Could lifestyle photographs really be the key to help sell your property?

There are many ways to promote a property for sale, but an often overlooked option is to harness lifestyle photography in your property marketing. Read this article to find out more.

Lifestyle photography can help capture the essence of a home and the potential lifestyle your property could give a new purchaser. It allows the viewers to think emotionally about your property, and let's be honest, almost all property purchases are emotional. We choose the home that we want to live in, that we can see our families growing up in, that we can make memories in, not the one that is the most financially efficient or logical.

Photography in this style increases that emotional attachment between a potential viewer and a property, pulling on the heartstrings. This emotional pull significantly enhances the likelihood of a successful viewing appointment, potentially leading to a tempting offer.

So, what exactly is lifestyle photography? It's a powerful storytelling tool, capable of conveying a narrative in a single image. When used in property marketing, this narrative could be a glimpse into an extraordinary day in your home, inviting viewers to become part of the story.

A property brochure will usually have a photo of the kitchen, the living room, the bedrooms, and the bathroom. Lifestyle photographs are the ones that are not really photos of any particular room but instead show something of the property's lifestyle. For example, in a garden photograph, everything might look very nice, including lawn, patio seating, and trees or shrubs. The lifestyle image that could follow that garden would be a close-up of a wine chiller and glasses on the table. As they say, a picture paints a thousand words, and, in this case, the image is putting into the viewers' minds that they would really enjoy sipping an ice-cold rosé in that garden on a hot summer's day.

In a bathroom photograph, you could show an image of a deep bath filled with steamy bubbles. The lifestyle image may be a close-up of the tap running or flickering candles. Of course, a buyer is not buying the taps, the candles, or, indeed, the bubbles in the bath, but this image tells a buyer that they would be able to relax and enjoy a peaceful, restorative bubble bath after a long day.

Ultimately, lifestyle images do not really show the property as a whole. Still, they depict, in photograph format, the desirable lifestyle that a buyer could have if they purchased your home. Imagine for a second that you are looking at the website of a luxury hotel or spa; there will be shots of the hotel room and then a shot of the coffee machine or perhaps a room service tray. Only some people staying at the hotel will be getting room service. It is certainly not included in the price, but it shows a guest could order room service. That impression makes the viewer or guest consider what they will do during their stay or once they live in the property.

If your property brochure showcases beautiful photographs of each room but lacks the aspirational lifestyle element, consider incorporating staged elements and lifestyle photography into your listing. This can inspire viewers to imagine themselves living in the property, envisioning a lifestyle that surpasses their current one. By sparking these aspirations, you can create a warmer atmosphere ahead of the viewing appointment, potentially leading to more offers.

Contact our property experts today to find out more about how you can add lifestyle imagery to your property listing to ensure a sale.