For property buyers, the first viewing no longer takes place on site, but on a screen. On a real estate portal, your listing has no more than 3 seconds to grab attention. That’s why poorly taken photos can significantly slow down your sale — or even devalue your property.
To maximize your property’s appeal, here are 10 technical and aesthetic mistakes you should absolutely avoid when photographing and showcasing a house or apartment for sale.
1. Neglecting vertical lines: a fatal technical mistake
Verticals refer to the straight lines inside your home: door frames, wall corners, or window frames. If your camera is not perfectly positioned, these lines may appear to lean or converge, making the room look distorted or unstable.
Our tip: always keep your camera (or smartphone) perfectly perpendicular to the floor. Do not tilt it up or down. Use the grid function on your screen to align walls correctly.
2. Shooting against the light or in darkness
A dark photo conveys gloom, while overexposed windows (completely white due to sunlight) prevent buyers from seeing outside. Buyers need to perceive brightness — keep that in mind.
Our tip: take photos in mid-morning or mid-afternoon. If possible, use HDR mode to merge several exposures and achieve a better result.
3. Leaving personal belongings visible
Buyers want to imagine their future home — not your current life or personal items.
Our tip: declutter radically before the photo shoot. Put away anything smaller than a melon. Clear flat surfaces so they reflect light.
“Declutter radically before the photo shoot.”
4. Choosing poor shooting angles
The wrong angle can flatten volumes and make rooms appear smaller than they really are.
Our tip: stand in a corner of the room or at a doorway to create depth. Hold your camera at chest height to better balance proportions.
5. Overusing wide-angle lenses
Ultra-wide lenses may seem tempting to show the entire room, but excessive distortion creates a false promise that can disappoint buyers during the visit.
Our tip: use a moderate wide-angle lens (16mm or 24mm equivalent) and make sure the result remains true to reality.
6. Neglecting the exterior and façade
Small details can ruin the façade photo: a trash bin by the door, half-closed shutters, or a car parked in front of the entrance.
Our tip: move vehicles away, close windows, and open all shutters.
7. Appearing in reflections
A classic mistake: the photographer visible in a bathroom mirror or oven door. It breaks immersion and looks unprofessional.
Our tip: position yourself at an angle to mirrors or use the timer to stay out of the frame.
8. Ignoring the surroundings and neighborhood
Buyers don’t just buy an interior — they buy a location. Don’t miss the opportunity to show the environment, especially if it’s a selling point.
Our tip: include 2–3 photos of the immediate surroundings: a balcony view, a nearby park, or a quiet street, for example.
“Buyers don’t just buy an interior — they buy a location.”
9. Using low-resolution images
A blurry image sends a negative subconscious message: if the owner neglects the photos, the property’s maintenance may also have been neglected.
Our tip: use a tripod or stabilizer — even with a smartphone — to ensure perfect sharpness.
10. Leaving toilet lids up and beds unmade
These details may seem minor, but they have a strong psychological impact and convey a sense of carelessness.
Our tip: do a final walkthrough. Close all toilet lids, make the beds neatly, and align towels perfectly in the bathroom.
Keep all these tips in mind to turn your listing into an attractive showcase — and don’t hesitate to seek professional help to highlight your property.
