If you use the wrong real estate photography equipment, you might face some issues with a noisy or pixilated look, poor lighting, geometric distortions, etc. If you are an aspiring photographer trying to get into real estate photography and want to avoid taking bad real estate photos, I will help you put together a good equipment kit for your budget.
10 Real Estate Photo Equipment Kits You Will Need
I have compiled a list of the equipment you need to take the first steps in the real estate photography business.
If you want to save both time and money, you can use a buy set of gear instead of separate pieces. The kits below have everything you need to get started in this area. Depending on the brand you prefer, you can choose the most suitable one.
Even if you have the best real estate photography equipment, your photos will not be in demand without professional editing. If you want to get high-quality images, contact our professional service. We’ll deliver photos that meet all industry standards in a short time.
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1. Shoot with A DSLR Camera
Choosing a suitable camera for real estate photography is the most important part of the deal. Unlike other genres, real estate photography doesn't have high requirements, but you should still be ready to spend most of your money on a camera. You need a model with a large full-frame sensor and a 1:1 ratio.
Models with smaller aspect ratios cannot give enough picture space when photographing with a wide-angle lens. An automatic exposure bracketing feature is also a must for this genre of photography. Moreover, manual adjustments of the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO should be available. To take pictures with minimal noise in low light, you need a camera with a powerful sensor.
The Canon EOS 6D Mark II and the Nikon D850 are great options for commercial real estate photography. They will help you achieve incredible results. However, if you are a beginner photographer on a budget, I advise you to take a closer look at the Canon EOS Rebel T7.
2. Capture Entire Space with a Wide-Angle Lens
Buying a good lens for real estate photography is just as important as choosing the right camera. You should opt for wide angle lenses as they provide a wide perspective. Thanks to the ability to capture the entire room even in tight spaces, this optics is great for interior photography.
The concave view is another key aspect to consider when purchasing a lens. It allows a viewer to better feel the room. Plus, you can capture the whole room from corner to corner to showcase it in the best light. The Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4 ZA OSS E-Mount Lens meets all real estate photography standards. However, if you are looking for something less expensive, I advise you to consider the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens.
3. Get a Carbon Fiber Tripod
The next step is to choose a sturdy tripod for real estate photography. As the experts explain during the real estate photography classes, a tripod should prevent any camera movement thanks to a strong and secure grip. As a result, you will avoid blur and your pictures will look sharp and clear even when you shoot at a slow shutter speed.
If you do not have ideal light conditions, you will need to take several shots at different exposures for further blending. Choose one of popular tripod brands, it will help here.Plus, this piece of real estate photography gear comes in handy for other scenarios where you need to use long exposures. For example, you can use it for exterior night shots or interior photos in a poorly lit room.
A wobbly and unreliable tripod is an unwise investment. Imagine what happens to your expensive camera if it falls off the tripod. A carbon fiber tripod is the best choice as its tight joints, rigid legs, and solid construction will provide the safety you desire for your equipment. The Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB is a good budget tripod. However, if you can afford to spend more, then the Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 is the best choice.
4. Fly Up above Property with a Drone
With the growing popularity of drones, real estate aerial photography is becoming more and more in demand. To show the property from a bird's-eye view, you need a special drone for real estate photography. You can use it for various types of exterior images. Capture a garden, courtyard, house and part of the street, or even the surrounding area to provide more information about the property for potential buyers.
Modern drone manufacturers offer excellent models for incredible images. Auto-bracketing shots and RAW images will look great after proper photo post-processing. Such models as the Phantom 4 Pro, Mavic Pro, and Mavic Air 2 are the market leaders at the moment.
Another use of drones is indoor shooting. If you can't get pictures of a room or corridor from higher angles, then it's time to use an indoor drone. I recommend the DJI Mini 2 for its superb images of the highest quality.
