This is the thing that cuts through the clutter to capture the buyer’s attention.
The Hero Shot needs to be as attention-grabbing as possible. This is where communication with your photographer is key.
Make a file; show your photographer the style/s you like.
In most cases there will have been some preparation in achieving this image. Much of the time your vendor will have to declutter and de-personalise their property before the photography has been arranged.
Perhaps they have an overcrowded living room? Have them store some furniture off site for the duration of the marketing programme. Maybe they have dated furnishings? Have a stylist come in to assess and quote on rental furniture.
Superior presentation will result in a premium price being achieved in the shortest possible time frame.
The hero shot has to show lifestyle, and have as much space as possible.
Need art for a sad looking wall? Have your vendor try this inexpensive solution – buy a large canvas and paint it in a colour that complements the rest of the house – just one single colour. The effect can be quite dramatic.
Tips for the best hero shot:
- Always use a professional photographer, no matter how inexpensive the property is.
- Key images are the living areas, kitchen, view and the exterior
- The relationship between areas is important. For example – the flow from the living to kitchen, or indoor to outdoor entertainment areas
- Express the theme of the home in the hero shot. Ask yourself, “What is the core attraction of this property?”
- Twilight images can really enhance your listing. The most amazing shots can be taken during “the magic hour”, when the sun is setting and the sky turns that deep blue. That’s when you’ll get the most vivid colours in the sky, interior and exterior, and really see the details in the properties own lighting. There’s a psychological reason behind why people’s imaginations are captured by twilight photography. You see, primitive man sought shelter for the evening as the sun went down – they would light their fire and settle in for the night. Photographing a home at the magic hour draws on a million years of primal need – shelter. Show a home at the magic hour and people want to live there. Modern man also relates the twilight hour as a time to go home, settle and relax. Make use of this psychological fact in your photography.
- Make sure your photographer is using top equipment. The one that we used had his own lighting which is the key to clarity, colour saturation and the brightness of the images. Some photographers digitally add in brightness after the shot has been taken to enhance the shot. This results in poorer quality images.