REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Introduction

Want to learn how to take amazing real estate photos that attract more buyers? Well you’ve come to the right place! In this article, world class real estate photographer Brad Filliponi shares some of his tips and tricks on how to make your property images stand out.

Setting Up The House

Preparation is essential before shooting a property. In fact, preparation is equally as important as the shooting itself! Make sure that:

1. Kitchen stools and dining chairs are pushed in neatly.

2. Leave in items like fruit bowls as they can add an extra pop of color to your image.

3. Open up doors to outside areas to create space.

4. Straighten blinds evenly to give a clean look.

straightening-blinds

5. Remove pet related items including eating bowls and toys. Hallways are a great place to temporarily place unnecessary items as you generally don’t shoot them.

6. Straighten kettles and coffee machines.

7. Switch on all lights. It’s simple to do and makes a big difference.

8. Make sure to turn off fans as moving subjects in photos don’t look good.

dont-shoot-moving-fans

9. If there is a view outside, make sure to pull the blinds up and show it! This will open up the whole room and will make the shot look a lot more spacious.

wind-up-the-blinds

HDR Photography

HDR photography is where multiple exposures of the same shot are taken. Detail from each exposure can then be blended together seamlessly to create a professional final image.

Blending brackets together is time consuming which is why we offer this service under Image Enhancement edit.

Brad shoots with the D7200 which is ideal for real estate photography. The D7200 automatically brackets and takes 5 sequence shots at 5 different exposures. Brad personally shoots using 5 brackets (rather then 7 or 9).

hdr-photography

Composing Your Shot

Try and find the happy medium when composing your shot. Avoid aiming too high and shooting too much ceiling or sky and avoid shooting too low and shooting to much ground. Pin point the shot evenly in the middle and you’ll always get the best shot.

composing-your-shot

What Not To Shoot

There are a few areas that are generally best to leave out when it comes to real estate photography (as they simply don't sell well!). These areas include:

1. Laundries
2. Separate toilets
3. Pantries
4. Garage interiors

Only shoot these areas if the seller specifically requests for these rooms to be shot.

How To Find The Hero Shot

The hero shot is the best shot of your property (to showcase your listing).  If the property has a pool, 9 times out of 10 the hero shot is going to be by the pool area shooting back towards the house.  It is always best to shoot multiple angles to find the best aspect of the property.

the-hero-shot

Shooting Exteriors

When shooting exteriors, it is generally good practice to:

1. Include the front garage if the property has one

2. Try and fit in the front door as well

3. Additional items like solar panels are great to feature if the house has them

4. Be mindful of overhead foliage as including this can really make the shot look pretty

5. Don’t shoot gutters. Zoom in if needs be and shoot over it.

dont-shoot-gutters

So that’s our real estate photography tips for this week! We hope this article taught you a few things to help improve your photography skills.

 


RELATED ARTICLES

SKY'S THE LIMIT: ETHICAL REAL ESTATE MARKETING WITH SKY REPLACEMENT

Want to know the dos and don'ts of using sky replacement in real estate photography? Learn how to ethically market property photos using this editing technique. Discover what's allowed, what's unethical, when to use it, and how it can benefit your property listings.

READ MORE
ETHICS OF LAWN REPAIR & REPLACEMENT FOR PROPERTY PHOTOS

Patchy lawns can kill curb appeal — but digital edits come with rules. Learn how to enhance your listing ethically, stay MLS-compliant, and wow buyers without misleading them. Click to see our expert tips!

READ MORE
HOW TO SHOOT A VIRTUAL TOUR USING THE RICOH X

Haven’t shot a virtual tour before? No worries, our latest video will guide you through shooting a property for a virtual tour with a 360° camera. Get the inside know-how, so you can start creating dynamic marketing by showcasing a home virtually.

READ MORE
HOW RYAN SHIELDS TRANSFORMED LISTING PHOTOS WITH SNAPSNAPSNAP

Discover how Ryan Shields replaced slow, expensive photography workflows with SnapSnapSnap and BoxBrownie.com, achieving faster turnaround times, lower costs, and consistently polished listing photos.

READ MORE
HOW TO MARKET YOUR LISTING WHEN YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE PROPERTY

How do you prepare and photograph a new listing when you may also be experiencing significant difficulties simply gaining access to the home? In this blog, we take a look at our top 10 tips for shooting a property when you can’t access the home yourself to help you combat these difficult times.

READ MORE
WHAT IS HDR—AND WHY IT MATTERS FOR YOUR LISTINGS

Confused by HDR? Discover what it is, why it can dramatically improve your property photos, and how we make creating stunning, balanced images effortless.

READ MORE
LET’S WORK TOGETHER