Real estate photography is a thriving industry, with houses being bought and sold every day. In order to stand out from the competition, agents are relying on impressive real estate photos to capture the attention of potential buyers. If you're looking to get into real estate photography or improve your skills, these tips will help you produce consistent and stunning property photos that will have agents calling you back every time.
What Is Real Estate Photography?
You might be surprised to learn that real estate photography is a specialized genre with a high demand. While it may seem simple at first glance, taking effective and compelling photos of homes for sale requires certain skills. In the current housing market, where competition is fierce, having professional real estate photos can give an agent the edge they need to sell a property quickly and for the best price.
Is Real Estate Photography Profitable?
Although it may not be as popular as landscape or portrait photography, real estate photography offers great opportunities for photographers. With a niche focus, you have a better chance of securing more clients and earning a higher income compared to photographers in other niches. Additionally, with a constant supply of houses on the market, there will always be a need for real estate photography. Agents often commission new photographs of a property to accurately showcase any changes that have been made since the last listing.
Real estate photo of a lovely outdoor/indoor space
How Much Does A Real Estate Photographer Make?
Real estate photography pricing can vary depending on factors such as location, property size, and your own experience level. On average, a real estate photographer can charge around $200 or less for properties under 3,000 square feet. For larger houses, the price can range from $250 to $500. If you are based in a prime real estate location, such as major cities like New York, London, or Paris, your photography career can be highly lucrative.
Real estate photo of a modern kitchen
What You Need for Real Estate Photography
Contrary to popular belief, real estate photography doesn't require a lot of specialized equipment. The essentials include a camera that can shoot manually, a wide-angle lens, a tripod for stability, a remote trigger for touch-free operation, and a flash for lighting in poorly-lit homes. Optional accessories include light modifiers, light stands, and a drone for unique perspectives.
Camera
To capture stunning real estate photos, you'll need a camera that can be manually adjusted. A crop or full-frame sensor DSLR or mirrorless camera will work perfectly for the job.
Lens
A wide-angle lens is essential for real estate photography as it helps capture tight spaces and makes rooms appear more spacious. Popular lens options for real estate photography include the Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4, and the Sigma 12-24mm f/4 Art Lens.
Tripod
Using a tripod is crucial for stability and ensuring your images are free from motion blur. It also helps maintain consistent perspective throughout the shoot.
Remote Trigger
To avoid camera shake when shooting with slow shutter speeds, it's best to use a remote trigger. This allows you to take photos without physically touching the camera.
Flash
Strobes or flashes are invaluable tools for real estate photography, especially in poorly-lit homes. Flashguns and monolights are the two main types of flashes, with monolights offering a brighter light output. Popular options include the Godox TT600S and the best flashguns for Canon and Nikon.
A DSLR camera mounted on a tripod
Flash Trigger
When using an off-camera flash, a flash trigger is necessary for synchronizing the camera and flash units. Some strobes even have built-in receivers, simplifying the setup process.
Light Modifiers
To soften harsh flash lighting, light modifiers such as shooting umbrellas can be used. They are portable and easy to set up, making them ideal for real estate photography.
Light Stands
Light stands are essential for supporting your flash units. Regular light stands work well for lightweight flash heads, while more rigid C-stands may be necessary for larger setups.
A camera flash set on a stand
Before the Real Estate Shoot
1. Have a Standard Shot List for Each Property
Creating a standard shot list will ensure that you capture all the essential shots for each property. While every home is unique, there are typical shots that every professional real estate photographer should take. These include wide-angle shots of each bedroom, the kitchen, and the living room, as well as photos of the bathroom, backyard, and front of the home to showcase curb appeal. Providing a shot list to the real estate agent helps set expectations and ensures you capture all the necessary shots.
Real estate photo of a well-lit modern bathroom
2. Prepare Your Gear the Night Before
Preparation is key in real estate photography. Make sure you have all your essential gear, such as extra batteries and a secondary camera, charged and ready to go. Double-check that your memory cards are formatted, and pack your camera bag with all necessary equipment. It's also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the property's address to ensure you have enough time for the shoot. Being prepared will help you avoid any last-minute mishaps or forgotten items.
A real estate photo of a decorated and well-lit bedroom
On the Property
3. Declutter
One of the most important tips for real estate photography is to declutter the space. Small items that we often overlook in our own homes can become distracting in photos. Ensure that surfaces such as countertops, coffee tables, and desks are clean and free of clutter. When photographing interiors, it's best to avoid capturing closets unless they are spacious or have unique features. In most cases, it's better to hide any items that would detract from the overall appearance. Spending time decluttering and setting up the scene before taking the perfect shot is essential for professional real estate photography.
Tidy living room with white sofa and furniture for a real estate photography shoot
4. Walk Through the Home Before You Start Shooting
Before you start shooting, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the property. Take a walk through the home to get a feel for the space and mentally note the best angles and any items that may need to be rearranged or removed. This will allow you to plan your shots effectively and make any necessary adjustments. Remember, your goal is to make the property look its best, not capture the current interior design. Taking notes or using a checklist can help you stay organized and ensure nothing is overlooked.
