The digital camera is an essential tool for real estate agents, architects, designers and others who regularly take photos of real property. A digital camera can also be an important tool for individual sellers who must photograph their own home.
Whether a professional or not, the importance of taking well-composed and exposed photos of real estate can not be understated. Using a few tried and true techniques can produce near-professional looking images without the need of buying expensive equipment.
Wide angle lens for real estate photography
While a wide angle lens isn't required for taking photos of real estate, it is certainly a plus. Cameras and lenses with wide angle capability capture more of a scene than a normal lens.
Not only can a larger area of the scene be photographed with a wide angle lens, but wide angle allows you to stand closer to the main subject. As a result, it's often possible to take photos free from unwanted objects in the foreground such as trees and poles.
If you haven't purchased a digital camera, consider one with a 28mm (35mm equivalent) lens. Or check if the one you already own accepts a wide angle converter lens.
Composing real estate photos
Make a habit of checking the composition in the viewfinder or on the LCD before taking a photo. There are no hard and fast rules for composing real estate shots, but do keep in mind a few principles.
Do some staging. Temporarily move distracting items from the scene such as a car in the driveway or a For Sale sign on the lawn. For interior shots, tidy up the room so it looks uncluttered.
Highlight positive areas of property.
Before snapping the shutter button, review the scene so vertical or horizontal line are perpendicular.
Take shots from different angles so nothing obstructs an important part of the scene.
Moving slightly to the left or right, or back a few steps, before taking a photo can improve composition. Check the composition on the LCD.
Whether a professional or not, the importance of taking well-composed and exposed photos of real estate can not be understated. Using a few tried and true techniques can produce near-professional looking images without the need of buying expensive equipment.
Wide angle lens for real estate photography
While a wide angle lens isn't required for taking photos of real estate, it is certainly a plus. Cameras and lenses with wide angle capability capture more of a scene than a normal lens.
Not only can a larger area of the scene be photographed with a wide angle lens, but wide angle allows you to stand closer to the main subject. As a result, it's often possible to take photos free from unwanted objects in the foreground such as trees and poles.
If you haven't purchased a digital camera, consider one with a 28mm (35mm equivalent) lens. Or check if the one you already own accepts a wide angle converter lens.
Composing real estate photos
Make a habit of checking the composition in the viewfinder or on the LCD before taking a photo. There are no hard and fast rules for composing real estate shots, but do keep in mind a few principles.
Do some staging. Temporarily move distracting items from the scene such as a car in the driveway or a For Sale sign on the lawn. For interior shots, tidy up the room so it looks uncluttered.
Highlight positive areas of property.
Before snapping the shutter button, review the scene so vertical or horizontal line are perpendicular.
Take shots from different angles so nothing obstructs an important part of the scene.
Moving slightly to the left or right, or back a few steps, before taking a photo can improve composition. Check the composition on the LCD.
Editing photos can be as important as taking the photo. If you feel you have done everything possible from adjusting the lighting, angles, etc. and photo still has poor quality, you may have to edit the photos manually. This can be handled through many available editing software. There are so many different software and tools available, Which one do I use?
Unless you already have commercial software, there are many free alternetives. With the market the way it is, it is always good to hear the word "FREE". The GIMP, Paint.Net, and FastonePhoto are all freeware or Open Source software that are available downloads free of charge. Sites like FotoFlexer and Picknik allow you to edit photos on-line (FREE) without the need of installing software.
Lets face it, photos are one of the most important tools when marketing listings. Since Web2.0 the Web is a critical marketing tool to be utilized in any industry, especially real estate. Pictures do say a thousand+ words, and it is up to you what words your photos are saying about you.
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