The difference experience makes
“Experience is knowledge or skill in a particular job or activity that you have gained because you have done that job or activity for a long time.”
I first shot this property in 2016, 3 years after first starting out in real estate photography. A few years later in 2018 I was back.
In this article I’ll share with you what I learned during this time and the difference it has made to my photography.
Ultra Wide Is Overrated
A quick look through your local real estate listings will soon yield many examples of small bedrooms masquerading as warehouses, sofa’s the width of air craft carriers and windows and doors wider than a bald eagles wingspan.
I was as guilty of this as the next guy, after all real estate photographers are told that’s what realtors and home buyers want right?
Actually, what they want is photos that are representative of the space. They might just not know it.
I learnt that home buyers don’t enjoy getting excited at a listing online only to be disappointed that it doesn’t look anything like the photos in person. I also learnt that this makes for an awkward conversation with their realtor.
At the heart of this phenom is the ultra wide angle lens, particularly the 14-16mm flavors. Great lenses no doubt, but if we want to avoid the issues inherent in using them for real estate, switching to something more modest such as 19-20mm is the way to go. Wide angle distortion becomes less of an issue and your photos will be more representative of the space.
I’m glad I made the switch. My clients as well as prospective home buyers are too.
Less Is More
It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to capture the entire main floor in a single shot, especially when armed with an ultra wide angle lens. This is in stark contrast to architectural imagery where there is always a main focal point, something for the viewers eye to focus on.
I learnt that by changing to a tighter focal length and opting for single point compositions I could create images that showcased specific features of a room whilst still allowing the viewer to understand the rooms layout.
Light Makes A Big Difference
Three years into my career I was still photographing real estate via HDR like everyone else. Although I’d seen incredible images created by Scott Hargis and Mike Kelly with off camera lights I wasn’t sure whether that was something I’d be able to pull off, but in 2016 I decided to give it a go.
The learning curve was steep and it was much more involved than taking 5 shots at different exposures and letting the computer merge them together (essentially what HDR is).
In the end though I learnt that I could create images with depth and interest by shaping light and I didn’t miss the pitfalls of HDR.
Was It Worth It?
Absolutely.
Getting out of my comfort zone allowed me to be creative instead of a robot.
Using light gave me a way to separate myself from the competition, it allowed me to grow and for that, I’m very thankful.
If your a realtor, home builder or interior designer hopefully these photos illustrate how different a space can look when approached with a bit more time and experience.
What do you think?
