you want to do when you approach a house for the first time is to look at the shape of the yard.

Is there any sloping in the yard? How does the driveway back up to the house? Essentially, you’re looking to even the playing field with your subject.

In whatever way possible, you want to shoot the exterior of your house without shooting up at it. Camera height for real estate photography is so important that people can spend thousands of dollars on equipment (like drones) to get the perfect shot.

real estate photography 2

 photo byhikesterson via iStock

But you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get high-quality images from a compositional standpoint. 

If the yard is sloping, use a bubble level to ensure the camera is level. If an unsightly driveway occupies a lot of the side view of the home, change your positioning such that something more appealing - green space, mature landscaping, flowers, and the like - takes up more of the view in the frame (as shown above). 

This is why observing the property layout is so critical because it allows you to find the best vantage points from which to take photos. A little bit of legwork at the outset will result in far better pictures!

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Cover Every Angle Possible 

real estate photography tips 1

Photo by iAlicante Mediterranean Homes on Unsplash 

The homes you photograph don’t look the same on every side. Though the overall architecture will be consistent (hopefully, anyway!), the way the home presents itself will vary from front to back, left to right. 

No real estate photography tips list would be complete without this basic tip: shoot the exterior of the property from every angle possible.

Naturally, you’ll likely start in the front, but don’t just take a shot dead-on and move to the side and back of the property. Instead, front photos should be taken from the left-of-center and right-of-center too.

real estate photography tips 2

 photo by buzbuzzer via iStock 

Vary the distance from which you take your photos as well. A wide shot of the front elevation of the home is certainly needed, but so too is a close-up of the front door and any interesting features (i.e., a covered porch).

Follow this same procedure for the other sides of the property, getting close-ups and wide shots from multiple angles. 

Furthermore, varying the angles from which you shoot allows you to capture the property’s features, the view, and capitalize on different kinds of light (discussed more below).

Quick Tip: As with any kind of photography, having more photos from which to make your final collection of images is always a good thing. Doing so means that you can select the very best images to present to the Realtor or client so the property listing has the strongest possible visual appeal.

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Don’t Just Shoot From One Height

how to photograph exterior elements 1

 photo by chandlerphoto via iStock 

No, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to rent a helicopter or become a drone aficionado overnight. But, it does mean that the basic six-feet-off-the-ground shot might not cut it in all scenarios.

As I discussed earlier, you’ll want to keep your vertical plane in mind when you begin to play around with shooting heights. Whether the camera is above or below that mark, it must be level!

While a height of six feet is a good place to start, don’t be afraid to adjust the height of your camera as needed.

how to photograph exterior elements 2

 photo by jnnault via iStock 

For example, the image above was taken at a slightly lower eye level to bring more of the brick-patterned driveway into view.

Not only is the driveway an interesting feature that’s worth highlighting, but the pattern of lines and the curvature of the driveway help direct our eyes toward the home.

If this shot had been framed at a typical eye level, we’d be missing some of the pattern and the curvature of the driveway that makes the front elevation of this home so interesting.

So, if there are interesting foreground elements, by all means, lower your camera a little to incorporate them into the shot. Conversely, if you want to showcase the property view or give potential buyers a better idea of the lot, a high perspective is appropriate.

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Look for Exterior Features to Highlight

real estate photography for beginners 1

Photo by Vita Vilcina on Unsplash 

While this gorgeous pool will definitely be on your shot list, you also shouldn’t forget other exterior amenities that potential buyers might like:

  • Garages
  • Porches, patios, and decks 
  • Landscaping
  • Courtyards, water features, pools, and outdoor kitchens
  • Entry and exit points to the property

Your shot list is the most important way for you to begin learning how to photograph exterior elevations. Do your homework prior to the day of the shoot by touring the property with the Realtor or homeowner. Getting the lay of the land will help you devise an appropriate shot list.

You’ll be surprised how many people are specifically looking for a large yard or a three-car garage in their house search. Make sure you capture these details for them.  

Quick Tip: As noted earlier, make sure you vary the angle, distance, and eye level of each image you take of exterior amenities. This allows you to show off the features of the property in a way that helps potential buyers understand the layout of the property and the relationship of each amenity to the home.

Use Natural Light to Your Advantage

exterior real estate photography tips 1

photo by irina88w via iStock 

Though some real estate photographers invest in expensive (and cumbersome) lighting equipment to photograph properties, it is our opinion that relying on natural light results in better images.

For one, bybracketing exposures and merging them together, you can get a well-exposed image throughout without having to use artificial lighting to brighten up darkened areas of the home’s exterior.

Secondly, using the bracket-and-merge technique is far more budget-friendly - rather than spending hundreds of dollars on speedlights, light stands, softboxes, and other artificial lighting gear, you can invest in an editing program that allows you to quickly and easily merge images together.

exterior real estate photography tips 2

 photo by sl-f via iStock 

Of course, the time spent setting up lighting gear is time you can’t get back, so, again, using the bracket-and-merge technique is favorable because your precious time can be used actually taking photos rather than setting up and taking down gear.

It’s not always possible to time your photo shoots with the best light of the day at Golden Hour, and this bracket-and-merge technique will come in particularly handy during the day when the sunlight creates deep shadows and bright highlights. With a range of exposures to account for highlights, midtones, and shadows, this technique will get you beautifully-exposed and natural-looking results. 

At the end of the day, that’s precisely the kind of deliverables you want for your clients!

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Real Estate Photography Tip: How to Photograph Office Spaces

Real Estate Photography Tip How to Photograph Office Spaces

 photo bybuzbuzzer via iStock

Commercial real estate photography is similar to residential real estate photography but with some significant differences. The differences are primarily in how the property is presented. 

When looking at how to photograph office spaces, two specific techniques are making a huge impact: spherical panoramas and HDR photography. But, in order to know best how to photograph businesses, all of the regular interior photography tips apply first.

Interior Photography Tips

commercial real estate photography

 photo byalvarez via iStock

To begin with, commercial real estate photography is more like residential real estate photography than it is different. So our photography tips for commercial properties begin with general ideas of what works as regular interior photography tips.

First tip involves gear choices. A high-quality camera, usually either Full Frame format or APS-C format, is definitely preferred. Beginning with the highest quality RAW files is paramount to delivering outstanding images to the client.

Next gear tip is to use a high quality ultra wide-angle lens, which could also be a zoom lens. Many commercial real estate photographers actually prefer a zoom lens to prime ultra wide angle because of the workflow advantages.

Instead of moving around to get the best field of view from a given position, zooming in or out a little bit speeds things up. If you do choose an ultra wide zoom lens, it will have to be very high quality.

Third gear choice tip is to use a heavy duty tripod and a spirit level. The heavy duty tripod will really be needed once you start making spherical panoramas, but it is advantageous in general for all real estate photography. The spirit level is used to ensure straight lines don’t get all squirrely with ultra wide lenses.

Bracket and Merge HDR

photography tips for commercial properties

 photo byExplora_2005 via iStock

One of the best tips for how to photograph office spaces is the same fantastic tool and technique we’ve been using for real estate photography, bracket and merge HDR photography. HDR, high dynamic range, photography is a tool and technique used to create usable images without resorting to placing a lighting rig in every room. 

In HDR bracket and merge, we meter for a mid range starting point exposure value of a neutral color wall with an average light value falling on it. A well lit interior wall is a good place to meter. If there is no neutral color large wall space in average light conditions, having an 18 percent gray card can be used as a metering point.

From that average value exposure reading, we set our camera to also capture exposures above and below that value. For most commercial real estate photography, that will usually be a bracketed set of 5, 7, or 9 exposures, separated by 1 or 2 stops. 

Here is a nice tutorial on the subject, and this YouTube video also explains some of the processing options used with bracket and merge HDR photography. 

Most of the prosumer and high level cameras have AEB, auto exposure bracketing, modes readily available, often with a specific control button and dial input. Many entry level and enthusiast level cameras will also have this mode, though it may be in a deep menu and possibly not allow as many options for number of exposures and stops of difference. 

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Spherical Panoramas

how to photograph businesses

 photo byExperienceInteriors via iStock

Go to the website for almost any 3 star and higher hotel, chain or single hotel, and you will see what is known as a virtual tour. 

In addition to the standard wide angle views of the rooms, grounds, and amenities, there will also be embedded interactive panoramic images that allow to see areas in full 360 degree views. They are interactive in that visitors to the website can drag the image view around and move from area to area.

It’s like Google Street View that then takes you inside the business. It’s one of the largest and fastest growing aspects of commercial real estate photography and is being used by businesses to promote themselves as well as in listings for selling these commercial properties.

If you have the gear and programs to make HDR wide angle images for real estate, you’re already mostly ready to start creating these panoramas. The three extra things you will want are an ultra wide lens, preferably a fisheye, a nodal point mount, and stitching software.

A 180 degree fisheye lens makes the job of creating panoramas simple, since you won’t have to stitch together as many rotations in order to make a full 360 degrees. The Sigma 8mm fisheye will allow you to do in only 4 rotations with both APS-C and Full Frame format cameras.

What is a rotation in this context? A rotation is the point of view needed to be able to stitch to another point of view. You will be shooting all around, 360 degrees. A 180 degree fisheye lens lets you stitch together from only 4 rotations, 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees of a circle. With lenses other than fisheyes, you may be required to have 6 or 8 rotations, plus a straight up shot, in order to stitch together a 360 degree view properly.

These rotations should revolve around the nodal point of the lens for best results, which is accomplished by the nodal point mount. The NN6 by Fanotech is a superb example of a panoramic mount that has preset positioning and repeatable click stops for rotation steps though there are many excellent options by various manufacturers available. 

Stitching software is essential for creating any panoramic image, especially so for interactive spherical panorama. The basic software tools are often in full featured post processing suites, such as Adobe Photoshop. 

In order to make the interactive part and also to simplify the workflow of creating the panorama from all the files, specialty software is used, PTGui is the industry standard, but it requires a lot of user input. Other software is available that has certain presets and features to make the stitching and creation semi-automatic. 

There are also many web based services that you can subscribe to that will do it all for you, some with a lot of user input, others without. A few of these websites and programs have their own nodal hardware that they recommend using.

The end result of all of this extra work for how to photograph office spaces is an amazingly intuitive and simple interface for clients and viewers to see the business space in a full 360 degree view.

With People or No People?

interior photography tips

 photo bydavit85 via iStock

A huge variable in considering how to photograph office spaces, department stores, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, factory floors, and all sorts of commercial properties is whether to include people in the images or not.

When photographing residential real estate or empty commercial spaces, the obvious answer is to not have any people in the shots. 

Bit when offering promotional types of commercial real estate photography, showing the business in operation will sometimes result in showing people. In fact, we can even script out a plan and direct the people to be doing something in a pose for the images. 

