Behind the Lens: Erin Watson

Having photographed over four thousand homes, I often get asked what my thought process is when I shoot. There are so many variables to consider, so I’m taking this opportunity to go through a recent home I photographed to give a bit of insight.

This charming farmhouse is located in Fennville, Michigan and currently being offered by Liz Roch and Jackson Matson, with @properties. I have been working with both of them for several years, so going in I already had an idea of what types of shots they like.

The Photoshoot

Arriving at any shoot, I like to get a feel for the space first. I typically walk through with the agent and learn about the history of the home, keeping an eye out for any unique features. In this home, the homeowners had completely overhauled it, leaving some of the original elements like the fireplace, but also adding an amazing master suite. As I go through, I start getting an idea of what angles I want to shoot. My goal with each room is to showcase the space and how it flows with the rest of the home. I will also let the agent know if anything needs to be moved or tidied up. My preference is to have everything as clutter-free as possible.

I chose a few of my favorite images from this shoot to dive deeper into and explain why I shot them the way I did.

Dining Room – This is the first view you have when you enter the home. In every home, when shooting the dining room I try to show how it connects to the kitchen. If I’m shooting a two-story home, I also try to include the stairs in at least one photo so viewers can know where they are.

Kitchen – I almost always shoot multiple angles of the kitchen, but if I had to narrow it down to just one, it would be this shot. The kitchen is often one of the most important rooms in the home and something that buyers will be highly interested in. Here you can see the size of the room, that it has stainless appliances, and how the space flows into the living room.

Living Room – Like a kitchen, I usually take several shots in the living room. In the first image, I wanted to show the entire space focusing on the fireplace. I also wanted to show that there were doors leading outside. In the second image, I wanted to really highlight the clerestory windows. I love symmetry and that it’s taken from a perspective you wouldn’t normally see.

Family Room – I love the balance in this shot and that it shows the built-in bookcases and the wooden ceiling. I also loved that the homeowners organized their books by color! From this angle, you get a peek into the laundry room and the hallway that leads to the master suite.

Master Bedroom – This might be my favorite image of the entire shoot. This was all part of the addition of the current owners. I could have shot this with the doors shut and out of the frame, but by shooting through them like this I think it makes the space more inviting and also gives an indication that there is access to outside space from the master bedroom. In this case, I’m standing on a private screened porch to get the shot.

Master Bathroom – Bathrooms can be tricky to shoot, but they are important to show to potential buyers. Like the rest of the house, the master bathroom was designed well. I hadn’t seen mirrors hung like this before and wanted to showcase them along with the vanity and countertop. In the second shot, I wanted to show the space and how it is laid out. Here you can see the shower, both the floor and the ceiling, and the chandelier.

I love getting to do this for a living, and I appreciate that homeowners trust me to capture their homes. I do my best to highlight the good parts while keeping the photographs true to the space. If you would like to see the rest of the images from this home, they can be viewed here. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

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