Selling your home? With so many properties vying for attention online, a few decent snapshots (photographs) with a cellphone camera is simply not good enough anymore
WORDS: HELÈNE MEISSENHEIMER – IMAGES: ANTON DE BEER PHOTOGRAPHY
When it comes to selling a home, especially in a tough market where a shrinking pool of buyers are spoilt for choice, excellent quality photos are critical for a property to stand out from the competition. “You need to grab the potential buyer’s attention and the best way to do this is with a collection of good photographs that show your home to its best advantage,” says CEO and co-principal of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in the Winelands, Chris Cilliers. “A meagre selection and pictures depicting mess and clutter will ensure your home attracts little interest.”
A cellphone camera has limits
While it’s true that many cellphones now have cameras that take excellent photos, the quality is still limited. Especially when entire rooms need to be captured, nothing matches a professional camera. According to photographer Anton de Beer, from Anton de Beer Photography on the Garden Route, it’s because the hardware in an expensive camera is still superior to those in a phone and the chip and optics in a dedicated camera will be able to record a wider contrast range, a sharper picture and less lens aberrations and distortion.
“Wide-angle distortion with curved lines is a major factor,” he says. “It’s usually called barrel distortion and using the wide angle setting on a smartphone will almost definitely give you that misrepresentation.” According to De Beer this distortion can be improved by using software like Photoshop, but if the photographs then differ too much from what the human eye sees, they lose authenticity.
Consider using a pro
Many people underestimate the value of a trained eye and while not all budgets allow hiring a professional photographer, where possible, it’s a must. “A trained photographer understands the difference between what the eye sees and how the brain interprets the visual information,” says De Beer. For example, a property owner who has a beautiful view from his living area, will focus on the view but wonder why the photograph portrays his lounge as boxy or too small. “A pro will know how to compensate for this, with the end result being what one actually sees in real life, for instance, that beautiful living space opening up onto a vista,” he says. A professional also fully understands how to utilise light.
Preparation is half the battle
Good photos are not only down to the photographer, they are also dependant on the homeowner. According to Cilliers, sellers often neglect to prepare their property for the photographer – or only do so half-heartedly. She lists the following important steps:
- Declutter. Do a thorough spring clean and get rid of things you no longer need. This also clears out storage space for items you want to put away.
- Don’t forget the garage. Sort through everything and sell or donate unused items to local charities.
- Depersonalise your home as far as possible. Pack away photos, children’s drawings, trophies and other knick-knacks. While your home should not look un-lived in and too impersonal, it’s important for buyers to be able to imagine the space as their own.
- Make sure the garden is immaculate and remove any items around the pool before it’s photographed.
If you can’t afford a pro
So, the house is spic and span and beautifully styled, but the budget simply doesn’t allow bringing in a professional. Don’t despair – De Beer shares a few tips to capture your home optimally:
- Slow down. Look at the area and decide what’s interesting or appealing that you want to emphasise.
- Show off your property in the best possible way. Making something look better than what it is, is the essence of advertising photography.
- Use light wisely. Natural or photographic lighting play a huge role in the feel of a picture. Shooting at various times of the day can make a big difference. Low or soft light can enhance the visual aspect of a “weaker” part of the home while still keeping the look natural.
- Photography is visual communication. Are you communicating the space, the view, beautiful light, the opulence? Highlight those factors and exclude drab areas.
- Attention to detail is key. Is the toilet lid down? Are the children’s toys scattered around the room? Has the dog’s “do” in the garden been picked up? Spend an extra ten minutes and really concentrate on what prospective buyers will see.
- Keep it steady. If you don’t have a steady hand, use a tripod to ensure you don’t blur the shot.
