We have no doubt that the majority of real estate agents all across Canada are fully capable with what’s required of them with regards to service, knowledge, and professionalism as it relates to helping clients with the sale or purchase of homes. What we’re also fairly certain of is that there are FAR fewer realtors who have the same proficiency with photography and / or digital image editing skills. Not nearly as much of a need for sure, but it is a shortcoming that might need to be addressed based on the way that visuals are increasingly a big part of how people make decisions about real estate. This is especially true for homebuyers, and it’s why real estate photography in Canada is a worthy subject for discussion.
Any time you’re the listing agent for a home you’re going to do everything you can to make that property appealing. Doing so with the understanding that in any instance your listing comes to be in front of someone who has the means of putting a legitimate offer on the home then it’s important that is comes across as appealingly as possible. There are going to be instances where homes sell themselves, but more often there needs to be other factors working to sway those would-be buyers into taking action and starting to see themselves living in that home.
Agents that work with clients selling homes more often won’t have this same focus to the same extent, but it’s these agents that are going to be more likely to be pursuing affordable real estate leads in Canada. There are ever-greater numbers of realtors in any city in Canada who are keen to be in touch with new potential clients in the same way you are, and there’s never going to be enough of those potential clients to go around and have all realtors enjoying a sufficient level of earnings. This is why so many agents are choosing to go with paid real estate leads like the type we provide with our service here. If you’re looking to buy real estate leads online you’re in the right place.
But enough about that for now, what we’re going to do with this week’s blog entry is assume that you are one of that majority of realtors who is NOT especially good with photography. But you still realizes the importance of having high-quality images of homes and properties if the aim is going to be sell them for the highest price for your clients, and perhaps sell them more quickly too. These are the images you’re going to want to have on your real estate agent website, and you want to be confident in their value when you encourage homebuyers to visit the site and look over your current listings.
So let’s get right into this real estate photography guide, and then hopefully after reading it you’ll have some ideas about how you can do better with the photos you’re able to get from client’s homes as they prepare to put them on the market.
More Appeal for Eyes
Really capturing the visual appeal of homes plays a crucial role in attracting potential buyers to your real estate listings. High-quality photographs are an essential marketing tool that can significantly impact a buyer’s decision-making process. With some homes it is easy to make them look great, but how about a less-than-gorgeous home with peeling wallpaper and warped floors?
Realtors that can master the art of capturing captivating images of your listings will be better set up to stand out from the competition and generate more leads. With that in mind we have 7 tips for you here.
Tip 1 – Use Proper Equipment
Spend some money and invest in a decent camera and a wide-angle lens to significantly enhance the quality of your real estate photography. A wide-angle lens allows you to capture more of the room in a single frame, making the space appear more spacious and appealing. Tripods are also invaluable for reducing camera shake and producing sharper images, and this is really true for low-light conditions.
Tip 2 – Shoot on a Tripod, Even in Bright Light
A tripod is the one tool that is an absolute necessity for real estate photography. Photographers always have this tool with them because they make taking consistently great pictures much easier, but of course photographers will never be interested in affordable real estate leads in Canada. The benefits of taking every single one of your shots with a tripod include reducing or eliminating the odds of taking blurry pictures, and taking multiple pictures from exactly the same height and angle.
Most tripods have built-in levels to ensure your photos are straight, and another consideration is that a tripod can double as a stand for lights or 3D cameras, and there are also tripods that are designed to be used with smartphones. Many higher-end smartphones like the new Galaxy S21 can take really high-quality photos, so it’s not like you absolutely must have a DSLR camera for real estate. That said, you will get the best photos with them.
Tip 3 – Schedule your Shoot for Early Morning or Late Afternoon
If you want to snap pictures on your smartphone that look like they’ve been taken on a $6000 camera, it is better to take those shots in early morning or late afternoon when the sun is closest to the horizon. This is the ‘golden hour’ of early morning or dusk when you will get bright sun for interior photos after golden hour in the morning, or before golden hour if you start your shoot in the late afternoon.
Proper lighting is crucial for creating visually appealing real estate photos. Natural light is often the most flattering. If you have it to work with then open curtains, blinds, and turn on all available lights to ensure a well-lit environment.
Tip 4 – Capture Different Angles
Taking photographs from multiple angles can provide potential buyers with a comprehensive understanding of the property. Wide shots can encompass the entire room, and you can then focus on specific details and close-ups. Using different angles and depths will help buyers visualize themselves in the space and provide a more accurate representation of the property.
Try to look for unique details and vignettes too. Shots of trendy details of the home can raise the interest of buyers and this is an excellent way to get those calls pouring in. This is also a great way to divert attention away from any flaws in the home or really push any details that make your listing unique or desirable.
Vignettes are tightly cropped, lifestyle shots that help a potential buyer visualize themselves living in the home. Places to find ones for yourself are cozy seating areas, interesting art, or any other area that oozes charm.
Tip 5 – Complete Final Walk-Through Before Shooting
Most homeowners are good about cleaning and decluttering before their home goes on the market, but it’s always good to get a second pair of eyes. They may have missed a stack of boxes in the corner or a streaky window. Do your best to offer a second opinion and address what you find, and then shift your focus over to highlighting key features with the images you take.
Every property has unique selling points that make it stand out. Focus on capturing these features in your photographs. This could be a stunning view, a spacious kitchen, or a luxurious bathroom. None of which will have anything to do with the opportunity to buy real estate leads online, but in these instances the client already has you as their listing agent and you’re focus is on selling the home. So highlight these aspects by using angles and compositions that showcase their best attributes. Use leading lines to draw attention to focal points and create a sense of depth and dimension.
It’s a good idea to create a shot list based on your walk-through, and the best approach is to plan a list of the order of rooms and details you will shoot will save you a headache when it comes to sorting through photos when you’re back at the office. Try to shoot in the same order your pictures will be on your MLS.
Tip 6 – Use the Rule of Thirds
Anyone can use the rule of thirds in their listing pictures to nail the composition every time. Here’s how you do that:
- Start by positioning your camera so that there are roughly three distinct horizontal sections in your image
- Position at least one focal point of your image in one of the four places the vertical and horizontal lines intersect, with a focal point that is anything that stands out in the room.
Now use the rule of thirds grid on your camera:
- iPhone: Open your camera app and press settings, then camera, then composition. Finally, tap the toggle on under ‘grid’
- Android: Open your camera app and press settings. Scroll down and toggle on the button next to ‘grid’
- Sony Alpha DSLR: Under menu, go to camera settings, and then grid line.
- Nikon DSLR: Under menu, select setup, then display, then grid display.
Canon DSLR: Under the yellow wrench menu, navigate to the fourth submenu: shooting info. Under Disp, choose grid display.
Tip 7 – Edit and Enhance
Post-processing can significantly improve the quality of your real estate photographs. There is good photo editing software that will allow you to enhance brightness, contrast, and colour balance. It’s important not to over-edit though, and instead try to strike a balance between enhancing the image and maintaining its authenticity. Excessive editing may eventually create a situation where potential buyers have false expectations based on the unauthentic nature of the images you’ve shared.
It’s also good if you can develop a consistent style for your real estate photography in Canada and if you do well with that you can establish a recognizable brand and attract potential buyers who resonate with your aesthetic. This is best achieved by using similar compositions, lighting techniques, and colour schemes across your listings. Consistency builds trust and familiarity, making your listings more memorable.
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