In advertising, they call the photo that glamorizes a
product its ‘hero shot.’ In the case of a real estate listing in New Orleans,
the pictures that accompany the written description can all be hero shots, if
enough care is taken.
In one Auburn University study (The Relationship between Property Price, Time-on-Market, and Photo
Depictions in a Multiple Listing Service), it was found that adding
a single photograph to a listing could lift the final sale price by as much as
3.9%. That’s not surprising, but what is noteworthy is that each additional listing
photograph added several hundred dollars to the final selling price. In other
words, it’s not just the curbside photo at the top of an New Orleans listing that should be given great care—it’s all
of ‘em!
Aside from the usual advice to de-clutter, use light
appealingly, etc., there are some less well known tips that can help maximize
the eye-appeal of an New Orleans listing:
The
Exterior
The exterior photograph is considered by most professional
real estate photographers to be by far the most important shot. I’m not sure I
agree. Of course, it sets the stage for everything else, and has to be
attractive enough to rate a second look, but those second looks of the interior
and garden can differentiate the listing from the crowd. A superior exterior
can often be achieved by elevating point of view (IOW, shoot from a stepladder)…or
sometimes by scheduling the shot in early morning or late afternoon light (to
catch the most dramatic light).
Back
Against the Wall!
For the majority of your listing interiors, you’ll want
wide angle shots which emphasize spaciousness. Most work better when the
photograph is taken from a doorway or corner with the widest lens (that’s the
one with the lowest focal length number)—as long as it doesn’t overly distort
the image.
Funhouse
Effect
Always ensure that your camera is completely horizontal.
Correct the ‘barrel effect’ on vertical lines to ensure that all of the walls
appear straight. When you’re looking through a viewfinder or small digital
screen, it’s all too easy to overlook the sides by concentrating on the center
of the picture. That’s an amateur mistake (and slanted walls make a room look like
a carnival funhouse!)
Flash Extra
Take at least one extra shot using the on-camera flash or
strobe. True, often that will result in an unevenly lit alternative that you
will discard…but now and then, the on-camera light will boost clarity and color
that’s more pleasing than what natural light provides.
Great-looking New Orleans listing shots make a significant
difference in the degree of response a property draws. I always help my clients
with the listing photographs—it’s one of many tools to ensure their listing
gets the exposure and results it deserves!
Terez Harris NOLA Real Estate Group
(504)297-2619
Harris.Terez@gmail.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100
Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers licensed in the state of Louisiana.
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