Whenever we try to include people in the images, though, it’s a good practice to have them remain motionless throughout the entire HDR or panoramic shoot. Otherwise they'll be ghosted or streaked. 

When shooting a busy business, it’s inevitable that there will be subject movement, so many times the procedure is to digitally obscure them. A simple blur command of subjects that are ghosting is standard in most HDR and panoramic software. 

A ghosting subject is any person or object that is not in the same place for each exposure, causing them to appear and a ghost that can be seen through. You can actually take advantage of this phenomenon and plan it out so you can digitally remove ghosted people from the view altogether, which is great for making images of busy places without a lot of people showing in the images.

Unless you are ghosting out people or digitally obscuring them somehow, it is standard practice to have a model release for each recognizable person in the field of view so that the images can be legally used commercially.

Charge Accordingly

commercial real estate photographer

 photo byExplora_2005 via iStock

Commercial real estate photography is also different from regular residential in that you can, and should actually, charge more for all of the extra services and features in your package. 

A full virtual tour with interactive spherical panoramas requires skill, talent, and specialty equipment and processes, so please ensure your business viability by getting paid enough for the fine work you do.

And that is a general overview of how to photograph offices and businesses with commercial real estate photography. 

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Real Estate Photography Tips: How to Photograph Vacant Properties

interior real estate photography

photo bysturti via iStock

Interior real estate photography for either a residence or a commercial property can be separated into two common situations, empty rooms vs furnished or staged rooms. 

Knowing how to photograph vacant properties uses mostly the same skills as photographing a furnished place, but the techniques may change up a bit in order to optimize the images for viewing by potential buyers or renters.

What is Different?

how to photograph an empty house

photo byEricVega via iStock

How to photograph an empty house is different from shooting staged or otherwise furnished spaces is different in that the large expanses of sameness can be misleading to the viewer’s perception of the property.

What this means for our photographic techniques is that we must keep straight lines as undistorted as possible and also maintain an evenness of illumination. Some simple composition tips will also be involved.

Watch Those Lines

How to Photograph Vacant Properties

photo bypiovesempre via iStock

While keeping straight lines from having distortion is important to all real estate photography, commercial, residential, interior, and exterior, when there is nothing else in the view to break up lines or large spaces it is critical.  

Curved lines in a room image scream out “wide-angle lens!” so loud that a potential realty client may be put off by what they could view as an attempt to deceive about the actual size of the spaces involved. So, even though we likely are indeed using a wide-angle lens, maybe even an ultra-wide-angle, our imaging should show as close to the reality of the space as possible.

So, how does one photograph an empty space with a wide-angle lens and not seem like we’re ‘stretching’ the truth? One of the more important real estate photography tips for how to photograph vacant properties is to use a tripod and a spirit level.

When the camera is level and even, any straight lines in the image will be true, provided your lens is a modern, well-corrected example of a wide or ultra-wide-angle lens. The lines will still recede, but it won’t look unnatural. We want to use our wide lenses because they show more in one image than normal lenses, plus these lenses allow us to use an important compositional tip outlined below.

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Even Illumination

real estate photography tips 1

photo byirina88w via iStock

When a room is furnished, we expect to see some variations of lighting because we know that objects cast shadows or obscure what is directly behind them. How to photograph vacant properties, though, requires us to be well aware of any lighting variations within the scene’s view that will be much more pronounced in the pictures of an empty room.

In addition to the ceiling area which we’re always concerned about looking natural, in an empty house or office, we have large areas of blank wall space and floor area. So, we use one of our standard real estate photography tips to even things out, exposure-wise, bracket and merge HDR photography.

Seeing things with the naked eye, our brain instantly and automatically compensates for both subtle and great variations in brightness levels and color temperature. As we scan the room, up and down, side to side, we may notice that brightness levels or colors change, but it all blends seamlessly together. 

In our photographs, we have to work in order to capture the view so that it looks natural. It’s not hard work, but it does involve careful exposure calculation and special processing to blend the multiple images in the bracket and merge technique in order to achieve an appealing and natural appearance. 

Here is a YouTube video that explains some of the details and the variables involved in this very useful method. In addition to exterior, residential, and commercial real estate photography, our product photography, landscape photography, and other creative photography can benefit from this method. 

Composition Tips

Real Estate Photography Tips 3

photo bygremlin via iStock

How to photograph vacant properties involves another technique in common with photographing staged or furnished real estate properties. It’s a composition technique that I call the 3 Wall Method. Others may label it differently, but the idea permeates interior real estate photography.

What it is and how it works is that we should try to show parts of three walls in our interior rooms and spaces. This is true in a small residential home and in a large factory or an office complex.  

Here’s how it’s done: go to one wall of the room or space, set up with your back against that wall, camera facing out. Being closer to one corner or the other often looks better than being centered along that backside wall, but anywhere along that wall works.

With our wide-angle lens mounted and our camera rig on a tripod, we level out the camera and adjust our view to include at least part of 3 walls. One side wall may dominate the image over the other side, that’s okay. 

We don’t want to shoot out from the corner and try to get all 4 walls in the image, unless that’s a shot that’s specified, because the apparent perspective distortion of the lens required for capturing that much may overwhelm the view, making it appear unnatural. But 3 walls show off the spaces involved very well.

As with all of the rules of composition and exposure, this is more like a guideline than a strict command line. If the space has a shape that involves more or less than 4 walls in rectangle or square, then adapt the technique as needed.

Virtual Staging

real estate photography tips 2

photo byAndreyPopov via iStock

Since we’re firmly entrenched in the world of digital photography, we can also take advantage of another neat technology that has recently become more cost-friendly than when it first came on the scene, virtual staging.

Virtual staging is adding in digital versions of furniture, wall art, and other furnishings, without them actually being at the property itself. You may want to use a version of the software yourself or you can send your images to an online service to have it done for you. 

The pricing models are surprisingly budget-friendly either way, but you want to add the costs to your billed charges to make it worth your while and to differentiate the services to your real estate photography clients.

Before attempting to use virtual staging, having your techniques perfected for how to photograph vacant properties with even illumination, good color balance, and undistorted lines will allow for more realism in the finished images with virtual staging added.

Using the three steps listed above for how to photograph vacant properties will get you going in the right direction. You may wish to add virtual staging to your services if you want to give your clients more options.  

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Real Estate Photography: Who Owns the Copyright? (and 3 Other Important Questions)

Real Estate Photography Who Owns the Copyright

photo byPC Photography via iStock

As a professional charging for real estate photography used by realtors, brokers, and Multiple Listing Services (MLS), a very important thing to consider is who, in fact, owns the real estate photography copyright.

Real estate photography is a booming business. Few genres of photography have as much going on as real estate photography. It is a year-round business for many photographers. Adding in commercial real estate photography and drone photography creates more work opportunities but also more questions about legal issues. 

Four questions I see most often are who owns the copyright for these images, who is responsible for insurance liability, how much can we “Photoshop” the images, and what rules govern drone use.

Real Estate Photography Usage Rights

real estate photography

photo byundefined undefined via iStock

When you look at virtually any image posted on an MLS listing, you’ll likely see a watermark on the pics or a disclaimer somewhere in the listing with a copyright statement from that MLS. At first glance, this would make many people think that the MLS owns the copyright, but that isn’t necessarily so. 

What this often means is that the MLS posting is protected for that MLS, other realty firms can’t come in and “borrow” those images. However, without a real estate photography licensing agreement between the photographer and either the MLS or realty firm, the photographer automatically holds the copyright for the images they produce.

It is pretty standard, though, that specific real estate photography usage rights are assigned or transferred in the contract governing the relationship among all the parties. There are online resources that can be used for finding proper contract language if the photographer writes up the contract. 

Most real estate firms and any large MLS will probably have their own contracts for photographers. These contracts often state that the real estate firm or the MLS will have certain rights assigned to them from the photographer. 

It pays to be familiar with contract law and wording in general, plus there are many forums where you could ask contract questions, either for free or for a small fee. You might want to double-check your current real estate photography licensing agreement, see what the different assignments of real estate photography usage rights are in your case.

Insurance Responsibilities

real estate photography copyright

photo byxp3rt5 via iStock

When you’re shooting on a property and someone trips over your tripod, breaking their wrist, your camera, and the ornately carved cabinet door they fell on (worst-case scenario), you will be so glad you have the proper insurance coverage!

Remember, when your camera is used for profit, homeowners, renters, or auto insurance do not cover theft, damages, and other liabilities. You may only work one day out of each month, a paid hobby more or less, but in the eyes of the law and insurance regulations, that’s a different relationship than if you were simply some non-compensated person with a camera.

Even as a serious amateur photographer, it is a good idea to have specific coverage for your gear and yourself. It really doesn’t cost much at all. And when those worst-case scenarios actually happen, you have legal resources and considerations that should work in everyone’s best interests.

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Realistic Representation of the Property

real estate photography usage rights

photo byirina88w via iStock

As photographers, we are artists and craftsmen. The images we create can be crafted, captured, processed,  and produced as we see fit according to our artistic vision.

In real estate photography, our images should show a realistic view of the property. Within that reality, we still have a lot of options. One of our best tools for real estate photography is bracket and merge HDR photography. 

The primary purpose of bracket and merge HDR for real estate is to take care of dynamic range issues in the exposure calculations, not to make each image an “interpretation” of what’s really there. See more about how it’s done in this YouTube video if you’re not using this method yet.

The bottom line is, the bracket and merge method for real estate photography is not altering reality, it’s simply fixing exposure, contrast, and dynamic range issues. Change up too much in an image for a real estate listing and it could end up being seen as misleading. We don’t want that.

Drone Regulations

real estate photography licensing agreement

photo byjhorrocks via iStock

As with insurance considerations, once you use a drone for business, it doesn’t matter what size the drone is, it’s now governed by FAA regulations for commercial use.  

This is one of those questions that causes all sorts of confusion or worry for newcomers to drone photography. When you buy a drone, there are regulations concerning private use versus for-profit use. For-profit covers any form of compensation, so be on the safe side and obtain proper clearances and registration.

Besides running into trouble with the FAA and other government agencies, improper licensing and registration can also jeopardize your insurance coverage for using your drone in your real estate photography. 

It’s easy to get everything done right, it just takes some study and testing, and a few fees. Drones are an awesome tool for real estate photography, make sure you can use yours with no worries or liabilities. 

Within these 4 questions about the legal considerations of real estate photography, you may find answers for many of your other business questions. Enjoy your job, be well covered, do things properly, and reap the benefits.

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Selling Your Home? Here's Some Tips for Taking Better Real Estate Photos

Selling Your Home Heres Some Tips for Taking Better Real Estate Photos

photo byLifestyleVisuals via iStock

Given the fact that the housing market is still going absolutely haywire, I’ve seen plenty of homes get sold without even making their presence known online. 

