No matter what, when posting a listing for a home for sale online, it needs to include photos. Pictures give buyers an idea of what the home looks like and what they can expect should they choose to schedule a home showing, so they act as a first impression to all viewers. High quality pictures are important for all listings, but not everyone is a professional photographer, so it can be difficult to know all the ins and outs of getting good shots. Whether you allow your real estate agent to take photos, hire a professional or take them yourself, here are some tips any photographer can use to improve their results.

1. Use a Tripod To Steady the Camera

A tripod is a basic photography tool that all people trying to take important photos should own, or at least have something that can be used as a substitute. A tripod, stack of books, or a table can hold a camera steady while the homeowner takes all the shots they need of a room. Tripods help ensure that the shots come out clear, which is extremely important. A photo that looks slightly fuzzy can come off as unprofessional to buyers, and if enough photos are unclear, it can even be frustrating.

2. Use a Wide Angle Lens

When it comes to real estate photography, a wide angle lens can help homeowners capture their Brentwood home for sale on film. A wide angle lens allows the photographer to stand closer to their subject without sacrificing how it fits within the frame, so they can take a picture that has the home filling the frame without getting too much foreground such as driveway, street, mailboxes, and so on, along with it.

3. Strive For Natural Lighting

Light is very important to photos because without it, they’d end up looking dark, dingy, and unclear, and that isn’t an environment that makes buyers want to visit it. When taking photos, natural light from the sun will always be the best, so wait for a sunny day and throw open the drapes as wide as possible. If natural sunlight is impossible or inconvenient, artificial light will work, but homeowners should always try to use natural light first and foremost.

4. Stage the Home Beforehand

Staging is important for not only home showings, but the photos as well. Staging has many different benefits such as:

• Making a home feel inviting.
• Allowing buyers to see how spacious rooms are.
• Giving buyers inspiration for how they can decorate the home.

These benefits can also be gained through pictures of a home. If the listing photos just show dull rooms without any furniture or with poorly placed furniture, it won’t look inviting or enticing. Worst case scenario, the photos will make the home look cold, small, and vacant, which combined can be a deterrent to buyers who would have otherwise loved the home.

When In Doubt, Hire a Professional

Photography can be tricky, especially for someone who’s never done it before, so there’s no shame in choosing to hire a professional to step in. Using a professional will ensure high quality photos that can help the listing draw buyers in. Plus, a professional photographer can also make sure the photos are edited properly if they require it and can choose the best shots for a listing. For many people, hiring a professional photographer is a safer option than trying to do it themselves.

There are many different facets that go into real estate photography, but by keeping these tips in mind, homeowners can take better photos of their home for online listings to help draw in buyers.