When people think about property photography, they probably think about the photographer taking the photos and then sending them to the agent. But there is actually quite a bit that happens in between.

It starts with coverage

One of the things I work on at Catalyst Media is quality control. My job is to go through the completed files and make sure everything looks right before it gets delivered.

The first thing I usually look at is whether we have everything we need. It's surprisingly easy for one useful room, exterior view or detail to be missed during a shoot. I check the images against what was expected from the property and make sure the coverage makes sense as a complete set.

Then there are the small problems

Some issues are obvious. Others aren't. I regularly look for things such as:

  • Reflections
  • Clutter
  • Distracting objects
  • Poorly positioned blinds
  • Uneven horizons
  • Perspective problems
  • Overexposed windows
  • Colour inconsistencies
  • Images that are too dark or too bright
  • Images that aren't properly focused

None of these things necessarily ruin a photograph on their own. But when several small problems appear throughout a listing, the overall presentation suffers.

Consistency matters

Another thing I pay attention to is whether the photographs feel like they belong to the same property. Colour, exposure and editing should feel consistent from room to room.

A kitchen shouldn't look noticeably warmer than the living room without a reason. One image shouldn't be heavily processed while the rest look natural. This is particularly important when an estate agent is putting the images together on a property listing. The set should feel cohesive.

See the difference: Athlumney, Navan

Athlumney exterior after quality control The same Athlumney exterior before quality control BeforeAfter
Athlumney, Navan: exterior colour correction. Drag left or right to compare, or focus the slider and use the arrow keys.

Revisions are part of the process

Sometimes an image simply needs another look. That could mean correcting an editing issue, removing a distraction, adjusting an exterior colour or asking for a particular image to be revisited. The important thing is catching those things before the files are delivered.

It is much easier to fix a problem during the production process than after a listing has already gone live.

A quality control expert is like a good goalkeeper on a football team. They stand as the last line of defence in keeping out the occasional mistakes that will inevitably happen for every photographer and photo editor.

— James Murphy

Why it matters to agents

For an estate agent, property media is part of the first impression of a listing. The photography, floor plan, drone imagery and video all have different jobs, but they should work together.

Good quality control helps make sure the final package is complete, consistent and ready to use. From my side, the job is essentially to look at the finished property media as if I were seeing it for the first time and ask:

Does this look ready to go?

If the answer is no, it needs another check. That extra step can make a bigger difference than people might expect.