But, if you really want to start a bidding war for your property, the best way to get it in front of the greatest number of people is still through the MLS, Zillow, Trulia, and other websites like them. 

This means that you need tips for taking better real estate photos. While you may assume that the photos you’ve been taking of your home are good enough, the truth is that phenomenal photos of your home is the difference between selling it for asking price and selling it for $30,000 over. 

Plus, there are so many actionable tips for taking better real estate photos that are simple, so you really don’t have any excuse.

Here are some tips for taking better real estate photos that you can implement before, during, and after your photoshoot to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward. 

Before the Shoot: Buy a Real Camera

tips for taking better real estate photos

photo byEXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER via iStock

One of the simplest tips for taking better real estate photos is to actually have the right equipment; this includes a real DSLR or mirrorless camera and a tripod.

You definitely don’t need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on a camera to take your real estate photos, but you shouldn’t be taking these photos on your phone. 

If you do take your photos on your phone, they won’t be the quality that you’re looking for and it will make them far more difficult to edit after you’re done with the shoot. This means you’ll either need to pay someone more to edit them for you or you’re going to be wasting a lot of time doing it yourself. 

Just about any customer service representative can point you in the direction of a good DSLR or mirrorless camera that you can purchase for a few hundred dollars for some quick real estate photos.  

Likewise, you’ll want to buy a tripod that you can use with this camera to ensure all of your shots are taken from the exact same height. 

If you ignore all of the other real estate photography tips on this list, don’t ignore this one.

Before the Shoot: Stage Your House (or Hire Someone To)

real estate photography tips

photo byJodi Jacobson via iStock

Pretty much no interior real estate photography tips can save you from the perils of a house that isn’t ready to be photographed.  

This means that it’s your job to prep your house before taking photos of it. 

You’ll need to obviously deep clean the space. Even the parts that you don’t think will show up in photos, like the baseboards and windows. 

You’ll also need to get rid of any politically charged or religious symbols. Take flags down and crosses off the walls. If your potential buyers don’t subscribe to your religion or political ideals, you will automatically turn them off from the property and they may not even realize it.

Make sure that your yard is neat and tidy, with bushes trimmed back and the grass mowed. 

Essentially, you want your house to look like nobody has ever lived in it before. While there are definitely more innovative tips for taking better real estate photos out there, sometimes the simplest tips are the ones that work the best and since this list is filled with beginner real estate photography tips, I don’t want to overwhelm you with tips that you won’t actually follow through on. 

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During the Shoot: Strictly Use Natural Lighting

beginner real estate photography tips

photo byCentralITAlliance via iStock

Some of these tips for taking better real estate photos are a little contentious. This is one of them. Some photographers insist that you can use artificial lighting in certain parts of your house. But, that artificial lighting has to be so super specific that it is way easier to recommend you don’t use it at all.  

Think about it. If most of your photos are done with natural lighting, but then your bathroom is done with artificial lighting and your kitchen is done with artificial lighting of a different color, you are going to have to do a whole lot of color correcting in your editing. 

It is far simpler to just wait until a bright, sunshiny day to take your photos.

Alternatively, you can use the bracket and merge technique which involves taking a series of photos (usually three) at different exposure values and merging them together into a single composite image.

The advantage of using this technique is that it avoids rooms having really dark shadows with no details and really bright highlights in which there are no details either. Usually, in a room with a window you either have to expose for the window’s brightness or expose for the darkness of the room, which can lead to the detail-free highlights or shadows I just mentioned.

But with bracketing and merging, you get around that problem and can easily create beautiful photos of your home.

During the Shoot: Don’t Be Afraid to Take Hundreds of Photos

If I was writing this article for professional photographers, this definitely wouldn’t be one of my tips for taking better real estate photos, since professional photographers know how to correctly set up their shots.  

But, you don’t. You are brand new to photography and you haven’t had the option to mess around with angles or composition yet. Since you just bought a shiny new DSLR camera, use it! Use it to your heart’s content. Do not be afraid to take hundreds of photos from all different directions because with point and shoot, you’re bound to get something that looks good. 

After the Shoot: Edit the Photos (or Hire Someone To)

ready to sell your home yourself

photo byvgajic via iStock

Unfortunately, no matter how many tips for taking better real estate photos I give you, the photos still need to be edited after the shoot. You can either try and DIY it with YouTube videos or hire out. 

Depending upon your level of comfort with photography, it may be far easier for you to hire someone to edit your photos after the shoot. Keep in mind that you can probably find a photography editor for pretty cheap. 

After the Shoot: Focus on the Listing

give buyers a great first impression

photo byjsmith via iStock

Now that you have the incredible real estate photos, you have to make sure to pair them with an incredible real estate listing. 

While the photos are likely more important than the story you tell about the home, there are still plenty of people who are going to read your entire listing front to back and you don’t want to disappoint them. Tell a great story about the type of life they could lead in your house. 

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Simple Techniques to Improve Interior Photos

Simple Techniques to Improve Interior Photos

 photo byhikesterson via iStock

Now that you’re making clients happy with your high-quality real estate photography, let’s look at some more real estate photography tips and a few simple techniques to improve interior photos of the properties you’re shooting.

Clean Up First

real estate photography tips

 photo byPeter_visual via iStock

Real estate is one of the highest priced big ticket items anyone will sell or buy in their lives, but I am constantly amazed by how little effort some sellers put into preparing their property to look as good as it can. 

A lot of effort is often put into home improvements such as painting, repairs, and home improvement. So it should be an easy idea to do some simple cleaning and prepping of the property before the photographer comes. 

Sadly, many people seem to think that any imperfection can be “photoshopped” to look amazing. A lot of photographers sometimes also fall into this mindset. While some post processing is a fact of life for digital photographers, getting the initial capture as correct as possible and then enhancing it will generally result in better images than trying to “Fix it in post” for a suboptimal image.

real estate photography tips 2

 photo byYinYang via iStock

Part of my learning curve for how to photograph interiors for real estate was in speaking up well ahead of time to the realtors or the homeowners about the importance of cleaning up the house and yard. Dusting ceiling fans, vacuuming carpets, cleaning windows and mirrors, and putting away clutter for the inside. Mowing and edging the lawn, weeding the flower bed, sweeping up debris, and stowing the garbage cans out of sight for the outside. 

Primarily, this responsibility lies with the homeowners and real estate professionals, but as photographers, we should schedule enough time to walk the property ahead of the shoot and pitch in to help in a minor way to make sure the photos have the right impact. 

I’m not going to clean the kitchen from the breakfast mess or use a grass blower on the driveway, but I can straighten up misaligned throw pillows on a couch and put the toilet seat lid down.

Clean the Sensor

interior real estate photography techniques

 photo byStefan Tomic via iStock

Since we’re going to be stressing to clients the importance of cleaning up before the shoot, one of the most important of the simple techniques to improve interior photos as a photographer is to ensure the cleanliness of our camera sensor and our lenses and filters.

Dirty lenses or filters can lower the contrast level of an image and also cause optical problems such as lens flare and a decrease in sharpness. A dirty camera sensor can render all the images from a session completely unusable.

This is a step we should take care of well before arriving on property. In fact, I always check my cameras and lenses when I get back from a job as well as all of the cleaning and prep work I do before leaving for the job.

interior real estate photography techniques 2

 photo byDaria Kulkova via iStock

A microfiber cloth works well for cleaning lenses and filters as part of our prep work and after the shoot routine. We can also keep one on us as we’re in the field shooting in order to handle any unexpected dirt and smudging that might happen in the heat of the action.

I don’t recommend trying to clean a sensor in the field except in the most dire of emergencies. This is a job that either should be done by your trusted technicians at your favorite local camera store or by yourself in a very clean environment at home or at the studio/office. 

It only needs to be done every now and then, but learning how to check for a dirty sensor by shooting a white poster board is good to do periodically. As a rule of thumb, if you can’t remember the last time you checked, take a moment to do it right away.

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Bracket and Merge Exposure Technique

how to shoot a house with bright windows 1

 photo by Peter_visual via iStock

Among the most useful of the interior real estate photography techniques I’ve learned and am constantly showing to other real estate photographers is the bracket and merge technique of HDR or high dynamic range photography. 

I know some may chuckle a little since I tend to preach a lot about not relying on post processing for saving substandard image files. This technique is different in that it’s not fixing a poorly crafted image file but rather enhancing several files by blending them together in order to handle the problems of how to shoot a house with bright windows and dark corners or how to get an exterior in bright sunlight to show detail in the shadows of the front porch.

As far as knowing simple techniques to improve interior photos, capture good detail in the exterior views, and craft a beauty shot from a twilight image, this post processing technique is one of the most fantastic capabilities of shooting these real estate images with digital cameras. Here is a helpful YouTube video about the process.

In this case, we’re not using post processing as a crutch for trying to save images we should have done a better job with, but rather using to full the outstanding capabilities of modern digital photography technology. 

Be “Level” Headed

how to shoot a house with bright windows 2

 photo bypiovesempre via iStock

The ultra wide angle lenses we use for a large part of our real estate photography can show a distorted view of the scene, especially within straight lines, if they are not used properly. Real estate photography has a lot of straight lines, but we also really need these wide angles of view. 

Among the least complicated of the simple techniques to improve interior photos is to use a tripod and a small spirit level to capture the least distorted view possible.

how to photograph interiors for real estate

 photo byKatarzynaBialasiewicz via iStock

We’re already on a tripod if we're using the bracket and merge technique for taming the dynamic range issues inside most homes, so adding this one small step into our shooting workflow will save time in our processing workflow.  

And it results in a better image capture in the first place, so we can spend our time enhancing our great images into superior ones instead of fixing less than perfect shots. Using these real estate photography tips and simple techniques to improve interior photos will help us deliver the highest quality end results to our valued clients.

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The Importance of Learning New Skills as a Photographer

The Importance of Learning New Skills as a Photographer

Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.”  

That’s a quote from one of the most successful entrepreneurs in modern history, Henry Ford. What it means is that you can always learn something new. This is especially true in photography.

Digital photography gives photographers many ways to keep on learning new things. Some new things will involve learning a new process or technique, some are centered on learning how to use new equipment, while others require us to adjust to new trends and needs in the marketplace.

Table of Contents

Learning New Techniques

new photography skills 1

Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash

As a digital photographer, you have seen new techniques come around and go around. Photography continues to change and evolve. We can either sit still or keep up.

Not every technique is going to be worth learning to you. Let’s face it, we don’t need to know everything. Besides, if we tried to do everything in photography, we wouldn’t have any time left for our basics.

Therefore, you should do some vetting when considering what to put your valuable time and effort towards.  

