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The importance of professional photography

Matthew Griffin • Jan 20, 2020
That old adage 'first impressions are everything' is certainly true when it comes to selling a home. Today, most home buyers are extremely busy and do a large majority of their research online. For that reason, professional and attractive photos are an absolutely necessity for putting your best foot forward as a seller.
As you would know from your own house hunting experience, photos are essential in helping home buyers to decide whether it is worth their time and energy to go to an inspection, and maybe eventually purchase the property. People have a desire to visually experience a home before they set foot into it. Sure, written descriptions are important too, but another old adage applies: 'a picture is worth a thousand words.'First, people need to like what they see in the images before they'll even read the text.

Blurry photos, photos that are too dark, and images that don't highlight the appeal of your property can do much more harm than good when it comes to selling your home. The cost of hiring a professional photographer will pay for itself when it leads to a faster sale, and often at a higher price due to an increased interest in the property. Good photos can lead to bidding wars when multiple people fall in love with the home at first sight.

So in this handy guide, I am going to outline my professional opinion, gained over years in the industry, about why professional photography is so important when it comes to selling your home.
Why professional photography

Just like any other profession, professional photographers are the experts in their field. They know how to create images that suit a given purpose. They also know how to make a space look brighter, more inviting and more appealing using their professional photography tools. Photographers are able to adjust angles to make a room look larger and capture the best attributes of your home in visual form.

In addition, professional photographers will retouch your photos if they don't come out looking great right away. This is why there is a big difference between the photos you see on a real estate website and ones that you take for yourself. Real estate photography is a fine art that people spend years training in, and perfecting. For example, it can be exceptionally hard to get good photos on days when the weather and lighting are poor. And getting the right exposure inside a house can be challenging.

While it can be very tempting to take your own snaps and tinker in Photoshop, this can be a big time-waster, and can ultimately cost you a sale, or get you into legal trouble. When it comes to photographing a house for sale, there are also some legal restraints that need to be adhered to which professionals all know about. For example, you are allowed to touch up the lighting, but you aren't allowed to remove neighbouring buildings, cracks in the walls, or other features that may mislead the consumer.

Trust me when I say that this is a job better left to the pros.

The right equipment

Professional photography equipment and software literally costs thousands of dollars. And that's for a good reason. Top-quality cameras, lenses, lights, staging equipment and editing suites are what make it possible to produce sleek and high-class images under all conditions. If you watch a photographer work, you will see them changing lenses, adjusting lights and moving props around to achieve the perfect result.

Funnily enough, something as simple as taking a straight photo is something that alludes most of us. We also generally aren't able to decide correctly which way the light should be shining in an image. Photographers also understand the rules of composition that make images visually appealing. This is especially important when it comes to architecture because there are lots of angles and lines that must be captured just right so as to not seem jarring.

If all of this is sounding very complicated, that's because it is. Another reason to hand over the pictorial reigns to those who know best.
The images you need

While you might just love a certain nook in your home, it may not be the best image that will sell the house. The right photos will entice buyers, and it is important to know what most buyers are looking for. Your agent will most likely have in-house photographers that are informed about what photos you need or will be able to recommend someone.

Most of the time, it is the kitchen and bathroom that buyers are most interested in. There should also be images that showcase the view (if there is one), being sure to adjust the lighting so you can see from the interior to the exterior. There should also be photos of the master bedroom, custom features of the home, and don't forget about the exterior. Buyers want to get a sense of the street appeal of your home before they arrive.
What else to consider

These days technology makes it possible to virtually recreate your home in a variety of ways. If you want to know about more than just standard photography, get in touch with me, Matthew Griffin. Some of the photography services I offer that are growing in popularity include:

Drone Aerial Photography - Give buyers a whole new perspective on your home. Drone photography sets your advertising apart and shows the true size and character of your property. Photos from above also give an insight into the position of your home in the wider neighbourhood. This is especially useful if you are close to water or other landmarks.

Twilight Photography - Photos at twilight just can't be rivalled and many sellers are opting for photos that utilise this soft and elegant lighting. A twilight photoshoot creates a prestigious look, especially when you can utilise things like pool lights, or can capture a sunset view.

These are just some examples. I can help with every aspect of the professional photography needed to sell your home. You can get in touch with me by completing the contact form on this page or call my office on (07) 3054 7060. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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