First impressions matter—and when listing your property, it’s your photos that make the first impression.
Unfortunately, too many sellers, landlords, and even agents think that taking a quick photo of the property is enough. But this couldn’t be farther from the truth.
In fact, property listings receive more inquiries with good photos.
Good news: you don’t need to be a professional photographer. Just follow these 7 tips for eye-catching photos that will help you sell or lease your property sooner.
- Optimise Natural Light
Lighting and angling are the two most important parts of photography. Let’s start with lighting first.
Take photos during the daytime, ideally when the sun is out but is not too harsh. Not only does this ensure that your property’s features are fully visible, but it also imbues it with a bright and airy feel.
And if necessary, use soft artificial lighting to balance darker areas.
- Capture the Best Angles
Now on to angling. Unfortunately, the process of getting the best angles isn’t a hard science. However, here are some rules of thumb:
- Position the camera at eye level or slightly lower—this maintains a natural point of view;
- Stand in corners or the doorway to capture as much space as possible in a single shot;
- Experiment with different angles; take multiple shots to see which ones look the best.
- Declutter and Stage the Space
Never post photos of messy rooms. Stage your rooms by removing any clutter, keeping surfaces tidy, and arranging furniture to look organized and homely.
This has a clear psychological effect. A study by the National Association for Realtors in the US found, staging makes it easier for 81% of buyers visualize the property as their future home.
- Highlight Key Features
A stunning rustic fireplace, a spacious garden, a modern kitchen, a beautiful gate—every property has unique selling points.
Make sure you have photos that emphasize and accentuate these key pieces. In fact, you can even make them your thumbnail to draw in the clicks.
- Use Proper Equipment
If you’re selling or renting out a larger property, it might be worth investing in a DSLR to take crisper and wider-angled photos. Or, at the very least, hire a professional photographer.
Although, truth be told if your property is smaller and you know your way around a smartphone, their cameras are now advanced enough for decent photos as well.
- Edit for a Professional Finish
Good photos can become great photos with post-processing.
With basic changes like…
- Increasing brightness;
- Color balance corrections;
- Contrast adjustments;
- Cropping.
…you can make your photos all the more striking.
However, note that you should keep editing moderately. Over-editing can make photos seem unrealistic or even AI-generated, which may put off viewers. Or, if people view your property in person, they may feel like they were misled.
Conclusion
And that’s it! If you’re satisfied with your photos, it’s time to list your property.
Just make sure to keep your data and location private. For that, check out this information source to find a better tool for your online protection.
Also, remember that you can always change your photos in your listing. If you find that your listing’s current photos aren’t drawing in inquiries, it might be a sign to take new photos and see if they work better.
