Category: Real Estate Photography

The landscape of real estate photography has gone a long way since the turn of the century. Real estate photography involves both residential interiors and exteriors that are taken at different angles. It is known that clients may have different tastes in terms of property characteristics and a perfect shoot may all spell the difference.

Time is gold in this advocacy as you also need to consider the time you spend with those you are working with and for those who own the property as well. And when we ponder on what time is the best for photo shooting, not all hours of the day are the same. The so-called golden hours for photo shooting are the hours before sunrise and the hours before sunset.

Efficient shooting and perfect processing workflow are the ones a real estate photographer must consider most. The reproduction of space in a realistic manner will help you sell the properties because of the photos you shoot. This is what clients really appreciate and accept. As we all know, houses and similar real estate properties contain challenging things when photography is concerned.

HDR Photography: How is it Defined?

HDR or High Dynamic Range Photography is a trick in photography wherein a photographer can reproduce an efficient range of luminosity. This technique is better than what a standard photography can offer. Taking photographs of the same area but in different exposures then blending them altogether is the main concept of HDR Photography.

In the case of real estates, HDR makes the work of the photographer easier. When he shoots photos from the inside, all the details of the room are obviously visible. What is remarkable is that the view outside the window does not look overexposed. HDR pictures give a great impact in Real Estate Photography. To attain an HDR photo might be difficult with bare point and shoot or Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras. But with the help of photo-enhancing software like Photoshop, this could be possible.

The use of light is the primary idea when it comes to photography. Yet many of the photographers nowadays are making use of HDR as a solution and emerging alternate to flash guns and the use of multiple lights. In using HDR Photography, the delivery of a fresh and great looking image is exemplary but has a natural feel to it.

Things Needed for a Good HDR Photography

An HDR Real Estate Photography has positive impact in the photography industry. It can enhance the texture of the picture through manual contrast. And because editing in software is user-friendly, the quality of the photo becomes better in the end. Hence, a variety of details are added to create total makeover of the photo. With the use of HDR, it either brings down the brightness of the photo or blast the inside part to be balanced with the brightness of the outside.

Notably, there are some expectations in using Photoshop to create HDR photos: (1) the tone mapping is done after achieving a final product file; (2) it deals real estate HDR images for fine tuning and perfect adjustment; (3) focus on timing and composition becomes relevant, and; (4) the final output relies not only in the software but in the skills of the retouching editor.

The procedure in using HDR to real estate photography can be as follows:

1. Measurement of the Dynamic Range

After considering the space for your picture, it is a basic idea to first set the camera to Manual mode. This allows you to adjust the white balance before you use the camera further. It also permits you to change the shutter speed. Afterwards, you need to set the aperture to either f/8 or f/11 but these are optional settings. It is required to measure the brightest bright and the darkest dark of the area. Everything still depends on what aperture setting the photographer personally likes.

2. Use of HDR Bracketing

Some practices that are included in HDR bracketing involve overlapping photos during the blending procedure. It is advisable to preserve the focus during the entire process. This is done in order to get the same image results. Bracketed exposures may involve interior shots like balance difficulty, and single frame standard range.

3. Presets used as Starting Points

There are assortments of presets involving the key areas of color blending. These are the white balance and color fidelity. Based on HDR bracketing, colors that are often found when the bright rays of the sun comes through the window are totally imbalanced. Once extreme highlighting is done, the tonal range and white balance blend each other.

Using the 5 Stop Natural and 5 Stop Mixed Light presets, balancing of sunlight and warmer fluorescent illumination are made easily. The Single Exposure preset of the HDR technique requires several exposures to blend with the dynamic range. This trick can process several files down to single file only. The procedure mentioned can be several approaches of integrating HDR processing to real estate photography.

Evaluating an image could be subjective depending upon the purpose it could serve. Every viewer might have different tastes in terms of the aesthetic qualities of a photograph, closely looking for perfection with the advent of high-end camera devices and user-friendly digital image-editing software like Photoshop, Lightroom, Snapseed, and the likes.

Real Estate Photography is a growing industry which underscores tough and notable competitions among sellers and buyers. It stimulates property marketing and promotion as well as services. Since competition is tough, there is a great need for you to be able to produce quality products and you must know how to break boarders and limits to win the heart of the buyers.

In doing so, you must equip yourself with the incomparable skills in photography and update and discern your skills in digital image-editing software to fare with the growing real estate photography industry. These are some of the keys for you to be able to achieve a good product in the field of real estate photography.

