How to Produce Eye-Catching Photography in Multifamily that Attracts Renters

A picture is said to be worth a thousand words. But when it comes to apartment photography, a shot featuring the property shouldn’t be that verbose. The right picture with the right angle, the right composition and the right lighting should send the very concise message to prospective renters that this is the place to be. For property management companies on a limited budget who aren’t fortunate to have a shutterbug on the payroll, visual story telling can be difficult. Posting a drab photo of a community can turn off prospects who land on the website. They’re likely to move on to the next property on their short list without a second thought. That’s when the right group of photos that capture the true living experience can make a difference. Compelling images that highlight amenities and interior and exterior features stand out, especially among the wealth of media and information that begs today’s apartment hunter. “I don’t think some people in this business fully understand how a photo can make or break a consumer’s opinion,” says veteran apartment photographer Ed Blinn. “The first impression means everything.” Take photos that will convince prospects to rent Blinn, who is the Apartment Association of Tarrant County’s director of communications, has taken thousands of photos of apartments. At AATC, he’s affectionately known as “The Photo Guy.” He believes the plethora of videos and images vying for consumers’ attention is all the more reason to showcase the property through compelling photos. Yet, some property managers tend to lose focus by showcasing what they think is great about their community without regard to what prospects may want to see. What the prospect is looking for, Blinn says, are images that relate to a desirable lifestyle or location. That requires mining the elements that invite the prospect to linger on the website, or working with a prof...