Photography
October 2, 2022

Top 7 Real Estate Photo Editing Trends

7 min read

Real estate photography is more important than ever in today's market. Professional photos can help your listing stand out from the competition and attract potential buyers. However, taking great real estate photos is only half the battle. The next step is editing them to perfection. Keep reading to learn more!

Why Photography in Real Estate Is Important

The fact that things are continuously changing is one of the most exciting aspects of being a real estate agent. The real estate industry is constantly evolving, from the status of the market to how Realtors are showcasing listings.

The internet is where most people start their search for available homes. When searching for houses, the first thing a potential buyer sees is the visual representation of a home. A prospective buyer will be drawn to or turned off by the pictures used to advertise a property.

When looking at photos of properties, buyers anticipate a certain level of quality. However, real estate photos have the chance to advance thanks to the many photo and video editing tools offered by applications and platforms.

Before After

Even if they are not photographers, real estate agents and brokers need to recognize good photography and keep up with the latest trends to know what prospective buyers want from a listing.

How Does Real Estate Photo Editing Work?

Real estate photo editing is making corrections and enhancements to photos of properties before listing them for sale. Real estate photo editing aims to make the property look its best to attract potential buyers.

Common corrections include removing glare from windows, brightening dark rooms, and removing unwanted objects from the scene. Enhancement techniques can consist of adding virtual furniture to empty rooms, increasing the saturation of colors, and altering the perspective of a room to make it appear larger.

Real estate photo editing is a specialized form of photography that requires an eye for detail and a knowledge of light and shadow. With the help of a skilled photo editor, even an average photo can be transformed into a stunning advertisement for a property. If you're in the market for a real estate photographer but don't know where to start, we wrote a blog "6 Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Photographer".

The top 7 real estate photography trends are listed below.

1.) Aerial Shots

Drone photography is becoming more and more common because it gives potential customers a better idea of the property's landscape. However, high-quality cameras and drones with strong navigational capabilities are required to capture the actual layout of the land in aerial photographs.

Drones can take photos of the house from all angles and various topographies that can then be modified. Traditional photographs are effective, but a bird's eye view can show the area. Customers can better grasp a property's best features and the neighborhood thanks to aerial images.

In addition, drone photography can be used to create a virtual tour of the property, giving potential buyers an idea of what it would be like to walk through the home. With this technology becoming more and more accessible, we will likely see an increase in its use in the real estate market.

2.) Virtual Staging 

One of the most time-consuming and expensive aspects of a realtor's business is setting up a space for viewing with the ideal furnishings and lighting. However, virtual staging has become a popular real estate trend in recent years, as it allows agents to decorate and present a room online. In addition, virtual staging is an efficient and affordable way to make an empty room look more attractive to potential buyers.

before virtual staging
after virtual staging

In most cases, all that is needed is a few photos of the empty space. These real estate photo editing services photos are then sent to a virtual staging firm, where interior designers and photo editors will add furniture, accessories, and other elements to create a stylish living space. In fact, you can order virtual staging right from our website.

This trend is becoming increasingly popular as it allows realtors to save time and money on their listings. If you're interested in learning more about virtual staging, you can check out "The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Staging".

3.) Twilight Photography (Day to Dusk)

When describing a house, it's important to focus on both the exterior and interior of the building. One of the common picture editing techniques used to enhance the appeal of real estate properties is twilight conversion or "golden hour" photography. Everything appears so lovely and enticing in the golden glow of the setting sun, luring the shoppers. Although the twilight conversion technique is uncommon, when utilized correctly, it can raise the home's level of attractiveness to a higher level.

Interested in getting a day to dusk edit for your listing or vacation rental property? You can order this service right from our website.

4.) 3D Virtual Tours

A 3D virtual tour lets prospective buyers explore a home room by room in a lifelike simulation. It enables potential buyers to get a sense of the home before seeing it. It also makes a home's layout easier for buyers to comprehend. Before visiting the available property, buyers can begin to picture their lives in the home with the help of a 3D virtual tour.

matterport 3D camera

Virtual tours have gained popularity over the years, especially with the COVID-19 epidemic. The 3D virtual tours offer a safer approach to visiting home and give buyers an in-depth look at the property.

