Long ago I realized the value in having my listings photographed by a professional. The reason is simple, they have both experience and equipment that I do not and it’s important when marketing a property for sale that it looks it best. Below is a list compiled by one of my preferred home photographers Cat Wilborne who works throughout Chapel Hill, Durham, Wake and north Chatham County.
These are great tips for anyone either trying to sell their own home or for listing agents who still want to take their own photos. Kitchens are probably the single most important consideration of Buyers when looking for a new home, so these tips are particularly valuable.
Remove The Clutter
Get rid of everything on the countertops. Start by removing everything on the countertops and then slowly add items in as needed. Kitchen counters appear overly cluttered in photographs even with just a few items on display. This is especially true when using a point and shoot camera. This goes for hand towels as well.
Watch Out For Reflective Surfaces
Don’t stand in front of anything reflective. Kitchens are fully of reflective surfaces so make sure to try to avoid standing in front of a black fridge, or a stainless stove hood. The flash will bounce right off of it and ruin your photo.
Enhance With Existings Light Fixtures
Double check the under cabinet lighting. This is often overlooked by agents in photographs and can make a huge difference in the photos, especially if you are using your fill flash setting. Any additional light in a kitchen is a plus!
Get Just The Right Angle
Shooting at an angle is key in a kitchen ESPECIALLY if the kitchen has an island. I always shoot at an angle towards the island. This automatically makes the room feel bigger. Shooting parallel to the island can be visually confusing. I find that the best angles in the kitchen are to shoot towards the side of the kitchen that has the most cabinets and appliances, OR shoot from the doorway to the kitchen. I find that these tend to be the safest bet for a good shot.
Use The Right Amount Of Flash
Use your fill flash setting– Just like bathrooms, kitchens are full of shiny reflective surfaces. Most point and shoot cameras come with a fill flash setting on them. This is especially useful when shooting rooms with bright cabinets and countertops. The fill flash fires a light that isn’t as bright as a normal flash setting and fills the room with a less harsh light.
Content shared by Cat Wilborne Photography
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