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Stop using Vertical Photos in MLS

By Joan Pearsall

Services for Real Estate Pros with Best View Imaging

June 13, 2011 02:35 AM

When I do a class/presentation at an office. This is one of my first tips.

Please use horizontal photos in MLS, Realtor.com, etc.

These online services are set up for horizontal photos: all of them;

MLS
Realtor.com
Trulia
Zillow
Yahoo Real Estate

When you enter a vertical photo in any of these sites, two things happen.

It doesn’t look good.
1. Since the image frame is not formatted for vertical images, the photo gets compressed to fit. The visual information which you are trying to convey is not being seen.
2. There is too much negative white space on the page, which is not visually appealing. Yes you do need some white space, or else there is too much for the eye to process. Too much white space however, looks like a void.
You are wasting your marketing money. You pay for this marketing space. By using vertical photos, the space on each side (for which you have paid) is wasted.

I have yet to see a vertical photo in MLS which would not look better as a horizontal. Some of the common culprits:

STAIRS:

Vertical foyer

Horizontal Foyer

FIREPLACES:

Horizontal Fireplace

VERTICAL FIREPLACE

FRONT DOORS:

Vertical Front Door Horizontal Front Door

So do you mean that vertical photos NEVER look good?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Just not in pre-formatted online pages, MLS, Realtor.com etc.

WHEN TO USE VERTICAL IMAGES:

Your own website
Print marketing:
- Beauty sheets
- Postcards

Vertical images are great for creating varying visual images, which are more interesting-and therefore more appealing, keeping the buyer looking longer. But MLS and the others are just NOT set up for verticals.

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Virginia Dean

Keller Williams Tulare County - Visalia, CA

Real Estate Done Your Way

Thanks for the information and good advice. I am sure it is second nature for you, a professional photographer but for us Realtors, we need all the help we can get.

It especially made a difference for me with the stairs, what a great presentation.

Thanks so much.

Jun 13, 2011 02:44 AM

Brian England

Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ

MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Thanks for the post, I have seen this as well, vertical photos just don't look as good as the horizontal ones.

Jun 13, 2011 03:15 AM

Joan Pearsall

Best View Imaging - Worcester, MA

Photographer

Virginia~ I'm glad I can be of help. You are right; much of it is second nature for me. It's been fun putting it into words in my blogs.

Isn't that a great foyer and staircase?! So much of it gets cut off in the vertical shot.

Jun 13, 2011 03:17 AM

Dick Greenberg

New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO

Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Joan - There are times when I find that to capture a room - particularly one that is small like a guest bath - I can shoot two or three shots vertically and stitch them together to restore a horizontal format. I get the same shot I would have horizontally, but without the walls or doors that wouldn't give me enough room to take the photo.

Jun 13, 2011 03:49 AM

Brian~ Preaching to the choir, am I? They do look better, don't they?

Dick~ Great solution to dealing with small rooms. Which stitching software do you use?

Jun 13, 2011 07:04 AM

Joan: I use VisualTour - it's my virtual tour software, and works well with photoshop for formatting and editing.

Jun 13, 2011 07:40 AM

Iran Watson

Georgia Elite Realty - Marietta, GA

Marietta Real Estate Agent - Photographer

My solution for this is simple. If I must shoot with a vertical orientation I make sure to find another vertical composition close by. This way I can add the two vertical images to one canvas and do a diptych style photo. Aspect ratio is the same as a horizontal shot and they just look cool, if you ask me.

Jun 13, 2011 05:25 PM

Evelyn Kennedy

Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA

Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Joan:

Good advice. You photos show what you are saying very well. How do you stitch three photos together. Do you use photoshop?

Jun 13, 2011 07:00 PM

Carol-Ann Palmieri

RE/MAX Executive Realty, Al and Cal Realty Group - Franklin, MA

"Cal" the Real Estate Gal

Hi Joan. Thanks for the info! The comparison pictures really drive the point home. Pictures are a big deal and I never knew what a big difference it made. Thanks!

Jun 14, 2011 12:40 AM

Anonymous

Iran~ The right combination would look good. Great idea. Thanks!

Evelyn~ None of these are stitched (12mm lens). When we do stitch, we use photoshop. Visual Tour and RealBiz360 have stitching elements in their programs. Just remember to have enough overlap; 20-30%.

Carol~ Photos do make a big difference. Next time you see vertical photos on MLS, all you'll notice is the blank white space.

Jun 14, 2011 06:59 AM

#10

Jordon W.Y. Wong, Jr.

Marcus & Associates, Inc. - Kailua, HI

Joan,
Thanks for your great advice. I'm a newbie photographer and this is a great tip to remember.

Jun 15, 2011 11:07 AM

Jordon~ Good luck with the photography. I am always available to answer questions.

Jun 17, 2011 03:17 AM

Kathleen Cooper

Kathleen Cooper, Sposato Realty Group - Worcester, MA

Sposato Realty Group - Broker Owner

You are so right Joan! It doesn't look good and I need to stop doing this. Sometimes it is hard to get those small rooms or bathrooms and I feel some people would rather see it than not, but it can be ugly!

Great post!

Jun 21, 2011 06:53 AM

Stop using Vertical Photos in MLS

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