Getting into property photography is an excellent way to start a photography business or supplement your income as a photographer. With the high demand for marketing images for real estate listings and vacation rental properties, there are ample opportunities available.
However, capturing beautiful, high-quality images of homes requires specialised gear suited for this type of photography. Unlike portrait or product photography which can be shot in a home studio, property photography requires gear that allows you to photograph both interior and exterior spaces.
When starting, focus on acquiring versatile, affordable gear that will meet the basic needs of real estate and property managers. As your business grows, you can invest in more advanced equipment with additional capabilities and features. Here is the essential gear you need to get started with property photography:
Camera Body
An entry-level to mid-range DSLR camera with an 18-55mm kit lens is ideal when starting out. Top choices like the Nikon D3500, Canon Rebel T7i or Sony a6400 capture excellent quality images, have beginner-friendly controls, shoot video, and won’t break your gear budget. Eventually, upgrade to a full-frame camera for maximum image quality. The Ken Rockwell website is great for comparing all different kinds of gear.
Wide Angle Zoom Lens
The most useful lenses for property photography is a wide-angle zoom, such as a 10-18mm or 10-20mm lens. This allows you to capture the entire room and property exteriors when space is tight. Wider perspectives showcase more of the home in each image. Take a look at our portfolio, we have many wide angle images here.
Tripod
A critical piece of gear for property photography is a good tripod like the Zomei Q666. Tripods allow you to compose the perfect framing and shoot HDR exposures. Sturdy tripod heads offer flexibility for shooting straight-on and down angles.
Remote Shutter Release
A remote shutter release control connects to your camera via cable or wireless connection. This allows you to trip the camera shutter without touching the camera body minimising camera shake ensures the sharpest shots possible.
Post Processing Software
While not mandatory, using Lightroom editing software helps you develop raw files and perfect images with transforms like straightening crooked lines and perspective adjustments. This helps compensate for wide angle lens distortion.
Gear Bags & Cases
Protect your photography gear with dedicated camera bags, lens cases and padded pouches. Organise all your memory cards, batteries, cords and accessories in one place for seamless shooting. Transport all equipment safely when travelling between shoots.
Insurance
Insuring your camera gear protects you in the case of theft, damage or other unforeseen incidents. This safeguards your costly equipment and allows you to purchase replacement gear as needed.
Final Words
By starting out with versatile, affordable basic gear suited for property photography projects, you can start offering your services to estate agents immediately. As you grow your client base and refine your photography skills, invest in more specialised equipment to take your images to the next level. The key is building a solid gear foundation which supports your goals as a property photographer.