Tips for Taking Great Listing Photos

Stage your space before you start snapping listing photos. It’s best to do this early on, as it can take time and will be important for showings. Declutter and ensure furniture is in good condition, properly scaled, and arranged in a visually pleasing way. This will result in a space looks large and well organized – both great selling features to home hunters.

Set your cell phone aside for this job, and get your hands on a five-megapixel digital point-and-shoot camera which is a great choice for the convenience and ease of use it offers. If you’d like to invest a little more money for higher-quality photos and more settings, consider a DSLR camera.

Proper lighting is key to achieving a space that looks open and airy. Schedule photo shoots during daylight hours. Throw open those curtains and blinds, and let the sun shine in. Turn on all the lights in the room when photographing it. Avoid using the camera’s built-in flash, which can create unsightly shadows and dark corners.

Maximize the space by shooting your photos from the doorway or a corner of the room, and consider what will be framed in the shot. Pay special attention to the view through windows and what’s being reflected in mirrors. Avoid capturing the large backs of sofas and chairs in your photos.

Using a wide-angle lens can mislead buyers into thinking that the home is bigger than it appears. This strategy may lure home hunters in, but it won’t make a sale. You’ll only be wasting their time, and your own. Ensure the photos are a realistic representation of your home.