3D Real Estate Photography: Know the Types and Best Practices

Every realtor battles every day to grab buyers’ attention, but most fail due to their lack of attention-grabbing and inconsistent real estate photos. As you know, photographic technology in every industry gets the most exposure on the internet today, so why was the real estate industry left behind?

Only 3D real estate property listings make the difference in a buyer’s or renter’s mind. So why not try 3D real estate photography to get more exposure for property listings on property related online directories?

Now we’ve walked through-

• What is exactly 3D real estate photography
• Types of 3D real estate photography
• How to take 3D real estate photographs with proven tips.

Let’s get started!

What is 3D Real Estate Photography?

3D real estate photography is a specialized photography style that captures a three-dimensional representation of a property for sale or rent.  

The goal of this photography style is to highlight the properties in every corner in the best possible way to attract potential buyers or renters. 3D, or three-dimensional, photos are a combination of still photos, videos, and 360-degree panoramas. 

3D-style real estate photos take exterior and interior shots of each room for-

• To highlight upselling point of properties
• Real estate property listings whether have small condominiums or luxury houses
• Social media marketing
• Local advertising purposes

3D real estate photographers use specialized equipment, software, or a series of cameras just to take the properties 3D shots, which stitch the multiple images together. It allows potential buyers or renters to move through the whole property to get the same virtual house experience as if they were present there.

Styles of 3D Real Estate Photography

When you search “real estate property near me” on Google’s search bar. A few lists appear on the search engine page; maybe you’ve got Zillow’s site too. 

There are some other 3D virtual tour URLs, so click on them and just take a look at how wonderfully they show the whole property scenario, from the dollhouse view to the eye level view and the whole 3D virtual walkthrough.

Let’s walk through how many styles of 3D real estate photography there are!

Dollhouse View

Dollhouse view is three-dimensional photography that showcases a miniature version of real estate property as if it were a doll house.

The doll house view shows the 3D model of a property where you need to use specialized software through photogrammetry or laser scanning techniques. So that the viewers can explore the virtual environment and move through it all. It is useful for interior design and property architecture so that experts can plan out the whole space visually in a detailed way.

Aerial Close Up View

Aerial close up view is a type of real estate photography where real estate photographers take aerial shots of properties from a high vantage point through a drone or from a helicopter.

The 3D real estate photographer uses this technical photography style to create dramatic and visually outstanding structural images of properties. It showcases the real estate property area’s features, such as its layout, location, and size. 

Eye Level Shots

The term “eye level shots” refers to photographing a real-estate property room from a height of approximately 5 feet above the ground. 

The entire property space is framed at eye level when using this method of photography. Eye level shots create a regular and realistic view like a person just standing in front of the property and walking through it. With the help of these shots, potential buyers can see the symmetrical composition without any distortion or exaggeration.

Floorplan or Bird’s-Eye View

Floorplan, or bird’s eye view, is one of the real estate photography techniques that captures a virtual 3D model of a building’s floor plan from a very high place. 

Every real-estate industry benefits from having a floorplan view. A 360-degree view of a residential property with 3D image quality and an accurate floor plan is the perfect combination to attract potential buyers. It shows buyers a crystal-clear property’s layout and overview, so potential buyers can visualize the property properly and make decisions about whether they buy it or not. 

3D Walkthrough – 3D Virtual Tours

A 3D walkthrough, or 3D virtual tour, is a high-tech style of photography that captures images of the property from all sides. In this style, the photographers use a special camera and software to take these shots, which they stitch together to create a 3D model of the property. 

When you look at those pictures, you feel like, you’ve actually been there and walked through every nook and cranny of the property, even if you aren’t available at the moment. It fosters a sense of presence, of exploration, and of excitement in the prospective buyer or tenant. It is a great and effective way of photographing real estate properties so that potential buyers or renters can sell or rent quickly, and you can charge 2% to 3% more by showing the highest point of the property.

What is included in 3D real estate photography?

