Professional Real Estate Photography Equipment to Assist You

You cannot expect some outstanding photos without using quality photography equipment or gear. That's right; quality and appropriate gear are like oxygen for any aspiring photographer.

And when it comes to real estate photography, using the right camera, lens, tripod, and other gear are mandatory. Alongside these, you’ll need many other pieces of photography gear, like a drone, a tripod head, a filter, and so on, to make your work exceptional.

Wondering how to choose the best from a large number of available manufacturers and models? Don't stress, and just follow this article. Here you’ll get a comprehensive guide to choosing real estate photography equipment to assist you.

Professional Real Estate Photography Equipment to Assist You

Let me get this straight: you don't need a bunch of photography gear for real-estate photography. That's right. With a few basic tools, you can deliver professional-level output in the real estate photography business.

Learn about the photography equipment that will assist you in your real estate photography business:

1. Camera:

Getting the best camera based on your budget should be your first priority. However, always consider two things when choosing a camera for any photography business:

• Get the best camera that fits your budget

• And always make sure you’re getting a camera with a large full-frame sensor and a 1:1 ratio

When you get a camera that meets the second requirement, that will be perfect for your real estate photography. Choosing a camera with a large full-frame sensor and a 1:1 ratio will give you excellent shots when you use your camera with a wide-angle lens.

However, you also need to make sure some other features on your camera, such as: 

• Shutter speed

• Aperture

• ISO manually

Here are some camera models that meet all the requirements:

• Canon EOS 6D Mark II 

• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

• Nikon D850

• Nikon D750

2. Lens:

Right after the camera, the second thing you’ll need is the perfect lens that will give you the perfect real-estate photography shot. Well, instead of other types of lenses, go for a wide-angle lens, and also ensure that the lens features around 12-24mm or 10-22mm or more of the lens.

You must go for a wide-angle lens because it makes a tight space look spacious or vast. And when it’s about the lens speed, make sure the camera has f/2.8, f/4, or f/8. However, f/2.8 or 4 is a good camera setting for real estate photography.  

Here are some of the lenses that you can try:

• Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4

• Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 

• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8

• Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II Tilt-Shift

3. Tripod:

After a camera and lens, the very next thing you need to have is a tripod. When it’s about still photography, then the use of a tripod is mandatory. This equipment helps to maintain the best shot and avoid camera shake issues. 

However, you won’t need to get a super expensive tripod for your real estate photography business, and any affordable tripod will be good enough. Well, I’ll recommend that you buy Manfrotto 190X, it is affordable, portable, high-build quality, and offers a variety of angles. 

And if you want to learn more about this tripod, you can check this tripod’s review at gottapics.

4. Tripod Head:

When it’s about casual photography, a tripod head is not that essential. But if you’re doing real estate photography, then this equipment can be handy. Here are some of the benefits that you’ll get by using a tripod head for your photography: 

• More accurate stability

• It’ll ensure a more well-thought-out composition for better pictures.

• Enhanced HDR photography

• Make your framing process effortless.

These are some of the basic benefits that you’ll get from using a tripod head for your photography. However, if you need suggestions, then I’ll suggest you get one of these: 

• Benro GX35 Low-profile Ballhead

• RRS BH-55

• ProMediaGear BH1

5. Polarizing Filter:

When it’s about getting an enhanced photograph with no haze or reflection, then using a filter is a must. You can go for a polarizing filter, and here are some benefits that you’ll get by using a polarizing filter for your real estate photography:

• There will be no haze in your photos

• Get optimal color saturation

• Get rid of reflection issues

• Balanced and accurate exposures

If you have never used a filter before, then try this for real-estate photography; trust me, you’ll never regret it.

6. Flash Trigger:

Flash triggers are something that all professional photographers use for bright, excellent, and high-end results. And you can also go for that to enhance your real-estate photography. However, you may not believe that most professional photographers use multiple flash triggers to get excellent output.

7. Drone:

Last but certainly not least, it’ll always be a good idea to have a drone for real-estate photography. It’ll help you reach the tight space as well as get a full view of your client’s house or your project.

Whenever you’re getting a drone, always make sure that the drone has a quality battery and good resolution. Many photographers will say it’s an extra cost, but trust me, once you start using a drone, there is no going back.

Note: If you want, you can add a lot more tools or equipment to make your photography effortless. But, I believe, all the included photography gear is good enough for an ultimate real-estate photography shoot.

Final Thoughts

Starting or earning a decent amount of money on real estate photography is not tough; what is tough is the equipment selection. But, the fun fact is that I’ve made the difficult task easy for you. 

Throughout this article, I’ve discussed all the necessary tools or equipment that you’ll need for real estate photography. So make sure you have all these gear before jumping into your business. 

Here I have shown only the necessary tools, but it is up to you which brand of product you want to use. So, choose your player correctly, use your strategies to take great shots, and succeed.

Guest Contributor: Lisa Winger