HDR is Now a Basic Technique

new photography skills 2

Photo by Federico Beccari on Unsplash

Bold statement. I should point out that I’m not speaking of that strange, unnatural special effect that shows up in photo magazines. Yes, that is one of the results available with HDR, but it’s actually on the extreme end of the spectrum for this technique.

Many digital photographers are engaging in HDR photography in a more subtle way. A way I employ it is simply to shoot in RAW, and use the depth of exposure in the image files to bring out shadow and highlight detail.

HDR photography is a widely used technique for real estate and product photography. It is one of the essential techniques in real estate photography for twilight images. 

It’s also an essential tool for interior real estate photos.

Think about it…

new photography skills 3

 photo byalvarez via iStock

By shooting HDR, you can overcome the wide dynamic range in interior spaces (the very bright windows and the much darker shadows throughout the room, for example) and create images like the one shown above, which is well-exposed throughout.

This tutorial walks you through a simple HDR technique for real estate interiors that will get you much-improved shots in less time. Who doesn’t want that?!

Spherical Panoramas and Virtual Tours

One of the other new techniques made possible by advances in digital photography is creating panoramas and posting interactive tours online. This technique has revolutionized the online brochures of hotels, restaurants, and other businesses.  

Interactive photo tours of real estate for sale is now an expected basic sales tool for listing properties. Fisheye lenses, nodal mounts, GUI and other stitching programs, all have to be mastered for the best results. But those results are an amazing interactive sales tool for realtors besides being a lot of fun in general. 

Drones and Action Cams

how to learn photography 1

Photo by david henrichs on Unsplash

This falls under the categories of learning new equipment and learning new techniques together. We’ll concentrate on the new equipment aspect of drones.

Using a drone and any camera mounted to it requires learning a new set of skills. In addition to the basics of good photography, you also need to learn how to pilot the drone. Some drones have cameras built in, others have mounts for action cams or larger cameras.  

Drones have become a great tool for real estate photographers and for vloggers. A real estate photographer can now show prospective clients a special view of the property. Previously, this was only available to photographers able to finagle a flight from a small craft pilot or be willing to balance their expensive equipment on top of a long pole. 

There are regulations involved concerning drone use. But, that’s part of the learning curve, too. Getting the proper license requires some study and effort, but it’s worth it in order to benefit from this advance in technology. 

Multiple Remote Flash Units

how to learn photography 2

Photo by Tom Pumford on Unsplash

Some of us remember those days (not too long ago) when balancing the exposure settings for multiple flash units or strobes required a degree in advanced mathematics. Well, that’s what it felt like anyways. 

And cords were everywhere. Cords for each individual strobe head, cords to connect the camera to the strobe for synchronizing with the shutter release, a cable of some type to release the camera, and power cords, too. 

Current technology allows for wireless camera release, wireless synchronization, and wireless control of exposure and flash intensity. Much of it is automated to a degree. However, now you have to learn how to use all the features and what controls are vital to master. 

Yes, it’s much easier than before, but it still requires learning a new set of skills. The advantage is clearly seen in the end results for wedding photographers, fashion photographers and others. 

New Trends in Real Estate Photography

how to learn photography 3

Photo by Vita Vilcina on Unsplash

Digital photography was  incorporated into realtor tools pretty much as soon as it was developed. Add in the firmly entrenched  modern phenomena of the world wide web, internet, and social media platforms, and you have the perfect sales tool for these major investments.  

In order to be a part, a paid part, of these new trends in real estate photography, some of us would benefit from guided training by established experts.  

You could try to learn it all by trial and error and reading everything you can find, but a training course taught by credentialed professionals, such as the folks at Real Estate Photographer Pro is a smart investment.

Because this course is a comprehensive look at all things real estate, even if you have zero experience as a real estate photographer, you can come away from the course confident in your skills.

And that’s speaking of skills related to taking high-quality photos and running a business.

Because the course was developed by professional real estate photographers, you get real-world tips on how to improve your images, how to market your business, how to communicate with clients and so forth. It truly is a one-stop-shop for real estate photography tips. 

Plus, you get lifetime access to the course and even direct access to the course’s instructor and the school’s founder, Eli Jones.

What better way to learn new skills as a photographer than from learning from the pros, right?!

Learn More:

New Trends in Wedding Photography 

real estate photography tips

Photo by Gianni Scognamiglio on Unsplash 

As with real estate, weddings are a market with people willing to pay fair prices for a professional with outstanding skills. Also similar to real estate photography, wedding photography trends are taking full advantage of the new techniques and technologies.

There are online courses you can enroll in to increase your skill set here, too. Another great alternative is to hire on with an established wedding photographer as a second shooter or assistant. 

Weddings can be one of the most stressful types of event photography. People expect beauty, perfection, and creativity. Plus, if you mess up, there is no reshoot! For those that love the challenge of superb wedding photography, many will tell you that learning as an assistant or second shooter was one of the keys to their current success.

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

We end with another quote from a famous person, this time Confucius. How it applies to photography is that we are involved in a craft that is also an art. An artform that is also a marketable craft. 

In both arts and crafts, you could sit back and rest on your laurels. However, choosing to learn new skills, to expand your art and craft, to engage in new business, is a whole lot more fun!

Few of us are counted as the pioneers of new techniques, equipment use, or market trends, but we can all make sure to take full advantage of these new things. All it takes is a little effort and maybe some education, too.

 



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The Importance of Natural Light in Real Estate Photography

The Importance of Natural Light in Real Estate Photography

 photo byXacto via iStock

Natural light in real estate photography is a preferred method for many realtors and real estate photographers because the very nature of real estate photography is to depict a natural, though optimal, view of the property.

Adding artificial lighting for real estate photography is also acceptable, but using HDR in real estate photography actually ends up easier to do in my opinion, and it provides some truly amazing views.

Why Use Natural Light?

natural light in real estate photography

 photo byPC Photography via iStock

Natural light in real estate photography is surprisingly simple to use, even with adding in the bracket and merge HDR technique for shooting and processing.  

I include the bracket and merge HDR method in my real estate photography tips because I prefer its final results and also because more and more real estate agents and firms are expecting it for their property listings.

Natural lighting, especially with HDR, also helps control shadow and highlight detail that we might be able to capture by balancing artificial lighting for real estate photography. 

Real estate images, both interior and exterior, are filled with areas of interest which often include bright and dark areas in the same field of view. Kitchen cabinets and outdoor porches are two examples which come readily to mind.

Simplify Workflow

lighting for real estate photography

 photo byanyaberkut via iStock

I’ve found that even with detailed lighting configurations, it’s difficult to adequately light the shadowed areas without causing some conflicts with those shadows and the brighter areas of the room. Sometimes it’s actually very impractical to attempt to light up certain under cabinet areas or dark corners without having it look somewhat unnatural. 

So, if you have found a method and equipment that works for you with multiple artificial lights, go for it. In fact, we could apply movie making lighting techniques to our real estate photography and achieve phenomenal results, but the time and the expensive equipment involved tends to make me view that as unnecessary overkill. I’d rather use the bracket and merge HDR method.  

The workflow ease is a primary concern for real estate photography. We are usually under some time constraints, too, which makes dragging and resetting lights in various rooms more work than is really necessary since we have other options.

Learn More:

Bracket and Merge HDR

artificial lighting for real estate photography

 photo byTimAbramowitz via iStock

How does the bracket and merge HDR method work? 

In digital photography, we have some amazing options open for us based on the electronic nature of the image files. In standard film photography, we need to capture as much good exposure detail as possible in our single exposure and then adjust the processing or the printing in such a way as to maximize the detail in both extremes, shadow detail and highlight detail.

Which we did for years as film photographers, it was the only option for us for decades. Digital imaging is different in that we can manipulate the files, the electronic information, in ways not even considered possible with film, chemicals, and paper. 

The concern is what is known as dynamic range, the total range of brightness levels that can be reproduced in a final scene based on the brightness levels in the scene being imaged. Any sensor, or film for that matter, can only record a certain range of light levels.

When we calculate a balanced exposure, we tend to “let go” areas in deep shadow or bright highlights, since we are attempting the best balance of all the light levels within the scene itself.

We can expose to maximize detail in the shadow areas, but then anything in the highlight areas will “blow out,” or be unreadable. Likewise with the other way, if we optimize for capturing detail in the highlights, the shadow detail will “bunch up” and be unreadable. 

It’s All About the Processing

hdr in real estate photography

 photo byDragonImages via iStock

The shooting method for capturing natural light in real estate photography is to meter for what we would normally try to capture, a balanced exposure. Then we bracket by taking more shots, some overexposed from that balanced exposure calculation, others underexposed from the base exposure.

In many cases, taking 3, 5, or 7 exposures, varied by plus and minus 1 or 2 stops, will give the HDR program enough digital information to work with. A standard that I’ve used for years is 5 exposures, separated by 2 stops each. So the series of raw images for each finished photo would be +4, +2, 0, -2, -4. This gives us a range of 9 full f-stops to help balance the natural light exposures.

Here is an easy to follow YouTube tutorial that helps explain the shooting and processing methods used for the bracket and merge HDR technique.

Using most of the bracket and merge HDR post processing programs, we then access the various controls, usually sliders, to adjust how much weight we give the various considerations of what we’re attempting to accomplish. 

Some HDR photography can deliver a very unnatural look, which is great for our art images, especially with landscape photography. For capturing natural light in real estate photography, we will most often choose minimal processing, instead striving to blend the exposures for a natural, very balanced look.

Some programs will have a feature available known as batch processing, which speeds up and simplifies even more, as it adjusts for multiple final images at once. As a helpful tip, if you do opt for batch processing, have different batches for interior, exterior, and twilight images.

Other Tips

real estate photography tips

 photo byPC Photography via iStock

There are many other real estate photography tips for maximizing your results. Some rooms will benefit from having the house light turned on and the window shades or blinds open, others may look better with just window light. Built-in cabinet lighting often adds just the right amount of extra illumination for those detailed kitchen views.

You’ll also want to position the camera for the best views. The 3 wall technique works fine for most rooms. You place the camera in a spot to have parts of 3 walls in the view, though one wall can be a minor or partial view depending on the specifics of the place. Including windows in one of the major walls is often beneficial. 

Since we’re capturing multiple exposures of each scene meant for a final image, using a good tripod is an essential part of our real estate photography workflow. Wide angle lenses, bubble levels, and recording in RAW file format rounds out our tips for capturing natural light in real estate photography. 

Learn More:

 



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The Importance of Quality Real Estate Photos

the importance of quality real estate photos

Photo by jhorrocks via iStock

I remember a time when marketing for real estate was little more than newspaper ads and flyers in a brochure box in front of the home. But things have certainly changed in the last 20 years.

The rise of the internet also gave rise to the critical importance of quality real estate photos. Rather than someone's first impression of a home being the first time they saw the home in person, the internet made it possible for us to see homes - inside and out - from anywhere in the world.

