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Picture Taking Tips
Posted by Matt Newbill in For Sale by Owner, Tips on November 30th, 2006
A picture’s worth a thousand words. We’ve all heard that phrase before, but I’m always surprised at the quality (lack of) of the photos people include in their advertisements about their homes. Some people don’t even take the time to provide any photos. When was the last time you flipped through a product catalog and saw poorly taken pictures or none at all? The point is, good photos help sell property.
Here are some tips to help you get started.
Required Equipment
You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take great pictures that truly showcase your home. Any good-quality point-and-shoot digital or film camera is capable of the job. Keep in mind though, if you’re using a film camera, the film must be processed to CD format in order to use your photos in any digital marketing. While a film camera is fine, a digital camera is recommended because results are immediate and shooting retakes is easier. The camera should be at least 2 megapixels. A 5 megapixel camera will provide optimum results.
The pixel width or resolution of your digital camera should be at least 800 x 600 pixels to produce a good quality photo.
Clean Up Time
When selling a home, curb appeal makes the difference between a prospective buyer stopping for a look, or moving on to the next property. Clear the front and back yards of toys, bikes, sports equipment and anything else that could be a distraction.
Be sure that shrubs are trimmed, weeds and past prime annuals are removed, and the lawn is mowed (very important). If your car is usually parked in the driveway, park it along the street, away from the home, while photographing. Vehicles parked in the driveway block part of the view and detract from your home’s overall visual impact.
On to the inside. Photos of individual rooms should create a spacious, clean impression. Keep toys, pet beds, and other objects out of the picture. Clear table surfaces of small items that might become prominent in the photo. Remove framed photos, collectibles, and any other items that personalize the room too much - after all, you want prospective buyers to imagine that they could live there. If you are photographing the kitchen, remove “refrigerator are,” magnets and the dish rack; clear counter tops.
Taking Exterior Photos
Spend sufficient time and attention when photographing the front exterior of your home, because these are the photos that will create a potential buyer’s all-important first impression of the property.
A slightly overcast day provides optimum shooting conditions, as bright sunlight causes high-contrast light and shadowed areas on portions of your home and yard, and creates glare off of windows and metal trim. Should the weather not cooperate, stand within photo-taking distance of your home at different times of day to establish the best light conditions.
When photographing the exterior, position yourself to take the shot on a slight angle. You can also get down on one knee to take the picture at a slightly upward angle. Photographing from these positions will make the home appear larger and better show its character than a straight-on photo taken from a standing position, which tends to produce an image that looks “flat” and uninteresting.
Recap of taking exterior pictures
- Groom your yard and clear it of clutter
- Take pictures on a slightly overcast day
- Take pictures on a slight angle
- Get down on one knee and aim the camera slightly upward to photograph the home itself
Taking Interior Photos
Prospective buyers will expect to see the main rooms of your home: living (or great) room, formal dining room, kitchen and master bedroom/bath. You can also photograph secondary rooms, such as a game room, home office (be sure it’s neat and organized) or guest bedroom.
Avoid angles that will pick up reflections or glare from mirrors and framed art covered with glass. Do not use a flash in front of one of theses surfaces. Also avoid bright windows and streaming sun, as they can create hot spots (which cause overexposure) or shadowy areas in a room. If this is the case, wait until late afternoon or even twilight to take the photo. If strong sunlight enters through a window, close the window treatments. Turn lamps and/or overhead lighting fixtures on, and photograph with the flash turned off.
Compose your photos by making the most interesting area of the room the focus – keep in mind that you want prospective buyers to see its selling points. Be aware of what’s in your viewfinder frame to avoid the visual effect of cutting furniture in half. Photograph from all four corners of the room, or from the entrance way to determine the best angle. Try to show as much of the room as possible, and remember to turn off the flash!
Recap of taking interior pictures
- Turn off the flash
- Make sure all accent lights are on
- Open or close window treatments according to light conditions
- Shoot from back in the corners or at the entrance to room
That’s it. Remember, good photos help sell property, so spend some extra time getting that perfect shot.
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