The 3D real estate photographers need to include some point of photography guidelines, such as-

• 2 point perspectives (shows available amount of room space) or 1 point perspective (shows the multiple levels in a frame)
• Compositional techniques (Rule of thirds, Symmetry, Negative space, Leading lines)
• Consistent lightings
• Room Documentation
• Wide field of view

Now we’ve shown some types of 3D real estate photography sections-

Residential Real Estate Photography

Residential 3D real estate photography is a three-dimensional form of photography that showcases the layout, locations, and amenities of residential properties at every angle for rent or sale. It is a specialized type of photography style that requires keen eyes to capture details and the hotspot point. 

Residential real estate photography increases the buyer’s interest in buying their own residential property online. According to the NAR, 97% of home buyers search for homes online. Even 59% of millennials said they were confident enough to make a home buying offer when they virtually toured the house, and 39% of homebuyers said they were comfortable buying a home online.

Commercial Real Estate Photography

Commercial real estate 3D photography is the 3D model of commercial property photos, such as offices, buildings, and warehouses, that is used to market them for sale or lease. 

The real estate photographer captures the whole commercial area from outside and inside. 

In terms of taking high-quality commercial real estate photos, it helps you sell or lease the property quickly for a good price. Real estate agents who offer 3D tours receive 82% more engagement than those who do not. 

Architectural Real Estate Photography

Whether you’re a home builder or a realtor, architectural photography depicts a detailed view of the real estate property. 

This sort of photography style is highly technical and demanding because you need to represent the whole property’s architecture accurately. So the real estate photographer closely worked with the architect and structural designer of the property. 

Real Estate Interior Photography

Real estate interior photography captures the properties interiors extensively. In this photography style, interior real estate photographers show two types of styles: home staging and interior design. 

Home staging reveals the space of a house, and interior design personalizes the space according to the buyer’s personal style and unique taste. 

Real Estate Drone Photography

3D real estate drone photography is one of the photography techniques where drones are used to take bird’s-eye view real estate photos. It captures the whole property area, locations, and surrounding environments. 

With the technological evolution in photography, real estate photography has also been influenced, from HDR photos to aerial shots to virtual tours. Drone 3D photos encourage more potential buyers or tenants to affirmatively sign the deal. Even you know that listings that use drone photography are most likely to sell 68% faster.

Best practices for 3D real estate photography

After going over the fundamentals of 3D model real estate photography, let’s look at how to actually go about doing it and what to watch out for.

Declutter the property for 3D photography

Preparing the property is the key to real estate photography in 3D. If the background is cluttered, it will easily distract the buyers, making it difficult for you to sell.  

Before making a photoshoot-

• Wiping down the floor with a mop to ensure the surface looks neat and clean
• Arrange the personal belongings and polish the furniture accurately
• Create the inviting and relaxing ambiance

The more your house or office looks clean and cluttered free the faster you can attract buyers or renters.

Selecting the right equipment

3D photography is all about using the right equipment at the right time. It is the most complex style of photography, so it must require some special equipment. 

These are-

• 360 degree camera with high FPS
• Panaromic head tripod to capture wider field of view
• A variety of lenses like wide angle and a telephoto lens
• Studio lights for even lighting
• Polarizing filter for reducing glare and reflections
• Remote shutter for avoiding the camera shake 
• 3D computer software for creating final, fruitful 3D images.

Choose a 360 Camera with a High FPS

360 degree camera with high FPS creates a real estate 3D virtual tour that is more interactive and immersive for potential buyers.

The GoPro Max is one of the best 360 degree cameras for photography. Insta360 Pro 2 is another professional VR camera which is ultimately used for filmmaking 

Use a Tripod with a Panoramic Head

The panaromic tripod head is an important equipment for 3D photography because it rotates to shoot sequences of images around the lenses. It is an integral part of any 3D real estate photographer’s job to capture a broad field of view with a single click and avoid blurriness from shaking.

