Maybe you thought: could the very highest photo quality become a problem? After all, if the photos attract potential clients, they might be disappointed that in real life the house looks much more ordinary and prosaic.
In the entire history of our business, there has been only one case when a realtor told us about such a situation.
However, it’s impossible to count the cases when our realtor clients were happy that their deals closed much faster than comparables with lower-quality photos — simply because there were more showings, even during a seller’s market.
Avoiding high-quality photos out of fear of disappointing a potential buyer is like not using a car out of fear of an accident. Yes, accidents happen!
This topic was discussed in a closed FB group of real estate media professionals. A client complained to a realtor that the house was darker than in the photos. The photographer asked colleagues for advice on how to act in such a situation.
I’m copying some comments here:
“Photos show the home with good professional lighting so it can be properly seen — that’s the purpose of real estate photography. With proper lighting, that’s what the space could be, so you’re not misrepresenting it. When the client buys the house, nothing prevents them from installing as powerful lighting as they want and enjoying what they saw in the photos. But if the realtor wants the photos to look disappointing, happy to accommodate.”
“I would explain that this is what is customary for marketing on the internet these days. Buyers are more drawn to bright images.”
“The idea is to make the property look enticing, and that you did.”
“Your only job is to get people to click on the listing and get them in the door. You are making the invitation, the rest is for the realtor.”
“The human eye naturally sees in HDR, adjusting exposures by lifting shadows and lowering brightness for less eye strain and better viewing. The HDR method of photography mimics the human eye’s natural ability and not that of a low-end one-off snap shot might pick up. That’s where professional photography comes in. The outcome is an authentic visual experience.”
“Our job is to provide media that helps the realtor get clients over the threshold. If you provided the dark ones, the showings will be next to zero, I’d guess. That’s how you handle it.”
“For properties on the market, agencies often prefer very bright images and ultra wide-angle shots. The goal is to attract as many viewings as possible.”
“OMG usually they’re whining the opposite.”
“Tell him, thank you, I’m a professional real estate photographer, and I’m good at my job.”
If you feel our premium editing isn’t for you, just tell us, and we’ll do standard, generic editing like most other photographers. We edit to your taste. But it’s still better to keep the quality bar high. Even if the difference between the original and the photos is striking, everyone understands these are MLS photos taken by a professional photographer with specialized equipment. The chance that someone will complain is extremely small, while the chance that great photos will help close the deal faster is very real and tangible, as practice shows.