I know it's a funny title for my first blog on Active Rain, but it's all I could think of after 7 years of photographing Real Estate in SCW. It's a common scene.
Most people by now own a simple digital Point and Shoot camera. They are great for family and fun, but their typical narrow "field of view" lenses (usually 35 mm) make almost any room seem small. This is because you are only able to photograph a small portion of the room which is only 1 or 2 walls and some furniture.
My trustworthy camera and photographer guru of 10 years states that Real Estate photos should give the widest, brightest shots you can get. I couldn't agree more. The wider
the better - if you can show three walls in a room, do it...it gives the viewer
the perspective of being right in the room. Our eyes have decent periphery and excellent
dynamic range, so when you see a poorly lit, narrow photo it tends
to tell your brain that the room is small and dark. Not a good thing when
selling Real Estate ;)
A narrow view is like you're taking photos of the sofas, tables, TVs, and beds...not the home itself. It's not your fault - blame it on the camera! The focus tends to be what's IN the room, not the room itself. But if you are selling the furniture...
I know this topic has been brought up many times before, but it cannot be stressed enough...quality photos really do capture the viewer's interests and tends to keep it there. Even more important, get the quality photos BEFORE you list the home. I think of it this way - what's the first and last impression one makes when searching for homes on the Internet? Is it the number of bathrooms? square footage? I think it's the pictures...buyers have already searched for a property in a particular neighborhood and within their price range, so now they want to see the goods! I say give it to 'em. Poor quality photos could lose interest - permanently. You can update the photos a week or two later and you'll benefit from the new lookers - but what about those that saw your listing a week ago? Or will they skip over it saying "oh yea, that's that one we looked at".
"It's too expensive for these small homes!". Not true! If you're paying more than $100 for professional photography (including all the photos you need - MLS accepts 25) with a professional interface, you're paying too much. The photos last forever - compare cost to other marketing methods - like a weekly ad in the paper. If you take photos yourself, take time to search online for tips and tricks for taking better photos - there are a ton of sites out there that will give you good, honest reviews on equipment and helpful hints. OH yea...don't forget what you get in return - referrals.
Here is an example - the before photos first taken with a decent DSLR at 35 mm. After photos are taken with a much wider lens and better lighting. Capture their interest and KEEP it. Why did we choose this home and not the countless mansions from over the years? Professional photos (whether you contract out or invest in the time and equipment yourself) benefit ANY home...not just the high-end homes. In fact, it's the smaller homes that need more help - as you can see it makes this unassuming ranch not so unassuming anymore!
Before:
After:
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