Is Using A Flash Worth It For Real Estate Photography?
The quick answer to whether or not using a flash is worth it for real estate photography is… it depends! It depends on your skill level, the type of house you’re photographing, and the type of real estate photography business you want to run.
In this article I’ll discuss whether or not using a flash is worth it for you and your real estate photography business and how you can go about deciding.
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Do You Need A Flash For Real Estate Photography?
In short, no. You definitely do not need a flash for real estate photography. There are many professional real estate photographers that don’t use a flash, capture great photos, and run very profitable businesses.
However, using a flash can be a quick way to increase the overall quality of your photos, especially when you consider how inexpensive flashes are when compared to other pieces of camera equipement.
Check out our article Best Flashes for Real Estate Photography to see just how affordable they are.
If you’re already aware of HDR photography, then you already know that flashes aren’t needed. But if you’ve never used a flash, you might not understand how much help they can be on real estate shoots.
Why Use A In Flash Real Estate Photography?
The short answer to this question is that, when properly used, a flash can make photos look much better in many different ways.
The main way using a flash is going to help is when you simply need extra light in the room or property your photographing. Whether it’s a basement, room without windows, or just a really dimly lit home, having a flash eliminates the need to rely on only the available light.
By using a flash, the photographer can have better control over the lighting in the scene, filling in shadows and balancing the exposure. This allows us to capture a well-exposed image that accurately represents the space.
Another major reason to use a flash would be that a flash can help bring out the depth and details of the space. Textures, colors, and architectural features can look great when a flash is used properly.
It can provide a more vibrant and visually appealing representation of the property, making it more attractive to potential buyers.
Are There Downsides To Using A Flash?
If you’ve never used a flash before, the biggest downside is that you’re going to have to learn a completely new skill. It’s not as simple as putting a flash on your camera and photographing the house the same way you did before.
You’ll need to learn how to diffuse or bounce the flash properly, what settings work best in specific circumstances, and how to make sure your camera and flash are synched properly. Give our article Utilizing A Flash Bounce In Real Estate Photography a read for more information.
Now, all of that is very manageable and truthfully not too difficult to learn. But you’ll need time, practice, and patience to use one properly.
One of the only other downsides is that using a flash might mean that your photo shoots take longer. Personally, I find that once you know how to use a flash properly, it doesn’t add on that much time at all and the rewards as well worth it.
Who Should And Shouldn't Use A Flash?
If your goal is to capture the highest quality photos you can possibly imagine, then you’ll definitely want to learn how to use a flash. There are so many different ways to incorporate a flash into real estate photography that you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not exploring the option.
If, however, your goal is less about quality and more about quantity, then a flash isn’t totally necessary. It might be better for you to learn how to capture excellent HDR photos so you don’t need to use any extra time or gear while on site.
Personally, I use a flash on 95% of my shoots. I decided long ago to focus on producing very high quality real estate photos as opposed to getting a lot of real estate shoots. My decision to start using a flash took the quality of my photos to a whole new level.
Additional Resources
Check out our article on Lighting for Real Estate Photography to gain a deeper understanding of how to use a flash and why lighting is so important in real estate photography.
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.
