Editing Your First Property Images to Increase Saleability



It's no secret that real estate photography is one of the driving keys to making that sale happen for your real estate client. There would be no inquiries with no listings or pictures available online especially in this age of devices. Photographers are now in high demand more than ever, making their mark in the real estate industry by supplying stunning photos that are sure to make the potential buyer stop and fall in love at first sight. Getting into real estate photography can open up your photography and editing career in ways you could never have imagined. Real estate properties are not limited to homes, they can extend to office spaces, retail areas, and recreational buildings.



Being a photographer also has its fair share of hard work. If you choose to take photography as a career, the expectations begin with the right pictures followed by property photography editing. Both tasks carry the responsibility to produce quality photos that meet or exceed your client’s expectations. Luckily, this article will guide you through getting started and giving you tips so you can go through your first set of editing property images.

What Do You Need to Get Started?

Getting started may be the most exciting part of your journey as setting out and exploring all these facets of photography is new. In order to do things right (well, almost right) the first time, we recommend planning what to buy and setting a budget to keep your spending in check. After all, you can always upgrade your equipment after you’ve gone further in your career and start earning money.

  • Camera – As the main equipment that can stand alone even without accessories, a camera will get you started on photography. A DSLR or an SLR will be sufficient to be a starter camera but make sure it comes with wide lenses and a remote flash as property images editing will need some spacious looking shots.
  • Tripod – Having a tripod will keep your stability in check until you have mastered taking photos with nerves of steel! But don’t fret, tripods can still be very useful after the learning phase. Tripods can adjust to take heightened or shortened vertical shots, taking the hassle out of standing on a ladder or crouching very low.
  • Editing Software Subscription – Look for a software that you would like to learn and master, invest in the time to build your techniques, and eventually establish your own style. Consider one that is widely used in the industry because chances are these are the most extensive when it comes to editing property images. These also may be the most powerful software out there so carefully think of which one suits your needs and invest on a long-term subscription.
  • Advertising Space and Price Packages – Do not let your services sit and go unnoticed. Put up your own advertising materials and get cracking with selling your services. Some prefer to design website showcasing previous work but since it is a first time, you may want to consider doing a free photo shoot or two just to get your work out there and use those to build on your resume. You will then have some material you can use to showcase property photography editing experience with and approach clients for paid work.
  • Contracts – Have a contract with clients, whether it’s a one-off gig or a year-long subscription. The reason is you can visibly note down all the agreements including your prices which you can base on your investment of time and equipment. This way, real estate clients will not take advantage of your services as a beginner.

How do you edit a picture nicely?

First time realty editor does not require anything fancy. Remember what is important is the editing is done to make the photo as accurate as possible while making it attractive. It is also good to have an inspiration or a photographer whose style speaks to you so you can develop your own brand. At this point in the game, these are the techniques we recommend for you to work around and master.

  • Adjusting lightness - Property images editing is heavily reliant on mood and feel of the photo. A vibrantly lit photo will attract people to look deeper into the specs. Apart from lighting the room up during the photo shoot itself, some tools in software like the dodge tool can help you lighten up localized areas that are dark.
  • Contrasting color hues – Colors will dictate the loudness of the photo. Some tools you can look at in available software are color samplers or color palettes. Potential buyers will want to look for neutral colors, leaning to a cozy feel. Overall, you want to achieve a warm tone for the entire photo especially for interiors.
  • Sharpening the details – Sometimes there are areas in the room you want to emphasize. Sharpening them brings them into the foreground as a focus. Editing property images is tricky because you need to try and understand what the potential buyer might be looking for in terms of detail. There are tools available at your disposal including blurring tools but be careful not to make the photo appear hazy and uninviting to the eye. Create a balance between the sharpness and the dullness and keep the overall attractiveness in mind.
  • Layering photos – Layering can save you a headache if you’ve done something wrong. While raw photos are your best friend in making resets, layers allow you to have an “undo” option that doesn’t throw your entire work away. Property images editing is a back and forth of trial and error in editing especially when starting out so make sure you don’t burn yourself out on the get go alone.

Conclusion

Property photography editing is indeed growing and getting into this type of work can be just as rewarding. First time editing your property quality photos take some time but surely you will get there. One of the things we recommend is not to get frustrated, as the process requires learning and making mistakes. What is important is getting both photographing and editing property images right together through the basic foundations and then take off to more advance levels from there.

 

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