Why does good property photography matter?

Why good property photography matters.

How often have you flicked through property classifieds for your next family home or perhaps looked for a lovely country hotel to stay for a weekend getaway? What made you enquire and find out more? I can guarantee the photographs featured of the property were a deciding factor. 

Whether it is a commercial office space or student accommodation, having good photography of the site is key to its success. 

After all, 60% of of potential buyers spend most of their time looking at the photographs, the other 40% is split between reading the property description and the agents description. 

So what do I mean by ‘good’ photography?

Images which have been shot with proper consideration to lighting and composition as well as images which have ensured the perspective of the building looks correct, where vertical and horizontal lines are photographed straight. Architectural and property photographers are masters in getting these factors right.  

Hiring a professional to carry out the photography is a very cost effective solution. It’s generally not expensive and can be the difference between the house selling/renting quickly or not. If you’re thinking of renting the property, then with a one-time investment in professional photographs, you can re-use them each time you come to advertise or let the property to tenants.

It also makes great business sense if you are an agent, landlord, bed & breakfast or hotel owner. Great looking images make your brand look far more professional and attracts clients to your website. Your property is around 60% more likely to gain viewings by featuring professionally shot images.

The right tools for the job.

Real estate photographers are well equipped to to provide the highest quality images. Here are the essentials I use for property photography:

Ultra-wide angle lens: An ultra wide angle lens is a key piece of equipment. It allows more of the scene to be squeezed into the image and creates the sensation that the room appears larger and more spacious than it really is. For exterior images, it allows the whole building into the frame whilst reducing the need to tilt the camera up to do so- more on that next.

No real estate photographer should be without their three-legged friend.

Tripod: An essential tool and something no real estate photographer should be without. The tripod ensures the camera is kept steady which is necessary as longer exposure times are generally used when photographing property. It is also used to ensure the camera is kept level keeping horizontal and vertical lines straight. Real estate photographers also tend to use tripods which can be raised to a fairly lofty height especially for taller buildings. Simply tilting the camera upwards to get the whole building in the frame results in the building appearing to fall over backwards. By having the camera mounted high on the tripod, combined with an ultra wide angle lens the effect of this is reduced. 

A hotshoe mounted bubble spirit level is an essential tool.

The Canon EOS 70D features a handy digital spirit level both on screen and in the viewfinder.

Spirit level: You will generally see real estate photographers using spirit levels mounted on their cameras, again this is to ensure it is kept perfectly level. Sometimes hand held spirit levels are used to check the rear of the camera is completely vertical in relation to the building. 

Light Meter: I use a light meter ensure correct exposure is obtained of the subject and also gives me information on where darker or lighter areas of the scene are which in turn allows me to make creative decisions on lighting. The camera has a built in spot meter however in property photography applications this is only used as a rough guide.

Flashgun: A flashgun can be used on or off the camera to introduce subtle light into darker areas of the image. My most common method of using the flash is pointing the light up to the ceiling or towards a wall behind or next to me which then ‘spills’ into scene I am photographing and creates soft, natural, even looking light to balance with the ambient light within the room.

Polarising Filter: Using a polarising filter helps cut reflections in glass and non-metallic surfaces. It is also used when photographing the exterior on bright sunny days with blue skies and a little cloud to help boost clarity and saturation in the sky. This helps boost colours and can go a long way to improve the exterior photographs. 

Its not just the Photography

Just like if you were selling a car or product, you must present it in the best possible light and make it look attractive to potential buyers.  

You want to represent your brand identity and make yourself stand out from the competition. Presentation of the building is also a key factor which can make or break a sale. 

Exterior- A little work to the exterior to freshen the appearance can go a long way to improve the presentation and increase perceived value. Simple steps such as cleaning driveways, paths, stonework and windows as well as doing a little garden maintenance makes the photographer’s job much easier. Having a well presented example scene to work with means your images can be delivered much quicker as well as the photographer’s time on site reduced. 

Interior- The interior can be a tricky area to present due to many factors. Perhaps you have a tenant still living in the property or at the other end of the scale, the property may be completely empty. Generally having images of the property furnished brings more of an advantage. It provides an example layout and gives a better sense of the scale and dimensions. You are more likely to receive interest in the property as people tend to visualise themselves within that space, so make it look like a welcoming and inviting area to be in. 

Present your interior spaces to be a welcoming environment.

Personal items and unnecessary clutter would have to be removed however strategically placing simple decorations on tabletops or shelving can be effective. 

A quick going over each room with a vacuum cleaner works wonders and ensure bathrooms are clean and tidy. 

One major tip is to make sure all lights within the property are working. The photographer will almost always photograph the space with lights turned on.

Our process

Here at Stage Two Imaging we wish to provide you with stunning images of your property or accommodation. Our process begins with a friendly chat about your requirements and is followed up by a recce of the location to be photographed. During this recce, base light meter readings are noted alongside some quick handheld images for reference of the space and composition. If exterior images are required, we will take note of where the light falls on to the building at various points of the day to decide the most suitable time for capture. Weather conditions are always taken into consideration and we always aim to achieve great images within any time constraints.

An agreed timeframe is decided for capturing the images and once complete, a period of image editing takes place. Delivery of your images is by an agreed method and in a format suitable for immediate upload to your website. 

Looking for a property photographer in Scotland? For any questions regarding our commercial property photography service, please don't hesitate to get in touch via the contact page.

Dan