10 Essential Tips For Luxury Real Estate Photography
Luxury real estate photography is a great way to showcase properties and get started in the industry. However, it can be difficult to know where to start. One way to break into luxury real estate photography is to find a cheap beginner camera and start practicing.
As a real estate photographer, it is your job to make the property you are photographing look as luxurious and appealing as possible.
This can be a challenge, especially if you are not used to photographing high-end homes. However, there are some things you can do to ensure that your photos turn out to look like they belong in a magazine. Here are 10 essential tips for luxury real estate photography.
1.) Use A Wide-Angle Lens
A wide-angle lens will allow you to capture more of the room in each photo, which is important when trying to show off a large, luxurious home. Additionally, using a wide-angle lens will help to make the rooms look larger than they are.
2.) Capture The Exterior During Daytime And At Twilight
The exterior of the home is just as important as the interior when photographing a luxury property. Knowing the best lighting time of day for a particular property is very important. Especially when shooting daytime luxury shoots. Do daytime luxury shoots when the sun is at the highest point in the sky. Another tip is you might want to use a polarizing filter to prevent glare and reflections during the day time.
For twilight luxury photoshoots, some properties might look better at dawn. Almost always shoot twilight luxury shoots at twilight, but know that shooting at dawn is an option.
3.) Have Backup Equipment
No matter how well you take care of your equipment, things can always go wrong. That is why it is important to have backup equipment on hand, like a protection lens filter just in case something happens to your primary camera or lens
4.) Edit Your Photos Professionally
While it is important to capture the home in its best light possible, sometimes even the best photographers need a little help from editing software. When editing your photos, be sure to enhance the colors and contrast to make the property pop.
However, be sure not to go overboard with the edits, as you don’t want the photo to look unrealistic.
5.) Add Some People Into The Scene
Adding people to your photos can help Potential buyers visualize themselves living in the home. However, be sure not to add too many people into each scene, as this can make the rooms look crowded. One or two people should suffice.
6.) Use Soft Light Whenever Possible
Whenever possible, photograph the interior of the home using soft, natural light from windows. This will help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in each photo.
If there is not enough natural light available, you can use artificial lighting; just be sure not to overdo it, or else the photos will look harsh and unflattering.
7.) Take Multiple Photos of Each Room
When photographing each room in the house, be sure to take multiple shots from different angles. This will give you more options to choose from when editing and selecting photos for final publication.
It will also ensure that you capture every detail of the room so that potential buyers have a complete understanding of what they are seeing.
8.) Highlight Special Features
Be sure to highlight any special features of the property that might appeal to potential buyers. This could include anything from fireplaces and hardwood floors to custom built-ins and designer kitchens.
If there is anything that makes this property unique, make sure it is prominently featured in your photos.
9.) Focus On Symmetry and Clean Lines
Luxury homes are typically characterized by clean lines and symmetrical design elements. When taking photos of these homes, be sure to focus on these aspects so that they are prominently featured in your images.
This could mean lining up a shot so that all of the elements in a room are perfectly aligned or positioning yourself so that hallways appear straight and long.
Whatever you do, just be sure that your photos showcase the elegant symmetry of luxury homes.
10.) Listen To Your Customers
Some luxury photography customers are going to be more particular than others. So make sure to reach out and know what their goals are for the property.
Whether they’re a home builder looking for website images, or an agent listing a property for sale, ensuring your customers are on the same page and striving towards the same goal will make for a successful shoot.
11.) Manage Your Time
If you’re shooting twilight luxury photos, know that you’ll be working well into the night. So make sure to plan your time accordingly and give yourself enough time to set up, shoot, and pack up before heading home.
Additionally, if you’re shooting an entire property, it’s important to pace yourself so that you don’t get too tired.
12.) Be Efficient
One of the best ways to be efficient is to know what equipment you’re using. If you’re shooting with a DSLR, make sure you know how to use all of its features.
If you’re using artificial lighting, know how to set it up quickly and efficiently. The more efficient you are, the more time you’ll have to get creative and capture amazing photos.
13.) Shoot Single Exposure When Appropriate
Usually, right after sunset, the exposure level on the outside of the home is pretty close to what the exposure level is on the inside. So if you have a good view of the outside from the inside, take advantage of that and shoot one long exposure.
This way you can shoot the twilight photo and the inside of the home all in one shot!
14.) Daytime Exposure
At a minimum, you want to capture different exposures during the day. One exposure should be from the front of the home and one from the back.
This will ensure that you have a properly exposed photo no matter where the sun is shining.
15.) Simplify Your External Lighting
If you’re shooting twilight photos, your main light source is going to be the sun as it’s going down. So make sure to position yourself and the property in a way that makes the most of the available sunlight.
If you’re using artificial lighting, simplify your setup as much as possible. The fewer lights you use, the easier it will be to achieve the perfect exposure.
Use a single high-powered battery flash. This flash will allow you to move around the property with ease.
Conclusion
These tips should help you to take better luxury real estate photos that show off each property in its best light. If you keep these tips in mind, you should have no problem taking gorgeous, magazine-worthy real estate photographs.
