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REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY

Listing photos for agents and sellers, across New Jersey.

WHY IT MATTERS

THE FIRST VIEWING HAPPENS ON A PHONE

By the time anybody stands in the hallway, they have already decided whether they like the house.

That decision was made scrolling, in a few seconds, against a dozen other listings on the same screen. Which means the photographs are not marketing the house. For most buyers they are the house, right up until the moment they walk in.

The gap between an honest, well lit set and a phone snapshot of a dark living room is not subtle, and it shows up in how many people book a viewing.

WHAT YOU GET

A COMPLETE LISTING SET

Between twenty five and forty five fully edited images, depending on the size of the property.

Windows are handled so the room stays bright and you can still see what is outside, which is the thing that goes wrong most often in listing photography.

BEFORE I ARRIVE

HOW TO PREPARE THE HOUSE

An hour of tidying is worth more than anything I can do with a camera.

01

CLEAR THE SURFACES

Worktops, tables, windowsills and the top of the fridge. A single mug shows up far more in a photograph than it does in the room.

02

PUT AWAY THE PERSONAL

Family photographs, post, certificates, anything with a name on it. Buyers look at people instead of at the room.

03

LIGHTS ON, BLINDS OPEN

Every light in the house, including lamps, and every blind and curtain fully open. Replace any bulb that has gone.

04

MOVE THE CARS

Off the driveway and away from the front of the house, along with bins, hoses and anything else parked outside.

Pets are easier out of the house if that is possible, with beds and bowls put away. And if the lawn needs cutting, cut it the day before rather than the morning of, so the clippings have gone.

FOR EMPTY PROPERTIES

VIRTUAL STAGING

An empty room is hard to read. Buyers cannot tell whether their sofa fits or what the space is even for.

Virtual staging puts furniture into the photograph so the scale and the purpose become obvious. It costs a hundred and fifty dollars a room, and on a vacant property it is usually the best money in the whole shoot.

Every staged image is clearly marked as staged when I deliver it, so it never gets published without the disclosure that most boards require.

PRICING

PRICED BY SIZE

Editing and delivery included. Travel is charged separately at the published rates.
PropertyPrice
Under 2,000 sq ft, 25 edited images$400
2,000 to 3,500 sq ft, 35 edited images$500
3,500 to 5,000 sq ft, 45 edited images$600
Over 5,000 sq ftQUOTED
Virtual staging, price per room$150

Square footage comes from the tax record or from your agent. Commercial property is priced differently, on the commercial page.

SEE FULL PRICING

QUESTIONS

WHAT SELLERS AND AGENTS ASK

How long does a listing shoot take?
Between one and two hours for most homes. A smaller property is closer to an hour, a large one with grounds runs longer. You do not need to be there for it as long as I can get in.
What time of day is best?
Late morning through mid afternoon for most homes, because the light is even and the windows behave. West facing houses photograph better in the morning, east facing better in the afternoon. Tell me the orientation and I will suggest a time.
Do I need to be home during the shoot?
No. Plenty of shoots happen with a lockbox or the agent letting me in. If you would rather be there that is fine too, though most people find it easier not to be.
How should I prepare the house?
Clear every surface, put away anything personal, open all the blinds, turn every light on, and move cars off the driveway. That covers most of it. Little things matter more than big ones, because a mug on a worktop shows up far more in a photograph than it does in the room.
Should I hide family photographs?
Yes, along with anything with a name on it. Buyers look at pictures of people rather than at the room, and there is a privacy point too, since listing photos end up everywhere.
What about pets?
Take them out if you can, or shut them in one room and tell me which. Beds, bowls and litter trays should be put away, because they date a listing in a way sellers rarely expect.
How many photographs will I get?
Between twenty five and forty five depending on the size of the property. The exact number is in your quote before anything is booked.
Which rooms do you photograph?
Every room that helps sell the house. All the living space, the kitchen, every bedroom and bathroom, the exterior from the best angles, and the garden. Utility rooms, garages and basements are included where they add something and left out where they do not.
What is virtual staging?
Furniture added to a photograph of an empty room, so a buyer can see the scale and the purpose of the space. It costs a hundred and fifty dollars a room and it makes a considerable difference on vacant properties.
Do I have to declare that a photo is virtually staged?
Yes, and that responsibility sits with whoever lists the property. Most boards require it and it is the right thing to do regardless. Every staged image I deliver is clearly marked so it never gets published by accident.
Can you photograph a house that is still occupied?
Yes, most are. Occupied homes just need more preparation than empty ones, because there is more to tidy away. The result is often better than a vacant house, since furnished rooms show scale.
What if the house is in poor condition?
Then it gets photographed honestly. Making a tired house look immaculate simply moves the disappointment to the viewing, and it wastes everyone's day. Good photography of an honest property brings the right buyers rather than more of them.
Which square footage figure sets my price?
The figure on the property tax record, or whatever your agent gives me. If the property turns out to be larger than the figure quoted, the higher tier applies and the difference goes on the invoice.
Can I use the photos again if I relist next year?
Yes, the licence has no expiry. Whether you should is a different question, because seasons change and an autumn photograph on a spring listing is noticeable. Most agents reshoot.
Who owns the photographs, me or my agent?
Whoever booked and paid holds the licence. If the agent booked, the images are licensed to the agent. If you booked, they are yours. Worth agreeing before the shoot so nobody is surprised when the listing moves.
READY WHEN YOU ARE

BOOK A LISTING SHOOT

Send me the address, the square footage and when the listing goes live. You will have a fixed price back within a few hours.