First impressions are everything when it comes to selling your home - buyers are scrolling the internet looking at property after property and the photographs are usually the deciding factor whether a buyer will attend the home open. So yes - professional photos are an absolute non-negotiable when it comes to selling your home. We’ve all seen those shocking property photos and I am sure we can all agree, they don’t look great. But you don't have to just take our word for it - we’ve turned to one of Perth’s top property photography experts, Dylan Fox from Finesse Property Photography and asked him for his expert opinion.

What are the differences between property photos taken on an iPhone versus a professional camera?

The key difference really is simply that a professional photographer is just that… a professional. We understand how to compose photographs and how to work with the best possible light. Yes, our equipment is better than a phone and will give us more options for compositions and techniques. But it all really comes down to the skill of the photographer.

It’s the equivalent of going to a 5-star restaurant and while thanking the chef, telling them they must have a really nice pan… while it is true, the pan (or in our case, camera) is just a tool. It’s who is using the tools that makes all the difference.

 

What’s the biggest benefit of having professional property photography?

Great photographs are the backbone of the whole marketing campaign. They will most likely be your first point of contact with potential buyers, so they are your first and best chance at grabbing their attention. First impressions last. If you opt out of using a professional photographer you are already reducing the number of potential buyers, minimising buyer competition and therefore not reaching the ultimate sale price potential.

You will have already lowered your achievable sale price before the property even hits the market. It is important to not just pick any professional photographer, but one who has a good reputation within the real estate industry. A professional wedding photographer is not a professional real estate/architectural photographer. For example, a roof carpenter and an artisan furniture maker both work with wood, but with a different skillset. So choose wisely.

 

People often say professional photos are not an accurate representation of the property - what’s your take on this?

The most common question is ‘do we edit the rooms to make them look bigger?’, and the answer is no, we do not. The team at Finesse does use wide angle lenses when we want to capture the entire room in one frame. It is the only way to do so. However, we do not use ultra-wide (or fish-eye) lenses that will make the room appear warped. By showing too much in one frame the room can actually start to feel small and the warping makes it difficult to gauge depth and how a room flows.

Aside from this, we shoot homes presented to their fullest potential and under ideal lighting conditions. Preparing the home is crucial. No clutter, clean and possibly using staging furniture. Less is more. This means we are photographing the home in its ideal state, which is often not the way a home is while it is being lived in. We regularly here home owners jokingly say ‘we have never seen the home look this good, maybe we won’t sell’.

To top these preparations off, it is best to shoot the home in its best light. Some homes that may mean at a certain time during the day when they best show their natural light. Twilight shows a home in a brief window of light while all the lights in the home are on making it really pop. By combining all these elements, home preparation, light and a skilled photographer, the results speak for themselves.

 

So what are the top takeaways from this?

1. Do your research! Whatever agent you’re working with, insist on the best photographer and the best videographer because you only get one chance.
2. Listen to the advice of the agent and photographer. They are trying to highlight the best parts of your home, so they may want you to move furniture around and de-clutter if necessary. They may even ask you to remove personal items from the house, such as photographs or artwork - sometimes removing these items will make the room feel bigger and ultimately present your home in the best light.
3. Don’t discount undertaking home preparation. While it might cost you a little more in the short term to get the carpets or windows cleaned, it could end up making you more money in the long run.