5 Tips for Photographing Luxury Real Estate
Luxury real estate has more demands and higher expectations that normal real estate photography. As real estate photographers, we really should do our best to deliver the highest quality images possible when given the opportunity to photograph a luxurious home.
In this article I’ll share 5 tips for photographing luxury real estate photography and explain how to implement them into your work.
Table of Contents
1. Understand Why The Property Is Luxurious
Before you even begin shooting, it’s crucial to understand what makes the property luxurious. Is it the sprawling size, the high-end finishes, the unique architectural features, or the beautiful location?
Once you understand why the property is luxurious, you’ll know how to photograph it. Make the key features of the home the highlight of your images and take advantage of whatever they might be.
It can also be a good idea to speak to the agent, the homeowner, or even the architect. They can provide insights into the property’s most standout features which could be something that you may overlook.
2. Highlight The Details
While it’s not always necessary to highlight the finer details in your everyday real estate shoots, that’s certainly not the case when it comes to luxury real estate.
In luxury properties, it’s often the details that really make the difference. High-end finishes, designer furnishings, and custom artwork are more than just accessories. They’re part of the character of the home.
Photograph these details in a way that captures their craftsmanship and beauty. Doing so can add depth to your portfolio and better tell the story of the home. They will show the quality and elegance of the space, aspects that buyers in the luxury market deeply value.
3. Capture The Lifestyle
In luxury real estate photography, showcasing the lifestyle that the property affords is as crucial as capturing the property itself. The idea is to evoke emotions and paint a picture of the everyday life that this home can offer.
Luxury homes often come with unique features that are rare in standard properties. It could be a home theater with vintage seating, a bespoke library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, or a state-of-the-art wine cellar.
The aim should be to convey the experience of using these spaces. showcasing the lifestyle in luxury real estate photography is about creating images that resonate with the aspirations and desires of potential buyers.
This sort of goes hand in hand with our first tip, understanding why the property is luxurious. Knowing the lifestyle that the house offers will help guide you to better images.
4. Get The Lighting Right
While it’s obviously true that lighting plays a large roll in all real estate photography, it’s simply crucial in luxury real estate photography. If your images are going to feel luxurious, the lighting needs to be great.
Time of day plays a pivotal role in how the property is presented. Using natural light properly can make a massive difference. This means that you should consider scheduling your shoot in the morning or evening, depending on which way the property is facing.
The way morning/evening light streams through a bedroom window or casts long, dramatic shadows in a living room can create mood and depth, essential in showcasing the beauty of a luxury property.
If you’re up to it, you can use flash to eliminate harsh shadows or to brighten up darker areas of a room. In spaces where natural light is limited, a well-placed flash can bring out the details of the interior, highlighting the high-end finishes and craftsmanship.
5. Take Your Time
Quite possibly the best thing that you can do when photographing luxury real estate is slow down and take your time. The realtor will likely be understanding since they also want these images to look as excellent as possible.
It’s better to have a smaller collection of outstanding images than a large number of mediocre ones. Take the time to set up each shot and consider all the elements within the frame.
This might mean adjusting the furniture to get the perfect composition, waiting for the right lighting, or experimenting with different camera settings to capture the space in its best light.
Taking your time extends into the post-production phase as well. Processing images from a luxury real estate shoot requires a meticulous approach.
If you do your own editing, make sure to take your time and create the best image you can every time. If you send your images out to an editor, make a note that you would like them to pay attention to small details and not to rush through the edits.
Additional Resources
If you’re just getting started in real estate photography, check out our Beginners Guide. It’s full of helpful articles and tips that will guide you in the right direction as you begin your real estate photography journey.
You can check out our Gear section as well to see reviews and recommendations on the latest real estate photography gear.
If you’re more interested in other resources that can help your real estate photography business, check out our Business Resources page.
