Front Elevation & Kerb Appeal

The front elevation is the first image buyers see in a listing. It needs to be perfect, it's your one chance to make a first impression.

Don't just stand on the pavement directly opposite the front door. Walk up and down the street and look at the property from different angles:

The front elevation looks best when the sun is hitting the facade. Check which direction the property faces:

A blue sky with white clouds is ideal. Grey, overcast skies can be replaced in post-processing, but a naturally good sky saves time and looks more authentic.

Real-world front elevations rarely have a clear, unobstructed view. Here's how to handle common problems:

Parked cars: Ask the homeowner to move their car before the shoot. If neighbouring cars are in the way, try shooting from a higher angle (across the road, slightly elevated) to minimise their presence. In post-processing, minor car removal is possible but time-consuming.

Street furniture: Lampposts, telegraph poles, and road signs are permanent fixtures. Adjust your shooting position to minimise their impact, often a step to the left or right is enough to move a pole away from the building's edge. Cloning out a lamppost in post is acceptable if it significantly improves the image.

Trees and vegetation: Overhanging branches can frame a property beautifully, but overgrown hedges and unkempt trees look neglected. If the property's own vegetation is blocking the view, ask the homeowner to trim it before the shoot.

Neighbours: Terraced and semi-detached properties inevitably include neighbouring homes. This is fine, it shows context. But avoid including neighbours' messy gardens, overflowing bins, or unsightly extensions if possible.

Keeping verticals straight is even more critical for exterior shots than interiors. A building with leaning walls looks like it's falling over. Use your camera's electronic level, keep the camera perfectly horizontal, and correct any remaining convergence in Lightroom or Photoshop.

If you need to include the full building from roof to ground and can't step back far enough, take two overlapping shots, one of the upper portion and one of the lower, and merge them in post. This avoids tilting the camera upward, which causes the worst vertical convergence.