GENERALLY SPEAKING, the more expensive a property, the more photogenic it’s likely to be.
Of course there are exceptions. I’ve seen a few £1m+ properties that are little short of a shambles. Conversely, it’s true to say some averagely priced properties have a certain amount of kerb appeal.
But by and large higher-end homes do have many more desirable features than properties most of us can actually afford.
Which – again, generally – means well-judged photographs of them tend to be little short of eye-candy.
Given there are – and always will be – more averagely priced homes available, it’s worth considering what you can do to show them off in their best light.
Take the shot above. That modest two-bedroom house in Herefordshire is probably not going to be high on the list of any Premier League footballers any time soon. But, if you’re selling it, you still want the photos to make it look desirable to potential buyers.
As you can see, it’s attached to the one next door. It would have been possible to crop out the neighbour’s pad. But A) that resulting photo would have looked pretty odd and B) why not let viewers see, as well as read, that it’s semi-detached)?
Indeed, this photo includes a glimpse of the house next door to the neighbouring one for the same reasons.
It’s useful to keep the camera level so the verticals stay upright. There’s something slightly unnerving about converging verticals that come into play as soon as a camera with a not-quite-wide-enough-lens is tilted upwards to ensure the roof’s in the frame.
What’s also evident is that there is some greenery within shot. In fact the photo has cleverly included foreground leafage to ensure potential buyers are in no doubt that they’ll see something pleasantly natural whenever they look out of the front windows.
One other thing: the owner was asked to move their vehicle from outside the property. Otherwise, part of the neighbour’s house – and all of the one next to the neighbour – would have been obscured by a grey box on wheels. Nobody needs that kind of distraction when they’re really interested in houses.
It’s the same story inside. Modest homes – especially recently built ones like this one – have fewer desirable features than more prestigious homes. Yet, it’s still possible to make the most of what you’re shooting.
It’s a good idea to give the vendor a little advance warning about property photography. It really wouldn’t do any harm to have a few pointers printed on a sheet to give them in advance. To remind them that tidy, decluttered homes tend to be more appealing to buyers. As an agent, you know these golden rules. Your client rarely will.
Lighting wasn’t an issue with the above property because of the amount of glass in and around the back doors. But when light is an issue, a tripod is essential because the camera will take time to gather the light needed for the shot. And flash is a no-no because it reflects and looks unnatural.
Please drop me a line if you have any questions on property photography in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. I’d also be happy to chat to you about creating brochures to help sell those properties.
It’s free to chat. Let’s start exploring ways to give your marketing even more kerb appeal.
– Lucas
Editor
Spick Brick Pics
Info@spickbrickpics.co.uk