Whether you’re looking for stunning visuals for listing purposes or stunning visuals for print media campaigns, landscape or portrait real estate photography has its own unique set of benefits that can meet your needs perfectly.
But which one is best?
In general, portrait photos are better for close-ups of features, while landscape shots work well for showing the overall property. But there are exceptions to every rule, so let’s dive in and explore when each orientation works best in HDR Real Estate Photography.
What Is Portrait Photography?
Portrait photography is a style of image capture that features a subject in an upright position. It often has a shallow depth field and focuses primarily on the subject, whereas landscape photography is more focused on overall scenes or ambiance.
In portrait photography, the important elements are usually geography, lighting, backdrop, and any props or supporting items. Depending on the subject’s characteristics, different approaches might be chosen to emphasize certain traits or characteristics within the composition that create impact.
What Is Landscape Photography?
Landscape photography refers to a wide range of images, typically scenic, that capture large swathes of land or a sweeping view. This can include nature scenes such as mountains, valleys, beaches, and sunsets, as well as urban settings like cities or skylines, and real estate buildings.
Such photographs are unique in their ability to tell the story of an entire area at once. It captures details about the environment through composition and subject placement. By using selective focus techniques, even small sections of these photos can be highlighted, making them a great asset to display the beauty of their locations.
In-Depth Look At Landscape Vs. Portrait Photography In Real Estate
Real estate photography is essential for capturing high-quality images of a property that can be used to attract potential buyers and renters. Take a look at the key differences between these two types of photographs.
1. Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio of a photo is its width compared to its height. Most landscape photos have an aspect ratio of 3:2, 16:9, and 12:6 as these provide a more expansive view.
While portrait photos are usually 5:4, 4:3, and 3:2. This means that when shooting in portrait, more space will be available to capture details vertically than with a landscape shot.
2. Equipment Requirements
Landscape or portrait real estate photography both require similar equipment such as a DSLR camera and wide-angle lens, but they may also require different lighting setups, and lenses depending on what type of photo you’re trying to achieve.
For example, if you’re shooting in low light conditions such as indoors then using external lights may be necessary to get good results with either style of photograph.
If you’re using portrait orientation, the recommended lens size is 50mm to 200mm due to their focal range ability. For landscape, the max you can use is a 70mm lens.
3. Camera Movement
With landscape real estate photography, the camera is often kept stationary to capture more details about a property. By contrast, portrait photography involves more movement with the camera being shifted from side to side to focus on different areas of a property.
4. The Difference In Focus
When it comes to focusing, landscapes tend to have softer edges compared with portraits which feature sharper edges due to their narrower FOVs.
This makes landscapes better suited for capturing detailed textures within a property while portraits are great for highlighting certain features like architectural details or furniture pieces due to their sharpness and clarity.
5. Compositional Focus
When it comes to composition, landscape photography typically focuses on widening the scene by including elements outside the main subject (e.g., home appliances or other furniture).
Portrait photography however focuses on narrowing down the frame by excluding any unnecessary elements from view (e.g., furniture or other objects).
6. Emotional Impact
Both landscape and portrait real estate photography have their unique emotional impacts. For instance, landscapes often evoke feelings of serenity whereas portraits tend to draw attention toward specific points within a room/building due to their narrower field of view (FOV).
7. Background Elements And Space Differences
Background elements play an important role when framing your shot in both styles of real estate photography but there are some key differences between them.
While landscape shots focus on foreground elements such as furniture and artwork within a room/building, portrait shots focus more on background elements like windows or doors which may provide additional context about the property being photographed.
Additionally, working with space is important when taking either type of photo. Wide open spaces will help create an inviting atmosphere whereas small enclosed areas may make people feel claustrophobic when viewing photos taken in that location.
When To Use Portrait Orientation In Real Estate Photography
When it comes to real estate photography, portrait orientation works best for genres such as interior design which require a fuller view from top to bottom. Portrait orientation allows them to capture images of full wall designs, rather than having only a window-height view.
It can also be very effective in accentuating certain photographs of furniture in the context of an overall room design. Moreover, it also provides more interesting images when shooting buildings with features like balconies and high ceilings from the outside.
Given its strength in capturing detailed shots, you should consider portrait orientation whenever you desire a full view or unique angle for real estate photography.
When To Use Landscape Orientation In Real Estate Photography
When it comes to real estate photography, landscape orientation is the go-to choice for large spaces or rooms. This format lets photographers capture wide shots of vast bedrooms and living spaces that give potential buyers an idea of the size and scope of the property.
When used correctly, it can also help lend a sense of scope to a photo while allowing the viewer to take in an entire room with just one glance. Landscape orientation can also present an opportunity for capturing more architectural details such as doorways, windows, and stairs, more accurately than portrait orientation due to the wider angle provided.
Portrait Vs. Landscape – Conclusion
There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to shoot in portrait or landscape orientation for real estate photography. Landscape orientation allows for the widest possible shot and allows you to capture more of the space in one image, which is great for wide-open spaces such as an empty room or a backyard.
You can use portrait orientation to capture more details by allowing the camera to zoom in closer to a specific area. When shooting in portrait orientation, be sure to leave enough room in the frame for cropping later on.
Once you’ve chosen the orientation for your photos, Wallpics can bring them alive with breathtaking photo tiles. You can also use website builders for photographers to showcase your work on online portofolios.