Top tips for taking photos of your home

- Thu 16 Apr 2020

Due to the current lockdown situation many sellers that are keen to carry on with their plans and sell their property are either offering or being asked to take their own photographs in order to get the property launched online. Here are a few pointers to help you and even some notes if you plan to produce a short video tour.

Before taking any photos ensure you prepare, which means removing any unwanted items from the photo. These could be recycling bins outside or cars/bikes from a driveway or internally, this could be towels from the cooker or bathroom. Ensure beds are made, dirty dishes are removed, toys are out away or moved out of shot.

Lighting is really important and so ensuring curtains/blinds are opened fully prior to taking the picture. Try for natural light first and then if required use lamps, wall lights then if it’s still too dark try the main light as well.

NOTE – Almost all websites and images will appear in landscape format as it will maximise the size of the room/garden etc.

Outside photos

The front image will likely be the main photo and therefore the ‘money shot’. Try several different angles to see which captures your home the best. Try at a slight angle rather than straight on, capturing any frontage, parking and gardens.

It is also quite popular to get a rear elevation of your home, so standing at the bottom of your garden and take one looking back at the house. This doesn’t always work but is a nice alternative where it does and is occasionally more striking than the front.

Gardens will vary depending on the size and shape, although usually this will be about trying to capture the size and presentation so try one as close to the house looking down your garden and then from a few different angles which include any particular features. It is also worth trying to take one from the upper floor rooms that overlook the garden.

Internal shots

For most rooms, we would advise standing in the corner of the room or even in the doorway and take the photo which capture as much of the room as possible, ensuring any features such as fireplaces are included.

Kitchens and bathrooms can make really good photos and are often what buyers are keen to look see. The same rules apply, try to include as many of the units/suite as possible, although if there is a nice feature it is more important that is included – maybe take a few if you can’t decide!

With most smartphones/tablets/digital cameras you are able to take multiple photos and check what they look like so keep snapping until you feel you have a good photo.

Videoing your property

As with taking a video, it is important that it is recorded in landscape and remember not to switch between landscape/portrait.

Many of the above points are equally relevant with recording a property, in particular the preparation. Once prepared you will need to decide in what order you wish to show your home, although there is no wrong and right way of doing so, I would suggest you start outside and ensure you visit all rooms inside the property and then outside if you have a garden. It is easier for a viewer to get a feel for a home if you walk around in a logical order; therefore ground floor rooms, the garden and then the first floor. Alternatively you may prefer to finish in the garden and walk to the bottom and then turn back to show the rear of the house as the ending.

It is advisable to only record the property and not provide a voiceover/guided tour.

When you start the tour, like with a photo, stand in the corner and pan around the room. If there is a particular feature then either zoom in or walk closer to it and ensure your provide a little longer highlighting it.

It may take a few attempts, which is fine so you can get a little smoother with each try.

If you still have some questions after reading this or wish to discuss a particular area around this subject, we would only be too pleased for you to contact your local Bradleys office where our local experts can help you further.

Kai Logan - Marketing Director

Kai Logan
Marketing Director

Top tips for taking photos of your home

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