Once COVID-19 gripped the world, the importance of good real estate photos once again increased. Now more than ever, homes are being vetted on the internet and purchased, in some cases, without the buyer stepping foot on the property.

And therein is the importance of quality real estate photos - they can literally make the difference between a property going under contract or loitering for sale online for months, if not longer.

Quality Real Estate Photos Give Buyers a Complete Picture

quality real estate photos

Photo by hikesterson via iStock

Good real estate photos aren't just images that are well-exposed and composed. While those are critical features, online images of real estate must also work together to offer potential buyers a complete picture of the property.

In today's world, home buyers need to see the property top to bottom, inside and out.

Your real estate images should take them on this tour - through each bedroom and bathroom, through the common living spaces, into the basement, inside the garage, and around the grounds.

real estate photography

Photo by hikesterson via iStock

To help usher potential buyers through these spaces, the images need to be organized in a fashion that mimics how they would explore the property in person.

The first listing picture (more on that in a moment) should be a medium to wide shot that shows the front of the property. Many real estate photographers feel that it is critical that this image shows the front door, as that is the anchor of the home and will immediately grab the viewer's attention.

The next image should be the entry of the home - perhaps the exterior entry and then the interior entry if both are present. Along with the image of the front of the home, these photos help set the stage for further explorations of the interior spaces.

real estate photography tips

Photo by hikesterson via iStock

From there, the images should take the buyer on a tour of the common spaces - the living room, dining space, kitchen, and any other common spaces on the main floor.

Speaking of the main floor, if there are bedrooms and baths on the main floor, those should be explored next, followed by bedrooms, baths, and other spaces on any upper levels.

Images of the home's basement (if there is one) should be the final set of interior images before adding images of the exterior of the property to close the photo tour.

Learn More:

The Primary Image is the Most Important

the primary image is the most important

Photo by hikesterson via iStock

The saying that "you can't judge a book by its cover" is sage advice. Yet, when many people shop for a home, that's exactly what they do.

All of the images of a property should be of high quality, but it is especially important for the primary image of the front of the property to be eye-catching.

To use another cliche saying, you only get one chance at a good first impression. The primary image is that one chance.

Granted, there are times when properties just aren't in very good shape or your ability to get a well-composed shot of the front of the property is hindered by other buildings, landscaping, and so forth. But aside from these issues, there is no excuse why the primary image of a property isn't the epitome of an excellent photograph.

real estate photography techniques

Photo by hikesterson via iStock

There are obviously many factors that are at play here...

The image needs to be well-exposed with details in the highlights and shadows. The image also needs to be framed well with enough foreground and background to provide context to the property but not so much that the home feels small in the frame. Likewise, vertical lines should be just that, and horizontal lines should be perfectly level.

The property should also be presentable. Before you step foot on the property to take photos, the exterior and interior of the home should be in show-worthy condition. It's difficult - if not impossible - for you to create positive interest in a home if it isn't in a picture-worthy state.

Use Modern Processing Techniques to Your Advantage

process real estate images

Photo by andresr via iStock

This is the Golden Age of photography if you ask me. We have more - and better - tools today for processing images that we ever have before. And that's a good thing for your real estate images.

Understanding the power of programs like Lightroom and Photoshop is essential for real estate photography success. But you should also tap into photography techniques in order to maximize the quality of your images.

Here's a perfect example - HDR photography.

real estate photography processing

Photo by PC Photography via iStock

One of the greatest difficulties of getting quality real estate images is managing the wide dynamic range that interior scenes, in particular, present to your camera.

Interior rooms with bright light coming through windows can trick your camera into thinking that the room is much brighter than it is. The result of that can often be images that are underexposed.

But HDR techniques can fix this issue and without the need for expensive lighting equipment. It is simply the easiest way to get well-exposed images, as shown in the video below:

Of course, taking the bracketed exposures to create an HDR image is just the first step. You then need to merge them to create the final shot that gives potential buyers that high-quality view of the property that is so essential.

Merging multiple exposures can be done in a variety of programs, including Photoshop and Lightroom. There are also programs like PhotomatixPro that make merging multiple exposures a quick and seamless process.

Quality Images Support Other Marketing Materials

real estate marketing

Photo by Jakraphong Pongpotganatam via iStock

Quality real estate photos not only serve as the first enticement for potential buyers to inspect a listing, but they also help support other marketing materials for the property.

Your images will be featured in printed and online brochures, email blasts, and the like. They will often be used in creating virtual tours (along with panoramic and 360-degree photos) as well as video tours of the property.

So you can see just how essential good real estate images are. They lay the foundation for how the home is perceived by potential buyers and can, in a very real way, make the difference between selling a property quickly and the property being on the market for an extended period of time.

Even when the pandemic comes to an end, the importance of quality real estate photos will not wane. If you want to maximize your success as a real estate photographer, be sure you follow the tips in this article and our other real estate photography tutorials.

Learn More:



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This AI-Powered Photo Editor Will Drastically Improve Your Real Estate Photography Workflow

real estate photography workflow with luminar

Photo courtesy of Skylum

Photo editing software maker Skylum has introduced an AI-powered software package that will drastically improve your real estate photography workflow.  

It’s called Luminar Neo, and if you do real estate photography as an agent or as a photographer, you will be amazed at how this fantastic software will benefit you.

Let’s dive in and explore this game-changing software!

Table of Contents:

Why You Need to Simplify Your Real Estate Photography Workflow

bracketing with luminar neo before

Photo courtesy of Skylum

Real estate photography needs to be as good as possible because of the big-ticket nature of the subject and also because it’s a very competitive field (both the real estate market itself and the field of real estate photography). 

Your workflow will become clear when we see how many raw images are needed for the most common types of real estate images. 

For example, bracket and merge HDR photography is a staple of real estate imaging for many photographers. With all of the advantages of that method, it really adds on a lot of workload because, while it doesn’t take much time to capture the image files, it can suck up time in the editing.

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If you aren’t using bracket and merge HDR, you are likely still spending a fair amount of time editing the single exposures to end up with images with detail in the highlights and dark tones. 

Good editing software like Luminar Neo minimizes the time you spend post-processing as part of your real estate photography workflow. Minimizing that is vital to providing the photos on time so they can be used in the listing as soon as possible.

bracketing with luminar neo

Photo courtesy of Skylum 

For example, the series of three images at the beginning of this section is quickly and seamlessly combined in Luminar Neo to create the image above - one that is beautifully lit with details in the shadows, midtones, and highlights. 

This process takes seconds - not minutes as it used to in traditional digital editing. Like I said, Luminar Neo can drastically improve your real estate photography workflow!

Non-Destructive Editing Improves Your Real Estate Photography Workflow

luminar neo sky replacement for real estate 1

Photo courtesy of Skylum

Luminar Neo uses non-destructive photo editing for its post-processing features. 

Non-destructive editing means that the original image file is not changed as you make your edits. Instead, the program takes note, as it were, of all of the changes you’re making and then applies them to the image only as it’s being saved as a specific type of file for exporting.

This speeds up your real estate photography workflow in several ways. You don’t have to save copies of the image you’re working on, which uses less computer space. Your workflow speeds up because you aren’t doing as many steps, and because the computer memory isn’t taken up, the computer can run faster. 

Another way in which non-destructive editing speeds up your real estate photography workflow is that you aren’t waiting on your computer to refresh RAM to save this file or that file or search for the part of the file batch you’re adjusting. It’s a win-win!

AI Tools Ease Your Real Estate Photography Workflow

luminar neo for real estate photography

Photo courtesy of Skylum

The feature of Luminar Neo that really helps your real estate photography workflow is the AI power built into the program (the workspace, shown above, is clean, intuitive, and easy to use as well). 

Have a look at this video from the Luminar Neo YouTube channel that helps explain the concept of AI-powered photo editing:

In real estate imaging, AI means that the standard and special processing tools work quicker and more intuitively. Luminar Neo has excellent real estate-optimized editing tools

HDR Merge Extension is one of the AI-powered tools most useful for real estate photography. It uses the settings you enable but makes optimal changes and adjustments to create the best, most balanced image from the files you input.

If you’re not using bracket and merge HDR due to time constraints or shooting last-second images for listings, Luminar Neo will expand the dynamic range by bringing down highlights and opening up shadows for you.

It can also add sky detail to make your final images stand out - another top feature for real estate photography. If you’ve ever taken exterior photos of a property at the wrong time of day, you know that the sky can look drab and lifeless. See how Luminar can help you with that in the video above!

In other words, Luminar Neo's AI power means you aren’t constantly readjusting as you try to figure out what looks best. Instead, the program guides you with intuitive input, easy-to-use tools, and a wealth of adjustments to help you create the best possible images.

How To Get Luminar Neo

luminar neo sky replacement for real estate 2

Photo courtesy of Skylum

There are three ways you can get Luminar Neo for yourself, either as a subscription or as a one-time purchase. All are exceptional values.

For example, you can subscribe on a monthly basis for $14.95 per month or opt for a yearly subscription for $179.00 annually. However, Skylum is currently offering a deal that gives you the 12-month subscription plus the Creative Assets Collection (a $300 value on its own) for just $79 per year.

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The best deal, though, is the 24-month subscription. You get Luminar Neo for two years and the Creative Assets Collection for $119.00. These deals end December 4th, 2023, so don’t waste any time signing up!

AI-powered photo editing, combined with non-destructive editing and the intuitive controls of Luminar Neo, means that your real estate photography workflow will improve drastically. Try out all of the features and tools for improving your editing for other types of photography as well. It’s an all-in-one tool that I’m sure you’ll find is worth its weight in gold!

Other Recommended Photography Gear



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Top Drones for Real Estate Photography

Top Drones for Real Estate Photography 1

 photo byPBFloyd via iStock

I remember the first time a client asked me to shoot aerial photos of their home that they were putting up for sale. It was well over five years ago and, at the time, it seemed sort of crazy. I knew that aerial photography was getting really big in the commercial real estate market, but the home that I was photographing wasn’t anything extravagant. It was a 3 bed, 2 bath house in the suburbs. 

Looking back, I wish that I had picked up on the fact that drones for real estate photography were going to become so huge. I would have been able to buy more drones for real estate shooting earlier on, which meant I could have become more proficient at aerial photography sooner. It would have made me a lot more money in the real estate photography industry.

But, hindsight is 20/20 and now that drones for real estate are wildly popular, it is definitely time for you to pick one up if you haven’t already. After all, a drone is a must-have piece of real estate photography equipment.

I shoot with DJI drones, the Mavic Air 2 and Mavic 2 Pro to be exact, which is why I’ll be using DJI drones as an example throughout this article.  

