Here at iDashboard, we know that snapping the right photos is an integral part of any successful property listing. Getting your pictures just right, however, isn’t always easy. To help boost your photography skills, we’ve created a list of the top 9 tips straight from professional real estate photographer, Scott Hargis.
Scott is a professional real estate photographer and gets work all over the world from clients who want to advertise their properties in the best possible light. He also runs workshops periodically to impart his photography knowledge on other budding professionals.
1) Getting a feel for the property is essential
Scott believes that the best way to advertise a property is by helping viewers to picture themselves living within it. Being able to experience the best features of a property through the photo is key.
“I care less about what a room looks like and more about what a room feels like and clients respond really well to that – they say, ‘I recognise how the house feels’.”
“Everywhere real estate agents want you to go wider and wider but that is not what attracts clients”.
Despite being on of his primary focuses when photographing properties, Scott admits that it’s not always easy: “Because I’m into technique in a big way, it’s difficult to push that to one side and just really experience what it feels like to be in the space. This is what you need to do to create feeling”.
2) Make sure your equipment is up to scratch
With a huge growth in photography technology in recent years, Scott agrees that Australia is on par with global standards. This makes it harder than ever for real estate agencies to keep up. To ensure you’re producing photos of the highest quality, Scott suggests that you invest in the equipment to match. Prior to a shoot, he also suggests you run through this technical checklist to make sure your photos are:
- In focus
- Well lit (by adjusting aperture and shutter speed)
- Colour-balanced
- Of an appealing composition
- Abiding by architectural rules (your lines match up)
3) Learn from Da Vinci
Leonardo Da Vinci utilised light in his paintings to control where his viewers’ eyes were drawn. Scott says that the same applies to real estate photography.
“We think about the photo as if we were painting a picture. We use the rule of thirds, leading lines, and sophisticated light to direct the eye and create a captivating picture”, he says.
The goal of any advertising is to gain the viewer’s attention and maintain it – this is no different with property photos.
4) Decide the purpose of your photos
Scott states that the end purpose of the photos dictates what sort of shots you should be taking: “If the images are going in a printed brochure or strictly online… all of this impacts how the images should be shot and which image should be used where.”
“I advise which photos are best for which medium and which short is the hero shot, as that’s not always obvious to the agent”.
5) Real estate photography is like online dating
Yep, you read that correctly. Scott believes that to attract someone’s attention, you really need to sell the property’s features in the best way possible:
“People swipe, playing hot-or-not, so you have to edit the picture and use the money shot that will catch someone’s eye.”
6) Photographing properties is like commercial art
Regardless of the property you’re working with, there’s always going to be that one winning angle – it just takes time to find it.
“When I arrive I don’t even pick up the camera”, says Scott, “I take a slow walk around and just look. This applies to outside – I might even walk down the street to find the right angle.”
“More looking and less clicking I always say – it pays off massively and you save time.”
7) Go the extra distance to achieve the best results
Scott says that some of the best photography teams he’s worked with are the ones that put in the effort.
“The were doing things I have not known anybody else to do – moving tables and sofas, straightening chairs.”
Achieving that perfect shot is all about working with the space you have. If the property’s current setup doesn’t do it for you, don’t be afraid to move things around a bit and experiment a little. It could pay off massively for the impression your audience gets from the photo.
Having the right equipment will help you with real estate photography, but it’s really about capturing the mood of the property and allowing your audience to picture themselves in it. As Scott recommends, take time to get a feel for the property, work out what you want from your photos and don’t be afraid to experiment.
Hiring a photographer is often overwhelming, because there are so many to choose from. So we’ve put together a list of tips to help simplify the process, so you can find a qualified photographer who will take stunning pictures of your property, click here to view these helpful tips.
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