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You've got the listing! Great, now you need some good photos. If you don't have the money to splurge on a professional photographer, here are some key tips to photographing your listing in it's best light:
Before You Start
The most beneficial thing you can do before photographing a house is to get the sellers to declutter. If they are occupying the property, it can be a delicate thing to request. So here's what you say: "These days, people's first impression of your home is often online, in pictures. To help them imagine themselves in your space, we need to remove as many personal touches as we can. It helps immensely if the counters are clear of clutter, if the family photos are removed from the walls, if the knicknack collection is packed away. We want the home to be neutral enough that anyone can imagine enjoying this space."
Turn on the Lights – All of them!
Walk through the property, turning on all the lights. Every single one of them, even the porch light (yes, even in the daytime), and even the little light above the stove on the range hood. The added glow from the light bulbs gives a home that welcoming feel. That famous motel doesn't "leave the light on" for you without good reason. It makes you feel at home.
Put the Seat Down
Make sure the toilet seats are down. It's a small detail that is so off-putting to many people. You don't want people seeing this property for the first time online to be turned off by such a small oversight.
Shoot from the Hip
Well maybe not hip, more like chest-height. Taking your photos from a bit lower than eye-level will make a room feel larger, and will ensure that the walls don't slant inward at an angle. If you are a tall person, or your camera does not have a display screen, try using a tripod set at a height that is midway between the floor and ceiling.
Washed Out?
When taking pictures into a room with a bright window, you may find that your camera compensates for the light while leaving the rest of the room in darkness. Try focusing your camera on the wall to the side of the window. Most digital cameras have a feature that allows you to depress the shutter button halfway to focus. Then, leave the shutter half-clicked and swing the camera back toward the window and it should retain the light meter reading from the wall, ensuring the room stays bright.
Reaching New Heights
Photographing land? Bring your selfie stick. And a ladder. The higher you can get, the better you can capture the lay of the land. Reach up as high as that stick will extend, and snap a few shots. Then take a selfie of yourself on that ladder, for your blog, to prove you'll go to great lengths for your clients.
Happy Photographing!
