Do you want to make your commercial real estate photography stand out from the crowd?
Are you looking for tips and tricks to capture stunning images that will attract potential buyers and tenants? If so, you have come to the right place.
In this blog, we will share with you everything you need to know about commercial real estate photography, from the equipment and settings you need to the best practices and techniques you can use.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional, this blog will help you take your commercial real estate photography to the next level.
Table of contents
What Is Commercial Real Estate Photography?
Commercial real estate photography is all about taking pictures of buildings to help sell or promote them. When you want to show off a property and make it look really good, you need professional & stunning photos.
These pictures can be used on websites, brochures, and other places to get people interested in the property. Good pictures can make even a boring building seem interesting and attract people who might want to buy it.
Property owners, real estate agents, and developers rely on commercial real estate photography as a crucial component of their marketing strategy.
They can use the visually appealing photos in online listings, brochures, websites, and other marketing materials. This helps to attract attention and generate interest in the property.
High-quality images can make a significant difference in how a commercial property is perceived. It can contribute to a faster and more successful transaction.
Types Of Commercial Real Estate Photography
1. Exterior Shots
The first handshake a property extends to potential clients is through its exterior.
Exterior commercial real estate photography focuses on showcasing the grandeur of a building, capturing its architectural prowess, landscaping, and overall street appeal.
Every detail, from the entrance to the parking spaces, is meticulously framed to create a visual symphony.
2. Interior Shots
Interior photography delves into the heart of a space, emphasizing its design, layout, and functionality.
Whether it’s a cozy coffee shop, a bustling office, or a luxurious hotel suite, the goal is to make viewers feel like they’re already there, experiencing the ambiance.
Want to master architecture and real estate photography? Check out this ultimate guide.
3. Commercial Property Aerial Photography
Rising to new heights, literally, aerial photography provides a bird’s-eye view of commercial properties. Drones are the modern-day magicians, capturing expansive landscapes, large industrial complexes, and sprawling estates.
This perspective adds a unique dimension, giving potential clients a comprehensive understanding of the property’s scale and surroundings.
Want to know the secrets of drone photography? Check out this comprehensive course.
4. Twilight Magic
As the sun bids adieu and twilight takes over, a magical transformation occurs. Twilight or dusk photography captures the property in the soft glow of evening lights.
The play of artificial and natural lighting creates a captivating ambiance, highlighting the property’s allure after dark. It’s the perfect touch for properties that come alive when the sun sets.
5. Professional Property Photography
Professional property photography is like having a photo shoot for your home, but with experts behind the camera.
These skilled photographers know how to make your place look fantastic in pictures, whether it’s a cozy bedroom or a spacious living room. They use their know-how to capture the best features and make your property stand out.
So, if you’re thinking of selling your home or just want to show it off, professional property photography is the key to making it look amazing in photos.
6. Luxury Real Estate Photography
Luxury real estate photography is a type of photography that showcases the features and amenities of high-end properties.
Photographers use professional equipment, lighting, and editing techniques to capture the best angles and details of homes. They also pay attention to the style, design, and mood of the spaces and try to highlight the unique aspects that make them stand out.
Luxury real estate photography aims to attract potential buyers and investors who are looking for premium and exclusive properties.
What Are The Best Cameras & Lenses For Commercial Property Photography?
For capturing great commercial building photos, the top choice is a digital single-lens reflex or DSLR camera. These cameras make pictures look extra clear and have cool settings for different lighting.
Zoom lenses are good for focusing on one spot, while prime lenses are just great all around. Don’t use wide-angle lenses because they can make pictures look funny.
Want to add aesthetic skies to your images? Check out this amazing bundle of overlays.
Top Tips For Great Commercial Real Estate Photos
1. Focus On Good Light
This is really crucial. The best light to use is natural light, like the sunlight that comes through a window. But don’t use the direct sunlight or turn on all the fluorescent lights—they’re not natural at all!
Also, if the light gives off a blue or yellow color, like fluorescent lights do, be ready to do some professional photo editing.
2. Determine The Best Time Of The Day
Normally, when you’re taking pictures of the outside of a commercial building, the most important shot is from the street view.
Pay attention to where the sun is, because the building usually looks best when the sun is low and shining on it.
Figure out when that happens during the day, like the special time when it’s going from daytime to evening.
Want to learn real estate photo editing? Check out this ultimate course.
3. Declutter The Space
When you’re showing off a place, focus on the space itself, not all the stuff inside it. Only show things like work areas and seats that give a good idea of the size of the space.
If there are too many things in the photo, it can make the commercial real estate listing look smaller than it really is.
4. Details Matter In Commercial Property Photos
If you’re taking pictures of a coworking space, make sure the chairs are pushed in and hide any items with brand names on the desks.
Clean up any things that are left out and can be seen. Also, pay attention to small details like whether the outlets on the conference table are open or if the cords for the blinds are hanging neatly.
Looking for a way to get rid of grainy images? Check out this best noise reduction tool.
5. Use Wide-Angle Lenses
If you run a business taking pictures of houses, you probably know that using a wide-angle lens is super important for commercial properties.
In commercial real estate, where the size of the space is crucial, wide-angle lenses help make places look big and impressive. They can make small rooms seem bigger and let people see how the space is designed overall.
These lenses are especially handy when taking pictures inside big places like hotel lobbies, offices, or event venues.
6. Don’t Forget The Flash
A good way to make the light even in a room is to use a flash. But the built-in flash in the camera might not be enough because it needs to light up the whole space.
If you point the flash at the ceiling (which is better than pointing it at a wall since walls can be too dark or too bright), the light will spread evenly across the room.
Another way is to take the flash off the camera and point it at the ceiling separately. You can make the flash go off with a remote control, and you can put it wherever you want for the best lighting.
Want to master speedlight photography? Check out this expert-led tutorial.
7. Shoot Photos From A Medium Height
If you’re not taking pictures of a really tall space with 4-meter ceilings, it’s best to put the camera at a height that’s in the middle between the floor and the ceiling.
This way, you can show the size of everything in the room accurately and have even lines in the pictures. You can change the lines later when you’re editing the pictures, but it’s better if you don’t have to do that.
Looking for tips tips to achieve perfect lighting in your shots? Check out this helpful article.
To Wrap Up Commercial Real Estate Photography
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog and learned something new about commercial building photography.
By following the tips and tricks we shared with you, you can create stunning images that will showcase your properties in the best possible light.
Commercial real estate photography is not only a skill but also an art. It requires creativity, patience, and attention to detail.
But with practice and perseverance, you can master it and take your business to the next level.
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