Real Estate Photography & Video; What You Need To Know

Most people have heard the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words", and the truth behind that is beyond what can be explained. There is so much literal data that is conveyed through an image, and in addition to that there is the emotional aspect that it can create. In the case of real estate, photos can be worth millions of dollars.

What is Real Estate Photography & Videography?

Real estate photography is a collection of still images generally used for marketing a property for sale or lease. The images can also be used for editorial purposes such as in magazines, but the reference is usually used for the purpose marketing. Video is similar, but utilizes moving images to capture a property tour and highlight the most distinguished aspects of the property.

Real Estate Drone Video

With the popularity of drones, they have been incorporated into so many aspects of life which includes package delivery in some areas. For real estate, they have become an important tool for capture aerial images. This can be effective for:

• Showing an image of the community.
• Capturing a niche feature of a home's roof.
• Producing still images of the home's front from an elevated position when the home is on an extreme slope/hill.
• Creating a tour of large tracts of land.

Drone video is not a requirement for all properties, but can add another marketing aspect when needed.

Matterport Tours & Dollhouses

Matterport is a brand of specialty camera that scans a home/building, and can produce an interactive tour that allows people to virtually walk through a home. The dollhouse feature allows one to see the home's layout just as you would be looking into the side of a dollhouse. Both are great features for marketing properties, but do not replace the impact of a potential buyer actually standing in your home.

What is a High-Quality Real Estate Image File?

Like many things, this is going to be subjective which can be unfortunate if a seller is relying on proper images to produced. Keep in mind though that no matter what "good enough" is... better has a chance of earning the seller (you) more. A high quality image will include these characteristics. NOTE: This is about the image file itself... not the content.

• The image should have proper exposure which is the amount of light captured during the image. This affects everything else.
• Color balance is a necessity. Whites should be white, and all other colors should be accurate when compared to reality. Exceptions may vary with twilight home images, sunsets, etc.
• Saturation is a setting that determines how deep the colors present themselves. You want these to be accurate or just slightly more, but not to the level where it looks like animation levels.
• The file should not be overly processed (which is a stage that some images go through after the camera captures it - such as RAW).
• Files should be HDR (high dynamic range) that allow a wide range of tone and lighting capture. These are often produced in post-processing from multiple images of the same scene.

What Makes an Effective High-Quality Real Estate Picture?

For this description, we will focus on homes. Commercial buildings and land will also have some of these, but they each have their own special characteristics. Every home and property are unique, so photo prep will vary, but these features and qualities should be considered for most images used for marketing homes:

• With rare exceptions images should have all building lines and wall lines perpendicular to the horizontal lines. In other words, your home's and rooms' walls should not be angled or slanted. Everything should be plumb and square.
• To show off your counters (kitchen and bath), counters should be cleared.
• Curtains should be open to reveal as much of the window as possible. Blinds (if any) will most likely be adjusted by the photographer to help balance and adjust lighting.
• Bathroom prep should include clutter-free counters, zero personal items in the showers/tubs, curtains possibly removed or pulled back, toilet seats down.
• Kitchen prep is key because it is such a key element to the home sale. The kitchen should be as spotless and clutter-free as possible.
• Bedrooms should all be clutter-free, beds made, and present in a clean and crisp manner.
• All rooms should be a bright as possible (barring any special needs of the photographer).
• Media rooms can have images edited on to the TVs in post-production.

As you can see, the list is nearly endless on what makes a high-quality real estate photograph. That is why using professional services - photographer and agent - is key to marketing

Phone Pictures

This is actually a hot-button topic among agents, and phone pictures are often perceived as inferior. Their use is usually a cost-cutting measure on marketing. As a former photographer, I know that there is a balance between the expertise of the user and the equipment being used. Phone-camera technology continues to become astounding, and I personally have seen tremendous results from phone-cameras, so I won't snub their use, but that is not the route I choose for my clients who deserve the best efforts. We use higher end professional equipment for premium results.

Summary

When it comes to getting the top dollar for your home, two phrases should come to mind:

• A picture is worth a thousand words.
• You only get one chance to make a first impression.

The decision to sell is usually a gradual one often stemming from curiosity. Home worth, new beginnings, change of scenery all play a factor. The first step is information-gathering. A complimentary no-pressure consultation about your position and future plans is where to start. If you are curious about a general idea on your home's value, please use our online tool for that as well.

Many sellers stay local and purchase in another community. Other times, the journey is taking you elsewhere, and you need a home at your destination. We can help! Our service is not limited to the local area. Through our Agent Network, we are able to assist you in relocating virtually anywhere. Allow us to connect you with representation who is of like-kind professionalism as we ourselves have. Take the stress out of trying to locate someone blindly. Simply share where you are heading, and let us connect you with professionals who will take great care of you.

Are outside our area and considering moving to the Nashville area and purchasing a home? You. Will. Love. It! I have been here for decades and have immense knowledge and resources that I would be thrilled to share with you to make your move easier and less stressful. Call or text anytime: 615-513-1577, or send me a message, and let's learn more about your plans.