Aha!
By Roxanne Vis·1 minute ago·Modified: 1 minute ago
RTL
Trash can in the picture? Not done. The same goes for litter boxes, laundry baskets and toilet rolls. If you want to make your home look as good as possible in photos, it’s best to leave some things out of the picture – and include others. Real estate photographers share the do’s and don’ts of good sales photos. “You don’t sell a car with a full ashtray.”
The cleanest picture
To start with the most important thing: avoid filth and mess. No one wants a house that looks dirty, no matter how tense the housing market is. So make sure your house is clean and tidy before the photographer comes, Hans van Vrouwerf advises. He is creative manager at real estate presentation agency Boykeys and trains other photographers in creating the perfect real estate picture. “The best photo starts with an organized and clean interior. That is crucial.”
The litter box, the scratching post, the dog or cat’s food bowls, the cage of your guinea pig: you will not easily encounter them on Funda. “We remove all pet attributes,” says Maxime de Raaff, photographer at real estate presentation agency Zibber. “People often associate them with unpleasant odors and dirt, which is not what you want to evoke when you are trying to sell your house.” Moreover, they only distract from the home, says Van Vrouwerf. “You don’t want thoughts wandering to what kind of cat the current residents have. That’s not the point.”
The same goes for waste bins, used towels, overflowing laundry baskets and toilet rolls. These are all things that we consciously or unconsciously associate with dirt. “You don’t sell a car with a full ashtray,” Van Vrouwerf succinctly summarizes. In addition, all those ugly things take up space that you want to show in a photo. “A toilet is often small enough, a waste bin or full toilet roll holder does not make it more spacious,” says De Raaff. “So I’ll remove those, so you can see the tiles better.” Another tip: always put your toilet seat down. And do you have a bath mat? Get rid of it, out of sight. De Raaff: “I am really allergic to those things. Many bathrooms have a very nice floor and then there is such a dirty rug on it. It’s a shame. In addition, it can give the impression that you are hiding a broken tile.”
Another big recommendation, according to De Raaff: huge family portraits on the wall. Although they are blurred on Funda, you then visually end up with a gigantic stain on the wall. Oh yes, as far as walls are concerned: if you have painted them in very bold colors, it wouldn’t hurt to consider painting them in a calmer color before the photographer comes along, De Raaff delicately notes.
Beautiful stuff = beautiful photos
So much for the don’ts. What exactly scores on Funda? Peace, spaciousness and atmosphere are the most important elements according to both photographers. De Raaff: “We try to keep the photos as calm as possible, without too many frills. Figurines and photo frames are better stored away, but it should not look too sterile. It’s all about balance in the photo.”
Is there a fireplace in the house? Then it will be turned on for the photo anyway, if it is up to the photographers. A fresh plant in the bathroom, a (fresh!) bunch of flowers on the table or some neatly fluffed cushions on the couch can also enhance the atmosphere. Especially when certain colors appear in different places – the human eye finds that a pleasant sight. “But be careful that they are not too present,” De Raaff warns. It should look homely, without putting too much emphasis on the personal style of the current resident, that’s what it comes down to.
© Zibber On the right the bedroom as photographers like to see it
“Beautiful things make beautiful photos,” Van Vrouwerf concludes. “That sounds simple, but it is often true. If you pay attention to your interior and really put the finishing touches on it, you will get much better photos. A house with only four white walls visible is much more difficult to sell than a beautiful, neatly furnished house. If there is also peace, spaciousness and very nice light, then you really can’t go wrong.”
Always nice weather
Speaking of beautiful light: have you ever noticed that the weather is always nice on Funda? That is of course no coincidence. A gray day creates negative feelings, while most people are happy with a clear blue sky. Real estate photographers cannot always wait for the sun to shine, so it sometimes happens – often – that a gray sky is transformed into a blue one afterwards. “That absolutely happens,” admits Van Vrouwerf. “If it rains very heavily on the day we take the photos, we often go back again. But that takes a lot of time. If it’s just drizzling a little, it’s just as easy to just replace the sky.” It also happens on an assembly line at the company where De Raaff works. “At Zibber we have a good weather guarantee,” she jokes.
Apart from the sky, there is little digital manipulation in real estate photography. Van Vrouwerf: “We sometimes like to do minuscule cosmetic interventions, but it is not the case that we are going to make a failed lawn nice and green again. Sometimes we are asked if we want to remove a stain on the wall. We only do this upon request. .” De Raaff says the same. “That is always done through the real estate agent. These are usually things that are still addressed after we have taken the photo, such as whitewashing a wall or closing a crack. We also make the colors a bit fresher and correct the curvature of the wide-angle lens. Furthermore We try to keep it as honest as possible. It doesn’t benefit anyone if you misrepresent things.”
Styling tips for the perfect interior photo
Both companies send residents a checklist of do’s and don’ts in advance. Here is a selection from Zibber’s.
Living room:
Show as much of the floor as possible. Tidy up the windowsill. Remove net curtains when possible
Kitchen:
Clear the counter as much as possible. Put away the dishcloth, washing-up brush and spices. Place a fruit bowl or bouquet of flowers.
Bathroom:
Remove toothpaste and toothbrushes from sight. Lower the toilet seat. Place a new toilet roll in the holder
Bedroom:
Provide a neutral duvet cover. Open curtains and raise shutters. Remove items from bedside tables
Garden:
Sweep the sidewalk and mow the grass Place cushions in the garden furniture Close all windows in the house For more articles from RTL Wonen, click here:
