What Shutter Speed Is Best for Real Estate Photography?

Taking incredible real estate photos isn't rocket science, but understanding shutter speed is vital. When it comes to shutter speed, knowing when to use which speed can make or break a photo and truly take your images up another notch!

By understanding how different types of shutter speeds affect your images, you can capture amazing real estate photos that will impress your clients.

So if you’re ready to take captivating real estate photography, this blog post looks at the best shutter speed setting you can use. But first, let's make sure I understand what exactly shutter speed is.

Quick Navigation

• What Is Shutter Speed?
• The Best Shutter Speed for Real Estate Photography
  • 1. A 1/125th Shutter Speed Is Likely Best
  • 2. Avoid 1/60th Shutter Speed
• Save Time on Post-Processing With an Editing Service
• Conclusion

What Is Shutter Speed?

Capturing the perfect photo relies heavily on getting just enough light into your camera. To make this happen, you'll want to adjust the shutter speed which measures how long my cameras' shutters stay open for each shot. The key is unlocking that ideal balance and capturing those magical moments in time with stunning accuracy.

Shutter speed is measured in fractions of seconds and usually ranges from 1/60 to 1/2000 or higher, depending on your camera type. Knowing which shutter speed is best will help you take sharp images without blur or motion distortion.

For example:

• A fast speed helps to freeze the movement of some objects
• While a slow shutter allows more light to enter the sensor, blurring any movement captured in an image

If you're looking to create a dreamy, hazy atmosphere or an emphasis on the details of your subject - shutter speed is key. Selecting just the right speed will help ensure your photos have that perfect balance.

You can change the shutter speed on your camera, by doing the following:

• Switch your camera settings from Auto Mode to Manual or Shutter Priority Mode
• And use the button or dial located on the top of your camera to adjust the exposure settings
• Then choose the ‘Tv’ mode, which stands for time value, focusing on the speed values in seconds

Keep in mind that lower speeds will work better if using a tripod. If not, you’ll likely need higher shutter speeds to prevent blurring.

The Best Shutter Speed for Real Estate Photography

High-quality real estate photography makes a property look its best and stand out among competing listings. Therefore, knowing which shutter speed is best is essential.

1. A 1/125th Shutter Speed Is Likely Best

When capturing real estate, it's essential to reflect the style of the property and create a particular atmosphere. Think about when best to shoot - whether you want daytime or nighttime images - as well as decide on your desired mood. All this will help make sure you get just that perfect shot.

Consider the following:

• A slow shutter speed can create ethereal effects, but it’s not always ideal for freezing action
• Generally, a fast speed like 1/125th of a second is better for stopping motion in its tracks
• So, for shooting interior furnishings or landscaping details, using 1/125th of a second should do the perfect job

Achieving the right balance of light and shadow is also vital to beautiful real estate photography. Therefore, keep the following in mind:

• Using 1/125th is an ideal choice for photographing spaces filled with natural light
• This same speed allows for stunning pictures with remarkable detail and clarity without the slightest hints of movement
• In addition, this shutter speed creates enough depth to showcase subtle details consisting of furniture arrangements and textures

2. Avoid 1/60th Shutter Speed

As a photographer, you’ve probably heard that when it comes to shooting real estate, a 1/60th is the best all-purpose speed, but that’s not entirely true as I’ll now explain:

• In fact, 1/60th may be a bit too slow for specific locations or types of shots
• But it can work well when photographing a house exterior with no trees in the picture because there won’t be any movement that can create a so-called ghosting effect
• If there are pets, people, or other moving objects in the shot, it won’t be able to freeze the motion

In other words, if you want to lock in on the perfect shot, your speed must be adjusted for a total harmony of exposure, focal point, and ISO. For example, when shooting interiors with typical details it's best to use 1/125th at 17mm which allows maximum light while keeping a sharp focus without having to crank up that ISO.

Of course, using the best shutter speed for real estate photography is only one part of getting amazing images. The other vital part is expert real estate photo editing.

Save Time on Post-Processing With an Editing Service

To be able to scale your real estate photography business, you need to get out of the mindset that you can do everything yourself. The key to scaling your real estate photography business is being able to outsource and delegate tasks that take time away from shooting more properties or building relationships with clients.

Mastering photo editings software like Photoshop and Lightroom can be a daunting task, especially when it comes down to advanced techniques like object removal and twilight editing - not to mention the money you'd have to fork up for these programs. 

PhotoUp offers teams of dedicated real estate photo editors on call, ready to tackle any photographs so that nothing gets in way of running a successful photography business.

Conclusion

If using the right shutter speed when shooting real estate, you can capture stunning pictures with remarkable detail, depth, and clarity. Achieving the right balance of light and shadow will take your real estate photography up a notch. Lastly, investing in a good tripod will keep your photos clear and sharp without the slightest hints of movement.