By Thirdstone Properties LLC - Tuesday, April 25, 2023
As a property manager or real estate investor, quality listing pictures are essential for making a great first impression on potential renters. You do not need a sophisticated camera. A newer smartphone with a quality camera and access to photo editing software is enough to produce professional results.
What You Will Need:
A high-quality camera or smartphone with at least 12MP, a tripod, and photo editing software.
Prepping the Home:
Deep clean the property, wash carpets, trim the lawn, and put toilet seats down. It is much easier to take quality photos when the property is tidy rather than trying to remove blemishes during editing.
Capturing the Exterior:
Plan to shoot on sunny, blue-sky days. Capture the entire house from side to side including the front yard and garage. A slight angle works best as it shows size and depth. Move around and shoot from multiple angles so you can select the best shots later. For the backyard, stand near the fence line and shoot toward the home to capture the full yard size.
Capturing the Interior:
Focus on living spaces and bedrooms to highlight room size. Kitchens and bathrooms are great differentiators, especially if recently updated. Bathrooms typically need two shots: one showing the vanity, mirror, and toilet, and one showing the tub or shower.
Execution Tips:
Keep the camera about 36 to 42 inches from the floor. This height captures more floor than ceiling, making rooms feel larger and more natural. Shoot from a corner toward the opposite corner to give a sense of depth and space. Use a tripod for consistency and enable your camera grid overlay to keep shots aligned.
Editing Your Photos:
Use Adobe Photoshop or any comparable editor. Align all photos first. Increase brightness and contrast for interiors so they look bright and welcoming. Adjust the Vibrance setting to correct color casts from yellow light bulbs. For exteriors, slightly boost saturation to enhance green grass and blue skies. Keep adjustments consistent across all photos and never over-edit.
Conclusion:
You do not need professional equipment to take high-quality listing photos. Master your technique and editing process and your photos will improve with every shoot.
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