Mavic Air 2

One of my favorite drones for real estate is the Mavic Air 2, which pairs affordability with high-resolution photos and video, which is why I think it’s the best drone under $1,000. The Mavic Air 2 features the ability to shoot 48MP photos, which makes it a good camera for real estate agents. It also features 4K video at up to 60fps. 

While some cheaper drones for real estate photography can only be up in the air for a few minutes, the Mavic Air 2 has a maximum flight time of 34 minutes so that you don’t need to recharge even if you’re shooting a larger property. 

You can also transmit Full HD video at up to 30fps in real time so you can watch what type of videos your drone is capturing. 

The Mavic Air 2 also features 8K hyperlapse, which you can learn about in my tutorial video above.

While this may not be a feature you necessarily need for your real estate photography business, it’s definitely fun to play around with in your off time. 

The Mavic Air 2 is available to buy for $800

Mavic 2 Pro

real estate photography drones 2

If you’re liking the feel of the Mavic Air 2, but think you may need some real estate photography gear with a little more bang, then the Mavic 2 Pro may be just what you’re looking for.

Most drones for real estate photography aren’t quite as focused on the quality of the cameras inside of them. The Mavic 2 Pro is not one of these real estate photography drones.

It features a Hasselblad camera with a 20MP 1” sensor, whereas the Mavic Air 2 only features a ½” sensor. It also allows you to adjust the aperture of the camera, from f/2.8-f/11. It can also shoot far better in low light since the max ISO is 12,800. There are also a ton of accessories you can buy for it.

real estate photography gear 3

Like the Mavic Air 2, the Mavic 2 Pro can shoot 4K video. 

Like the Mavic Air 2, the Mavic 2 Pro can also stay up in the air for over a half hour. Since this drone is a bit larger, it does lose a few minutes of flight time, though. Its maximum flight time is 31 minutes.  

The Mavic 2 Pro, as I mentioned, is larger than the Mavic Air 2. However, it does fold up when you need to transport it. It measures 3.3” x 9.5” x 12.7”during flight time and 3.3” x 3.6” x 8.4” when it is stored. It weighs about 2 lbs.  

This last spec may not seem that important except that it definitely is if you’re shooting in the United States. Since the drone weighs as much as it does, it will require FAA registration. 

The better features on this drone mean it is going to cost you much more. You can buy the Mavic 2 Pro for $1,600.

Learn More:

Mavic Mini 2

real estate photography gear 4

The newest of these drones is this little guy, the Mavic Mini 2.

It was announced at the end of 2020 and most of its specs weren’t all that surprising - just what you’d expect in a budget drone.

However, DJI threw a curveball and included 4K video at 24, 25, and 30p, which the original Mini did not have.

drones for real estate 5

Even more surprising is that DJI added Occusync 2.0 to the Mini 2. This system is a huge upgrade from the Wi-Fi transmission on the original Mini. As a result, you get a much better signal with no interference. You also get better range at up to 6.2 miles as compared to ust 2.5 miles with the original Mini.

The Mini 2 comes with a 12-megapixel sensor, a 24mm equivalent lens, 4x optical zoom, and a 3-axis gimbal. You can shoot RAW images, too, which is handy for post-processing.

There are plenty of other features in this little drone that make it a great option, especially considering it will only set you back $450.

How to Make the Most of Your Real Estate Images

drones for real estate photography 1

 photo byfilmstudio via iStock

Having a great drone sure doesn’t hurt your ability to get high-quality photos of real estate. But it isn’t an end-all, be-all either.

Instead, you should also invest your time and money into learning how to properly edit your real estate images for the greatest impact.

One area of real estate photography that trips many people up is how to manage the wide dynamic range in scenes. Fortunately, many drones have the ability to shoot in HDR and spit out a composite image for you.

But if you have a drone without that capability, or if you’re working indoors, there’s a simple solution to managing dynamic range - bracketing your exposures and merging the images together.

As the tutorial above demonstrates, bracketing exposures is a simple matter of taking multiple photos that differ only in their exposure level. This allows you to have an image that accommodates the highlights, another one for the midtones, and another one for the shadows (though you can certainly have more than three images in your bracketing).

Then, to create your composite HDR image, all you have to do is merge the bracketed exposures together. There are many software options that make this a seamless process so you can produce beautiful images more quickly.

That’s just a bonus tip for those of you that are looking to get into real estate photography!

Learn More:



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Types of Photography: 19 Popular Photography Genres You Can Try

types of photographyPhoto by Christian Holzinger on Unsplash

When you're just starting out in photography, there can be many things that might overwhelm you.

Learning to use your camera is certainly one of them. Developing your creative eye is another. But with practice, these things become second-nature.

A different type of struggle that some photographers experience is simply trying to figure out what kind of photographer they want to be.

Is landscape photography the best type of photography? Or is it portraits? What about macro or street photography?

The answer is that there is no "best" genre of photography. Instead, you have to figure out which popular photography genre is the best fit for you.

Below, I've outlined 19 different types of photography to help you quickly explore which of these genres might be most appealing.

Table of Contents

TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Landscape Photography

Types of Photography - Landscape Photography

One of the most popular types of photography styles, landscape photography is all about capturing the beauty of nature.

Though many landscape photos are wide-angle, sweeping shots of a landscape, there are plenty of opportunities for vertical landscape photography and even photos of very small vignettes in a larger landscape that highlight the details of the natural environment.

Landscape photography is also perhaps the most accessible as well. All you have to do to find a subject is head outside!

Explore our collection of landscape photography tips.

Recommended Landscape Photography Books:

Weather Photography

Weather Photography

I like to think of weather photography as landscape photography on steroids.

Instead of focusing on the serenity of nature, weather photography puts extreme weather events front and center.

Though most people think of tornadoes and thunderstorms when they think of this type of photography, it also includes blizzards, sandstorms, rainbows, and hurricanes, just to name a few.

Needless to say, photographing weather can be very dangerous, but if you play your cards right, you can get spectacular photos and keep yourself safe at the same time.

Astrophotography

Astrophotography

The misconception about astrophotography is that you have to have a mountain of expensive gear to get high-quality shots. That's just not the case!

Instead, you can take epic photos of the night sky with essential astrophotography gear, like a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a fast lens, a tripod, and a remote shutter release.

Common problems with this type of photography include getting stars nice and sharp and understanding how to compose astro photos in a way that's compelling. It helps to have mad post-processing skills too.

But, as you can see above, when it all comes together, there are opportunities to create truly incredible photos.

Use these astrophotography tutorials to get started!

Underwater Photography

Underwater Photography

Of course, not all landscapes involve mountains, rivers, foul weather, or stars - there's a whole other world to explore with your camera underwater.

Granted, you'll need some additional gear to make underwater photography a possibility, but the reward waiting for you beneath the surface of the water can be epic.

So, grab a GoPro and a snorkel and see what you can find just under the water's surface!

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife Photography

If you ask me, wildlife photography is one of the most difficult photography types to master.

That's because more than just about any other kind of photography, photographing wildlife requires an abundance of patience, and that is not something I have.

Though you might have to wait for hours and hours in a blind for that perfect moment, the payoff can be truly magical and breathtaking photos of animals.

Fortunately, to get started in wildlife photography, you don't have to trek to some distant mountaintop. Start practicing in your backyard with your dog or the local park with birds to develop your skills.

Recommended Wildlife Photography Books:

Aerial Photography

Aerial Photography - Photography Genre

It seems like not that long ago, the types of photography shots that were available to most of us were those found while standing on the ground (unless you had a plane or helicopter handy).

But, with the development of drones in recent years, now any of us can take to the skies and get started in aerial photography.

For me, this type of photography involves photographing landscapes from a much different perspective than I normally do.

But aerial photography isn't limited to landscapes. Instead, you can use drones to take killer photos of anything from wildlife to weddings, real estate to sports.

Travel Photography

Types of Photography - Travel Photography

One look at Instagram and you'll quickly realize that one of the most popular photography types is travel photography.

Travel photography encompasses all sorts of other types of photography - landscapes, portraits, wildlife, and street photography among them - and as such, it has broad appeal.

The beauty of this kind of photography is that it helps showcase different places and peoples and helps us all feel a little more connected to one another in this big, beautiful world. It's not all that difficult to get started in travel photography, either.

Besides, who wouldn't like to travel the world taking photos? Talk about one of the most ideal photography careers!

Architecture Photography

types of photography architecture

I like to think of architecture photography as urban landscape photography. By that, I mean that instead of photographing natural elements, you're capturing the beauty of manmade structures and exploring how they've changed the urban landscape.

Though I enjoy a good shot of a city's skyline, there's something even more compelling about the detail-oriented shots of buildings.

Whether it's a beautiful arch or a gargoyle perched on high, there are plenty of opportunities to accentuate the beauty of humankind's architectural wonders.

Real Estate Photography

Real Estate Photography

There are many types of photography jobs that one can pursue, including real estate photography.

Obviously, the purpose of real estate photography is to make residential and commercial properties as appealing as possible.

This involves everything from perfecting the staging of the property to finding the right angles to highlight interesting features or architecture.

Fortunately, there isn't an excessive amount of gear required for photographing real estate - in some instances, you might just need your smartphone!

Get all the real estate photography tips you need to kickstart your career photographing properties!

Recommended Real Estate Photography Books:

Street Photography

Street Photography

Much like I think of architecture photography as urban landscape photography, I think of street photography as being urban portrait photography.

The whole point of street photography is to portray what life is like in the city. Often, it's done with quick snapshots without the subject knowing that they've been photographed.

The challenge with street photography is to turn simple, everyday scenes into something meaningful and beautiful. That is, you have to concentrate on how the composition, framing, lighting and so forth help you tell a compelling story about the people in your photos.

Portrait Photography

Portrait Photography

Even taking selfies out of the equation, portraiture is likely the most popular photography niche in the world.

But portrait photography is much more than simply pointing your camera at someone and taking a photo.

Instead, portraiture is all about telling the story of the person being photographed and highlighting what makes them unique.

But there are many more types of portrait photography than solo portraits, including family portraiture, fashion photography, professional headshots, graduation photos, and even sports photography as well.

Regardless of the type, for the best portraits, you have to master the camera settings for portrait photography in addition to learning the types of lighting in portrait photography.

Discover more ways to improve your portraits with our collection of portrait photography tips.

Recommended Portrait Lighting Books:

Wedding Photography

Wedding Photography

Getting married is a big deal, and so is being hired to photograph that event. Needless to say, no matter the type of wedding photography, wedding photographers have an immense responsibility, and that makes this kind of photography among the most stressful.

But being a wedding photographer isn't just about having the right skill set behind the camera. Instead, wedding photographers must be storytellers, problem solvers, and have tremendous people skills.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of wedding photography is finding ways to get practice so you can minimize your wedding photography mistakes. Working as a second shooter is a prime option for learning the ropes as it takes some of the pressure off of you while giving you an opportunity to learn from a more seasoned wedding photographer.

