The invisible items that need to be moved before real estate photography
Paul is a very talented Real Estate Photographer with great tips for maximizing photos taken of listings so they look great for the MLS and other marketing.
During my time as a real estate photography expert, I've noticed that when it comes to preparing the homes, I'm always moving around and hiding the same things in every home that I go into.
Let's focus on the living rooms and family rooms.
These things that need to be hidden are all of the things that we as home owners consider to be the very essence of our comfort. They are, to name a few: The remote controls, the coasters on each end table, our favorite magazines and books on the coffee table, our reading glasses by the books, the trash can under the end table by the recliner, and the fan that circulates back and forth by the TV.
All of these things need to be removed to take a real estate photograph that will not be distracting to the viewer. The only things that should be on display in any are of the home are the items that were purchased to be aesthetically pleasing together in the room, and that tissue box that matches the pattern on the sofa is not what I'm talking about. Every item that is in a photograph has the potential to distract the viewer from seeing the room as a whole, or even worse, stop them from envisioning their possessions in the room! The more clutter we can remove from a scene the better our chances are for them to see their stuff in it's place.
A few of the items that I move quite often are the ones that every home owner knows that they should move, but they don't because it's to much work are: video cassettes, Cd's and DVDs from the entertainment center and atop the TV, children's toys (neatly arranged or not), and any decorative seasonal items like pumpkin shaped candles and cornucopia arrangements in the fall and Christmas trees and Santa's for Christmas.
These are all things that I move onto the kitchen table while I photograph the home. It takes me between 5 and 15 minutes to remove the clutter from a room. When we are talking about photographing an entire home, these 15 minutes are better used covering the home rather than playing the "hide the comfort items" game.
What we need to remember as professionals is that the average home owner is so attached to these items, that even the thought of moving them from their place makes the room seem like it isn't theirs anymore. So if we don't give them specific instructions as to what needs to be moved, hidden, and looked out for they will never see these items. They blend into the scenery for the home owner.
To help all of you, as well as myself, I am developing a complete guide to preparing a home for professional real estate photography. It will not only be for professional real estate photographers, but for anyone that photographs homes. If you are interested, please drop me a line, and I'll send you a link where you will be able to download it. All I ask in return is that you don't remove my information from it. We are all part of the same great real estate network. The more we share, the more that will come back.
Paul J Loehlein
Real Estate Photography Professionals
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