Table of Contents
- Understanding the Role of a Real Estate Photographer
- The Luminous Dance – Understanding Natural Light
- Tailoring to Terrain – Different Locations and Seasons
- Capturing and Crafting Perfect Exterior Real Estate Photos
- Polishing the Gem With the Help of the Experts at PhotoUp
In the world of real estate photography, the exterior shot is often the first impression potential buyers get of a property. It’s the digital handshake, an invitation to imagine the lifestyle a home offers.
But how do you ensure that your exterior photos don’t just showcase a property but also make it irresistible? The secret lies in the ever-changing canvas of natural light.
Let’s delve into the art and science behind choosing the best time to capture exterior real estate photography, in a way that makes them stand out in any sea of listings.
Understanding the Role of a Real Estate Photographer
Your role as a real estate photographer when shooting exteriors is to be the steward of light.
By understanding the nuances of natural illumination and how it interacts with different properties, you can elevate the photographic representation of real estate from mere documentation to storytelling that’s as persuasive as it is artistic.
With this in-depth guide, you’ll be equipped to master the art of capturing real estate photography in the best light – and let the properties you shoot truly shine.
Remember, the best time to take that shot is not just about the clock—it’s about the magic that light can weave, and the story you’re telling with each frame, with each listing.
With that being said, let’s dive into our guide on the best times to take exterior real estate photography to snap those gorgeous shots and its own set of challenges.
The Luminous Dance – Understanding Natural Light
When we speak about the best time to shoot exterior real estate photography, we’re talking about harnessing the unique qualities of natural light.
Each phase of the day brings its own mood, texture, and challenges. Let’s take a closer look at the different times of day to shoot exterior real estate photography and what they offer.
Before we get started, remember to always shoot in RAW format for maximum post-processing flexibility.
1. Morning Bliss: A Fresh Start
Sunrise is the birth of a new day; a time when the world is still waking up. It’s a serene moment for real estate photography, with soft, diffused light that bathes everything in a calm, tinged blue hue.
The morning offers undisturbed shots free from foot traffic and often, calm weather conditions. This tranquility can enhance pastoral properties or homes with a serene garden.
When to shoot?
Rise early to catch the natural light at its most painterly. Aim for the moments just before the sun breaches the horizon, when the world is softly illuminated but not yet aglow.
2. Midday Marathons: Lighting at Its Harshest
As the sun climbs higher, so does the quality of light. Midday sun is as straightforward as lighting gets, but that’s not always a good thing.
Shadows are at their shortest, details get lost in high contrast, and colors can appear washed out. This lighting requires a keen eye and often, some strategic shadow management.
How to make midday work?
To combat overhead light, look for what’s known as open shade—the sections of property cast in shadow—and ensure a well-balanced exposure.
Use your camera’s histogram to check for overexposed areas.
3. The Golden Hour: When Everything Glows
The golden hour refers to the period shortly after dawn and just before sunset when the light takes on a warm, golden quality.
This time is a favorite for photographers due to the flattering and dramatic light it provides. It’s ideal for any property looking to make a breathtaking first impression.
How to capture the golden light?
The key to golden hour photography is timing and preparedness. Familiarize yourself with the time the golden hour starts and race against the clock to be set up.
For example, you can download this Golden Hour Calculator app to see the times you can capture the golden hours or blue hours for your shots.
Also, keep an eye on the weather, as clear skies allow the full spectrum of warm light, while clouds can diffuse and amplify that light, adding depth and texture to your shots.
4. Twilight: The Enigmatic Dark Magic
Twilight, or the blue hour, is the period after sunset (or before sunrise) when the sun is below the horizon, yet still provides some light.
It’s a time for moody, dramatic shots that stand out from the daytime crowd. Done right, twilight can make even the most modest homes look like movie stars.
How to embrace the dusk?
Twilight requires a sturdy camera setup, as the light’s intensity changes rapidly. A tripod is your best friend here, along with a remote shutter release to eliminate any camera shake.
Embrace the contrast between darkening skies and the warm, interior lights of the home to create a captivating narrative.
