As a real estate photographer there are certainly some skills that are necessary to be really good at producing top-quality images. The other side of that is having some awesome equipment that can help you get the job done effectively and efficiently. I will share with you 5 of my favorite tools that I use daily in real estate photography (I will note that I am an Amazon Influencer and the equipment mentioned below can be found on my personal link. I’d appreciate your support if you decide to purchase from my link.
- A good quality DSLR or mirrorless camera: A good quality camera is essential for real estate photography. It should be able to take sharp images in a variety of lighting conditions, from bright sunny days to dark interiors. It should also have a large sensor and a good selection of lenses to choose from. I personally am a Nikon shooter (but just about every manufacturer has excellent choices). My preferred camera is the Nikon D850 or Nikon Z7II.
- A wide-angle lens: When shooting real estate, a wide-angle lens will allow you to capture the entire room or building in one shot. Look for a lens with a wide-angle range of 16mm or wider. With my DSLR I prefer the Tokina 16-28. It’s an amazing piece of glass for a decent cost (around $700). It gets the job done day in and day out. I currently have the Nikon Z 14-28 on my list and hope to get that later this year.
- A sturdy tripod: A tripod is necessary for taking sharp images, especially when shooting in low light which we are always faced with in REP. I use the flambient process which means that I combine an ambient shot with a flash shot and that wouldn’t be possible without a tripod. In addition, tripods help to ensure that you can get level images. Make sure you get one that is sturdy and adjustable so you can position your camera at the desired height and angle. I love Benro Tripods and Manfrotto tripod heads.
- A flash and an umbrella or small softbox: These are great for adding extra light to a scene, especially when shooting inside. Flash is critical for shooting flambient exposures and window pulls. You will want enough power for most homes and sometimes will simply need to do multiple pops in a room. My favorite is the Godox AD200 pro. It’s a compact but powerful enough light to tackle most needs. I personally love the round head that is available too.
- A remote shutter release: A remote shutter release will allow you to take long-exposure shots without having to touch the camera. This can be very useful for shooting real estate at night or in low light. I find it even more useful to shoot wirelessly tethered because in REP you can end up in some pretty tight spaces and this allows me to control my camera settings, ensure everything looks good on a much bigger screen (my iPad) and capture the image. The CamRanger 2 is truly one of the most essential tools in my real estate photography arsenal.
So there you have it. A quick list of some of my favorites for real estate photography. The comprehensive list is in my link that is posted throughout this blog. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to respond quickly.
