Tips For Real Estate Photography
Real estate is the reason I fell in love with photography to begin with. Homes are created with a passion behind them: to build a space for people to grow their lives together. I felt a sense of creativity when collaborating to shoot a home, so eventually I started to expand my business and pursue real estate photography more seriously.
If you feel a calling for shooting real estate, listen to it! I have loved every second working as a residential photographer, but it takes a lot of experience to craft a portfolio worth sharing. Here are my favorite tips for real estate photography that will set you up for success!
Tip 1: Invest In Your Equipment
You may be thinking, what more equipment do I need beyond a professional camera? The answer: anything that can create a perfectly straight shot.
The foundation of any great real estate photograph is stability. A sturdy tripod equipped with a 3-way geared head is a game-changer for anyone seriously pursuing residential shoots. The geared head allows you to make precise adjustments, ensuring your composition is flawless.
It’s really important to prepare for the unexpected in real estate photography and a sturdy tripod ensures this. When shooting in less stable environments, such as uneven ground, a quality tripod will prevent any unwanted camera movement. Personally, I recommend the Benro GD3WH 3-Way Geared Head paired with Benro TMA28A Series 2 Mach3 Aluminum Tripod legs for exceptional results.
Tip 2: Straighten Any Vertical Lines
This was my number one mistake, and now the biggest tip, for real estate photography. Neglecting to straighten vertical lines is an immediate red flag for your clients, so do yourself the simple favor and straighten any vertical lines.
Crooked lines make it difficult to get a true understanding of the home or rooms captured. For your client, this could mean thousands of dollars less in equity, a situation all parties want to avoid. Luckily, tip two relates directly to tip one and with a high-quality tripod, your lines will always turn out straight.
A final warning: do not think these lines can be fixed in the editing process! More often than not, your photos will not look like the home, which is really easy for homeowners and agents to see.
Tip 3: Embrace Wireless Control
To truly elevate your real estate photography to the next level, consider using a wireless or tethered iPad to view and control your camera. Investing in a device like the CamRanger 2 will revolutionize your workflow to see each shot with ease.
The larger screen of an iPad provides a better visual representation of what you're capturing, allowing you to check important details like vertical lines and focus more accurately.
Additionally, using an iPad eliminates the need to physically touch the camera, reducing the risk of unwanted camera movement. The CamRanger app provides seamless control, making adjustments effortless and enhancing your overall efficiency.
My Final Thoughts On Tips For Real Estate Photography
Real estate photography requires a lot of precision to ensure images display the home exactly like how it looks in person. If done correctly, your client will gain additional equity and refer to you for the foreseeable future.
Although each of these tips is a significant financial investment, the results will pay off tenfold and prove your professionalism as a photographer. I have loved the results achieved when combining all three tips together, it really has changed the game for me.
Do you have any tips for real estate photography you still want to know? Book your 1:1 consulting session with me, limited spots available!
