If you want to exceed at your job, you have to know a little bit about photography and perhaps even videography. As people increasingly turn to the web to gather their information, it is extremely important for Realtors to be able to take captivating photos and create virtual tours. This service is now an expected part of the industry and requires some element of skill and talent. REALTOR® Magazine has published a list of things you can do to improve your photos and learn how to highlight the selling points of a home.

1. Find the right fit
To take good pictures, you need a good camera. One with a wide-angle lens will allow you to capture an entire room in just one shot. A wide angle lens has the equivalent of a 28mm lens on a 35mm camera or lower. In addition, a 4X optical zoom provides better results than a digital zoom. Wide-angle cameras with 4X zoom come in all shapes and sizes, from compacts to digital SLRs.

2. Know the camera
Once you invest in the right camera, learn about its features. Most cameras have automatic settings to produce the best quality pictures, but that doesn’t mean you should shoot blindly. By learning the basics, you will know when and how to use these features to optimize quality.

3. Have a plan
Again, blindly shooting is not going to produce quality pictures that will engage buyers. Strategize how to highlight each room’s best features and capture the overall appeal of the home. This may mean re-organizing furniture, removing clutter, or moving tables or shelves.

4. Compose the shot
You should visually compose your picture before shooting by using the viewfinder to test the scene. Try different angles and distances to see which produces the best picture.

5. Use other equipment
Tripods are useful when trying to get the clearest possible shot of a room. Especially in dimly lit settings, pictures have the chance to blur when held in your hand. By mounting the camera, you ensure that there is no movement and the picture should turn out blur-free.

6. Move around
It’s important to experiment with different angles to see which works best. This means trying different shots of a room. One of the best shots can be taken from a bird’s eye view. If you have a step-ladder or a stool, take a picture from a higher perspective. This helps highlight what’s on the floor level rather than focusing on the ceiling.

7. Use lighting
The best pictures have a good amount of light. Even if you are using flash on your camera, turning on all the available lights will make your picture more visually appealing. Simply choosing to shoot during daytime hours can make all the difference.

8. Avoid backlighting
Make sure that there is even lighting around the focus of your picture. If the background is exceedingly bright, it will drown out the features you are trying to focus on. Remedy this by being sure to close any open curtains or by tightly framing the subject.

9. Quantity leads to quality
Don’t limit yourself to taking just one shot of each room or subject. The more pictures you take, the more likely it is that you will shoot a great one that will captivate a potential buyer.

By following basic techniques, you can be ahead of the curve. The industry is as competitive as ever and the more skills you have to set yourself apart, the better off you will be in the long run.

Do you use photography or videos as part of your selling techniques? What do you find to be most effective? Do you have additional advice to add to the above strategies?

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