The majority of people's largest purchases will be home. Real estate agents and prospective buyers invest a lot of time and effort in choosing the right home. You may help potential buyers choose if they should pursue a certain property or pass it up by providing a virtual tour.

5.) Image Enhancement

Every home or piece of property has a flaw. The goal of image enhancement is to highlight the home's positive qualities and minimize its drawbacks. The majority of realtors use the prevalent real estate photo editing trend of home improvements to emphasize the positive features of the property that draw in more purchasers.

outdoor image enhancement
indoor image enhancement

Image enhancement is not limited to real estate photos. Every photo can be edited to make it more aesthetically pleasing. In addition, many online tools can be used to improve the quality of a photo. However, it is important to note that image enhancement should be used in moderation.

Too much image editing can create an unrealistic impression that may mislead potential buyers or visitors. However, when used judiciously, image enhancement can be a powerful tool for drawing attention to the best features of a home or property.

We include image enhancements on every photo we virtually stage, but you can also order image enhancements separately. Choose from indoor image enhancements or outdoor image enhancements.

6.) Hiring a Professional

As any real estate agent knows, taking high-quality listing photos is essential to attract potential buyers. However, capturing and editing all the images can consume a significant amount of time that could be used in other ways.

Instead of taking pictures with your phone, hire a professional photographer to shoot photos that are edited to perfection and showcase each listing. Professional real estate photographers are aware of the optimum framing, lighting, camera and lens options, and editing techniques to highlight the home.

However, if you don't have the budget for a real estate photographer, you can check out our blog "Proven Tips to Take the Best DIY Real Estate Photos".

Additionally, contacting nearby photographers is a fantastic method to expand your network and gain recommendations from others. Finally, hiring a professional photographer is an investment that will pay off in the long run by helping you sell listings faster and for higher prices.

7.) Mobile-Friendly Photos

In today's world, having a mobile-friendly website is more important than ever. More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to browse the internet, and if your website isn't optimized for mobile devices, you're likely losing out on potential customers. When it comes to real estate, making sure that your property photographs are mobile-friendly is crucial.

It's more important than ever to make sure that your website is user-friendly. By taking the time to optimize your property photographs for mobile devices, you can make it easy for potential buyers to learn about your listings and help increase your revenue.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many real estate photo editing trends that you can use to improve your listings. Following these real estate photo editing trends can create photos that will draw in potential buyers and help you sell listings faster. Be sure to contact Virtual Restaging, Inc. to learn more about our services that can help improve your real estate business. We can transform your space from vacant to warm and vibrant and allow potential buyers to visualize their future homes.

Real Estate Photo Editing Trends FAQ

Here are frequently asked questions for Real Estate Photo Editing Trends.

What are the new trends in the photographic industry?

There are a few new trends in the photographic industry that have been gaining popularity in recent years. One such trend is using drone photography to capture aerial shots of landscapes and buildings. Another trend is using 360-degree cameras to create panoramic images.

How can I make my real estate pictures look professional?

1. Invest in a good quality camera. This will make a big difference in the overall appearance of your photos.

2. Use natural light whenever possible. Pictures taken in natural light tend to look more flattering and inviting than those taken with artificial light.

What is Twilight photography real estate?

Twilight photography is a type of photography that captures the natural light just before and after sunset or sunrise. It's often used for real estate and architectural photos because it gives the images a warm, golden glow.

What time of day is best for real estate photography?

Generally, the best time of day for real estate photography is during the "golden hour." The golden hour is the first hour after sunrise and the last hour of sunlight before sunset. This is when the light is soft and golden, making for beautiful photos.

What filter do real estate photographers use?

Real estate photographers often use polarizing filters to darken skies and make clouds stand out. A polarizer can also increase the saturation of colors, making a property look more attractive in photos.

Do real estate agents edit photos?

Real estate agents sometimes edit photos, depending on their expected profit per deal, how busy they are, and if they have a trusted relationship with a photo editing business. Some agents will go the extra mile to ensure all the photos for a listing look great, while others may not be as concerned about photography editing.

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