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.
I'm a Realtor/Real estate photographer. First, le... (
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