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Real estate photography
The digital camera is an essential tool for real estate agents, architects, designers and others who regularly take photos of real property. A digital camera can also be an important tool for individual sellers who must photograph their own home.
Whether a professional or not, the importance of taking well-composed and exposed photos of real estate can not be understated. Using a few tried and true techniques can produce near-professional looking images without the need of buying expensive equipment.
Wide angle lens for real estate photography
While a wide angle lens isn't required for taking photos of real estate, it is certainly a plus. Cameras and lenses with wide angle capability capture more of a scene than a normal lens.
Not only can a larger area of the scene be photographed with a wide angle lens, but wide angle allows you to stand closer to the main subject. As a result, it's often possible to take photos free from unwanted objects in the foreground such as trees and poles.
If you haven't purchased a digital camera, consider one with a 28mm (35mm equivalent) lens. Or check if the one you already own accepts a wide angle converter lens.
Composing real estate photos
Make a habit of checking the composition in the viewfinder or on the LCD before taking a photo. There are no hard and fast rules for composing real estate shots, but do keep in mind a few principles.
- Do some staging. Temporarily move distracting items from the scene such as a car in the driveway or a For Sale sign on the lawn. For interior shots, tidy up the room so it looks uncluttered.
- Highlight positive areas of property.
- Before snapping the shutter button, review the scene so vertical or horizontal line are perpendicular.
- Take shots from different angles so nothing obstructs an important part of the scene.
- Moving slightly to the left or right, or back a few steps, before taking a photo can improve composition. Check the composition on the LCD.
Part 2 - Issues when photographing real estate
This article includes tips from the more comprehensive, illustrated eBook Photographing Your Home with a Digital Camera. The eBook contains essential information for taking near-professional looking photos of a home. GET INFO >
