bmike101 Loc: Gainesville, Florida

This is concerning real estate photography: what kind of pictures are preferred, Edited or not so much? Here is what I mean (following message):

bmike101 Loc: Gainesville, Florida

are these edited too much?
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/0B2xvsVTZy4y1ZkVCSElzTVZ4bFk

FJT Loc: Delaware

I've been trying to do the same thing and here are some of the things I've found. Many real estate agencies don't want the pictures edited because they interpret that as "enhanced" and they want to show the house as it is. As to HDR, the only time I would use it (personal decision) is if the view outside the window is worth it. A house on a beach or such would be a prime example.
The one thing I wouldn't do is clone out things although moving a trash can before you take the shot is fine (according to me).
Although I'm certainly not an authority on this stuff, I hope my thoughts were helpful. I look forward to others chiming in.

Meganephron Loc: Fort Worth, TX

My only correction would be to straighten the pictures and on the interior shots particularly use the len correction tool to get rid of the edge warp effect on very wide angle close up shots. Otherwise, show the property as is. Remove distracting items like trash cans, bikes, toys. Positive exposure compensation of 0.3 will brighten the picture without altering reality.

dub3 Loc: Sunrise Beach, Texas

I recommend making the house ready for photographs. After all, not all have the best housekeeping habits or interior design capabilities and one should reduce or remove clutter so buyers will be able to see what can be done to the property. HDR may or may not be needed based on the camera used. No camera has the dynamic range of the human eye and surely you would want to represent what the human eye would see.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I recently retired from real estate and architectural photography. My experience proved to me to make sharp simple images of about 24mm without over-cooking. The elevation image is the most important image because it's what attracts the house lookers to peek further. You have about 3 seconds to do that. Don't ever think your images will sell a house – they don't. They do provide a potential buyer a way to select houses they will want to see up-close-and-personal. That's why you don't over-cook the images – a looker will get pissed if the pictures outshine the property. If the looker gets pissed at the agent, the agent will get pissed at you. It's okay to make twilight images because it's a feeling. I provided the homeowners with a list of to-do's. I was fussy with agents who did not pass on my list, etc. A property must be prepared to photograph just as you would prepare for an open house. If you can have a stager prep a property, it's even better. Don't shoot too wide – many do and the images are awful. Tell a story – elevation, entry, dining, living and so on. Present the images as if someone had driven up and is walking through. Only make 1 and 2 point images. You can make some design shots if something warrants it. The more realistic you edit your images the happier the client will be because your percentage of attraction will be higher.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Excellent advice above. I'll add only a few things - use natural light and longer exposures wherever possible. Use a tripod when necessary. And I totally agree that HDR and supplemental lighting are only necessary when you want to show a spectacular view through a window. In 90% of your shots, a longer exposure beats a flash. In bathrooms and other small spaces, don't try to go too wide, it only distorts the perspective. In small rooms where you can't get it all in, focus on a detail - like a nice bathroom vanity. Try to keep the focal plane completely vertical when possible, use a tripod and bubble level - post production correction never looks quite right IMHO. Finally, try to adjust the WB so it's identical in all shots of a single property - personally I set it manually rather than auto, and correct in PP if needed.

Good luck! You've already got many good shots in your portfolio, and some excellent suggestions above.

Andy

bmike101 Loc: Gainesville, Florida

Thank you so much for thinking so Andy.


Care to share your list?

Great!

What do you mean?


As for the level plane you mean looking straight (no x/y offset).

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Too much post processing is not your issue. Poor composition, not properly correcting field curvature when doing interior panoramas, too much sky, too much ceiling, incorrect use of flash (never flash from the camera's position, bounce to the side if you need to - better to think of flash as a way to enhance ambient rather than as a replacement). Taking a picture from the point of view where the bushes and foliage obscure the entrance to the house - these and other choices are things you may want to address in the future, along with some better cropping.

bmike101 Loc: Gainesville, Florida

delete

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I really like the fact you balanced your indoor shots showing the correct exposure for interior and for outside the window. Well done grasshopper. You are on your way. You should always try to make the house look as good as you can.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Consider 2 or 3 shot panoramas for the outdoor scenes. Can be done hand held and easily stitched with ICE.

BebuLamar

Looking at the pictures from the point of view of a home buyer somehow I feel the interior of the house are not attractive while the exterior shots were fine.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I followed your link to the real estate photos and I think that they are quite nice. There are some of them that I would consider buying and I really love the image of the pool.

stanperry Loc: Spring Hill, Florida

I'm a Realtor/Real estate photographer. First, let me say right up front that these are my opinions only, based on my experience as a Realtor. Photographers have a different bent. Realtors don't care about your photographs, nor do their clients/customers. The focus isn't f8, it's twofold, really. Attract and repel buyers. Realtors want to get in the groove with their buyers...what they like. They also want to cut out needless trips showing a home that their clients aren't the least interested in. Keeping that in mind, here is my Real Estate Photographer Mantra: Declutter, Declutter, Declutter.
Your photos are identical (in composure) to those taken by cheap Realtors with their iPhone, in terms of what they are photographing (not the quality, of course. Your photos are great). Your kitchen photo, for instance, would be awesome....if you had gotten rid of that god awful dish drainer. Declutter completely. My pre-shoot checklist for homeowners tells them to take EVERYTHING off of counters, workspace, etc. no cute (to you or the homeowner, not necessarily anyone else) decorative towels, no paper towel racks, dishes with chickens painted on them. Your JOB isn't photography, it's sales. The client needs to imagine that space decorated in their own style...almost always different than yours. Decorative cushions on the couch, etc, detract from the goal. I take all of that off of tables, counters, furniture, etc., down to bare, clean rooms and spaces. They're going to be moving anyway, so put that kind of stuff in boxes. If they have to, put it back after the shoot. I do this as a Realtor, as well. I tell my customers to,put away the family pics, take the artwork off the walls, etc. (not completely in all cases. It's a matter of balancing clean with antiseptic). I want buyers to see their own pics on the wall, and the imagination can't easily remove the photo of Uncle Fester). Like I said, these sellers are planning to move. Get them started by packing up the unnecessary distractions.
Exterior shots,which show hedges, trees, etc., again....Declutter. Show the home, not the vegetation. Every shot you have showing the big beautiful tree obscuring the home are throw always for me. Clean windows, well trimmed landscaping which shows off that window are better. You can't cut down a tree, but you can have hedges trimmed below window level.
Also, consider pole shots. I put my camera on a pole that extends 10 feet above the ground and shoot features like the front of the house, a pool, hot tub, etc. it gives an unusual perspective that seems to set that home apart from the other one with a pool, without inferring personality. (You can do drone shots, I have, but the cost, the liability and the licensing needed to fly one isn't worth it. My pole does just fine.) Get rid of the pool toys that are so cute, of course. Lots of people hate kids.
Lastly, check your local MLS and find out what their photo requirements are. File size, etc. Your deliverables should be formatted for exactly that purpose. Your Realtor will often call you again for no reason other than that. Help them simplify their lives.
You should see, from my comments, what my original,premise was. It's not photo gallery hall of fame photos your customer cares about. It's his listing, and selling it as quickly as possible. Keep your eye one the ball. These are the professional skills that make your shots worth buying, instead of taking out the iPhone.
Now before some of the acid tongued, critically acclaimed know it all's jump all over me, yes, the quality of the photos count, polarizing filters,etc. My comments are intended for Real Estate Photographers. If you don't already have the essential photography skills, you ain't one. Your a Real Estate pitcher taker.