Have you ever wondered why some home listings have more viewings and sell faster than others, despite being posted on the same property listing platforms with equal coverage and visibility to the same audience?
The secret lies in a 6-letter word…
That’s right!
Photos make a big difference.
And the good thing is, you don’t need to be a professional photographer to capture outstanding photos for your property listing.
Here are some simple photography tricks that work wonders:
1. Schedule a Right Time: Day vs Night
Nothing beats having good natural light in photography: it can help make your home look crisp, bright and welcoming. So as much as possible, you should take your listing photos on a sunny day — anytime before four in the afternoon so that the sun isn’t too low. Then, maximise existing natural light in your unit by opening all windows, pulling up the shades and tying up the curtains. If you’re low on natural light, especially if you own a corridor unit, turn on all the lights in your home instead.
Try to avoid shooting on dark and cloudy days as it makes your interior photos look dull, gloomy and unappealing.
Things to remember:
- Shoot with natural light
- Turn on all the lights if necessary
2. Know Your Orientation: Landscape vs Portrait
Social media channels may prefer a square or a portrait image, but that’s not the case for real estate photography. Your home may be too wide to fit into a portrait, so use a horizontal landscape instead of a vertical portrait display.
The idea is to capture your home for sale into the entire frame of the camera and to do it in a way that is visually interesting.
That said, you can still take listing photos in portrait, especially if you’re trying to highlight ceiling height, for example.
Things to remember:
- Use horizontal orientation
- Choose what to include and what to exclude from your photos
3. Find the Right Level & Position: High vs Low
Bend one knee when you are taking a snap of your space to take wider shots. Doing so will bring you to the right level, thus, making your flat look more spacious. Standing tall while taking your shot may capture too much of either the ceiling or flooring in the finished product, which is not interesting nor appealing to buyers.
Consider other creative angles such as taking from the feet of the bed or from the side of the bed such as hotel-styled room photographs.
Frame your shots! DO NOT tilt your phone or camera while taking photos of your home, as this will distort your photos and make them less attractive.
Things to remember:
- Kneel down when taking photographs
- Not too much ceilings or floorings
4. Declutter & De-Personalise: Less is More
Homes with less furniture show up better in photos, or even during open house viewings. Rearrange your bedroom closets and storage cabinets. Dispose all unwanted furniture or consider putting them away in a temporary storage unit to showcase the purpose of each room and allow plenty of space to move around.
You want your buyers to imagine themselves living in your house, they can’t do that if all your personal items are still there.
Things to remember:
- Keep just sufficient furniture in each area
- Clear out those personal photographs and family heirlooms
5. Feature Each Room
You need to remember that the photos on your home listing serve as a virtual tour for your buyers. During an open house viewing, buyers will get a glimpse of the room through the door, and not through the windows or anywhere else. Similarly, when you are shooting a bedroom, photos should be taken from the doorway, pointing towards the interior of the room.
Our top tip for bedroom photography would be to take a photo that emphasises each room’s selling point, whether it is the natural light in the room, the spaciousness, or the little nook in the corner that will make buyers curious to see more.
Things to remember:
- Take photos from the doorway
- Feature each room’s selling point
6. Feature the Kitchen
The kitchen can be the most challenging room to take photographs of in your home. The key for a great photo of your kitchen is to declutter and make it sparkle. Clean off everything on kitchen counters. Remove the little things that may distract the viewers, such as fridge magnets and business cards. Add a bowl of fruits, a flower vase or some essential condiments to add a pop of colour to your kitchen.
Things to remember:
- Leave your kitchen almost empty
- Add a pop of colour
7. Feature the Bathroom
Potential buyers or tenants are aware that your flat has bathrooms. Unless this area adds value to your listing, for instance, your bathroom is newly renovated with polished tiles and warm lighting, otherwise it is not necessary to include in your listing. Ensure that the countertop, mirror and any glass surfaces are spotless. Hint: Newspapers work magic in making glass mirrors shine!
Things to remember:
- Put toilet lids down
- Hide all toiletries
8. Enhance your Photos if Needed
Take a second or third look at your photographs make some improvements, if needed, by cropping them any distracting things or glaring lights.
If you have a desktop computer or laptop at home, it is worth your time to do a little quick editing to make your photos look even better. One of the best, free, and beginner-friendly photo editors we have discovered is PhotoScape. While many photo editors have interfaces that are similar to Photoshop, PhotoScape is completely unique on its own. Snapseed is another app with dozens of different attractive effects to choose from.
Things to remember:
- Crop to eliminate distractions
- Use free beginner-friendly photo enhancement tools
And before you go, here’s a checklist you can save to your phone and refer to when taking photos for your property listing:
Here are some more photography tips you can follow:
Ultimately, shooting interiors is not as hard as you may think. And no one knows your home better than you do, so when you take listing photos of your home, remember to highlight any special features so that buyers will see your home in the best light. Always put your best foot forward to get those enquiries and offers!
Once you are ready for your home viewing, schedule an Open House on the Ohmyhome App!
If you need further assistance in selling your home, or if you have any questions about the home selling process, reach out to us via WhatsApp or the Live Chat below and we’ll be in touch with you in just a minute. You can also book an appointment to speak with any of our Super Agents here.
+65 9755 9283 
hello@ohmyhome.com 