Distinguishing a good photograph considering some terms and conditions, some standards and expectations, and some set of principles and rules necessary in the field of photography is a challenge in the decisive mind of the viewer.

How do you classify real estate photography as a good one? How do you ensure its marketability to improve your listing in the field of real estate photography? How do you sustain a quality and embrace a larger demand of it?

Here are some of real estate photograph qualities that must be present to consider it good.

Take note of them and make your output better than ever.

1. Expressive. The picture is an illumination of the real condition of the property. It has various layers and deep well-set structures that create impact and impression to the buyers.

2. Suitable. A good real estate photograph frames its subject, allowing only necessary objects that will create tone and color in the entire image. No unwanted objects or distractions are included which could affect the form of the place.

3. Well-staged. The entire place was prepared before the shot, evidently shown by the image containing a great background, well-placed furniture and things, and properly arranged pictures and objects.

4. Vocal. Spaces, shapes, figures, and structures provide the viewer a relaxing sight where lines meet perfectly against each other. Every single detail are put into account. Doors, ceilings, windows, floor, and other architectural designs are shown to the buyers. These add value to the property where beauty and quality are given utmost importance.

5. Clear and Concise. Every single and small detail matters. The clarity of the image must be vividly shown and that there must not be blurry areas in the photograph. View of the street must be minimized in exterior images. Focus on the property being sold so that the buyer will not seek for more.

6. Natural. The photograph does not offer an artificial or unrealistic representation of the property. Only real and tangible objects are shown in the picture. Also, the use of natural light creates a positive and happy feeling to the buyers.

7. Furnished but not over-decorated. It shows a well-furnished property but does not tolerate over decorations.

8. Weather-friendly. Rain, wind, fog, snow, sunlight and others can make or break the picture. The photograph shows a good quality if it was not broken or affected negatively by any of the mentioned natural circumstances.

9. Colorful. Range of colors give life in real estate photography. A good real estate photograph makes use of vibrant artworks or objects that carry and blast away the buyer’s attention.

10. Avoids Distortion. Sometimes this happens because of the lens of the camera that was used. It affects some vertical lines and makes it bend or lean backward. A good real estate photograph does not have distorted lines. It has well-shot lines that give the human eye an experience of the real features of the room.

11. Optimized Angles. The picture provides the viewer different yet constantly correct and amazing angles from any direction. It creates various perspectives through a single shot. The picture must have captured space, not stuff.

12. Includes Warm Colors. Emotions are elicited in a picture through colors. A vibrant color means happy while a dull means gloomy. In real estate photography, warm colors must be used to establish comfort to the buyers. It is not only vibrancy that must be taken into consideration but also warmth so that everything is in place.

13. Tells lifestyle. A good real estate photography demonstrates a lifestyle. This can be revealed by de-cluttering or adding objects suitable to the property you are selling. It must highlight not only the property’s feature but also the personality of the seller which are interesting and inviting.

Photography is something that requires sense of art and craft using a camera. It is always exciting for both beginners and professional photographers to explore and discover new things that give life and color to the world. In the field of interests like sports, events, nature, and others, it is always possible to improve photography skills with the time, passion, and dedication to it. One can be successful at a certain field of interest or two, or others can possibly be prosperous in many niche of photography.

One of the fields that is popular in demand is Real Estate Photography. It can be in the form of leisure or can be a work that gives many opportunities for a better life. This can be both a form of art and craft that leads to a progressive form of industry. It includes exterior and interior designing which could only mean detailed arrangement of objects and other factors necessary for the product. Its objective is to sell or rent a property.

The competition here might be really tough because of the increasing rate of interest in this profession and vocation. To market your products, you must have the edge and secrets toward creating valuable products and attaining constant customers. This entails specific technique and discipline. But how can you really be considered as an amateur real estate photographer or a professional one? Let us examine some of the features and characteristics of both.

Amateur Real Estate Photographers

Before being so concerned with the artistic and aesthetic entirety which includes the emotions of a professional photographer amateurs commit errors in the picture itself, and the purpose behind each is also affected.

1. Lines. An amateur real estate photographer could not use lines properly. Vertical lines converge while horizontal lines are not aligned properly, resulting into an angle that frames the property incorrectly. This affects the interior shot where the structures seem leaning in toward each other.

