A picture can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially when it comes to real estate listings. According to a report by the National Association of Realtors, 90% of homebuyers across all demographics use the Internet to search for homes. Knowing how to get great pictures for real estate listings is critical for getting lots of traffic and a quick home sale.
Our Two Most Important Tips for How to Take Good Listing Photos
When it comes to selling your house, we have two sure-fire tips for getting great photos. And they’re pretty straightforward:
1. Stage all the rooms first.
There’s nothing worse than multiple photos of messy, overly personalized rooms. It sends buyers the message that you’re not serious about selling. If you need help with this part, get in touch with us.
2. Use a professional real estate photographer!
I cannot overstate the importance of this. Real estate photography requires a very particular skill set, from actually taking the photos to properly editing the finished product. In most cities, hiring a professional real estate photographer is fairly simple and inexpensive. Hiring a pro is almost always a good investment when selling your home.
For example, take a look a this before-and-after of our client’s home. Great photography makes a big difference (…and so does fresh paint in the right color and a bit of staging)!
What to Do If You Can’t Use a Professional Real Estate Photographer
Perhaps you don’t live in an area where real estate photographers are readily available. Maybe it’s simply outside your price range. Or perhaps you just want to take your own photos. If that’s the case, be sure to keep these tips in mind…
Real Estate Photography Tips for Sellers
1. Stage all the rooms first.
It’s important and bears repeating.
2. Use a good camera.
Newer model cell phone cameras have come a long way. However, their photo resolution may still be too low. If you need images for anything other than the Internet (printed brochures, for example), you’ll need a DSLR camera.
3. Use a tripod.
None of the professional photographers I’ve worked with use a tripod. But they’re pros — you’re probably not. A tripod will give you sharper shots. The ideal height is slightly lower than eye level.
4. Get a wide-angle lens.
A quality lens is super expensive (another good reason to hire a pro). However, they’re critical to get a decent shot of the whole room. This is especially true for small spaces, like bathrooms. You can sometimes rent a lens or purchase an inexpensive one online. Be aware they may create a “fishbowl” effect or other distortion in the photos.
5. Take photos from the doorway or entrance to the room.
This gives buyers the most complete perspective of the space. Include additional pictures from other angles as well.
6. Use as much natural light as possible.
A flash can sometimes cause unsightly reflections. Therefore, use a flash only as a backup. Lighting throughout the house plays a huge role in photo quality. See our blog post on choosing the right light bulb for optimum results.
7. Avoid taking interior pictures at night.
That is unless you want your house to look haunted.
8. Stand with the sun to your back when taking exterior photos.
Also, take photos at an angle (instead of head-on). This helps give the photo more depth and dimension. If possible, wait for a day with blue skies to minimize the need for editing.
Real Estate Photography Checklist
Getting ready to take real estate pictures? Download this handy checklist from our Library of Freebies to make sure your rooms are “picture perfect” before the photographer arrives for listing photos.
Access the Library
Need Help Prepping for Great Listing Photos?
Three Bears Home Staging specializes in positive, empowering, practical guidance for home sellers. Take a look below at some of the ways we can help…
Book an Online Consultation
We specialize in positive and empowering virtual home staging consultations! Our practical, no-nonsense advice helps homeowners sell more quickly and for more money.
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Enroll in Our Online Courses
Our online courses are designed with you, the DIY homeowner, in mind. From home staging to paint color selection, we break down the process for you from start to finish!
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Read Our Book
In this brand new third edition of her popular book, Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging, professional home stager Vannessa Rhoades walks you through the step-by-step process of staging your home for a faster, more profitable sale. Available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions!
About Vannessa Rhoades
Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive, empowering virtual consultations that help homeowners and real estate agents all across the country sell more quickly and for more money.
