How To Take The Best Listing Photos And Why This Matters

It's true that a picture can tell a thousand words. Just like high-quality photos can entice a potential buyer, a bad photo can turn people away. When you're in the process of selling your home, listing photos matter.

Sure, there are virtual tours people take but those first photos can make a huge difference in how many home buyers will reach out to you. Real estate photos are not like most other kinds of photos.

It's not just like any other kind of photography.

In addition to choosing the best lighting and using a high-quality camera, real estate photography has a few well-intended tricks to guide people toward deciding to attend an open house.

Depending on your budget or the value of your home, your real estate agent may take the pictures themselves or hire professional photographers, but if you can take the pictures yourself, then that's more money saved in an already expensive process.

Before you make a listing all on your own though, show them to your real estate agent. Professional photos sell homes, and the cost might be worth the eventual profit from the sale. After all, you only have one chance to make a good first impression.

If you're undaunted, or just want to give a shot, read on for some good real estate photography tips.

The best photos will show off your listing's best features.

Focus on the good things in your home. If your home has great curb appeal, take some exterior photos to show it off, potential buyers will love it.

If your home has high ceilings, make sure to emphasize vertical lines that can draw people's attention to that. Gorgeous built-ins where people can store their personal items? Definitely take a photo of that.

De-personalize the home.

On that note, it's a good idea to remove personal items from your photos. A professional real estate photographer will emphasize what a buyer wants to see, and that's how they will feel themselves in the first six months of living in their new home - it won't be your home anymore.

Selling your home is the first part of moving on to a new house, and intending to produce high-quality photography is a great excuse to declutter and start packing.

Look at examples.

The first step to taking great photos is to visualize how you want your home to look before you take the pictures.

If you know what type of photo you want, it will be easier for you to take a picture that matches your vision.

Browse through magazines and real estate listings to help inspire your photoshoot. One way is to work with your natural surroundings. If you live near a beautiful park, try to take some photos with the park in the background.

Have the right kind of natural light.

The next step is to make sure that you have enough light. Good lighting will make your home look brighter and more inviting.

Try to avoid taking your listing photos during the midday sun as it can cast harsh shadows and make your home look dark.

The best time to take photos is in the morning or evening when the light is softer. It depends on the room too, some rooms look better at different times.

Get proper equipment.

You'll also want to make sure that you have good camera equipment. If you don't have a professional camera, try using your phone's camera instead.

Make sure that you have enough storage on your phone and that your battery is fully charged. If you're taking photos with a DSLR camera, make sure to use the manual mode so that you can control the shutter speed and aperture yourself.

DSLR cameras have incredibly good photo quality and are used in most types of professional photography including real estate photography.

Of course, unless you plan on picking up high-quality photography after you move, then stick with your phone. Modern phone cameras do a great job too.

Be careful with post-production.

Like in all things, honesty is extremely important and the market is full of homes with untouched indoor photos.

If you're wondering what post-production is, then for photography it means retouching the image using software like photoshop.

Alternatively, what most people understand as Instagram filters. If you only correct a strange shadow from an otherwise perfect photo, then that's usually fine but blatantly altering your home's features is not going to win you any favours from realtors or potential buyers.

Think of composition.

There's a real why real estate photographers kneel and take pictures from right angles.

Open your favourite real estate website and check it out. The common angle you see there can make a room seem larger than what it feels like when you're walking around in it.

You don't need perfect composition or something that perfectly encapsulates every square foot of your home, but you need to create an expectation for future home buyers.

Compare your shots to professional photographs and see how professional photographers maximize space.

Take pictures when the house is empty.

You don't want to disturb your family to take the pictures, you will feel rushed and the one photo that is decent enough might have a stray shadow or an undone bed.

This is also valid when you're taking an exterior photo. Frame your house as if it's waiting for the buyers.

Take as many as you can.

Since you are not a professional real estate photographer, make sure to take multiple photos. It's better to filter through lots of photos to find the right one instead of putting up bad photos on a listing and hoping for the best.

You want your property to attract the best buyers in the market, and the images you use have to be the best ones possible.

Don't be afraid to hire a professional photographer.

Real estate photography is an investment, one that can pay off massively. High-quality photos are the equivalent of gold for real estate agents.

Real estate photography, when you're dealing with real estate photographers, is all about finding the right angles, maximizing natural light and making your home stand out.

They can find ways to make a room a selling point of the house for potential buyers when all you could capture is something that would not leave a good first impression.

Buyers, especially in a buyer's market, are picky. High-quality photos can be the deciding factor.

If in doubt, ask your real estate agent.

They are the ones guiding you through this process. Whether they recommend professional photography, take the pictures themselves, or tell you that the pictures you took are good to go, trust them.

You are the client and you both stand to benefit from attracting the right buyer and making the most of the selling process.

View All Homes For Sale in Greater Vancouver >>>

About Search Home Listings

SearchHomeListings.ca has simplified the home buying and selling process by giving you superior tools with up-to-the-minute information including active homes for sale, sold homes, market reports, and a home valuation tool! We have a team of success managers on standby to support you with setting up your saved home search and agents ready to take you out on a tour. Tap into our industry experts from inspectors, to contractors to interior designers to provide you with the best prices and service possible. Everyone attached to our website has been rigorously vetted and is made up of caring, knowledgeable professionals that work tirelessly to help you to make your home buying experience as stress-free as possible. Contact us today to see how we can help! 

Sites We Follow

• Google
• Facebook
• Twitter