Professional Real Estate Photography Tips

Good listing photos are essential if you are trying to advertize your home on the internet – predictably, home owners who upload high-quality, professional pictures of their house tend to end up with top dollar offers. It is best to hire a professional photographer for the task, and it is recommended that you do a fair bit of research before you settle on the photographer you want – make sure you ask for samples of his/her work before making a final decision.

Typically, lofts, secondary bedrooms, offices, and studies serve as subjects of still photography, while panoramic photography is reserved for areas like the exterior of the house, the living and dining rooms, the kitchen, and the master bedroom. If you are planning to get photographs taken of your property, for the purpose of making a sale, there are certain tips you should take into consideration when preparing the house.

• Clean up the lawn, and make sure it is visually appealing. Mow the grass, trim the bushes and hedges and make sure all the leaves have been raked and bagged (keep the bags out of sight).
• Consider using flowers and plants to add a splash of colour – this will make the photographs more aesthetically appealing. Flowers and plants can be used both indoors and outdoors.
• No vehicles allowed – do not leave your car parked in the driveway or near the sidewalk, as it will block out the house in photographs.
• Keep unnecessary items out of sight – do not leave garbage cans on the curb, and put things like garden tools and hoses in the garden shed (keep the door to this closed).
• Keep outdoor lights in order for twilight photos – make sure all the bulbs are functional. Turn on all the lights when having evening photographs done.
• Remove lawn decorations – all wheelbarrows, baskets, animal statues and garden gnomes need to go, regardless of how adorable you think they are.
• Get rid of clutter – nothing spoils a photograph more than a mess. Pick up any toys scattered about, and put all your clothes in your closet.
• Make sure the beds are not rumpled. Spread on your best bed covers, and keep the beds looking clean and wrinkle-free.
• Clear countertops in both the kitchen and the bathrooms – take any clutter and unnecessary items and appliances off the counters, and wipe them down until they gleam.
• Put away all the dishes in the kitchen – do not leave them lying around on the table or in the sink. The kitchen sink should be clean and completely empty.
• Keep the kitchen trash can out of sight – this should never make its way into pictures of your kitchen.
• Take magnets and decorations off the refrigerator, and wipe it down so it looks clean and minimalistic.
• Put away all personal photos – the aim of these photographs is to tempt potential buyers to make you an offer, and they will not be able to consider living in the house if you keep asserting your ownership of it through personal touches of this sort.
• Make sure all the light bulbs are in working order – if any bulb inside the house is dim or flickering, change it.
• Switch on all the lights, pull back all the drapes, and open all the blinds before the photographers arrive – make sure there is plenty of light for them to shoot in.