Tip:
Since real estate photography equipment is quite expensive, I recommend paying for photography insurance before entering the business. Various accidents, damage to furniture, equipment or property itself can happen to anyone. Thanks to insurance, you will be able to cover some of the unforeseen expenses for repairs or the purchase of new gear. A camera and drone insurance is a must since these are the most expensive items in your kit.
5. Light the Scene with External Flashes
External camera flash is another important item among real estate accessories. This is a great solution to get extra light and avoid the hassles caused by the built-in pop-up flash. It is critical for those involved in kitchen photography as they have to deal with many reflective surfaces. You can place external flashes somewhere in the room or attach them to the camera.
With the ability to swivel the external flash, you have more control over the lighting. If necessary, you can arrange several units and configure them to fire at the same time. This way you can get the desired lighting conditions.
Some professionals often do without flashes when working with ambient light. They apply bracketing and blending to get visually beautiful images without unflattering shadows. However, if your lighting is too low, I recommend using flash photography tips. Make sure to buy an external flash compatible with different cameras. One of the best options in this regard is the YONGNUO YN560 IV. If you can't spend a lot to buy this accessory, then take a closer look at the Canon Speedlite EL-5.
6. Trigger the Camera with a Remote
The camera remote trigger comes in handy when you need to take a picture without touching the camera. It starts the shutter mechanism and allows you to take clear photos. When capturing dark rooms, you will need to use long exposures.
In such cases, any camera movement can make the image blurry. Triggers can help you avoid these problems. Moreover, these remote releases will be useful for HDR real estate photography. The main thing is to choose the one that fits your camera.
Find out the type of connection of your camera to know which model and brand are right for you. Wireless triggers are the most universal. The ProMaster ML L3 and Canon Wireless Remote Control RC-6 are the best options on the market right now.
7. Choose a Geared Tripod Head
Experienced photographers claim that a geared tripod head provides more control over camera positions than other models. Moreover, when choosing real estate and architectural photography equipment, you should avoid buying a ball head. Although they cost less, it will be very difficult for you to make minor adjustments with such a head.
The Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head is a great inexpensive option. If the price tag doesn't scare you off, then you get awesome precision with the Manfrotto MHXPRO-3WG XPRO. A panoramic tripod head is a must for 3D real estate photography projects. You can also purchase the Neewer Gimbal Head.
8. Improve Photos with Lens Filters
If you specialize in high end real estate photography, you probably want to see perfect blue skies and rich green grass in your pictures. A lens filter is another piece of equipment needed for real estate photography. By attaching a polarizing filter to the lens, you get fewer reflections, glare and darker skies. Plus, you can purchase a neutral density filter and a simple UV filter to take pictures with a larger aperture and slower shutter speeds in bright light. Of course, you can shoot without filters and create similar effects during post-production.
9. Expose Your Shots Better with Light Meter
You need a light meter to know the correct exposure. Thanks to this device, you can adjust the shutter speed and aperture better according to your lighting conditions. Some manufacturers add built-in light meters to their cameras.
However, if you need to get the perfect exposure for your photo, built-in meters are not the best way out. They do not measure the light falling on the entire scene, but only the one that falls on the camera. Therefore, experts recommend buying external models. The Dr. Meter 1330B-V comes with a premium light sensor, which makes it a good choice.
10. Keep Your Gear Safe in a Bag
Since you have to travel a lot between shooting locations, a sturdy and reliable bag is an important part of your real estate photography equipment. It should be large enough to hold the camera and accessories. The camera bag should securely protect your gear during your journeys.
It all depends on your preferences. Today there are many types of bags: camera backpack, roller bags, sling bags, drone backpacks. My recommendation is the Pelican 1510 Case. This option is very solid. Plus, it's convenient to travel with it thanks to the wheels.
Bonus Tools
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Do you want to save time spent on post processing? Use Lightroom presets to give your real estate photos a professional and flawless look. You can apply this bundle to a variety of images, including exterior, interior, night, and aerial shots. Just a few clicks and your real estate photos will meet all the requirements of the industry.
