Real Estate Talk:
Proper photo shoots

If you are going to sell it, show it well

By Joseph Marovitch

Updated August 21, 2025

When it comes to showing your property, the first impression can lead to the next impression or be the last impression. It depends on what the buyer views initially.

Have you ever visited a Centris listing online, during the summer, and found pictures showing a property in winter with snow on the balcony? Have you ever seen a listing with close-up pictures of a bed that looks like the blanket was just thrown on, or a picture of a bathroom with the toilet seat up and items on the sink? Have you ever seen a listing with pictures that look like the house has no lights? These are listings with pictures that deter buyers.

When it comes to showing your property, the first impression can lead to the next impression or be the last impression.

Pictures of a home must be bright, crisp, clean and grand. Each room must bring a smile and appear inviting. The buyer must be able to see themselves in the space, at peace and happy.

The process of selling your property starts with attracting buyers. The price is what buyers consider first. Whatever the buyer requires depends upon the price. Once the price range to purchase a property is established, the buyer then sets out to find a property within their budget that suits their needs.

When the buyer starts searching for a property on Centris or any other Internet site, the first thing they will look at is pictures of the property. Therefore, the pictures should be as attractive as possible. This is where an experienced home photographer is an asset. A professional photographer knows how to stage the room, find the best angles and determine the best light for a picture.

‘Pictures of a home must be bright, crisp, clean and grand. Each room must bring a smile and appear inviting.’

A professional photographer can make a room look large and inviting just by choosing the time of day, angle to shoot from and an excellent lens to shoot with.

The better the photos are, the more buyers will come to visit. On the other hand, awful photos can deter buyers.

If you are using a real estate broker to sell your property, the photographer is usually included in the service provided.

If you are selling the property on your own, a good house photographer can run anywhere from $200 to $400. A certain number of pictures are usually included but extra photos cost more.

‘The better the photos are, the more buyers will come to visit. On the other hand, awful photos can deter buyers.’

A broker placing a property on Centris for thousands of other brokers and potential buyers to see can place up to 99 pictures on the system.

The information in these articles is a summary. Should you have questions, comments or wish to discuss further, please refer to the comments section at the bottom of the page or contact me directly. As well, to view past articles, click here.

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