2. Perspectives. They tend to shoot a weak one-point and two-point perspective. One-point perspective shot of an amateur photographer does not converge on a single vanishing point. While for two-point perspective, they could not use the diagonal lines in creating a clear and dynamic shot. Failure to shoot correctly these perspectives will make the photo unattractive and boring.

3. Contrast. Using a flash in shooting may deter the attainment of a good quality photo especially if the flash was shot toward the subject without diffusion. Amateur photographers could not use the color contrast and tonal contrast well. This happens because of improper use of light and dark tones that complement to the quality of the picture.

4. Balance. This pertains to the improper removal of unrealistic color cast and inappropriate use of light sources with different temperatures which results to an imbalanced image.

5. Shadows. Dark rooms are caused by hard and heavy shadows. This is not ideal for real estate photography since buyers look for a stunningly bright picture.

Professional Real Estate Photographers

While amateur real estate photographers commit mistakes in the basic skills of photography, professional ones enjoy the art and express the craft exquisitely amazing.

1. Artistic. They direct their own art. They capture the right image and know exactly what the buyers are looking for before they actually take the shots. They rearrange room that is suitable for the buyer’s taste by adding or removing objects that will complete the detail of the product.

2. Wider Perspective. They are masters when it comes to angles and lightings. This makes the picture extremely desirable for the buyer because the best structures are taken into account. It is possible due to a preparation and setup that counts hours or even a number of days. They analyze the scene’s structure inside and out, and the lights and exposures as well for them to decide what tools they must use in the shoot.

3. Detailed. They decide what elements and details are to be included in the shoot. Spaces and forms for three-dimensional effect are utilized to create an appealing image to the target buyers.

4. Decision-maker. Out of all the shots, they can decide whether what shot can be considered the best for editing and enhancement, typically those shots that will serve different purposes.

5. Editors. They can add up some details they missed in the photograph using any enhancing software like Photoshop or Lightroom which makes the picture more powerful, vibrant, and interesting to buyers.

Real estate photography can be a lucrative business especially if you get booked by a lot of real estate brokers. Because of this, there can be a ton of photographers who are also offering the same services in one area. The challenge for many homeowners and real estate brokers is finding a professional photographer who can deliver quality images.

To set apart amateur photographers from real ones, here are some of the quick giveaways that you need to keep an eye on.

Once you spot one or two of these errors in the final output, then you’ve hired an amateur photographer.

1. Weak perspectives.

Composition is key in photography, no matter what the industry is. An amateur photographer will have weak perspectives and composing strategies. When shooting real estate, this often results in incorrect horizontals or converging verticals. Inexperienced photographers will not see this issue in the final photo. The goal of real estate photography is to have pleasing photos of the property in order to sell it fast. When horizontals are misaligned, the space looks crooked. In addition to that, a photo should have one or two strong points where the lines converge on a disappearing point.

2. Over-processed HDR.

HDR photography is a mainstay in real estate photography. Often, this is used as a creative take in a space. But when done inappropriately, this can look over-the-top and overprocessed. An HDR photo with a bad tone map can be caused by invalid settings during post-production. This can happen when the photographer only took ambient photos of the space without taking photos with flash or photos that are well-lit. Before combining photos for HDR, each of the photos must also be edited properly for color balance.

3. Flash hotspots.

This can be an issue when using flashes for interior photos. Flash spots can occur when the flash is directed to one area and is not diffused properly. This can also happen when you’re using on-camera flash. This is not aesthetically pleasing especially when posted on listings. Amateur real estate photographers sometimes point their flashes straightforward without diffusion. This can create harsh hotspots on surfaces. Just using an umbrella or bouncing light off the ceiling can create a more diffused light that’s great for photos.

4. Harsh shadows.

In real estate, a photographer must work well with light. This is important in order to achieve the most amazing and well-lit photos. When shooting the interior, shadows can be a problem. If you see final photos with harsh shadows, then you’ve found an amateur photographer. You can find these shadows on walls and at the back of fixtures or furniture pieces. This is a no-no when it comes to real estate, especially when home buyers prefer homes that are well-lit. Harsh shadows can often make the property look dirty or stained.

5. Incorrect white balance.

No matter what you’re shooting, the right white balance can make or break your image. White balancing ensures that there is no cast of unrealistic color on the image so white objects does appear white. This is something that needs to be done especially when shooting interiors since there will be different light sources with different temperatures. This could mess up the output if not corrected during post-process. Amateur photographers often present photos that do not show the accurate colors of the space. Final output should have the right colors as this is an accurate representation of the property.

