5 Mistakes to Avoid When Photographing a Project
Get advice and see appealing photo examples to find out how to show off your work — and maybe get it featured in a story
When remodeling their homes, clients base many of their decisions on how the finished space will look. That’s why images are key for communicating your work to potential leads, and it’s also one of the best ways to boost your profile on Houzz. Avoid these common mistakes to ensure your project photographs look fantastic and attract as much interest as possible. We’ve illustrated the points with examples of appealingly photographed spaces.
2. Not Considering a Professional Photographer
Photographs snapped on your smartphone can look great, but you could be missing out on showcasing your work to its full potential. “It’s a common mistake to assume that what your eyes see is exactly what you’d get through the lens,” says photographer Anna Stathaki. “There are tricks to making a photo look natural.”
Solution: A good photographer knows how to style, light and frame the space so it looks its very best. If the cost of professional photo shoots is a barrier, think about quality rather than quantity. Pick one or two key projects to photograph professionally, and use those images to really communicate your brand’s identity.
How to Make Your Kitchen Photography More Clickable
Photographs snapped on your smartphone can look great, but you could be missing out on showcasing your work to its full potential. “It’s a common mistake to assume that what your eyes see is exactly what you’d get through the lens,” says photographer Anna Stathaki. “There are tricks to making a photo look natural.”
Solution: A good photographer knows how to style, light and frame the space so it looks its very best. If the cost of professional photo shoots is a barrier, think about quality rather than quantity. Pick one or two key projects to photograph professionally, and use those images to really communicate your brand’s identity.
How to Make Your Kitchen Photography More Clickable
3. Failing to Showcase the Whole Project
If you’re going to take the time to photograph your projects, make sure everything is covered. If only one part of a room is visible, for example, the project won’t be seen in its entirety.
Solution: Provide a comprehensive shoot list for your photographer to ensure they snap everything you want to showcase. Consider, too, whether you’d like your project to be featured editorially, as there are often some minimum requirements. On Houzz, for instance, an article about a full house or condo project requires, at minimum, images of the kitchen, living area, a bedroom and a bathroom. A room tour on Houzz requires multiple photos of the space.
How to Take Great Photos of Your Outdoor Projects
If you’re going to take the time to photograph your projects, make sure everything is covered. If only one part of a room is visible, for example, the project won’t be seen in its entirety.
Solution: Provide a comprehensive shoot list for your photographer to ensure they snap everything you want to showcase. Consider, too, whether you’d like your project to be featured editorially, as there are often some minimum requirements. On Houzz, for instance, an article about a full house or condo project requires, at minimum, images of the kitchen, living area, a bedroom and a bathroom. A room tour on Houzz requires multiple photos of the space.
How to Take Great Photos of Your Outdoor Projects
4. Taking Shots From Awkward Angles
It can be tempting to take photos from creatively jaunty viewpoints, but this isn’t the best way to show off your projects. Kitchen islands photographed from above, or furniture seen from odd angles, can make your hard work look less than professional.
Solution: Take photographs face-on or from pleasing angles and try to provide some symmetry in the composition.
Find a professional photographer near you
It can be tempting to take photos from creatively jaunty viewpoints, but this isn’t the best way to show off your projects. Kitchen islands photographed from above, or furniture seen from odd angles, can make your hard work look less than professional.
Solution: Take photographs face-on or from pleasing angles and try to provide some symmetry in the composition.
Find a professional photographer near you
5. Relying on Artificial Lighting
If you’ve ever finished a project in the evening and turned the lights on to get a few snapshots, you’ll probably have noticed how those indoor lamps affected the quality of the photos. Artificial lighting can often add an orange-y tone to a photograph, making the space feel dreary rather than illuminated.
Solution: Try to take photographs of a project during the day, and preferably when there’s plenty of sunlight streaming in. Natural light is much brighter and the colors will appear as they should.
Sometimes, professional photographers do turn on the indoor lights, but this is skillfully done, and often to show off a lighting feature, such as an exposed bulb or attractive or functional LED strip lighting.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with peers in the Houzz Pro Forum
If you’ve ever finished a project in the evening and turned the lights on to get a few snapshots, you’ll probably have noticed how those indoor lamps affected the quality of the photos. Artificial lighting can often add an orange-y tone to a photograph, making the space feel dreary rather than illuminated.
Solution: Try to take photographs of a project during the day, and preferably when there’s plenty of sunlight streaming in. Natural light is much brighter and the colors will appear as they should.
Sometimes, professional photographers do turn on the indoor lights, but this is skillfully done, and often to show off a lighting feature, such as an exposed bulb or attractive or functional LED strip lighting.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with peers in the Houzz Pro Forum
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Whether you’re photographing a full renovation or some alcove shelves, styling is crucial. It’s easier for homeowners to imagine how your work will look in their own homes if the space appears lived in.
Solution: Just a few props can make all the difference to the finished shot. Bring along a few attractive items for each room you’re photographing to dress the space and help potential clients visualize the project in their own home.
Learn about Houzz Pro software