Think before you shoot/Texas Realtor

June 2002

Think before you shoot

Whether captured digitally or on film, better photos attract more attention to your listings.

Take a lesson from the pros.

by Marty Kramer

Picture this: A buyer looks at page after page of home listings on the Web. Finally, he comes across your listing—a house with everything he wants—and scrolls right past it. Why? The picture didn't grab him. Photographs have become an important part of property marketing. But, hey, you're not a professional photographer. Here, then, are some easy-to-follow suggestions to turn so-so photos into pictures that grab attention.

Just because a house has "curb appeal" doesn’t mean you have to show the curb

Before Three dominant elements in this photo are among the least visually interesting features of a property the garage door, driveway, and street (complete with parked car). This picture—like many listing photos—suffers from the photographer standing too far away.

After By getting closer to the house, details emerge. Also, shooting at an angle rather than head-on gives the features of the house some depth. Anytime trees or fences hide a house, move closer. You need not include every inch of the house in the picture.

Use a wide angle to get more "there" there

Before The front of this counter takes up almost half the photo. Also, it obscures most of what’s behind it. You can’t tell for sure that the kitchen island is indeed an island or see much of the oven. Standing so close to the counter also reflects too much of the flash, making it stand out from the rest of the room even more. Both photographs of this kitchen could have been improved had the photographer removed most of the items on the left counter. Photos tend to amplify clutter, and removing the containers and pitchers would have better shown the counter and the small windows behind it.

After For interior shots, a wide-angle lens allows you to photograph more of a room. This shot gives viewers a better perspective of the kitchen and shows more of its features, as well as the dining area in front of it. Also, note the change in mood established by opening the blinds and turning on more lights. Some rooms may have enough windows to use only natural light. When you’re not sure, take several shots using different combinations of natural light, interior lighting, and flash. Natural-light-only shots typically work best at midday. It’s best to avoid fluorescent lights.

The house that "blue" them away

Before You can’t control the weather, but you can observe it and try to schedule your photography when conditions are favorable. A hazy or overcast day can make a property appear dull. If you must get a photo right away and conditions are poor, try to come back and reshoot the house another time and replace the first photos with better ones.

After Schedule your shoot at a time of day when you will not be shooting into the sun. When conditions are hazy, you can use a polarizing filter to reduce the haze. Even when the sky doesn’t look hazy to you, a polarizing filter used correctly will create a deep-blue sky.

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