Real estate photography trends are one of the most essential topics to understand when working as an agent or broker in the real estate industry.
When photography was reliant on film, a few images of a home paired with a description represented a basic concept of the property. These listings drew potential buyers to a property. They would then further inspect the potential home.
Today, with digital photography and editing tools, the visual representation of a property is a constantly evolving element of the industry.
Why Real Estate Photography Matters
One of the most exciting things about becoming a real estate agent is that things are constantly changing. From the market state to how listings are displayed, there is constant progression and transformation in the real estate industry.
When people search for available homes, the first place they search is the internet. Buyers can search listings in detail on apps and websites like Zillow and Realtor.com. The visual representation of a home is the first thing a potential buyer sees when they are browsing for properties. The images that represent a home will either attract or deter a potential buyer.
Buyers expect a certain quality of photo when they are searching for homes. The editing capabilities available across multiple apps and platforms create an opportunity to take real estate photos to the next level.
Even if an agent or broker is not the one taking the photos, they must recognize quality real estate photography and stay current on trends to understand what buyers expect from a listing.
Below, you’ll find the top 5 real estate photography trends in 2022.
Real Estate Photography Trends
1. Aerial Shots
An aerial shot is a photo taken using an airborne platform. It shows a birds-eye view of an area. These images are a popular trend in real estate photography because they show the surrounding area of a listed home.
A few years ago, photographers needed to rent helicopters to take aerial photographs of a property. Now, with the help of drones equipped with high-definition cameras, aerial photos are more accessible than ever. Photographers can either purchase a drone or partner with a drone operator.
2. 3D Virtual Tours
A 3D virtual tour allows potential buyers to navigate a property room by room in a realistic simulation. It lets buyers get a feel for the property before they even see it. It also helps buyers to understand the layout of a home further. With a 3D virtual tour, buyers can start to imagine their lives in the house before even stepping foot on the available property.
Since the COVID 19 pandemic, virtual tours have become increasingly popular. The 3D virtual tours give buyers an in-depth view of the property and offer a safer way to view a house.
Buying a home is the biggest purchase most people will ever make. Deciding which house to buy takes a lot of time and energy from real estate professionals and potential buyers. Offering a virtual tour helps people decide if a particular property is something they are interested in or something they should pass on.
3. Mobile First
Real estate apps are an increasingly popular way to search for homes for sale. Apps and mobile browsing allow people to search for homes while on the move or away from a computer. Potential buyers having listings at their fingertips means more exposure for listed properties.
Make sure a mobile user does not surpass your property because it is not optimized for mobile devices. Make sure the website is mobile-responsive. Mobile-responsive websites represent the property by resizing images and restructuring a page when used on mobile. A website that is not mobile-responsive can clip a photo or rearrange the page structure in a way that confuses the viewer.
Making images for mobile also means that images need to be optimized for social media. Each social media has different image size requirements.
Profile photo size: More than or equal to 140px x 140px
Link/Update image size: 1200px x 628px
Story image size: 1,080px x 1,920px
Shared image: 900px x 450px
In-stream photo size: 440px x 220px
Pin size: 236px by an Adjustable Height; 2:3 ratio for vertical pins
Square photo size: 1080px x 1080px
Portrait photo size: 1080px by 1350px with an aspect ratio of 4:5
Horizontal photo size: 1080px by 566px with an aspect ratio of 1.91:1
Stories and reels size: 1,080px x 1,920px
4. Many Photos
Because photography has gone digital, there is more opportunity to provide many photos for a listing. Taking a digital photo provides the photographer with instant feedback. The photographer can take as many pictures as they would like with almost no limitations.
Buyers expect to see many detailed photos of a property before they view the property in person. More pictures give a potential buyer a further understanding of the home. This is an excellent opportunity to show all the unique charm and special features a listed property provides.
5. Hiring a Professional
You cannot make a second first impression.
A visual representation of a property sets the tone for the potential buyer. First impressions in real estate are crucial and will often decide whether someone takes the next step or passes on a property.
Hiring a professional real estate photographer is essential. Professional real estate photographers usually charge around $120 an hour. This rate includes the time it takes them to take the photos and the amount of time it takes to edit the images. A set of real estate photos could cost anywhere between $360 – $3,000+ depending on their experience, the property, and the number of photos you request.
Real estate photographers understand how to frame a photograph to represent the house best. It may be tempting to pull out an iPhone and snap a few shots. But taking the time and extra expense to professionally photograph a property pays off in the end. Professional photos bring in more interested buyers who already have a good impression of the property before they arrive.
Written and Published by: VanEd
