Creating the right Real Estate image

While both interior and exterior photos taken in spring, summer and early fall will look pretty similar, photos taken in the late fall and over the winter can look more desolate - especially with trees turning or bare, or brown grass or snow on the ground.


Other elements can date the photos, especially if taken over the holidays;  Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations will certainly give away when the photos were taken. 

Such clear dating is not a problem if the house is very likely to sell within a couple of months.

However, if for some reason it does not sell, the MLS listing will show a house with Thanksgiving decorations, and if it is now say mid-August, it looks like the house has been hard to sell for some reason.

Even if this happens only on a subconscious level, it does still have a negative effect on the viewer. I myself have seen properties with such unmistakable dating several months later, and wondered what could be wrong with them, especially if they look like a nice house on screen.

Photos taken before the trees change are a lot harder to put a date to; they could have been taken anywhere within about an eight month period.

Conversely, if summer photos are seen out of that season, such as while browsing the MLS in January when it’s snowing outside, the negative why hasn’t this sold factor is a lot less.  

The bottom line is that even if a house is not going to be put on the market for a few weeks, photos should be taken while the garden is in bloom and is as green as possible and while the house interior is not decorated for the holidays.

Taking proactive photos can give the MLS listing a much longer lifespan, and create fewer possible negative connotations.

Many things have to be considered when you’re using photos and video to sell a property. This is where an experienced photographer can really make a property stand out from the crowd.

Terry Young is an FAA licensed drone pilot and professional photographer and videographer.  His 30 plus years of experience in pre- and post-production of both still photography and video, coupled with the latest equipment,  enable him to capture amazing, high quality images.