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When it comes to real estate, the ethical question is not only limited to the concept of how the industry works. Almost all businesses connected to it face the same dilemma, including those engaged in real estate photography.

Determining what is acceptable and what is not in terms of shooting properties and editing the raw images is a buzz topic among realtors. Most of the time, it sparks debates that test the extent of this issue.

Nevertheless, the community has set legal and ethical guidelines for photographers and editors to follow over the years. This is aside from the rules set by each listing site. Here is an outline of the five general guidelines followed by most real estate photography companies.

1. Real estate photographers usually work for the listing agent (realtor). They can have the discretion to take the photos, but in some cases, they are asked to modify images of properties for sale.
2. It is the legal responsibility of the listing agents to not “materially misrepresent” a property.
3. For photo editors, modifying or removing temporary objects like garbage cans, cars, and unnecessary people are acceptable. Moreover, overcast skies are already a practice by most editors and generally not considered misrepresenting the property.
4. For real estate photography companies, their photographers should remain truthful with their shots by not allowing editors to remove permanent objects like power lines or telephone poles. Aside from that, neighboring homes should not be removed from the picture because this is already one form of misrepresentation.
5. Landscaping is a tricky part of images because it could be permanent or temporary. Some argue that it is okay to fix minor problems in the grass, for example. However, others are opposed to the idea and believe that it is one form of manipulation.

Yet despite these five main guidelines, realtors and legal professionals still have their sentiments regarding the topic. Everyone shares their comments, and some of them are the following:

Not removing anything unless told to do so

Most editors say that they do not remove anything in the images unless the realtor tells them to do so. Moreover, if forced to remove anything, they ensure realtors will explain to the clients why the part is removed in the first place.

Never alter the reality

On the other hand, some photographers and editors stick to not modifying any part of the property that can change the real perspective of future clients or buyers. This is an essential pointer to consider because it will help the buyers set their expectations.

Stick to the legal guidelines

There are different real estate listing sites available online, and each of them has legal guidelines about photographs being used. It is the realtor’s job to follow these rules and not override anything, since it may result in your listings being taken down.

Photographers and editors must not have any legal obligations

Since photographers and editors work with the realtors and have the legal responsibilities since they are the member of any realtors’ association, the former should not be held liable for any misrepresentation disputes.

In summary, we can say that the photographer and editor are working for the listing agent, not the potential buyer. Therefore, the property’s accurate representation is the agent’s legal responsibility, neither the photographer nor the editor’s.

 

Still, it is best if photographers or editors can perform their duties with due diligence, so they wil not be held accountable by any misrepresentations that may arise from the edited images. It is recommended to document that they are modifying the photograph at the agent’s request, not only based on their discretion.

In photography, the term “distortion” is used to describe many different aspects of the subject. In general, they are undesirable and need to get fixed as soon as possible. Some types of lenses cause this problem in images. For example, the famous fisheye lens “distorts,” a photograph by intentionally bending straight lines. This makes the image look ugly and funny.

Lens distortion has two main types: (a) when the lens “accidentally” makes a straight line curve or wobble when it should be straight, and (b) when two lines that are supposed to be parallel appear to “lean” in or out, depending on the angle.

Moreover, there are also what we call the barrel, pincushion, mustache, and keystone distortions. But what are these, and how do they differ from one another?

Barrel Distortion

With barrel distortion, a straight line near the edge of the image will bend outward.

Pincushion Distortion

On the other hand, pincushion distortion causes straight lines to visibly bow inward instead, the total opposite of the pincushion distortion.

Mustache Distortion

Moreover, the mustache distortion happens when a straight line does both curvings back and forth. This is a common problem on more affordable, compact ultra-wide lenses such as the 14 mm lenses.

Keystone Distortion

The keystone distortion is not an optical lens flaw. Instead, it is a natural characteristic of the viewing angle. A classic example is shooting a house from a high location, and the subject is way too down your position. At this point, the vertical lines will visually converge in a downward “V” shape or vice-versa. Vertical lines should remain vertical because if not, they seem visually unsettling and unnatural looking.

So, how exactly can you correct these common lens distortions? Here are two efficient solutions to try.

There are two main ways to correct distortion in real estate photography: (a) check if the lens has a correction profile in the post-production software you are using or (b) try correcting it manually.

