The Truth About Real Estate Photography: Do Photographers Use Tricks and Photo Editing?
The Guardian in Australia has published an intriguing article titled ‘Fake fires and greener grass: the real estate photo tricks that make a house feel like a home’. The article invites a real estate photographer from Sydney to capture images of a journalist’s home, while the journalist takes comparison shots. The article offers critiques and observations on real estate photography and questions whether photographers use deceitful techniques to improve the quality of their photos. Read on to discover more.
Article:
“… a ‘mock’ fire burning in a fireplace that no longer functions, is probably misrepresentation whereas, if the fireplace has the capacity to have a fire, then that’s probably OK.”
The statement that adding firewood to a fireplace is alright is agreed upon. However, the Real Estate Institute of Australia expressed that doing so to a non-functional fireplace would be considered misrepresentation.
Article:
“She also uses a flash to bounce light to the ceiling, minimizing shadows and providing a more balanced shot, and employs “bracketing”, which shoots multiple frames with varying exposures.”
The use of certain photography tools to produce more accurate representations of what the human eye sees is a common practice. It does not alter the essence of the home. However, it should be noted that the dark photo taken by an amateur does not accurately reflect the visual experience of that space. Unlike cameras, our eyes can adjust to shadows and perceive a scene as a whole. Therefore, presenting a room in a certain way through photography cannot be considered as deceitful. Although an amateur may not be able to achieve the same effect without editing. It does not imply that professional photographers are engaged in any unethical behavior.
Comment:
“Are you seriously suggesting that photoshopping ‘grass’ into a grassless expanse is somehow ‘professional’.”
In a conversation about real estate photography, the photographer mentioned the idea of adding grass to a lawn that has patchy spots. Although I don’t see a problem with enhancing slightly brown grass to make it look greener, as it would naturally appear after rainfall. I agree that it’s not appropriate to add grass to areas where there is none. Therefore, it’s advisable for agents and photographers to avoid such practices.
Comment:
“The ridiculous wide angle lens shots do my head in. Particularly if there is a fridge or tv stretched to impossible dimensions.”
When it comes to the use of lenses for real estate photography, there are basically three different options:
10-14mm lenses:
This is what I would categorize as ultra-wide, and these are the ones that show too much in my view. They make small rooms look enormous, and I don’t think they help agents because it only leads to disappointed buyers.
16-18mm lenses:
These provide a wide view of a room, but I find that they don’t make it excessive. Most photographers and most agents are quite comfortable with lenses of this size.
20-26mm lenses:
These provide a tighter view of a room, but because they show less of the room the potential buyer is provided with less information about the layout of a particular space.
Professional photographers have various options available to them, and it is important for agents and buyers to consider certain factors as well. Agents who prefer ultra wide lenses must take into account the possibility of buyer dissatisfaction. On the other hand, buyers who prefer closer shots will have to manage with images that offer limited information about a property. Therefore, it is advisable to use lenses that are moderately wide, such as 16-18mm lenses. They strike a balance between wide and excessively wide.
Comment:
“When I’m looking to buy a house (all three times that’s happened) I look at the location, the price and the floor plan.”
Floorplans are an excellent tool for showcasing a property as long as they contain the dimensions of the rooms. This allows potential buyers to not solely rely on photographs to determine its size. Even if the photographer uses a wide-angle lens, buyers can refer to the floorplan for an accurate and unbiased representation of each room’s size and layout.
