8 Real Estate Photography and Video Tips to Make a Great Listing
To sell or lease in a competitive market, real estate companies must have photographs and videos that tell an engaging story about each property. A potential buyer's first look at a property is usually online. If the property's images and videos don't catch a buyer's eye, they'll move on to the next one that does.
In this article:
- Real Estate Photography and Video
- What Equipment Do I Need?
- Photographs of the Property You Should Take.
- Watch the Weather
- Declutter
- Lighting Interiors
- A Steady Tripod
- A Gimbal Stabilizer & Wide Lens
Real Estate Photography and Video
Every house or apartment has pictures online that the agents depend on to sell that property. The quality of those images and videos rely on great real estate photography.
If you're a professional photographer, it's a worthwhile skill to add to your repertoire, as it doesn't need any extra equipment. If you're an amateur photographer, you're also likely to have the required equipment already.
If you live in an area where the property is in demand, you can build up a reputation as the go-to photographer for local real estate agents.
What Equipment do I need?
- Camera
- Flash
- Wide-angle lens
- Tripod
- Gimbal Stabilizer
- Shooting Umbrellas
Photographs of the Property You Should Take.
- 2 shots of the front and 2-3 shots of any gardens. Remember, it's all about curb appeal.
- 2 -3 Wide-angle shots of the Kitchen, Living Room, and all Bedrooms.
- 1-2 Shots of any Bathrooms.
- 1 Shot of Pantry, Utility/ Laundry, and Garages
- 1 Shot each of any outstanding features, or anywhere the estate agent has specified.
Watch the Weather
Leading up to the shoot, keep a close on the weather. Remember, you'll need a few external shots of the property. Rainy days can't always be avoided, but aren't ideal for creating eye-catching exterior shots. You made need to return to the property on a dry day to get those curb appeal shots.
Experienced real estate photographers prefer the weather to be slightly overcast. If it's too sunny, it can have the effect of casting long shadows inside and outside the property.
It's a good idea to book two provisional days to shoot at a listing, this allows you to monitor the weather and gives you the flexibility to choose the better day.
Declutter
When taking a real estate photography booking, speak to the real estate agent about the property's current condition. It would be best if you also asked for it to be clear of any unnecessary furniture and general clutter before you arrive.
On the day of the shoot, you may need to move some items around to get a good shot. Start by taking a walk through the property to assess the condition and light of each room.
Lighting Interiors
As with all photography, you need to ensure the rooms are well lit. High ceilings and smaller rooms can cast shadows. Allow yourself time to adjust your flash and shooting umbrella in each room.
Using the properties' own lighting is an excellent way to ensure there is warmth in your photographs. It might feel counter-intuitive, but don't shy away from using your flash in a well-lit room. Bright, warm photographs are the industry standard for real estate photography.
A Steady Tripod
Position the tripod so your camera can catch as much of the room as possible; too much ceiling is one example of bad real estate photography. The lines on the corners and ceilings can distort if the camera is not balanced, adjust your tripod in every room.
Gimbal Stabilizer and Wide Lens
The walk-through video is a recent addition to real estate photography. It's vital to familiarize yourself with these style videos to increase your chance of getting real estate photography bookings.
The StayblCam is a light and easy option. It can hold a compact digital camera, or any camera phone, and allows you to film a smooth walk-through. It's similar in size to a small folded umbrella and won't add bulk to your equipment bag. Unlike other gimbals, the StayblCam is durable and waterproof.
To avoid filming too much of the floor or ceiling, you should shoot at eye level (5 ft. / 152cm) to get the best view. A wide lens is a key to giving the property a sense of space. The dimensions of most homes mean you will move from open spaces into smaller areas such as hallways and bathrooms. A wide lens can help open up the narrower rooms.
You should also take pan footage as well as the walk-through footage. While standing still, use StayblCam at eye level to pan right to left, and then left to right on both sides of each room. Next, you need to take footage from ceiling to floor, again standing still, using a smooth sweeping motion.
By following these tips, you'll have many options to choose from when editing your footage and photographs. If you take the time to shoot great photographs and videos, you can build up a client base of real estate agents in your area.
StayblCam will change the way you record videos with your cell phone or compact digital camera. We can help you create smooth and professional-looking videos with ease.
Do you have any more tips on real estate videos? Comment below.
StayblCam Team
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