You know the moment. You look at a listing and think, “wow – now that’s a property.” But how do I get the same level of expertise for my next photoshoot? The answer is pretty simple.
Here are 7 things you need to know when photographing your next listing.
Collaboration, communication, and preparation – oh my!
When selecting a preferred photographer, it’s important to find someone you collaborate well with: their vision should match your vision on how you want to highlight the property.
Set proper expectations for what you want out of the shoot. If you’re both on the same page, it’ll keep everyone on task and focused throughout the shoot. VHT Studios helps you choose from multiple photographers in your area so you can find the best one for you.
Be there or be square.
We get it, everyone’s busy. But if you can carve out time to be present on the day of the photoshoot, then you’re likely to get better results. (Remember that part about vision?)
And if you can’t make it, tell your photographer all of the incredible parts of the property you want to highlight so they don’t miss a thing!
Here comes the su– nevermind, it’s gone.
You always hear that photographing in natural light is best, but it doesn’t necessarily need to happen when photographing property. If the sun is hitting the front of the house just right, then most likely the backyard is covered in shadows. It’s inevitable.
Thankfully, with today’s technology, any photo can be brightened. So pick a time that’s most convenient for you when shooting.
Mise en place.
Everything has a place. But more importantly, everything should be in the right place. When cleaning up, make sure everything is where it’s supposed to be. The last thing you want is that cup in the living room distracting from the bay windows. Cleaning and decluttering is key. Less is definitely more here.
Like a stakeout, park somewhere hidden away.
Yes, we mean it. The exterior of a home can impact interior shots, especially when photographing the landscape through large windows and glass doors. So, it’s always a good practice to make sure no cars, trash cans, or other things outside can be seen from the inside. And of course, you don’t want cars, toys, or other items taking away from the exterior photographs of the home.
Also, as much as we love the seller’s French bulldog, Petunia, it’s a safe bet to keep her out of the photos, too.
Quality over quantity.
When thinking about the number of photographs needed, it’s important to consider what is meaningful to capture rather than a specific number of photographs. Of course, the larger a listing, the more photographs are needed to tell the home’s story. Here are four things you’ll want to be sure are represented in the photographs of all your listings:
- Every inhabitable space of the home
- The flow between larger common spaces (i.e. living room and kitchen)
- Any significant amenities or “selling features” of the home
- The home’s exterior (and surrounding area, when using drone photography or video)
Use this listing as part of your ongoing portfolio.
The photography is just as much about getting your next listing as it is selling your current listing.
If you do an incredible job now, then you have a visual representation that can be used to show your success to future sellers. All of this can help you win that next listing.
And there you have it – the top trade secrets revealed! Now, your listing can be the one that stops them dead in their tracks and gets them saying, “wow – now that’s a property.”
Want to share this with your team? Let us know here, and we’ll create a customized presentation specifically for your office. Get started here.
As the nation’s leading provider of real estate photography and visual marketing services, VHT Studios® equips clients with the best tools for selling listings in today’s market. Since its founding, VHT Studios has photographed more than 13,000,000 rooms in over 1,200,000 properties and helped more than 470,000 real estate and business professionals sell and rent more than $300 billion in properties. Visit VHT.com to order and learn more about the latest in real estate marketing.
