Before You Photograph

Use a good camera. (A cell-phone camera won't work if you want a quality application, but top-of-the-line equipment isn't a necessity either.) Any point-and-shoot digital camera with five megapixels or more will produce good photos. Be sure to set your camera to the highest quality settings (photos need to be at a minimum resolution of 800x600 for best results). Stage your model home. You want to show off the space, not what's in it. Make sure your home is clean, and clear out distracting items like toys, refrigerator magnets and the like before taking photos. If this leaves your model home looking a little dull, you may want to use accents like a vase of fresh flowers to help spice it up.

While You Photograph

Use as much natural lighting as possible. Open the curtains and turn on all the lights to make a room look bright and open. Rely on the camera's built-in flash as little as possible; it creates unattractive shadows and reflects off mirrors and windows. Noon is the best time to take photos to avoid harsh reflections and shadows.

Choose the best angles and compositions. Every photo should have only one room as the focal point, as the application is meant to show off that space. The best way to show off a room is to shoot from a corner or doorway shooting with a horizontal orientation (no vertical photos please) to include as much of that room as possible. This provides context and makes the room look more spacious than a tight or vertical shot.

Take lots of photos. Digital cameras give you the freedom to take as many photos as you want, so experiment with lots of angles and camera settings. Review the photos later and choose the ones that best represent your model home.See example photos below for visual examples...click to enlarge.