Every picture tells a story and that was never more the case than when you list your property to rent.
If prospective tenants don’t like the first images they see of your property online, they are not going to rent it. So the photographs taken of your holiday home in Spain are crucial.
It is important that the photos show your property in a good light and immediately give those viewing an accurate and impressive account of what your property has to offer them.
First impressions are critical.
So how best to make sure that your property in Spain is the one that catches the eye? These days, with modern digital cameras, you do not have to be a budding David Bailey to be able to take a good photo. But you should prepare and take time over getting the look just right.
Put yourself in the position of the person who will be trawling the internet for somewhere to rent.
Is the sky blue? Is the sun shining on the exterior of your property and NOT straight down the lens of your camera? Is the street clean (if not, then clean it!)
Try to take a photo of your property that does not have lots of electricity cables or telephone wires in shot – a challenge in some Spanish villages, but it is worth finding an angle that shows the outside of your property clear of mess.
Do not take a photo of yourself in shadow. Position yourself in such a way that you do not catch a shot of your outline on the floor or on a wall.
When it comes to what is in shot, less is more. Do not take a photo of your pool with objects floating on it or surrounded by clutter. If you have a car on the drive, remove it before taking the photo. Likewise if you have washing hanging out – take it down!
When taking photographs of the inside of your property make sure you have as much natural light coming into your rooms as possible. If lights are on when a photo is taken daytime, it tells the prospective tenant that your property is dark during the day.
If you cannot get enough light into your rooms then try not to capture the actual light in the picture.
Clear the rooms of clutter. The photo does not have to look like it has been ‘set dressed’ for a glossy magazine, but it should show rooms that are clean, spacious and, where relevant, well furnished.
Get to know your camera. It will have functions that can assist you in taking better looking photos. For example, try not to use a flash for those inside snaps. Flash does not improve your picture. It does quite the opposite. Turn off the flash.
Instead adjust the settings on your camera. Look for the ISO button. When taking internal photographs of your rooms, set it to 800 or 1600. Take test photos and see which one looks the best.
You will get more of your room into the photo if you take it from the point furthest away from what you are trying to capture. Stand in the corner of the room and see if you can get everything in the frame from there. Stand securely and evenly on a chair and take the photograph looking down on the scene you are wanting to capture.
When taking photos in small rooms, such as bathrooms, angle yourself to capture as much detail in the room as possible – even take the shot from a neighbouring room if possible. Make sure the loo seat is in the down position and that showers are attached to the wall.
When taking photos of your kitchen, make sure surfaces are clear of last night’s dinner plates.
Vary the shot. Taking a photo of a wide room should work just fine in landscape mode but capturing a narrow room will likely look better in portrait fashion.
Don’t just take photos in a rush. Plan ahead. Study other websites and try to copy the style of photography that appeals to you.
The downside to it being so easy to take good photos these days is, perversely, that it is even easier to take bad photographs.
Don’t be lazy. The camera can do a great deal for you. But composition, finding the right angle, improving the look of a room by taking the trouble to stand on a chair or move some furniture – all these can make a difference. I know people who, having done just this, were so impressed by what they saw through the lens; they left their home in that rearranged condition.
Taking good pictures of your property truly can make the difference between you successfully renting your home in Spain, and it being left on the shelf.
For some examples of good property photos visit our website, spain-holiday.com, the premier site for self catering holidays in Spain.