FIRST IMRESSIONS are the MOST IMPORTANT because YOU MAY NOT GET a SECOND CHANCE (meaning a showing).  With more buyers searching on the internet before contacting an agent, doesn't it make sense to make sure your photos tell the buyer what a great house your offering by showing them?  Buyers are visual, that is why pictures are so important in marketing a property.  That is why we take someone to "view" a property, we're visual.  Everyone wants to "see" a property before they buy.   If your properties show better online, you will get the call when the buyer is ready to buy.

I suggest that when you list a property an appointment is made to "shoot the property".  Schedule a time when the children are at school and the family is not in front of the television.  Talk to the seller about preparing for the photos and how important it is to outshine the competition,  especially now when there are so many properties to compete with.  Give examples of preparations that need to be made such as asking the seller to remove clutter from the refrigerator and counters.  Explain that you will be moving items and "staging" shots to make the home appear open and roomy.  Unlike staging a home (which I highly recommend) you only need to stage the areas within a particular shot and stuff can be moved temporarily out of view.

Don't be a doorway photographer.  Even before you take a single shot, move around a room and look for the best shot.  Try shots from different angles.  So many times agents try to capture too much in one shot loosing depth and interest.  It is better to have several good shots that may not get the "whole" room rather than one bad shot that is too busy or makes the room appear small.  Look at the area you are about to photograph, are the pictures hanging straight?  Curtains open and even, cushions on the couch arranged, stuff picked up off the floor and off the furniture?  Are the lights on and all the bulbs burning?  Turn off ceiling fans.  Did you move your purse, keys and briefcase off the table and out of sight?  After making all the necessary adjustments to the room, its time to look through the viewfinder...

Now look through the viewfinder, move around the room again and find the best presentation of the room.  Take several shots from different viewpoints.

Sometimes you need to bend your knees and stoop a little to get the best shot.  Go ahead, try it, it sounds stupid but it works.  Small rooms like bathrooms show better in these type shots.  Make sure a door frame or corner of a wall is not in sight.  I know, you say you can crop it later, but cropping takes a lot more time than to make a slight camera adjustment now.  And more times than not you don't make that adjustment and just post the picture anyway.  Yuk!!! 

If there is a wonderful view from a house, shoot the view from the outside but also shoot the view through a room window.  Let the buyer know that they don't have to climb a tree or stand out in the road to see that wonderful vista. 

It is better not to get every room in a photo if you just can't get a good shot of the room.  Some rooms are not designed for Architectural Digest.  And even if they are great rooms they do not photograph well.  Fine, move on or take a shot of a unique light fixture or special molding, even a well organized closet unit. 

Buyers love to see those rooms that aren't necessarily pretty but offer great work space like laundries, pantries, mudrooms, storage areas.  They can be an important selling point.  Just remember to shoot them as neat and uncluttered as you can even if you have to move stuff. 

 I could tell you about all the great software and the great camera equipment available....but the simple truth of the matter is that a good eye and attention to detail is all you need to make simply great pictures.  A few more tips when shooting a property:

 Almost all your shots should be done horizontally.  

Stand as far back out of a small room as possible without getting doorways or wall edges in the shot.  Again, try stooping.

Take close-up shots of chandeliers, architectural details, and furniture details.  These can be used to add interest and give a feel to brochures and handouts.

Be careful when taking shots facing a window because with the detail digital cameras give you may get unwanted views from outside the windows. 

Look out for reflections from glass front furniture and mirrors.  These can also be used to your advantage.

Keep people and pets out of your photos.  Pets may be cute but they are also turning off those buyers who are not pet lovers and become concerned about pet odors and damage.

Always photograph any unusual feature of the property.

Take lots of outside shots if that is a selling point.

Include shots of the neighborhood.

And the most important tip for photography that I can relate to you is that it is VERY time consuming to edit photos.  It is more efficient to adequately frame your pictures when you are snapping them rather than make adjustments later.

And last, I know I told you that you don't need to purchase expensive software or equipment.  There is one invaluable tool that I use in real estate almost everyday and saves a tremendous amount of time and effort.  Microsoft offers a free tool called Image Sizer Power Toy which can be used with the right click of your mouse at most any time and does not alter the original image, you don't have to open a program and it does not require you to resave the new image yourself.  Its easy and FREE.  With many websites which require photos to be a certain size to upload, I can resize even after I have hit the BROWSE button.  Wow. 

Have a Mary Day and keep shooting!!!!