Advanced Photo Guide
Picture sizes
640x480 for MLS (4:3 ratio), and 640x427 (3:2 ratio) for Realtor.com. If you are going to crop, be sure to keep the same ratio. Never shoot as a portrait; width must always be the larger dimension.
Windows
All photos should include windows, if possible. This conveys the feeling of the rooms, and makes the home more saleable. A room with no windows only tells half the story of what it looks like. The photos should show the rooms as well as what you see when you look out the windows.
Lighting
Use natural lighting for the best photos. Overcome the hotspots of windows and darkness of interior by taking the interior photos when it's overcast or raining outside. If you can't wait for an overcast day, you can shoot at sundown or the crack of dawn, depending on the orientation of the sun. The trick is to take the photo when the light level on the outside is equal to the lighting inside. To avoid the trial and error process, use a light meter if you have access to one. Of course, if you have the equipment, you can balance the light by adding a few floodlights inside, but try to avoid a flash.
Which rooms to photograph
Concentrate on the main living areas. Bedroom photos don't mean much if they don't show much more than a bed. Unless there is something interesting like a pair of French doors with a view of a pool or something green, or a fireplace, or a nice sitting area, skip the bedrooms.
Because of their size, bathrooms very difficult to photograph. Even a beautiful bath is tough to capture because of mirrors and limited space, so it's usually best to skip the bathrooms.
Most important areas to photograph:
1. The front view
2. Living room
3. Kitchen
4. Formal Dining
5. Breakfast area
6. 2nd living area or different angle of living room
If any of the above either don't exist, or can easily be captured in the same photo (i.e., often a breakfast area can clearly be seen in the kitchen photo), then consider:
7. Backyard/garden/patio area
8. Foyer/staircase/entry – if noteworthy
9. Master bedroom if there is something interesting there
10. Any others are a matter of judgment as to what else captures the essence of the home.
We always recommend that you take more pictures than you need, email them to us, and let us choose the ones we feel will get the best response from buyers.
Misc:
- Don't shoot photos in portrait orientation (with the camera tilted sideways).
- Format should be .jpg or .gif, and photos should be emailed as attachments.
- Do not send photos in a format that requires downloading special software to access the photo (i.e. Kodac).
- If you crop a photo, keep the ratio 4:3, and try to end up with 640x480 pixels.
- Don't shoot photos with a camcorder, palm pilot, or disposable camera
- Shoot as wide of an angle as possible to give perspective. Avoid close-ups.
- Don't compromise on the photo quality – it's the most important factor in marketing your home.
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Buyers
