High-quality photographs of your location is one of the best ways to increase your bookings and maximize your earning potential. Photographs are the first thing production companies and scouts look at when considering a location and at the end of the day, they play a big role in deciding which properties get booked. 

Here are three things to keep in mind to get the most out of every photo:

1. Prep the Scene

Before you snap any pictures you should take some time to prepare your space. Preparations will vary depending on the location, but typically it's a good idea to clean and de-clutter the property and remove any objects that could create an unnecessary distraction. (example: dirty laundry on the floor, dishes in the sink, etc).

The goal of your photos is to impress and inspire potential producers/directors and make it as easy as possible for them to match your property with their unique creative vision.

2. Lighting and Composition

Shooting in natural light is the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your images and make your property look more professional. Good light improves color, depth, and contrast and helps reduce the amount of grain and pixelation in an image. Generally, the best lighting for photos can be found in the hours around sunrise and sunset. Light from the sun is more diffused during these times which brings out the broadest range of color from your photos.

Once you have your lighting figured out the next thing to focus on is staging your photos. Poor photo composition can make a fantastic location look dull, and conversely, transform an ordinary space into an exciting cinematic location. Here are 5 basic tips to improve your composition:

1.    Shoot in the corners of a room to create a more natural and expansive perspective of the space.

2.    Choose a central object/focal point so viewers aren't confused about what to be looking at. (Example: the bed in a bedroom or the house in a property shot)

3.    Simplify the image, by providing ample spacing around the central object to help it stand out. Don’t zoom into objects.

4.    Shoot in landscape mode ONLY (Turning your phone sideways). Never use portrait, panoramic or fisheye lens photos.

5.    If shooting on your iPhone be sure to tap the screen to focus the lens and automatically adjust the lighting.

3. Quantity and Quality

Generally, the more photos you take the better the chance your property will get booked. This doesn't mean shooting the exact same room a dozen times. Your goal should be to capture the variety and intricacies of the property and provide potential renters a true-to-life picture of the space.

Start on the outside of your property and work your way inside. Think of it as if you are giving a tour to someone. Start your tour in the front yard making your way through the front door and through each room and each floor of your home taking pictures along the way. The sequence of your photos is important that way when images are uploaded to the website everything is in order of a walking tour.

As you work your way through your property, don’t forget to get shots you feel are highlights of your space. Have an impressive fireplace? A creepy tool shed? A stunning view? A retro kitchen? A dusty old attic full of cardboard boxes? All of these features can set your location apart - so try your best to document them with a detailed set of photos.

4. Sending Images

When you are ready to send your images following the easy steps below.

·      Go to www.wetransfer.com

·      On the left side of the homepage you will find a plus sign with “Add your files” in a white box.

·      Type in liz@whitewalllocations.com, enter your email address and put in your address / a little message in the message section.

·      Highlight all the images in the file and drag and drop the images you want to share with us onto the plus sign or click select a folder.

·      Hit transfer

·      Done!

4. Examples / Tips

 Below are some example images of great location shots.

 A good shot will give the viewer a clear idea of what the property / space looks like. It allows them to envision they are there without actually being there.

 For more reference images please click the “Locations” tab at the top left side of the website to get an idea of how other properties similar to yours have been photographed.