Luckily, most lenses these days has a correction profile available already. You only need to access it on the raw conversion software such as Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, or Photomatix.

Moreover, some of the mirrorless lenses have permanently embedded the correction profile in raw file data. This makes it accessible by only turning on or off the in-camera. Before shooting images, try checking the in-camera settings to make sure distortion correction is turned on. This process can make editing easy.

On the other hand, for keystone distortion, Lightroom has automated and manual options to correct this problem. The software also has final straightening options that can make the editing quick and easy. At the same time, you can also use Lightroom’s manual tool to trace the lines that should either be vertical or horizontal.

In the end, the major takeaways are the following:

Turn on the in-camera before the shoot

Check that the camera has its barrel or pincushion distortion turned on in-camera. To ensure that this will work, double-check first if the lens you are using has a permanently embedded correction profile.

Set the necessary Adobe Lightroom settings

In Lightroom, check that the Develop Module’s defaults include the Lens Profile Correction tool on and “automatic.”

Master the quick-fix methods

Learn how to “fix” vertical lines that are not vertical quickly using automatic or manual correction tools.

Recheck your workflow and lens all the time

If the work is getting complicated, and you think it is not beneficial anymore, try to seek a professional real estate photographer’s help or find another lens with a perfect correction profile.

As part of acquiring compelling visuals for your real estate property, it is normal to have photos or videos taken by professional real estate photography and videography company. Hiring an expert photographer and videographer is one reason why good listings stand out in the market and quickly get noticed by potential buyers.

Do you have a scheduled photo or video shoot for your property, but do not have an idea on how to prepare your house? Do not worry! We got you covered. Here are some useful tips to follow when preparing your property (both interior and exterior) for a shoot.

Declutter as much as you can

Put away toys, clothing, dishes, towels, shoes, and other unnecessary things inside the house while making sure that the lawn area is also free from other items such as gardening tools, garage equipment, etc. It will help you save some bucks to keep these things away rather than paying for photoshopping the photos.

Depersonalize all spaces

As the current owner, you are probably immersed in the kind of personalization that reflects your home. However, if you are planning to sell it, you must apply a certain level of depersonalization in the house’s areas to make it more neutral. At most, the photos of young children and any potentially offensive art should be put away.

Clean all the rooms and lawn

It is a necessary step to clean the whole house before doing a photo and video shoot. Ensure there are no visible specks of dust on the windows, tables, and cabinets. Moreover, arrange everything – from the vases and other decorations at the rooms. For the lawn, make sure the grasses are newly trimmed, including leaves raked, and bushes and trees pruned. Also, hide any yard decorations, garbage cans, garden tools, hoses, and shovels.

Tidy the kitchen and bathroom

Your kitchen and bathroom need to be pristine. Hide any cleaning products and keep work surfaces clear of clutter. Most importantly, leave the toilet seat down and the bathroom mirror clean. Remove all shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and others. from the shower.

Ensure natural light

At the beginning of the shoot, always open curtains and blinds to let in plenty of natural light. Please get rid of cobwebs that can often be found lurking in ceiling corners, so they will not be captured.

Shine all the areas with mirrors

Clean all reflective surfaces such as the windows, mirrors, glass table-tops. Everything should look shiny and polished, and of course, finger-print free.

Keep your pets away

If you have a dog or a cat, or any other pets, hide them from the meantime since not everyone is an animal lover.

Make sure outdoor amenities are clean

If the property has a pool, hot tub, or spa, clean them to look presentable. Put only necessary furniture near these areas and try to make the surroundings look minimalist.

Indoor lightings should be on

Turn on hall and landing lights to instantly maximize space in areas that are often dark and shadowy. Getting the best lighting possible will yield more quality photos and videos.

Put the necessary accessories only

Think of your home as a stage set and accessorize accordingly. For example, add extra cushions to sofas and bedrooms, or you can add fresh flowers on top of the tables.

No cars, please

If possible, pull vehicles out of the driveway. This will highlight the front of the home and the car park area, giving the buyers a more concise picture of the said areas.

These are some ways to prepare your area for a scheduled photo and video shoot led by professional real estate photography and videography company. Following the tips above can make you feel at ease and confident that you will get the compelling visuals to use for your listing.