There are some of the most reviewed and best panoramic heads, including the  Manfrotto 300N panoramic head, the Nodal Ninja R panoramic head, and the Neewer Paranomic Head.

Choosing the best angles and perspectives

The best angle improves the perspective of the photos and even transforms them into flattering shapes and sizes. But creating movement in a photograph might be tougher to achieve. So which angles create dramatic and flattering, needs to be figured out. So 3D real estate photography is all about experimenting with angles and perspectives. 

• Eye-level shooting angles create the most natural look and add dramatic touches to these 3D movement photos.
• Drone angles for real estate shots refer to taking a shot vertically above the property, so that the property’s boundary, land size, and several highlight points can be featured.
• Low angle improves the floor-to-ceiling ratio which conveys that the space looks visually better and spacious.
• Don’t use corner angle for taking 3D shots because distorted the room’s perspective and look like bit smaller.

Highlight the Home’s Special Features

The flooring, the paints, the decorative corners, the kitchen sections, the appliances, and the ceiling designs are the highlighting points of the real estate property. So you need to consider those special sections before shooting 3D photos.

Even you can add some props like flowers in vases, books, and even candles or fiery lights. The more creative you are when taking property photos, the faster you can grab potential homebuyers or tenants.

Editing and post-processing 3D images

Last but not least, 3D images are a combination of still videos, sequences of images, and panoramic shots that must create a realistic and immersive experience. There must be professional photo editing skills required. 

For example, color correction, exposure correction, sharpening, noise reduction, and adding textures are the post-processing techniques that enhance 3D images before creating a virtual tour.

Benefits of 3D real estate photography

3D real estate photos are reaching their peak of popularity among realtors, sellers, and even homebuyers. There are some advantages to real estate photography using 3D images that should motivate you to do your own.

Enhanced online presence

Making a sale with great value is the ultimate target for every real estate property owner. With high quality tech-oriented 3D photography, any real -estate property can be sold or rented at a stiff price. 

3D model property sells or rents faster than other types of real estate photography, because, even if you aren’t present, you can show the entire place easily. It improves property listings and helps them rank higher in the SERPs. Because 47% of homebuyers look for information online before contacting a real estate agent, the better the property’s visual quality, the higher the chance of selling faster.

Increased engagement

3D quality real estate property photos are so interactive because buyers can move every angle and explore the entire property. When you share those 3D property tour photos on social media or websites, it is most likely that potential buyers or renters want to see them urgently. 

According to Matterport statistics, 95% of homebuyers inquire about properties after viewing 3D virtual tours. Now you may understand how these interactive 3D virtual tours and photos increase engagement five times more than you imagined.

Better property showcasing

The presentation of 3D images is always superior to 2D images, no doubt! 3D images are technically higher because they clearly show the subject’s height, shape, and position. It is a relatively new technology that is quickly gaining traction.

 3D model property photography creates a more realistic view than 2D real estate photography. The property looks so promising. 3D photos allow potential renters or buyers to move around every floor, room, and washroom easily and zoom in on specific areas, which helps to get a better understanding of the details.

Improved buyer experience

To achieve credibility and assurance in the buyer’s mind, it is tough, so of course, selling a property without high quality photos isn’t easier either. When the buyer sees the property’s authentic picture, they are automatically drawn to experience more. So the high quality 3D real estate photographs automatically improve the buyer’s experience. Being honest with the buyer may give you a chance to charge 1 to 2% more.

Wrap-up

Higher engagement and faster sales- the ultimate targets of every 3D real estate photographer and real estate agent. In a nutshell, the future of 3D photography for real estate properties is as bright as a diamond due to its growing demand. 

During and after COVID, everything was stuck in its position, so property showing was limited or restricted, and from that time to now, the 3D virtual tour thrives in the real estate photography market and has reignited it. 

Last but not least, keep patience and do your task correctly so that you can achieve the best-ever results that you want from it.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts below!