In the days when everyone with a smart phone considers himself or herself at least an adequate—if not talented—photographer, the idea of spending money on a professional is not the go-to option that it used to be. When considering professional photography in real estate, if you can pull your iPhone out of your pocket, snap a quick pic of your home and apply a filter—who needs professional photography, right?
Not so fast. In the world of real estate, professional photography can make the difference between selling your home quickly—and having it sit on the market for weeks, months (dare we say years?) on end. As time passes, price drops happen—meaning if you had made the effort to incorporate higher-quality photos into your home selling marketing strategy from the beginning, you could have potentially sold it at a higher price. Professional photography in real estate does make a difference.
Take this real life example involving an Orlando home. The home was on the market for 224 days before a professional photographer stepped in to upgrade the listing photos. After spending eight months on the market, with the new photos, the home sold in just eight days.
So what is it that the professionals do that makes their photos so much more appealing?
- Preparing before the shoot. Some professional photographers will visit the home prior to the day of the shoot to plan out certain shots and what equipment is required to capture them effectively. Evaluating the home’s natural and artificial light at specific times of the day is a factor in getting a great shot. Also, this is an opportunity to scout out the best angles for each room, which brings us to our next point.
- Capturing the best angles. While an amateur photographer might think it best to shoot the kitchen straight on, for example, a professional would look for opportunities to show how the space connects to other areas of the home while still showing the kitchen’s best features. This is an example of how knowing what angles to shoot from makes a difference. Professional photography in real estate is all about making the home look desirable. Shooting from the right location, at the right height and in the best light are ways to do that.
- Creating an alluring composition. Just like an artist composes a painting, a good real estate photographer will compose a photograph depicting the rooms of your home by considering how the visual elements of the room interact with one another. This could involve staging the room by removing personal items and introducing props, establishing a focal point in the room and making sure visual cues exist to lead the viewer through the various elements of the room.
- Editing professionally. Concerning professional photography in real estate, the editing process is where much of the magic happens. A professional photographer will rifle through the potentially hundreds of photos that he or she took and select the ones that do the best job of portraying your home in a positive light (both literally and figuratively). The photographer will then make edits including color correction, cropping, sharpening and other effects. All of these serve to make your home look better than it ever has in order to attract potential buyers.
According to realtor.org, 92 percent of home buyers use the internet as part of their home search. That means that photographs are often the first impression a potential buyer will have of your home, so you want to make sure it is one that successfully grabs his or her attention—and keeps it. Do not discount the power of professional photography in real estate, as some experts contend that quality listings photos are the single most important factor in selling a home.
Looking to buy or sell a home in the Auburn, Opelika or Lake Martin areas? Contact Realtor Ryan Roberts today at 334-750-9872, or email [email protected]!