6. Lens distortion.

Wide-angle lenses are often the most used gear in real estate photography. This makes it easy to capture the entire home, especially when shooting large rooms. However, you can get lens distortion when using ultra-wide lenses. This is because they have a wide field of view that lines tend to bow outward or away from the center. A professional and experienced photographer will easily spot the distortion and have it corrected during post-processing.

References:
http://blog.phixer.net/amateur-real-estate-photographer/
https://expertphotography.com/5-levels-amateur-photographer-which-group-are-you-in/
https://digital-photography-school.com/find-fulfillment-amateur-photographer/
http://www.milliondollarphotographer.com/19-signs-you-are-treating.html
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-obvious-signs-of-an-amateur-photograph

Author:
Claire Wright, a savvy tech nerd and self-taught photographer who lives in Seattle and working at one of the best real estate photography companies called HD Estates.

When it comes to real estate photography, having the right gears make a huge difference in the quality of output that you deliver. The right camera and the right lenses, along with other accessories, are necessary tools to help you get started in the industry. Altogether, they create the perfect image with the quality that your clients would want.

Of course, post-processing is a different story. But, having the right tools will allow you to venture into this industry.

Cover the bases

Make sure that you got the bases covered. You can start off with real estate photography even at the lowest possible cost. Get an affordable DSLR or mirrorless camera that allows you to change lenses and manually control settings. Don’t ever toy around with the idea of using a point-and-shoot camera. This is your primary gear and you need to invest a little bit on a good performing camera body.

Aside from the camera, you would need at least one flash. Lighting is of utmost importance in real estate photography. Dark interiors are usually the main concerns for real estate photo shoots. You cannot afford not having a flash when doing interior shots. Eventually, you might need more flashes and even continuous light sources especially when you’re dealing with bigger spaces.

A sturdy tripod will be your best friend during your photo shoots. Make sure that it is able to carry the weight of your camera body, lens, and flash. Those with bubble levels will even be more useful to you as you try to level and adjust every shot that you take.

Best lenses for real estate photography

Another gear that you need to invest in is your lens. The best optics often deliver the best images. This is what you need in order to get satisfied clients. Although you can work with just one camera lens, it would be best to have different lenses depending on the location of your shoot.

Here are some of the lenses that you will need when starting out in real estate photography:

• Kit lens. Most DSLRs come with a kit lens when purchased. Although this is not wide enough for interiors, you can use this in shooting exteriors. This can be a handy extra lens whenever you need to shoot some details on a property or in an interior.

• Wide-angle lens. The wide-angle lens that you’ll need will depend on the kind of camera body that you have. Make sure that you know your camera well enough. If you have a cropped camera body, then Nikon’s 12-24mm or Canon’s 10-22mm will do the trick. Tamron’s 10-24mm and Tokina’s 12-28mm are also great options if you are on a budget. For those with full-frame bodies, the Nikon 16-35mm and the Canon 16-35mm lenses are great options. Other alternatives are the Tokina 17-35mm and Tamron’s 15-30mm lenses.If you have a mirrorless camera, the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm lens and the Olympus 7-14mm work. An inexpensive option is the Rokinon 12mm lens. It’s best to keep in mind though that you don’t have to go super wide. This can also affect the image and you might end up with distorted photos. Your foreground will unrealistically dominate your image and your background might disappear in a distance. It still boils down to taste and how realistic the image looks like.

• Tilt-shift lens. This special lens can be an exciting gear to play around with. It creates a different miniature look to your subjects. The tilt-shift lens can be used in different types of photography. You can use it for portraits, wedding, and cityscapes. For real estate photography, you can use a tilt-shift lens for creating creative compositions. This also keeps verticals straight, which is very important in real estate photography. This can be done in properties with tall ceilings or when you’re photographing the exterior of a home. Canon and Nikon have their respective tilt-shift lenses. Canon has the 17mm and the 24mm tilt-shift lenses while Nikon has the 19mm and 24mm lenses. An inexpensive alternative is Rokinon’s 24mm tilt-shift lens.

Once you have all the necessary tools in starting real estate photography, the next challenge would be mastering all of your equipment. It will definitely take a lot of practice and experiment in order to get used to this industry. But, it’s going to be worth it once you achieve the results that you want.