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How to take great photos guide

Taking great photos is key to selling your home — first impressions can make a huge difference. Don't worry, it's easier than you think.

photo guide header

Photos are a key part in selling your home, so it’s worth taking the time to get them right. Photographs are the first chance to give buyers an idea of the space and imagine themselves making it a home.

We’ll talk you through everything you need to take your own photos in the simple guide. (Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think.)

Staging the space

When it comes to photos, a little planning can make a big difference. Preparation is one of the most important points of capturing great images of your home — you might hear this process referred to as “staging”, but it’s really just setting the scene. So how do you set the scene? Start with streamlining. Don’t be afraid to remove things from the space to make it feel less cluttered and create a clean, relaxing atmosphere. Here are a few things you can try:

  • Try to hide any wires

  • Remove any personal photographs

  • Fluff pillows and wipe surfaces

  • Vacuum floors

Lighting your property

It’s all about lighting, especially when taking pictures of your home. Make sure to let in as much natural light as possible — this might mean finding the time when you get the most bright, natural light. Even if you don’t have a ton of natural light, there are a few tricks you can try:

  • Open any curtains and blinds

  • Take photos at sunrise or sunset

  • Light lamps if you don’t have enough natural light

  • Use mirrors to maximise light

Composition

You’ve set everything up to show your home at its best, but how do you actually take a great photo? Well, photographers call this “composition” — but it basically means positioning your photos to make them as engaging as possible. Start with your camera parallel to the floor and stay clear of wonky angles. We’ll talk about what height to hold your camera in the next sections, but a parallel, steady camera is key. Next, the rule of thirds — you may want to use the grid feature on your camera, but essentially you want to make sure the focus of your image (a window, a couch, an amazing roll top bath tub) is in the middle of the photo. One-third of the space should be above it, one third should be below. Finally, show off the best features of your home with some close-ups. Zooming in on any particular features of your home that add character will help to sell your space.

Interior

How do you make the most of your internal shots? For bedrooms, living spaces and bathrooms, it’s best to keep the camera at waist height. This helps to capture the floor as well as the ceiling in one shot — but it also helps to elongate your ceilings and give a sense of space. For kitchens its slightly different, shooting at eye level allows you to capture your cabinets and worktops.

  • Shooting from the corner of your room will make the space feel larger and airy

  • Taking photos in landscape (wide) also helps potential buyers get a size of the room

  • If you have any standout features such as fireplaces this is the time to zoom in and showcase these selling points

  • Shooting at multiple angles really gives potential buyers a sense of the space and functionality

Exterior

Capturing the outside of your home is just as important — if not more so — than the interior shots, because this is the first impression. Not only does it give a sense of the style of your property, it’s your chance to show off your outside spaces like gardens or balconies and any decent views. So what’s your angle? When you're outside, you want to hold your camera at eye level — but feel free to hold it higher if possible. There’s no ceiling holding you back, and higher photos really let a buyer take in the entire view.

  • Ideally get three shots of the front of the property: one from the left, centre and right.

  • Higher photos will make for a better photo.

  • Make sure to capture the front and back, if you have a rear garden.

  • If your street is particularly lovely, it might help to grab a shot of it in case!

The takeaway

And that’s it — like we said, it’s easier than you think. You know your property better than anyone, so be sure to capture all the features that made you fall in love with the property and that will translate to the buyer. It’s important to get around 10-15 images, and make sure to take your time and really show what makes your house a home.

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Book a valuation

If you're seriously considering going on the market and want to know how much your home is worth, book a valuation with a Strike Agent.

There’s never any obligation to sell with us. If you do want to go ahead, we can have your home online in as little as a few hours. 

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