Capturing captivating images of a real estate property is essential for attracting potential buyers in this always-competitive market. Images of the highest quality can make a huge difference not only in the ability to sell a property, but also in the eventual sale price. Whether you are a realtor, homeowner, or a seasoned photographer yourself, the following real estate photography tips will help you to achieve the ideal results.

Hire a professional

Assuming you are not an expert photographer yourself, hiring a professional real estate photographer can be one of the soundest investments you make. Professionals think of their craft in a way that makes all the difference to the finished product. They can make decisions on lighting, image composition and editing that can give the perfect sheen to the space you are looking to sell.

Finding experts on real estate photography in Seattle can be a game-changer for those looking to sell a property. Vendors in the area will know how its diverse architecture and natural landscape can present challenges that require a professional’s eye and technical skills in order to deliver the best results.

Prepare the property

preparing real estate for photography

How you prepare a site in advance of the shoot can make all the difference to the quality of the images produced. The following steps are all-important when seeking to ensure that a space looks its best.

Declutter thoroughly: There are certain items that make your house feel like a home. But it’s your home and what appeals to you may not be as popular with other buyers. So remove personal items and excess furniture from the space. Let the buyer’s eye complete the picture.
Clean through: Ensure every room is spotless for the shoot. What looks OK to the naked eye can be shown very harshly in a still image, even with a professional photographer’s skills, so leave nothing to chance.
Enhance curb appeal: Make those exterior shots pop by mowing the lawn if you have one, tidying up any flowerbeds and landscaping, and polishing the windows.
Staging: Emphasize the best elements of your house and focus the shoot on those parts that will make buyers fall in love with the property. Add little elements of decor that make the image memorable without being overwhelming.

Make use of natural light

As far as possible, you should always schedule real estate photography during the day. The reason for this is that no special lighting tricks can do what natural light does. When you open blind and curtains to let the light in, natural light bathes the space and makes it look better than any arc light ever could. It creates a bright and airy feel which appeals to buyers.

Of course, as any Seattleite knows, nature doesn’t always play ball, and you may not be able to pick a day where the weather is what you want it to be. So make sure, in the absence of the ideal lighting, that any additional lighting equipment is used in a way which evenly lights the rooms being photographed and avoids standout shadows.

Use the right equipment

camera for real estate photography

If you’ve ever wondered why professional photographers need all that equipment, look at a comparison between images taken on a (still impressive) smartphone camera and those taken with such equipment. The difference is, almost literally, like night and day. To get the best shots, professional photographers use a range of equipment which includes:

Wide-Angle Lenses: These are vital to give a sense of space and a comprehensive view that even a high-spec automatic camera can’t achieve.
Tripods: For photographs as important as these, steady shots with consistent framing are a must; a tripod will help to deliver this.
High-resolution cameras: Bear in mind that these images will be viewed on a flat screen. A high-res camera will help to give back some of the depth and detail you want to showcase.

Understand composition

It’s true that anyone can take photographs these days, and also true that it takes a little more skill to take good photographs. If you can’t get a professional to take the shots, then at least understand how you can make your own images better.

Use the “rule of thirds”. Imagine your image divided into a 3×3 grid. Whether horizontal or vertical, keep the subject of a photo in one of those thirds, leaving the others more open.
Shoot straight-on. Your instinct may be to get as much detail into the image as you can. In truth, it is more important to keep clean, straight lines which avoid making the image look awkward.
Highlight standout features. Full-room images are important for sure, but you should also make sure you are taking some shots of elements like ornate fireplaces or light fittings, great views from and around the property, and splendid architecture.

Edit for an ideal finish

The completed product from a photoshoot should be as impressive as possible. Even if some people might consider an unedited image to be more “honest”, some editing is always going to be necessary to showcase the house impressively. Whether it’s boosting color, lightening shadows or removing momentary imperfections, the use of editing suites such as Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop will be necessary. In addition, professional real estate photographers should be able to create 3D walkthroughs of a house as well as cutting in drone shots which give your portfolio the most professional touch.

If you’re on the lookout for real estate photography in Seattle, HD Estates is home to a team of experts who can help you craft the perfect portfolio. Don’t settle for good enough – make your listing shine with some help from the professionals!