If you can’t capture the short window of twilight or golden hour real estate photography, don’t worry!
You can always edit this in post-processing. To learn more, you can check out our blog post on how to edit twilight real estate photos in Photoshop.
Or, you can simply outsource your editing to the professionals at PhotoUp and get your beautifully edited images returned to you in less than 24 hours.
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Tailoring to Terrain – Different Locations and Seasons
The best time to photograph exteriors isn’t just about the clock; it’s about the character of the property and its setting.
A coastal villa basks in a different light than a high-rise downtown condo. Likewise, each season brings its lighting challenges and opportunities.
1. The Urban Jungle: Glass, Concrete, and the Noon Dilemma
Urban real estate often contends with reflections, glare, and harsh shadows due to the multitude of surfaces and the sun’s constant movement overhead.
Midday shooting is a strategic choice to capture these modern architectural gems when you can work with or against those strong cityscape shadows to create compelling visual stories.
How to conquer the urban midday?
Use polarizing filters to manage reflections and consider the paths of the sun and how they interact with your subject.
Shoot from a distance to capture the scale of the property, using buildings and streets to frame your composition.
2. Seaside Serenity: The Allure of Coastal Properties
Coastal homes enjoy a special connection with the sea and sky.
The light that dances across water and sand is unique, and you’ll want to time your shoots both to avoid the harshest midday glare and to leverage the ever-softer transition of the day.
The best coast hours?
Golden hour works wonders with coastal scenery, casting a rich, warm glow over waves and surf. It’s a time of day that invites daydreams.
However, don’t discount midday completely; it can be the perfect chance to capture that high-energy, beach-day vibe.
3. Suburban Harvest: A Season for Every Listing
Suburban and rural properties often come with more extensive grounds and a wider view of the horizon.
This openness means you’ll be battling comparatively less with architectural details and more with the landscape’s exposure.
The changing seasons allow you to highlight different aspects of the property’s character.
How to adapt to seasonal shifts?
Spring and summer bring lush foliage ideal for framing and adding interest to property shots.
However, lighting during these seasons can be less predictable, with intermittent cloud cover and the possibility of showers.
Fall and winter’s light is often more consistent, making it easier to plan and execute shoots, even though the landscape might not be as green and inviting.
Capturing and Crafting Perfect Exterior Real Estate Photos
The best time to shoot is just the beginning. How you use that light is where photography becomes an art.
Harnessing filters, judicious editing, and crafting unique compositions are the final steps in creating the perfect exterior photograph.
1. Filters: The Light Modifiers
UV filters for protection, polarizers for boosting color and managing reflections, and neutral density filters for those bright midday situations.
Your gear bag should be as varied as your locations.
How to choose the right filter?
For midday shooting, a polarizer can be a lifesaver. Twist it to cut down on sky glare and enhance cloud contrast, or minimize reflections on windows and water features to reveal what lies behind that glass.
2. Composition: Leading Lines and Thirds
A great photo isn’t just about what’s being photographed, but how the eye moves through it.
Use leading lines to draw attention to the property’s best features and always keep the rule of thirds in mind. Balancing the visual weight of the scene is critical.
How to set the scene?
Think about the space you’re working with. Elevated shots can showcase not just the property but its position in relation to its surroundings.
Shoot from the corner of the property to include as much depth as possible, or step back for that classic street view.
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Polishing the Gem With the Help of the Experts at PhotoUp
Real estate photo editing is where the raw material of a photo becomes the finished product.
Adjusting exposure to bring out details, playing with white balance to enhance the light’s mood, and considering selective color correction to draw the eye where it’s needed most.
These are basic things that can make all the difference to your property photos!
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Our skilled photo editors can help with the following issues:
- Improper exposure levels
- Harsh shadows, lack of light, etc.
- Blurred images that were taken without a tripod
- Images that need cropping or other effects
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- Twilight editing and day-to-dusk conversions
- Clutter and object removal
- Line and angle corrections
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We hope this blog post gave you some valuable tips on the best times to take exterior real estate photography for optimal results. If you found this post useful, you may also want to check out the following resources:
