You’ve seen it on Zillow, Redfin, and the like—beautifully shot homes that make you feel like you could jump right into the photo. But then the next home you click on might have images where the rooms are untidy or the photo is crooked. While not all of us are professional photographers, there are many ways you can get a better-looking photo to draw in potential buyers if you’re listing your home.
Chris Snitko, a self-taught photographer who has been working in the industry for more than a decade, has three pet peeves when it comes to real estate photography: When a toilet seat is left up, a barbecue cover is left on, and a garbage can is left out. “I think sometimes people get in a bit of a hurry and miss stuff,” Snitko says. “We try to take our time and be meticulous about it and capture the home as well as we can on location.”
While these are quick fixes, there are other mistakes Snitko spots instantly. “A lot of the time, when a seller shoots (on their iPhone) they hold the phone up and shoot, so 99 percent of the shots the average person takes are vertical,” he says.