The seven secrets of fabulous property photography
Wednesday, 6 July 2011 3:35 PM
Most potential buyers decide whether to view a home based on its photos. Sam Jones, home sales strategist and managing director of HomeTruths, explains how to nail the property photography and attract viewers in droves in seven simple steps.
We all know a picture can paint a thousand words. With this in mind, when you are selling one of the largest items you have, why would you think some slapdash shots taken without a moment's thought will do? Would you let a friend take your wedding photos?
There are many elements that contribute towards great property photography: the weather, the skill and experience of the photographer and the features of the house itself. They can all make or break the shoot, but there are lots of things you can do to increase the chances of achieving the best images of your house. You need to ensure the images of your property not only do it justice, but also more importantly, indicate the kind of lifestyle that a buyer can aspire to if they buy your home. Here are some of my suggestions on how to do just that:
1. Be clean and clear
It’s often said that the camera adds inches to a person’s waistline – but when it comes to photographing rooms, it can take inches off! If you’re not careful, interiors can end up looking cluttered and meanly proportioned, with dark corners and distracting colours.
Clear surfaces and floor spaces, take up rugs where necessary and clean everything until it sparkles. Light and reflected shine are the best ways to show off the size of your rooms. (Note: your photographer may want to use a very wide-angled lens but I would caution against this; at best it can give the rooms odd angles and at worst it could mislead a prospective buyer.)
2. Go shopping
Any self-respecting property lover adores seeing inside the homes of the rich and famous, but one of the reasons these houses look so fabulous is that they are staged for the shoot – so take inspiration and steal the celebs' style by shopping for accessories and giving your home the star treatment. Here’s a shopping list…
Kitchen:
• Croissants
• A nice bottle of wine or even Champagne
• Fruit – stick to one type per bowl. Strawberries, limes and green apples all look great
• Rustic board of artisan breads and cheeses
• Flowers that are in keeping with your home style: if you have a farmhouse, choose a handpicked posy; if you have a contemporary home, Calla lilies will be more suitable
Living room:
• Church candles to place in fireplaces
• Flowering plants
• Lifestyle magazines and coffee table books
Bathroom:
• Fluffy white towels
• Luxury spa-style toiletries
Outside:
• A flowering plant makes a great patio table centrepiece
• Pretty tealight holders or a church candle lantern are lovely finishing touches
3. The more thoroughly you brief the photographer, the better the images will be
Go round the house making a note of any particularly attractive angles or features, then call the photographer as close as possible to the day of the shoot so your requests are fresh in their mind. Suggest that he/she makes notes or, even better, follow up on your conversation by emailing across a summary before the shoot.
Talk to the photographer about the house and suggest any particular features of interest, both outdoors and in, that best portray the character and style of the property. Ask them to ensure that in addition to standard shots, they also take some ‘lifestyle’ images such as close-ups of a bowl of fruit, coffee on an outside table or roses in the hallway. Suggest they also try some ‘vignette’ shots (these are shots framed by a doorway or in a mirror).
4. Make sure the photographer knows what time of day the sun will be on the front of the house
Shooting in bright light will make the property look so much better. It’s also worth thinking about evening shots and when the sun will be on the garden. This may necessitate two separate visits, so make sure the photographer has allowed time.
5. Follow the photographer around and become their assistant
Plump cushions, move chairs, take away any distracting objects, and remove bins and washing. Make sure you can see what is being photographed so you can anticipate any potential for the room not to look its absolute best. Switch lamps on or turn lights off to keep the ambient light at the right level. A good photographer will really appreciate your help and will guide you throughout.
6. Keep your images seasonal
It’s very telling when you see a house with daffodils in the garden being advertised in September. Make sure your property photos reflect the home in the current season – this will often mean asking your agent to revisit to refresh your images with new ‘foliage’ shots. At HomeTruths this is something we routinely arrange every three to four months. After all, you may not want your viewer to know how long your house has been for sale – why give them an excuse to make a low offer?
7. Demand perfection
Remember that in the relationship between you and your agent, you are the boss. This means that if you are not absolutely delighted with your photography, you can ask for it to be re-taken. Also bear in mind that minor improvements, like making the sky blue or removing a skip, can be made during the editing process. Insist on perfection and the viewers will turn up in droves!
Sam Jones is the managing director of property sales consultancy HomeTruths. For more information or advice on selling your home, visit Home-Truths.co.uk.
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