Composition I

PERSPECTIVE

One point perspective (straight on) is your friend. If ever in doubt - go one point. Consider approx. 65% of a shoot one point, and 35% two point (angled). A one point perspective composition gives a sense of stability within an image, other elements of a scene are then free to create visual interest by contrasting the vertical and horizontal lines that have been created.

While I'm beginning to see one point perspective images become more common in real estate marketing, the vast majority are still two pointers shot from the corner of the room. The combo of this and an overly wide field of view and you've got classic real estate bullshit baby.

FOCAL LENGTH

We don't always have the luxury of large space to work with, regardless I would still refrain from shooting wider than 18mm for one point perspective, and 24mm for two point. Angled images will exaggerate space when shooting interiors. This will sometimes be desired (by agents), but mostly it will just land you back in real estate land.

For detail images capturing the architectural or styling elements, consider focal lengths of 50mm - 85mm. Longer focal lengths will also force you to select a point of focus and allow the use of a shallow depth of field, (more on this in a bit).

FRAMING

One of the many clichés in standard real estate photography is to capture all of a given object in the frame. For example - all of an island bench, the entirety of a couch, every piece of furniture in a bedroom, etc.

The stronger approach is to allow the inference of space rather than showing it explicitly. In doing so you create depth in the image, drawing the viewers eye into the scene and holding it for longer.