Image is everything when it comes to selling real estate.
According to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), 87% of home buyers find real estate photos useful in the home buying process.
Posting stunning photos on social media and holding 3D virtual tours is an effective way for real estate agents to get more leads and close deals faster. Real estate photography can also elevate your brand image by highlighting your professionalism
So the question is, why don’t real estate agents invest in achieving professional real estate photography? The truth is that creating compelling real estate photography isn’t as easy as it seems.
In this article, we’ll help you achieve stunning and on-brand real estate photos that will help you capture the hearts of potential clients.
What Size Should Real Estate Photos Be?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of our real estate photography tips, you should know that there’s an optimal resolution for posting images online, depending on the social media platform.
Image size for MLS: 1024 x 768
64% of realtors ranked MLS websites and apps as the most valuable technology tool in the real estate business. To stay competitive, you should consider posting your best real estate photo listings on MLS.
For real estate photos on MLS.com, the images need to be at 1024 x 768 or an aspect ratio of 4:3.
Image size for Facebook: 1200 x 630
Facebook is another effective way to share your listings with potential clients. It’s used by 97% of realtors for social media marketing.
Keep in mind that the recommended image size for Facebook posts is 1200 x 630.
Image size for Instagram: 1080 x 1080
Instagram is the best visual platform for you to gain a healthy following!
Most Instagram posts are in the recommended image size of 1080 x 1080, an aspect ratio of 1:1. However, you can still post images in landscape or portrait to suit your feed:
- Landscape: 1080 x 608 (1.91:1)
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 (4:5)
Top 5 Real Estate Photography Tips
Now that you know how to size your images, it’s time to get to the art of real estate photography.
Achieving engaging real estate photography isn’t as simple as taking a few shots of a room then posting it online. Make sure that you follow our top tips to get compelling photos that will close deals.
Mind Your Lines
Have you ever come across a photo that just seems off, but you can’t seem to pinpoint what’s exactly wrong with it?
Chances are that you’re subconsciously noting that the horizontal and vertical lines in the photo aren’t level. Our minds are hardwired to notice even the slightest crooked line, so there’s a big chance your audience will instantly dislike a photo with uneven lines.
To achieve professional photos, you can use a tripod to make sure that all vertical and horizontal lines are straight.
Find the Light
The right lighting can indeed make or break a photo, especially when it comes to real estate photography.
For small rooms and closets, one flash is generally enough. However, if you’re taking a photo of large living rooms and kitchens, you might need more than two light sources to achieve a decent photo.
We also recommend that you invest in light stands to easily mount your lighting.
There are also photography lighting kits available with an umbrella. These help to diffuse light for natural and soft light and even shadows
You can also use a remote to wirelessly trigger your camera or flash.
Use Wide Angle Lens
You may be wondering why some real estate listings look so good. The secret is in the lens –– most professional real estate photographers use a wide-angle lens to “open up” a room.
Wide-angle lenses enhance perspective by giving a wider viewing angle between 64° to 180°, capturing more than what a “standard” lens would.
If you’re taking the photographs yourself, we recommend investing in a 24mm lens. This option is more affordable than if you were to invest in an ultra-wide zoom lens.
Minimalism is Key
You may be tempted to display your collection of trinkets of figurines and trinkets in every corner of the home.
However, you need to remember that such personal items will make it difficult for buyers to imagine the home as their own. It would be best to neutralize the photos as much as possible
On top of that, failing to declutter the house can distract your audience from the home’s key design features. Try to clear counters and walls from decor to keep photos professional.
While the photos may seem bare to you, keeping real estate photography clean and minimalist will highlight the property’s strengths.
Don’t Forget about Staging
You can’t take photos from the get-go and call it a good day’s work. Before actually taking photos, you need to think about staging the furniture in a way that will highlight the functionality of the room.
Try to find a nice balance in incorporating design elements that won’t distract your audience. Remember to keep in mind the previous tip that too much clutter doesn’t work either.
You don’t have to buy expensive furniture to get staging right. You can simply rearrange the furniture in a way that will allow potential buyers to visualize themselves living in the space.
If you’d like to infuse a bit of style and comfort to the room, adding plants and trendy pillows, curtains, or rugs is an affordable solution.
If the home is completely vacant, you can get in touch with a professional stager to give you tips on proper placement and style.
Conclusion
Effective real estate photography can be difficult to achieve if you don’t know about the key elements that make a photo look clean and professional.
If you’ll be taking your photos for real estate listings, make sure to use a wide-angle lens and be mindful of the lighting and composition.
Getting the staging right and neutralizing the room is key to helping your clients envision themselves in the space.
Good luck!