Silly Agent! Cameras dont take great pictures, Photographers do! 5 tips for making it **S-T-A-N-D = O-U-T**

All too often, I get calls from Sellers asking me to shoot their home for their Agent because the pictures don't make their listing stand out. It's important that you either hire a professional to shoot your listing, or be a professional photographer to Make it look GREAT! Photography is what a buyer will almost always see first about your listing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never seen a study about photography for real estate that said "Photos aren't necessary" or "Throw some quick snapshots up on the MLS" or "Make sure that you make the listing look bland in a photo." Your photography should captivate the buyer, and get them to "BITE!"

Just remember that a camera does not take good pictures, a photographer does...

Here are some very basic recommendations for you to consider when doing your own Architectural Photography:

Always try to capture Blue Sky in exterior photos whenever possible. Some clouds are preferable, but not entirely necessary. If needed, learn how to add sky with an editing program like Photoshop or Corel.

Lighting and Windows need to be well balanced. The interior of the home should be well lit in all corners of your image, and Windows shouldn't be so bright that they distract from the story you're trying to tell about the homes features. If at all possible, you should be able to see through the windows in your imaging. (some exceptions may apply) This can take years of practice to master, but is very important when showcasing key features of a home.

Angles of image should be well planned and should showcase as much of the room as possible. Back up as far as you can, and use a wide-angle lens. (No Fisheye Please!)

Shoot your picture with your camera level. You may have to crouch down to capture the room correctly, but by shooting level, your corners on walls, cabinets and furniture will be straight and not "Skewed" as if the room were "V-shaped".

In most cases, you should show more of the floor than the ceiling. For almost every shot that our photography team takes for Real Estate, we do so from less than 5 feet off the ground. This makes the image more interesting, and almost always makes the room look actual size.

There are so many things to consider when shooting a property for marketing purposes, however, these quick tips should help a little. Please feel free to call me or email me for any advice, or to suggest other tips or suggestions for future posts on Real Estate Photography and Virtual Tours.

Thanks and have a Great Day.... Happy Shooting!!