This is a waterfront property.
Dungeon
Dungeon #2
We are kicking off our commentary on the Good, Bad, and The Ugly: A Real Estate Photography Lesson, with a truly Ugly set of photos.
The Ugly
The lucky winner of the inaugural Ugly award goes to this listing at 6301 N. Sheridan. You wouldn’t know it by looking at this exterior shot, but this building is actually a waterfront property. In a city like Chicago where even a “slice of the lake” will get you an extra $10k, highlighting the fact that the building is waterfront property would rank extremely high on my list of key features. The exterior shot of a listing is your prime opportunity for making a good first impression with photography, this one missed the mark - severely.
The interior photographs for this property are not at all inviting. My initial reaction to these photos is fear, and a certain sense of imbalance. Fear of what has gone on behind those dark curtains inside this dungeon, and a inkling that the photographer might have put one too many back at happy hour.
It really is a shame because from the looks of it, those are some fairly large windows for a high-rise of that era and from the looks of it provide an ample amount of natural lighting. Unfortunately for the sellers of this property the photographer captured these shots in the wrong light — quite literally.
Photographing interiors with a lot of natural lighting is a difficult task. There are a number of variables that need to be addressed in order to achieve an acceptable image. Balancing the intensity of interior vs. exterior lighting is the first hurdle to pass, which is where this photographer failed the test. You must make sure to bring the level of lighting in the interior up to the level of light coming in from the outside, or you will end up with dark and scary interiors, ala Dungeon #1, or severely blown out windows, aka Dungeon #2.
From the looks of it, these photos were taken by a severely over-worked, and under paid Real Estate agent, who has taken to self-promotion and self marketing his/her properties in this down market. Unfortunately for this real estate agent, these photos aren’t making his/her job any easier.
Hey Mr. (or Mrs. hate to offend anyone out there) Real Estate Agent give us a ring, we’d be love to help you market this water front diamond in the rough!
Recap
What did we learn from our Inaugural Good, Bad, and The Ugly…
- If it is a waterfront property, you should probably have an image that sells that feature.
- Exterior photographs are your best opportunity to create an excellent first impression on the buyer.
- Balance interior and exterior lighting to keep the view, and a light, bright interior.
- Don’t let hurried Real Estate Agents take snapshots of your property - Bring in the Pro’s!