Better Real Estate Photos: Camera Angle

When we look at photos of homes, it’s easy to say whether it’s a good photo or a poor one. And in architectural magazines, you’ll rarely see examples of poor ones… although your local MLS is probably a different story.

In fact, some bad real estate photos are becoming a subject of ridicule, or a marketing technique. Don’t allow your photos to join these collections!

In photography, there are a lot of things you can do to affect the outcome and the “goodness” of your resulting photos… and I plan to cover them one at a time.

Today’s Topic: Framing The Scene

Here’s a quick pointer on how to frame your photos better. Just the camera angle alone can change the viewer’s perspective - and their feelings about the property. Try several different angles of the same scene. In the examples below, I’ve walked down the street in front of my listing, taking a new photo every few feet. (With a digital camera, you can afford to take extra shots… so get in the habit!).

Notice that the straight on shot, common in the MLS, doesn’t really stand out. It’s flat. It has no perspective.

Now look at the other photos, taken at an angle. The roof above the entry, which is an appealing architectural feature, is emphasized in the photos taken at an angle to the home. The green yard is emphasized. And the driveway’s expanse of concrete is diminished. I had to go down and across the street to get this shot, but it’s an improvement that was worth it.

However… we can’t stray too far. The final photo in the sequence leaves the house behind a bunch of unruly palm trees and bushes. And we start to notice other things in the yard, and forget the house.

The best shot is a matter of experimenting, but generally it will be the one taken at a slight angle away from the garage side of the house. This isn’t always the case, so bring extra digital film and try different angles.

Move your feet and move your camera, and you’ll find the best shot.