Photo Credit: Shawn Talbot

There’s much to consider when selling your home and having it marketed using professional photography should be top of your list. Suffice to say, the pandemic has led to significant changes in the buying and selling of real estate. Case in point: people are less inclined to want in-person home tours. And, with many out-of-town buyers wanting a piece of the local market, a surprisingly high number of offers are being made, sight unseen. That’s why quality professional photography, video and virtual tours are more important than ever to generate lots of interest and, ideally receive multiple, competing offers.

Photo Credit: Shawn Talbot

A Photographer’s Perspective

Real estate and architectural photography are often separated into two primary style categories: light, bright and airy; or dark, moody and romantic. Determining which style to select often depends on the look and design of the space. Is it a white on white contemporary home of steel and glass? Or is it a timber frame structure in the forest with Edison bulbs and bear skins on the walls? Deciding what photographic “look” to create is key to ensuring prospective buyers get a feel for the home without having to walk through the doors.

Photo Credit: Shawn Talbot

Experienced real estate photographers come with a bag of tricks and a lot of equipment at their disposal. They know what to look for and what to avoid. They compose images in a way that showcases the unique selling features while avoiding the distracting elements. They will often plan their shots to take advantage of the position of the sun while using artificial lighting to spotlight features and finishings. They employ simple tricks such as lowering the height of their camera to raise the perceived height of the ceiling and they use wide lenses to visually enhance the size of a room. They also pay attention to composition, staging, furniture placement, color and contrast and then retouch the images in a way that makes the space feel natural and inviting.

Photo Credit: Shawn Talbot

They can do it. You can help.

Regardless of whether you’re a homeowner, architect, builder or designer, there are a number of helpful to-do’s to maximize your photographer’s time and to help elevate the quality of your images. Start with de-cluttering: Be sure to clean up and remove personal items like family photos, fridge magnets, pet supplies, dish towels, shoes, etc. You want a potential buyer to imagine your home as their home.

Here are some other important tips to get your home ready for a photoshoot:

• Wash your windows and ensure they’re streak-free.
• Iron your bedding. Believe it or not, ironing the bed sheets and steaming the duvet cover and drapes so that they’re wrinkle-free goes a long way to creating an organized and polished look.
• Replace burned-out lightbulbs and ensure they’re all the same type and wattage.
• Relocate any vehicles from the driveway and remove garbage bins, BBQ covers and children’s toys.
• Mow the lawn and sweep the sidewalks.
• Finally, consider hiring a professional stager, particularly if the home is vacant. A stager will know what furnishings and décor will make your house feel like a home.

Realtors often say that your “home is the biggest investment you will ever make.” Exceptional photography of that investment can go a long way to ultimately maximizing your return.

Shawn Talbot is a commercial photographer based in Kelowna. He specializes in architectural photography, working primarily with
architects, builders, interior designers and luxury hotel brands. His work can be seen at www.shawntalbot.com

Photo Credit: Shawn Talbot