If you want to lure in prospective buyers, you'd better have some incredible photos. We thought we'd ask photographer Sam Oberter for some expert insight. You may have seen Sam Oberter's images before (100K House, Skypark Condominiums, Memphis Flats, Voila Design), especially if you live in the Philadelphia area. The local photographer has a background in engineering to bolster his ability to capture residences at their best angles. We found his answers easy to relate to and extremely helpful.
Flex Your Budget
If you're trying to sell several million dollar condos, it may mean hiring a photographer that can take extremely high quality photos. Those photos on your point-and-shoot are not going to cut it.
"If you can't afford to hire a photographer, you can try a cheap $30 tripod," suggests Oberter,"Homes in Philadelphia are generally on the dark side, and the flash on your camera is not the answer! Turn the flash off in the settings, and prepare for a long exposure (sometimes a few full seconds) by attaching the camera to the tripod to keep it steady. Spending an evening drinking coffee at Borders, skimming an instructional book on interior photography is most likely worth the trouble, too."
Re-think Wide Angle Shots
"Most homeowner photography typically seems to follow the formula of wide-angle shots from a perspective that attempts to maximize the perceived size of the home. Sometimes that approach is appropriate, but most often not. The most flattering views of your home are found by thinking not only about the architecture, but also furnishings and decoration. Taking a super wide angle shot of your sparse spare bedroom, with just a lonely bed amidst a desert of emptiness, is not a warm and inviting image that will attract home buyers."
Keep it Warm and Inviting
"Non-professional photographers often forget to consider the emotional reaction to an image in their attempts to enhance impressions of their square footage. Creating a space that looks warm and inviting is at least just as important."
Break Down the Bathroom
"Bathrooms, in our city of row homes, can present serious challenges to photography as they are most frequently small and on the dark side. If a bathroom is worth highlighting, sometimes the most graceful approach is to use 2 or 3 images that together illustrate the room, instead of forcibly cramming everything into a single shot."
So there you have it - now you can pick up that camera again and go practice. What are your tricks for photographing challenging spaces?
Sam Oberter currently resides in Philadelphia and shoots residential and commercial projects for a variety of clients and publications. You can view his work and contact him at his website, www.samoberter.com.
Related:
Where are the Photos ? No wonder the listing expired !
[Images via Sam Oberter for Voila Design]
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