Photographers in California

Images are everywhere, taken and instantly forgotten like never before. The trouble is though, everyone with a smartphone camera thinks they are a photographer and that’s simply not true, especially when it comes to selling or letting your home by yourself. We’ve all seen them: horrendously blurry, poorly lit or blown out photos taken from ridiculous angles. Sometimes, there aren’t any images at all. Not only is this pointless, it’s also counter-productive because you drive people away and lose viewings. Whether it’s a California interior photographer, architectural photographer or landscape photographer that you seek, a California photographer can present your home, quite literally, in the best light.

Why should I hire a professional interior photographer in California instead of leaving it to the estate agents or letting agents, or taking the photos myself?

A professional interior photographer in California will be able to evaluate the key selling points of your home and present those in a way that is truthful yet instantly appealing to viewers. Those images should be unique to your property, capture its feel and hint at its true potential. If you live in a top-floor studio, for example, the focus should be on natural light, views, detail and clever use of space. However, those living in a rural cottage should make sure that the cosiness of the fireplace lounge, the characterful range cooker kitchen and an abundance of outdoor space are shown off.

If you’ve spent a little money on sprucing up your home and creating a listing, it would be silly to then go and fall at the final hurdle by taking a mediocre set of photos. If you’ve designed a whole new home yourself, an architectural photographer will be trained in how to best show off your designs and really capture the work and skill that has gone into your project. The same goes for your garden, too – if you’ve spent time to redesign, landscape and perfect your garden yourself, then a landscape photographer will be able to highlight your garden, no matter the weather, and will be an expert at capturing the colours and variety of your flowers and plants.

Obviously, most estate agents and letting agents organise property photography themselves but some either don’t use the right equipment or they rush through the job. Let’s be honest, photography is not a core part of their skill set. If you are selling your home through an estate agent, you can expect to hand over at least 1.5% of the agreed price. Surely that should pay for a carefully considered and highly appealing set of photos? Not necessarily. And that's not all. Unless you live in a property hotspot, it’s a buyer’s market out there; fiercely competitive. Why not stand out from the crowd? For the right reasons. You will be amazed by what a professional California interior or architectural photographer can do, given the time and a few extra pounds.

Is a professional interior photographer or architectural photographer really worth the money?

A professional interior or landscape photographer will also see a shot where others don’t: in the turn of a staircase as it meets the entrance hall, sun rays reflecting off the inviting stone terrace or the panelled exterior of your home as seen from an unusual angle. He or she will know when to add something to a shot (flowers) or take it away (gadgets on the kitchen worktop). This is commonly known as home staging in the commercial photography world.

And let’s not forget post-production and retouching. Some California interior and architectural photographers will spend three times as long editing as they will shooting. If you have ever tried to use photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, you will understand why. That expertise and attention to detail is what you are paying for. And it might just pay back, with interest.

Where can I find the best professional interior photographers and architectural photographers in California, and what should I be looking for?

The best place to start is Houzz. Search for California photographers in the Find a Pro section and then start to fill your Ideabooks with your favourite photos. Think about whether you need a professional with particular expertise – interior photographer, architectural photographer, landscape photographer – or an all-rounder. We also have professionals that specialise in 360-degree photography, if necessary. Some California architectural photographers are more experienced in shooting certain types of property such as contemporary apartments or coastal retreats. You can find them by browsing the Photos section and working through the relevant style category. Carefully look through each portfolio, try to imagine who might best bring to life your home and then contact a shortlist of three. Although not essential, if he or she is a member of the Master Photographers Association (MPA) or the Association of Photographers (AOP) that might imply that they more seasoned and trustworthy.

Important questions to ask your California interior, landscape or architectural photographer:

• How long have you been a professional interior/architectural/landscape photographer for?
  
• Which photos are you most proud of in your portfolio and is it possible to read references from those clients?
  
• Which areas do you cover?
  
• Do you offer a free home consultation?
  
• What are the best features of my property in your opinion?
  
• If you don’t offer external shots could you recommend an architectural or landscape photographer?
  
• Do you have a standard contract?
  
• Will your quote be inclusive of travel, materials, editing and retouching as well as VAT?
  
• How long will this job take, from consultation to delivery?
  
• How will you be sending the final images?
  
• In terms of preparation, what do I need to do before the shoot day (such as cleaning, decluttering, rearranging and repairs)?
  
• What happens if I don’t like the first round of photos?
  

Find an interior photographer on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to California photographers. You may also look through California photos to find examples of photography that you like, then contact the interior photographer who worked on them.