Storytelling Through Photography with AJG Creative
15 September 2023
Written by Acme Mag
In 2023, you’d be hard-pressed to sell a home without photography. No big glorious signboard, no online listing page, no content to post to social media. In essence, without photography, no one knows a property is for sale. Gone are the days of agents taking photos with low-quality cameras or just their phones, instead there is more emphasis than ever put on photography and videography for property listings. Alex Gillett of AJG Creative tells us how through every property he shoots, he’s looking for the story behind the home.
We all know buying property is a largely emotionally driven process. Alex uses this as a key concept in how he approaches property photography. Alex says imagery and video are key in helping buyers see themselves in the home.
“More often than not, it’s the biggest asset someone will ever own. It’s a big decision and a lot of money – and it’s very driven by emotion,” says Alex, “This is why identifying key characteristics of a property, location and being able to encapsulate that through your photography and videography content is so important.”
There’s more emphasis than ever put on showcasing a property. Content needs to provide an authentic journey of the home. For instance, showcasing the spot where you can cuddle up by the fireplace, or rather than just a shot of the pool, it’s focused on where you can relax by the pool after a dip. This became especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic as more people view homes online.
It’s not just online viewings, social media has also drastically changed over the last few years. Being authentic is crucial online, and it’s important the listings you’re posting about are too.
“There’s been an influx of premium content. Generic property videos don’t cut it. It now highlights reels for Instagram or agents creating a recently sold video with them in front of the camera. The more authentic content is really starting to take off.”
When it comes to social media, you have seconds to grab attention. This is why Alex takes the time to push intriguing features of the property. This draws potential buyers in. It showcases the character of the home, and buyers want to see more. Alex looks at what you might miss from a classic wide-angle shot and focuses on those key characteristics that make a property unique from others. Even in videography, rather than doing a walk-through video, Alex says it’s better to showcase all the unique pieces of the property.
