Beginners Guide

Best Practices For Filming Real Estate Reels

Best Practices for Filming Real Estate Reels

As I’ve written about in several other articles, video content has taken over social media. We as real estate photographers should be looking to create compelling content tailored for social media, which means video content like reels.

In this article I’ll discuss the best practices for filming real estate reels that will help to ensure your property videos aren’t just scrolled by unnoticed.

Table of Contents

Best Practices for Real Estate Reels

Leveraging social media for real estate promotions has become more than just a trend. In many markets across the world it’s now a necessity for agents. With billions of active users, platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok offer unparalleled reach.

Real estate videos, when done right, can capture the attention of potential buyers and leave a lasting impression. However, filming for social media comes with its own set of best practices.

Here’s how to make sure your real estate videos shine on the small screen.

Embrace Wide-Angle, Vertical Filming

The bulk of social media consumption occurs on mobile devices, and this greatly impacts how videos should be shot and presented. There’s no sense filming horizontal and then correcting it later. You’re adding unnecessary steps and complicating the process.

Here’s a couple things to think about then filming vertically:

  • Vertical Viewing: Mobile users tend to hold their devices upright. Shooting videos in a vertical format ensures they take up the entire screen, providing an immersive viewing experience.
  • Wide-Angle Advantage: Using a wide-angle lens in conjunction with vertical filming maximizes the field of view. It ensures that even on the small screen, the viewer gets a comprehensive look at the property.

When viewers don’t need to rotate their phones or pinch to zoom, the viewing experience becomes seamless, making your video more engaging and user-friendly.

Make Sure To Capture Authentic Colors

Any over-edited and/or miscolored videos are immediately off putting to the viewer. You only have a few seconds to capture the viewers attention, so it’s imperative that the video looks good and shows true colors.

You can achieve this in a number of ways:

  • Natural Lighting: Whenever possible, film during the day when natural light floods the rooms. It reduces the need for aggressive post-processing and keeps colors true to life.
  • White Balance: Always ensure your camera’s white balance is set correctly. This is crucial to avoid the interiors looking too yellow or too blue.
  • Post-Editing: While some level of post-processing is acceptable, be wary of over-saturating the colors. Interiors should appear welcoming, not garish.

Remember, potential buyers or renters are trying to visualize themselves in the space. Keeping the colors realistic ensures they get an authentic feel of what living there might be like.

Keep Them Short, Sweet, and Engaging

The fast-paced nature of social media means attention spans are limited. Most platforms also have a maximum amount of time that a Reel style video can be, so you need to start thinking about shorter videos.

Here’s a few things to consider:

  • Ideal Length: Aim to keep your videos between 45 seconds to 2 minutes. This is enough time to showcase a property effectively without losing viewer interest.
  • Highlight the Best: Start the video with visually appealing shots to hook viewers immediately. A beautiful living room, an expansive view from a balcony, or a luxurious kitchen can serve as perfect openers.

The key is to be concise yet comprehensive. In the limited timeframe, make sure you’re conveying all the essential features of the property.

Prioritize The Main Living Areas And Impressive Features

Not all rooms are created equal, especially in the eyes of potential buyers or renters. You should focus on the main areas and the impressive feature of the home since you only have a small amount of time.

Here’s what to think about when deciding what spaces to highlight:

  • The Heart of the Home: Kitchens, living rooms, and primary bedrooms often hold more value than other spaces. These are the areas where people spend most of their time. Ensure these rooms are prominently featured and shown from the best angles.
  • Lesser Emphasis on Secondary Rooms: While it’s essential to give viewers a holistic view of the property, spaces like half baths, guest rooms, and storage spaces don’t require as much screen time. A quick pan or a brief shot can suffice.
  • Impressive Features: Impressive features like chandeliers, architectural details, a great fire place, etc. should definitely be highlighted before a plain guest room.

It’s all about showcasing the lifestyle and comfort the property offers. By focusing on the main living areas, you’re presenting viewers with a compelling narrative of life in that home.

Additional Resources

Check out our article 5 Easy Camera Movements to Utilize in your Real Estate Videos for some filming inspiration.

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.

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About author
Matthew Digati is a professional Real Estate and Architectural Photographer. Matthew has worked as a Real Estate and Architectural Photographer since 2015 and has photographed properties and projects all over the United States.
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