MY EQUIPMENT FOR REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY

In this article, I am describing the equipment that is essential for me in real estate photography.

CAMERA FOR REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHER

Yes of course you need a camera first.

A DSLR is now the minimum. A mirrorless one can of course also be considered.

As far as I’m concerned, I’ve been working with PENTAX cameras for over 20 years (and yes! From film time)

The resolution does not matter as long as the photos are intended for viewing on the Internet. However, it can happen that the photos are used to make paintings, banners, etc. This happened to me on a project where one of my photos was printed on a several meters long banner.
The 36 megapixels of my Pentax K1 are a great help then.

THE LENSES OF A PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZED IN REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY

I always have my 10-24mm f / 2.8 with me. This lens allows me to vary the focal length and to be able to work on my composition as best as possible.

I also have my true-to-original 70-200 f / 2.8 for the detailed shots and a 50mm f / 1.7 with me.

THE REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHER AND HIS LIGHTNING

By practicing the technique known as “flambient,” I photograph the inside with a flash … one or more flashes. Because yes, I go on site with several flashes all the time.

on average, at least 2 flashes are used to take a picture … and if the room to be photographed is particularly large, a 3rd flash is used.

These flashes are obviously mounted on stands.

FLASHES TRIGGER USED BY A REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHER

Once my flashes are placed in strategic places in a room, I need to be able to trigger them remotely. In fact, the flashes weren’t mounted on my camera (OCF – Off Camera Flash) . You will need a flash trigger to take the picture.

REMOTE CONTROL FOR CAMERA

In still photography, it is extremely important to avoid the slightest movement of the camera. Since each photo is made up of multiple photos, the slightest shift can negatively affect the final photo or even make it impossible to edit that photo.

A TRIPOD FOR REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY

An indispensable element in the range of real estate photographers, the tripod is one of the most important elements. It has to be as stable as possible without being too heavy.

It also needs to be adjustable. The tripod head is the most expensive component. These tripod heads can cost over 1000 euros.

The more precise and fine the settings are, the better the final rendering of the photo will be.

POLARIZATION FILTER

This accessory is often forgotten or neglected, but it can save a lot of photos on its own. In certain situations, using a polarizing filter can prevent unsightly reflections on the floor, on TV screens, etc. It can then reveal the details of a wooden floor or the interior of a high-end oven, etc …

SHOE PROTECTION

And yes! Essential pieces of equipment include protection for shoes. These protections are mainly used in the medical field and are very useful in order not to pollute the floor that the owner of the house or the real estate agent wants to leave as clean as possible, even after our passage.

camera case

All these accessories and equipment are transported in a specially designed case. It often happens to me that after an initial exploration of the places I only take the equipment necessary for the shooting and stow it in my camera bag.

So much for what’s in my pocket and accompanying me to the photo shoot locations. We could add photo editing software like Lightroom, Photoshop, Luminar, Topaz Suite etc … but these are part of other topic.

So if one day you wonder what the price of a still photographer to take photos … read this article all over again and you might find a few answers 🙂