Event Photography

types of photography event photography

From concerts to birthday parties, corporate events to the county fair, event photography encompasses a huge range of subjects.

This might include portraits of the people at the event, the food they're eating, the event space in which they're gathered, and so on.

In other words, event photography is a fast-paced and challenging genre of photography that is not for the faint of heart. You have to be ready for anything and have an array of gear (especially a range of lenses with different focal lengths) if you're to be a successful event photographer.

Ultimately, though, event photography is all about helping the people in attendance relive the event years and years down the road through the photos you create.

Fashion Photography

types of photography fashion photography

Fashion photography primarily exists for branding and advertisements, though as photography has become more accessible and social media has risen to prominence, fashion photography is becoming more broad-based.

Whether the purpose of the photo shoot is to create photos for a magazine or to post on Instagram, the point of fashion photography is to highlight clothing, makeup, and other fashion accessories in a way that makes them highly desirable for consumers.

Because of the need to showcase these items, a lot of fashion photos are full-body shots. What's more, fashion photographers must be experts in types of lighting in photography and have excellent portrait posing skills too.

Newborn Photography

Newborn Photography

Whether you know it as newborn, infant, or baby photography, this genre is perhaps the most rewarding.

Capturing what a newborn is like in the first days after their birth is a huge honor - and a big challenge.

Babies are unpredictable, so photographing them while they sleep is one of the top newborn photography tips to follow.

You'll find that they are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, sensitive to light, and might have accidents that require a diaper and a wardrobe change.

Being prepared for these eventualities is a must, and despite those challenges, the reward at the end of the shoot is well worth the time and effort!

Get easy-to-understand instruction on maternity and newborn photography tips.

Documentary Photography

types of photography documentary photography

Along with photojournalists, documentary photographers strive to depict newsworthy events in a way that helps people better understand or connect to the event that's occurring.

The focus of documentary photography is on emotionality - evoking a feeling in the viewer that makes the event more real.

Though war type photography is likely the best-known subgenre of documentary photography, many other events - presidential activities, state gatherings, and national celebrations - might fall under the purview of a documentary photographer. Additionally, many documentary photographers simply seek to capture daily life, history, culture, and so forth.

Still Life Photography

types of photography still life

Still life photography is all about creating images of objects.

In many instances, just a single object or a few objects - a bowl of fruit, for example - might serve as the subject of a still life photo.

The key to a successful still life image is having excellent lighting that casts an even light on the subject while also minimizing shadows.

Even though it might not be the most popular type of photography, by focusing on the lighting, you can create an interesting scene out of even the most mundane of subjects - silverware, items on a desk, kids' toys, and so on.

Macro Photography

Macro Photography 

If you've got a keen eye for detail, macro photography might be for you.

Photographing small objects - flowers and insects, for example - is actually a lot easier than it looks, provided you have the right gear and the right approach.

In fact, you can use your smartphone for macro photography and get pretty awesome results!

Like any type of photography, becoming a pro at macro takes time, but if you commit yourself to practicing and learning, you can create some truly breathtaking photos.

Pet Photography

types of photography pet photography

When you're just starting out in photography, your pets are one of the best subjects with which to work.

After all, they're easy to access, they'll listen to your direction (hopefully!), and you can photograph them in the comfort of your own home.

Better still, because many of the same principles of portrait photography apply to pet photography, it's a great primer for flexing your portraiture muscles down the road.

So, put your dog in his favorite costume, grab your camera, and start working on your composition skills, mastering camera settings, and storytelling abilities!

For a humorous look at these and other types of photography, be sure to check out the video above by Antti Karppinen.

In the meantime, use the information I've provided above to think about the type of photography that best suits your interests and skills.

Don't be afraid to test out multiple genres or different types of photography as well!



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What is a Good Camera for Real Estate Agents?

What is a Good Camera for Real Estate Agents

photo bystructuresxx via iStock

Finding a good camera for real estate agents is an easy task once you know what the important features are in order to be able to use the techniques that make for outstanding real estate images.

You might even already have one of the best real estate photography cameras, since many agents I know tend to like some pretty sophisticated electronics. 

There’s more involved than having good enough real estate photography gear, you’ll also need to learn a few real estate photography tips that result in the great images you’ve been seeing online.

Essential Features

good camera for real estate agents

photo byProstock-Studio via iStock

What are the features to look for when choosing or adapting a real estate photography camera? 

The image quality is the most important thing to look at. You don’t have to have the highest megapixel count, simply a good enough sensor to provide high resolution, good color depth, and low light capability. 

So, cameras with larger sensors tend to be better choices as good cameras for real estate agents. A larger sensor size is beneficial for many types of serious photography including real estate photography, but there is a wide range of camera sensor sizes that provide the essentials we want. 

RAW image file capability is also a huge plus for serious photography. While a JPEG from our excellent cameras will look great, RAW file formats record more information in our exposures for our post processing programs to adjust and allow us to specify a color balance after shooting, which can become very important for real estate photography. 

Manual exposure control is absolutely vital for certain real estate photography techniques such as the bracket and merge method explained here in this YouTube video. Manual exposure control also lets you decide on the optimal lens aperture for good depth of field.

Automatic exposure bracketing (AEB) makes the bracket and merge technique an easier task when shooting, but you can still do the bracketing without it simply by changing the shutter speed setting, but you’ll need to really pay close attention to your changes so as not to lose track.

A wide angle lens or the ability to change to a wide angle lens rounds out what I consider to be essential features of a good camera for real estate agents.

Easy Cameras for Real Estate Agents

real estate photography tips

photo byshark_749 via iStock

Now let’s look at a few specific examples of easy cameras for real estate  agents to highlight the choices available. 

Keep in mind that there will be multiple examples of similar cameras in these categories from various brands. Also, buying used cameras is a valid option since we can often find very recent and even current models used which can really lower the cost of these high quality tools.

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Apple iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max

The sensor size for iPhones is among the largest of any smartphone plus the 12 allows RAW image capture, full manual control, and auto exposure bracketing. Since many real estate professionals already use iPhones, this is a wonderful option to use for real estate photography.

You should get yourself a bracket that can be mounted on a tripod or light stand to take advantage of the bracket and merge technique as well as for leveling the camera before taking pictures.

There are also several Android smartphones with similar camera specs, check your instruction manual to determine if your iOS or Android smartphone is a contender for your needs. As far as easy cameras for real estate agents, it’s hard to beat the portability and ‘always with you’ status of a smartphone.

Nikon Z6 ii

Nikon Z6 ii

Nikon is one of the names you always hear when discussing pro level cameras, the Z6 ii mirrorless camera is one of the best examples of a Full Frame sensor digital camera with professional level quality and features while still maintaining a fairly budget friendly price point.

Since it’s a mirrorless camera, the lens options are plentiful especially if you take advantage of a deal including the FtZ lens mount adapter. Nikon optics are superb and new lenses are coming out for the Z-mount Nikon cameras all the time.

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

At a slightly less steep price point for a Full Frame sensor camera, look into a DSLR such as the excellent Canon EOS 6D Mark II digital camera. It has all the features we want for real estate photography as well as outstanding image resolution and access to the full range of superb Canon EF lenses and 3rd party lenses.

Canon has a long history of making excellent cameras for all types of photography, the EOS 6D mk II is carrying on that legacy wonderfully.

Fujifilm X-S10

Fujifilm X S10

Fujifilm is one of the brands that all photographers know as a photographic powerhouse, making everything from medium format cameras to tiny pocket cameras and everything in between. 

They also made films that were one of the main options of 35mm photography, so Fuji knows a thing or two about superior photographic equipment. I state all of this up front because the average consumer may not be aware of the status of Fujifilm professional gear.

The Fujifilm X-S10 is an APS-C format camera in a mirrorless configuration, making it one of the smallest and lightest ultra high quality cameras available as an option for a good camera for real estate agents. Fujifilm lenses are also superb and there are multiple lens mount adapters for fitting all sorts of lenses to this mirrorless camera.

Pentax K-3 Mark III

Pentax K 3 Mark III

Pentax is the brand your friends or maybe your parents learned on when taking photography classes as an elective in high school. Like Fuji, Pentax may not be a brand the average consumer is aware of, but they have been making amazingly high quality and full featured cameras for pros and serious photographers for decades.

Their K-3 Mark III is one of the latest DSLR cameras in the APS-C format and it has all the quality, features, and lens availability one would expect from a professional photography gear manufacturer.  

A huge plus for Pentax is that almost every DSLR they make has some form of weather sealing which is a nice feature for real estate photography, since your listing needs don’t always wait on the best weather.

Many More Cameras

best real estate photography cameras

photo byEXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER via iStock

These are only a small sample of the amazingly high quality and full featured cameras which qualify as good cameras for real estate agents. Read our reviews of some of these and also check out the links in our reviews for other cameras, new and used. 

Don't forget to also look at all of our articles about tips and techniques for real estate photography and other ideas for serious photographers.

Learn More:

 



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What Makes Real Estate Photos Look Good?

What Makes Real Estate Photos Look Good

 photo by hikesterson via iStock

We have easy answers for what makes any of our photos look bad, many times the answer is staring us in the face. If we’re working in photography, poor images could lose us either sales or clients. Especially so in the competitive field of real estate photography. But, what makes real estate photos look good is a little less obvious.  

We could always work backwards from the thought of what is bad photography, identify the mistakes, and then avoid them. Or, focus on the positive and examine helpful tips for good real estate photos. Here are 4 real estate photography tips to help us do the second option.

Make Sure Property Is Ready

real estate photos

 photo byshaunl via iStock

In order for you to provide the best possible real estate photos for your client, whether a realtor, property manager, or homeowner, the property needs to be prepared properly. While we as the photographer can help out, this really falls on the client.  

I find that it helps to give new clients a brief real estate photography tutorial. You don’t need to teach them how to become a professional photographer, but it really does help to be on the same page with regards to realistic expectations and how to maximise the presentation.

Clean and uncluttered is often the best approach towards staging a property for real estate photos. If the property is currently in use or not, ask the client to replace light bulbs, dust ceiling fans, vacuum carpets, mow the lawn, etc... If it is definitely occupied, ask that personal effects are minimised, such as bathrobes, fridge magnets, doggie dishes, and so on.

As the photographer, I like to do a pre shoot walkthrough to make sure the property is fully ready, touching up as needed or asking them to. Giving the client basic and simple real estate photography tips ahead of time will also greatly speed up your overall workflow.

Create Balanced Exposures

tips for good real estate photos

 photo by hikesterson via iStock

In many other forms of photography, lighting for contrast is used to create interest in the final image, but adding contrast is not my first choice for real estate photos. Contrast is caused by  a difference in highlights and shadows. We can use exposure tricks or lighting techniques to either add or subtract contrast. 

