I just came across an article from the Boston Globe called “Advice on taking knockout real estate photos from a Pulitzer-winning photographer“, and they make some great points about how to shoot a home that’s for sale. The piece is written by Stan Grossfeld, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who shoots photojournalism as well as anyone. As a photographer Stan has done a lot of terrific work, and is to be commended for his contribution.
But here’s the thing I want to focus on, where Stan writes:
“Because in America, everyone who has a cellphone thinks they are a professional photographer.
They are not.”
That’s true. Most homeowners and real estate agents are not professional photographers, despite what they might think about their creativity. Stan Grossfeld the Pulitzer Prize winner included some samples of real estate photos he’d taken inside a home for sale in Quincy, and unfortunately they are not very good. I mean, really, they are not good at all.
The images are taken at a bad angle, the vertical walls and windows are converging in on an angle, they are poorly lit, and overall quite disappointing.
This does not in any way take away from the brilliant work Stan Grossfeld does when shooting areas hit by war, or famine-affected children in Ethiopia. His images are haunting and amazing, and he does a fine job. I could not hope to do as well as he does in that area of photography, because that’s an area of photography which I am not good at.
Bring in the right person for the job
But the thing we need to recognize here is that just because a photographer might excel at one area of photography – such as photojournalism or weddings or pets – that does not mean they are good at all forms of photography.
When it comes to shooting interiors and exteriors of homes for sale, it takes a LOT of hours behind the camera and at the computer working on shooting and editing. It’s a very technical form of photography, and the composition and lighting has to be just right, and everyone gets it wrong when they first get started.
That’s why it’s important that you hire a photographer who is experienced in the field you need. Get an architectural photographer to shoot your new architectural project. Bring in a real estate photographer to take photos of your latest property listing. Have a wedding photographer shoot your wedding.
In other words, bring in the right photographer for the right job, pay them whatever it is you need to get them there, and you’ll get the result you want.