White and airy living area with a small table for a real estate photography shoot
5. Lights On or Off?
Deciding whether to keep the lights on or off during a real estate shoot can greatly impact the overall look and feel of the photos. Keeping the lights on can create a warmer and more inviting atmosphere, but it can also introduce varying color temperatures that need to be adjusted in post-processing. On the other hand, leaving the lights off creates a consistent light temperature, but can make the space appear cold. In most situations, natural light looks best, so if possible, open curtains or blinds to let in as much natural light as possible. If additional lighting is needed, use interior lights or external flash units.
If the light bulbs in the house have different color temperatures, it's best to turn them off and use a flash instead. Consistency is key when it comes to real estate photography, so make a decision about lighting and stick with it throughout the entire property.
Bright and airy real estate photography of a bedroom with light balanced using bounce flash
During the Shoot
6. Use a Flash and Bounce to Diffuse Light
In order to efficiently move through multiple spaces during a real estate shoot, using a flash unit attached to your camera can be beneficial. Bouncing the flash off walls or ceilings helps soften the light and avoids creating harsh shadows or vignetting. This technique is especially useful when shooting with a wide-angle lens. If possible, use your flash in manual mode to have full control over its strength. Consider using light diffusers or modifiers for even softer lighting.
For larger spaces, installing flash units on light stands and positioning them out of the frame can provide even illumination. Experiment with different flash positions to achieve the best results for each room.
An interior example of using a camera flash in real estate photography
7. Shoot Straight for Less Distortion
Keeping the camera straight while shooting is crucial in real estate photography to avoid distortion that would require correction in post-processing. Using a sturdy tripod or enabling the virtual horizon feature in live view can help you maintain a straight perspective. Vertical lines can appear slanted if the camera is slightly tilted up or down, causing distortion. Additionally, shooting from a height of around 5 feet is ideal for achieving a natural and balanced composition. Avoid shooting too high or too low, as it can result in skewed proportions.
An exterior photo of the front of a house in front of a big blue sky for real estate photography
8. Use a Drone for a Bird's Eye Perspective
Drones have revolutionized real estate photography by providing unique aerial perspectives that were previously inaccessible or costly. Using a drone can showcase a property's location and surroundings, especially when the view is a key selling point. In addition to photos, many real estate agents now use drone video footage to market properties. Adding drone photography to your skill set can make your services stand out and potentially increase your pricing.
An example of real estate drone photography
Editing Real Estate Photos in Lightroom
9. Correct Distortion Using Lens Correction and Transform
Wide-angle lenses used in real estate photography can introduce distortion that needs to be corrected in post-processing. Use the lens correction feature in Lightroom to enable profile corrections and select the appropriate lens profile. Additionally, the transform module can be used to straighten vertical lines and ensure a polished look. The auto option in the transform module can be a quick starting point, but manual adjustments may be needed to fine-tune the correction.
Example of straight lines in real estate photography
10. Making Basic Adjustments
The key adjustments to make during the editing process include lowering highlights, brightening shadows, deepening blacks, and increasing clarity. Over time, you will develop your own editing style and workflow. Experimenting with different techniques and presets will help you find the right editing approach for each photo.
Real estate photography
11. Make the Light Temperatures Consistent
Accurate color representation is crucial in real estate photography. When shooting interiors, the presence of different light sources, such as natural light and indoor lighting, can result in varying color temperatures. Balancing these light temperatures in post-processing enhances the overall look and professionalism of the photos. The adjustment brush tool in Lightroom can be used to selectively adjust light temperatures and achieve a natural blend with the surrounding area. Alternatively, using a color checker or a grey card during the shoot can help achieve accurate colors right out of the camera.
An interior shot of a living room with a grey sofa for real estate photography
12. Make it Composite
Creating Photoshop composites is a powerful technique that allows you to seamlessly blend multiple images together to achieve the perfect shot. As a real estate photographer, you will often have the luxury of setting up the scene before capturing the images. This stability allows you to capture different sections of the composition and later merge them into one cohesive image. This technique is particularly useful when you want to expose indoor light accurately or capture different perspectives of a property using a single flash. The key to successful compositing is ensuring that the final image appears as if it was captured in one shot, so it requires skillful blending in post-processing.
An example of interior real estate photography with a nice view of the city
Conclusion
Consistency and practice are the keys to making real estate photography a reliable source of income. You don't need a lot of expensive equipment to achieve beautiful real estate photos - start with the essentials and gradually add to your gear as you grow. With these tips and techniques, you'll be well on your way to building an impressive portfolio and attracting more clients. Don't forget to check out our Effortless Editing with Lightroom course to master all the techniques mentioned in this article. Happy shooting!
