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The Do’s and Don’ts For Shooting Your Own Real Estate Photos

Posted in: I'm Moving, Buying & Selling a Home

When it comes to selling your home, it’s all about making that good online impression. The only way to get serious buyers to physically see your home in person is to hook them online. And honestly, the quickest way to do that is with some amazing real estate photography!

But let’s be real – hiring a professional photographer isn’t always in the budget. If you’re looking to save money by snapping your own pics, then we’ve got some great tips for you to keep in mind when you’re roaming your place, camera in hand.

The Don’ts

Don’t shoot at night. Ever.

lightroom

In order to showcase your home in the best possible light, it needs to be light out! Pay attention to where and when the sun streams into your home and plan your photo shoot around that time. Which is better: a flat, gray image of your living room, or a golden sun streaming in from the windows?

Don’t make it personal

clutter

Buyers want to envision their own possessions in your space, they don’t want to see your family, your sports teams or anything else like that. So remove personal items like family photographs and knick-knacks, and of course…

Don’t leave in clutter, be a minimalist
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It’s time to think like a minimalist and purge items in your home. or at least out of sight for the photos. Countertops should be clear and accessories should be pared down for every single photo. No holiday decor either, since your photos need to stand the test of time. And it should go without saying…but no dirty dishes in the sink, no trash cans visible, and no random toiletries in the bathroom. Cmon, people!

Don’t leave vehicles in the driveway

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Firstly, understand that the shot of the front of the house is incredibly important! Secondly, that money shot can be ruined if your large vehicle is distracting or blocking the view. Are you trying to sell your car too? Don’t park your cars in the driveway during the photo shoot.

Don’t rely on editing, just get the shot right

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This is basically a general photography tip, but it’s extra important when thousands of dollars may be on the line. Many believe that they can instantly fix anything during the editing process. Instead, spend the extra time setting up your shots and taking quality photos from the start so that your edits are always minimal.

Don’t use your phone camera

cameraphone
Phones have amazing cameras these days, but you shouldn’t use your phone to snap these VIPs (very important pictures). A DSLR camera is the right tool for this job. If you don’t have one, you can rent them for a day. They aren’t horribly complex to use either, despite all the buttons. When in doubt, YouTube tutorials are the way to go!

The Do’s

Invest in a wide angle lens

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You certainly don’t want a fisheye lens, but you DO want a lens that is wide enough to show the entire room in one shot. There are many inexpensive wide angle lenses on the market; this is the one we use and love! Honestly, it can make all the difference in the world when it comes to interior home shots.

Open the windows

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We talked about not shooting at night already, but this is so important we’re emphasizing this again: Open blinds, draw back the curtains and turn on all of the lights in the home when you’re shooting. It’s all about letting the light in so you can showcase the gorgeous features of the space.

Use a Tripod for every photo

tripod
A tripod is a must for crisp and clear photos, especially in low-light situations. Especially if you’re photographing a windowless room, your tripod is definitely going to come in handy! We love this tripod, but any stable one will do.

Show off the view so they can see what they’re working with

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If there is a view from the window or from the backyard… snap a shot of it! The view can help seal the deal and help a buyer see the potential of the space.

One last don’t: Don’t underestimate the power of good real estate photos. They can make all the difference when it comes to selling your house! If you’ve ever looked to buy a house, you know what we’re talking about.

P.S. For more tips to master your real estate photos check out this post!

 

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