Still Considering DIY Photography?
A good starting point is having the right equipment. A camera such as a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) is advisable because they provide the option of changing lenses, working with a wide angle lens is usually a good choice for property photography because it provides a wider field of view, enabling more of the space to be in the shot. Investing in a good tripod is worthwhile, it will reduce camera shake (resulting in blurry photos) and also allow you to spend less time worrying about balancing and more time analysing your compositions. Whilst using natural light can often be sufficient, carrying some lighting equipment is always a good backup. Even if there’s enough light in the room naturally, a few extra lights can be positioned to make key features really stand out. Don’t be afraid to try out the existing interior lighting too.
Although not necessary, having some kind of photo manipulation software such as Photoshop or Lightroom can prove to be advantageous. They’re great tools to enhance photos and really make them stand out.
Be sure to shoot in high resolution, it looks more professional and your images will be of a higher quality. Furthermore, this will keep your options open for usage (for example, if you wanted to include them in a brochure or published document).
As previously mentioned, be sure to clean the property, remove clutter, personal belongings and stage rooms to look appealing to potential buyers. Create atmosphere and mood with lighting and props.
Focus on key areas of the property, what makes it so interesting?
Are there any features that would entice someone to live there?
Don’t be afraid to try out some interesting angles or more creative shots once the basics have
been covered.
Always try your best to keep the vertical lines in your photographs straight (keep the walls straight). It makes for cleaner, tidier photographs with a professional quality. Wide angle lenses can often be problematic for this, so beware. Photo manipulation software can help straighten out lines if it’s near impossible to achieve manually.