For real estate photos, we are concerned with contrast levels and the overall dynamic range of a scene. I like to use the bracket and merge technique to control contrast and increase the dynamic range of the entire image. Instead of working with artificial lights like a strobe unit or photo floods, this technique lets us get good exposure values of the brightest highlights, deepest shadows, and everything in between by using the proper real estate photography camera settings. 

Sometimes we may still need to add a portable light or two to supplement the window light and existing lighting fixtures, but my experience has shown that bracket and merge takes care of all but the most difficult lighting conditions. Here is a YouTube video that helps explain it all.

To capture the middle exposure reading for HDR bracket and merge, I use my camera in spot meter mode or a handheld meter and meter off of a neutral color wall in what I eyeball as the middle light range of the scene. Absent of neutral color walls, an 18 percent gray card is a good substitute.

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Level Camera, Straighten Lines

real estate photography

 photo bypanpa sukanda via iStock

I usually like to capture 3 walls of most of the rooms I’m shooting with my chosen wide angle lens so there are going to be a lot of straight lines in the image. With an ultra wide lens, we have to be very careful of how long straight lines can appear distorted.  

A major source of distortion for this combination is the camera not being level. There’s a simple fix to this, a solid tripod and a spirit level. Some cameras have a level built-in that you access via the viewscreen. For other cameras, a level that fits in the hot shoe costs about the same as a mid afternoon snack or two. 

Sometimes the level isn’t enough to fix the distortion issue and we have to adjust it in post processing. Many of the programs even have plug ins for the known distortion of specific lenses, otherwise we can use adjustment tools.

Shoot RAW and Correct Colors

real estate photography tutorial

 photo by hikesterson via iStock

Real estate photos tend to be shot in a variety of light types from incandescent, quartz, and natural sunlight which all have different color temperatures. Capturing JPEGs would require assigning a white balance for best results. 

Shooting RAW not only provides more image detail to work with for post processing, HDR and regular, it also allows us the capability of assigning a white balance and a color profile during processing. With many post processing programs we can even choose LUTs.

LUT stands for Look Up Table and is a predetermined set of color values that adjusts what is shot for the output value you want. It’s a common tool for professional video, using it for our real estate photos can simplify our workflow quite a bit.

Treat Every Job as Being Important

real estate photography tips

 photo bybenedek via iStock

Considering that real estate is the most expensive thing many of us will buy or sell in our lives, there is really no such thing as an unimportant real estate photography shoot. Every time we capture and deliver real estate photos, we make sure to do the best job we can. 

We can still simplify our workflow by taking advantage of all of the real estate photography tips and techniques such as using LUTs, bracket and merge processing, and simple leveling techniques. Focus on the positive and create outstanding real estate photos that will please any client.

Learn More:

 



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What to Charge for Commercial Real Estate Photography Services

What to Charge for Commercial Real Estate Photography Services

photo byArthurpreston via iStock

Real estate photography is a hard subject to give absolute numbers to cover, especially is this so with what to charge for commercial real estate photography services. There are so many variables to keep track of, including location, type of commercial property, type of client, and what services are offered. 

So if you came here hoping to find a numerical table of prices, I apologize. However, I am going to give you some very concrete ideas that will enable you to make your own personal pricing guide for commercial real estate photography.

 The basic focus today for photographers asking how much do real estate photographers make will be centered on ideas and methods for how to make money in real estate photography in your own business.

What Services Are Offered

commercial real estate photography

photo byalacatr via iStock

The basic services for commercial real estate photography are the same things offered in residential listings. The exterior main view, exterior points of interest, primary interior areas (from several angles), and amenities or special interest areas. These would normally be made using the tried and true bracket and merge exposure technique.

 When figuring out what to charge for commercial real estate photography based on these common images, you may need to consider how many points of interest, rooms, and extras there are to photograph. 

 A modest home may have 6 to 10 rooms, each with about 2 or 3 views, exterior main and supplemental views, and extras such as a swimming pool, furnished basement, and so on. A commercial property, such as an office space, retail store, or factory, might have dozens of different rooms and areas requiring separate photos.

It’s all those extras that start to add up when considering what to charge. Some other variables considering rooms and areas might include an overhead view of the sales floor or factory floor from upper offices or a ceiling height walkway (which are common in these larger properties) and difficult to access spaces such as secure areas.

Extra services requested for calculating what to charge for commercial real estate photography would likely include specialty photography such as drone photography, twilight beauty shots, 360 degree still images, and 360 degree interactive spherical panoramic tours. Specialty photography requires specialty equipment and techniques, all of which are worthy of higher compensation.

How to Set Up Pricing

real estate photography pricing

photo byHispanolistic via iStock

Now we get down to business (ha!) for deciding what to charge for commercial real estate photography. 

Options for pricing models are a price per picture, a set package fee with a certain number of pictures and extra charge for extra pics (you might have several levels of packages with certain add ons and numbers of images), charging by the hour, charging by the day, or charging by the finished job as a flat rate.

All of these pricing options have pros and cons, but I find that offering various different packages goes over very well with realty firms for commercial properties and with management firms for commercial properties.

As an example of package real estate photography pricing, offering a set fee for showing up, taking and processing the images, and a set number of images is common. Packages may vary by how many images are delivered, and add ons would include those specialty services such as drone photography, twilight images, and panoramic tours.

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Costs of Being In Business In Commercial Real Estate Photography

pricing guide for commercial real estate photography

photo byRudyBalasko via iStock

Things you will need to discover for deciding what to charge for commercial real estate photography are the real costs of working in this fantastic field. 

If you offer those special extra services such as drone views or panoramas, the gear necessary is not cheap. High quality drones, fisheye lenses, panoramic mounts (motorized or manual), and heavy duty tripods bump up your base equipment costs.

Staying onsite at the property to capture evening and morning twilight images may incur an overnight stay if you’re traveling to the site. Will that room be comped by the property, realtor, or firm or will you need to consider it as part of your costs? 

The companies may also be requiring a higher level of liability insurance and sometimes may specify certain conditions or riders. All of this needs to be added in, both generally and as extra costs for jobs with specific conditions.

A specialty niche of commercial real estate photography, industrial photography, will add even more stringent requirements of insurance and personal safety equipment. 

You should also include travel costs, your own nutritional needs, safety equipment, and a consideration of what your time is worth to you. Remember, all the post-processing work adds extra time for you to factor into your calculations.

Workflow Ideas

how much do commercial real estate photographers make

photo byuschools via iStock

The time spent on property and afterwards really starts to add up when you’re shooting larger properties and offering more images and specialty services. In order to maximize your profitability while remaining competitively priced, workflow simplification is desirable.

A major workflow simplification that works for most real estate photography from small residential homes to large office complexes and manufacturing centers is the bracket and merge (HDR) exposure technique

This process covers taking the images and post-processing afterwards. Here is a YouTube video explaining the method. 

Another workflow simplification that is extremely important when shooting large properties with lots of extras is to keep it all in order. A good shot list, prearranged with whoever is in charge of hiring you, is essential. A dry erase board or some other other method of separating groups of shots from each other is also vital. 

A good method to keep track of each separate area is to shoot blank or black frames between each grouping and use the dry erase board to label each group. This will greatly speed up and simplify your work during all of the computer work of sorting and labeling in addition to the post-processing for HDR, panoramas, and interactive tours.

It’s a Niche Business

how to make more money in commercial real estate photography

photo byscanrail via iStock

Commercial real estate photography is a fascinating niche of real estate work. It is a great way to make a living or add to your range of services. It has some different challenges, but the rewards, financially and otherwise, are well worth the extra effort, time, and skill.

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When to Take Outdoor Photos of Real Estate

When to Take Outdoor Photos of Real Estate

photo bysl-f via iStock

Real Estate photography is a solid business genre of professional photography and also an entrenched part of most realty businesses. Many professionals, full-time and part-time, have tried their hand at real estate photography, and many of us are appreciative of real estate photography tips for outdoor photos of real estate and indoor photos of the properties, too.

Have you tried adding real estate photography to your offered services? If you’re in a busy enough market, maybe you’re thinking about specializing in real estate photography. There are techniques for marketing, exposing, and processing real estate photography that are somewhat different from other types of professional photography.  

We have lots of articles and tutorials on these various aspects of real estate photography, we will examine capturing outdoor photos of real estate in this article. You don’t have to be a pro photographer to benefit from these real estate photography tips; these will work as photography tips for realtors, too.

Exposure and Lighting for Real Estate Photography

outdoor photos of real estate 1

photo byadamkaz via iStock

Proper exposure and good lighting are essential elements in real estate photography, this includes both indoors and outdoor photos of real estate. Some of the same techniques and methods work either way.

Time of day is an important factor to consider, especially so with the outdoor photos of real estate. You want to present the property in the best possible light, literally as well as figuratively speaking.

If you show up at a time of day when there are harsh, contrasty shadows on the house, this can obscure a clear view of the property. 

What Time of Day?

real estate photography tips

photo byXacto via iStock

Based on what we talked about concerning shadows, you might consider High Noon or any time close to that as out of consideration, but sometimes you may have time constraints on when to shoot due to deadlines and availability. Besides, there are some techniques we can use to help tame contrast such as HDR.

If we have the timing open for us, Golden Hour is a great time of day for outdoor photos of real estate. Knowing what direction the important side of the house faces will help us decide whether we should shoot morning or afternoon Golden Hour.

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Use Blue Hour, Too

lighting for real estate photography

photo byKorisbo via iStock

Since Golden Hour and Blue Hour are linked by mere minutes, might as well make use of both times to capture those outdoor photos of real estate. Many realtors love using twilight views of the property as the beauty shot for the listing. 

The twilight time, predawn or post sunset can also be used for interior shots that incorporate views of the exterior such as a patio or a large picture window. 

Exposure Techniques

photography tips for realtors

photo bysl-f via iStock

Since we are dealing with unusual exposure situations, HDR photography becomes a major technique we should use. Not just for those outdoor photos of real estate but also for interior. By using the bracketing and exposure merging of HDR we can actually eliminate requiring a lot of equipment such as lighting for real estate photography.

Along with capturing the multiple bracketed exposures for our realty images, we will need to merge them together in order to get the best results. Several excellent programs exist specifically designed for HDR photography. Here is a great tutorial for one program that explains the technique and how to control the variables involved.

YouTube is also a source for instruction on HDR merging and other real estate photography tips. In the video above, learn how to easily merge bracketed exposures to get a well-exposed final composite image that is sure to wow your clients.

Other Useful Tips

real estate photography

 photo byJustin Horrocks via iStock

Other beneficial real estate photography tips include using drones, staging the areas (real life and virtual), what lenses to use, and creating virtual spherical panoramic tours. Follow us for hints, tips, and some in depth instruction on the real estate photography business. 

Learn More:

 



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