With many property buyers searching for properties online, high-quality photos and videos are becoming critical. This means that grainy, poorly lit, or unedited images will drastically reduce the appeal of your listing. That’s why you should have a good editing software for real estate visuals.
97% of homebuyers use the internet to conduct their home search. Furthermore, properties with high-quality photos sell 50% faster.
That’s why you need the best editing software for real estate visuals to transform good photos into great ones and highlight the best features of a property.
In this guide I will equip you with the knowledge to choose the perfect editing software for your real estate needs. Whether you’re a seasoned editing professional or just starting out there is something for you.
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What to Look for in Editing Software for Real Estate Visuals
There are a variety of editing software options available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, you should not use editing software just because you have heard about it.
Here are some key factors to consider when searching for an editing software for real estate visuals.
- Editing features
Basic editing tools like exposure, white balance, and colour correction are essential. In addition, more advanced features like noise reduction, lens correction, and HDR (High Dynamic Range) editing can take your photos to the next level.
For videos, consider features like stabilisation, colour grading, and the ability to add text or music. This will enable you to create stunning visuals for your marketing channels.
- Ease of use
If you’re new to photo editing, you’ll want a program with a user-friendly interface and plenty of tutorials or learning resources available. This will be a great starting point to do it yourself and save on editing costs.
- Batch editing
If you’re dealing with a large number of photos, batch editing capabilities can save you a significant amount of time.
- Cost
Editing software can range from free and open-source options to subscription-based professional programs. Therefore, you should consider your budget and editing needs when making your decision.
- Operating System compatibility
You should ensure the software you choose is compatible with your computer’s operating system (Windows, Mac, etc.).
Top Editing Software Options for Real Estate Visuals
1. Adobe Photoshop
The industry standard for professional photo editing. Photoshop offers a vast array of powerful tools for even the most complex edits.
With Adobe Photoshop, you can enhance photos, adjust lighting and colour, remove unwanted objects, and apply creative effects.
You can also do graphic design such as creating logos, posters, web graphics, and other visual content using various tools and brushes.
Adobe Photoshop also allows you to paint and draw like you would with traditional media, but with the flexibility and power of digital tools.
A key strength of Photoshop is its layering system. Imagine working on transparent sheets stacked on top of each other. You can edit each layer independently, giving you great flexibility and control over your project.
While powerful, Photoshop has a steeper learning curve compared to simpler editing software. However, numerous tutorials and online resources can help you get started. There’s also a free mobile version, Photoshop Express, with a simpler feature set for basic editing on the go.
2. Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom is a streamlined version of Photoshop designed specifically for photographers. Lightroom excels at batch editing, workflow organisation, and non-destructive editing, which allows you to revert back to original settings if needed.
Unlike Photoshop, which focuses on detailed image manipulation, Lightroom excels at:
- Large photo library management. You can organise and categorise thousands of photos using tags, collections, and keywords.
- Non-destructive editing. You can edit photos without altering the originals. In addition, Lightroom stores edits as instructions, allowing you to revisit and adjust them later.
- Batch editing. You can apply the same edits to multiple photos simultaneously, saving time.
- Presets and adjustments. You can achieve specific looks quickly with one-click presets or fine-tune settings like exposure, colour balance, and clarity.
Lightroom works with RAW images directly from digital cameras. These images contain more data than compressed formats like JPEG, allowing for greater editing flexibility without quality loss. In addition, Lightroom can edit JPEGs and other common image formats.
A key feature is its powerful calibration tools. For instance, you can adjust white balance, lens corrections, and noise reduction to enhance your photos’ overall quality. Lightroom integrates seamlessly with Photoshop, allowing you to switch between them for advanced editing tasks.
3. Skylum Luminar
Skylum Luminar is one of the editing software for real estate visuals you can rely on. This AI-powered editing software is known for its ease of use and powerful one-click presets that can dramatically enhance your photos.
Luminar offers a good balance of features and affordability compared to Photoshop. Skylum Luminar actually has two versions, Luminar AI and Luminar Neo.
Luminar AI focuses entirely on AI-powered editing, making photo enhancement faster and easier, especially for beginners. It offers features like SkyAI for replacing skies, FaceAI for portrait adjustments, and AtmosphereAI for adding haze or fog effects.
However, it’s less customizable compared to Neo, but excels at one-click edits and achieving specific styles.
Then there is the Luminar Neo with both AI and manual controls.
It offers functionalities similar to Lightroom, like RAW processing, non-destructive editing, and batch editing.
In addition, it features layered editing for more complex adjustments and masking tools for selective edits. Furthermore, its user-friendly interface caters to both beginners and more experienced editors.
4. GIMP
GIMP is a good editing software for real estate visuals and it’s an excellent free and open-source alternative to Photoshop. It offers a wide range of editing tools, but it can be overwhelming for beginners due to its complex interface.
GIMP is free and open source, unlike Photoshop, you can download and use it for free. This is a great choice for budget-minded users or those who prefer open-source software.
Furthermore, with GIMP, you can edit photos, create logos, design web graphics, or even paint like you would with traditional media. In addition, GIMP offers tools similar to Photoshop, including layers, masks, brushes, and filters.
GIMP’s interface is less intuitive than Photoshop’s, especially for beginners. However, plenty of tutorials and resources can help you get started.
The good thing about GIMP is you can add plugins to expand its functionality, making it a versatile tool.
It’s available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, you can use GIMP regardless of your operating system.
5. Canva
I have been using Canva since the start of my career of editing real estate visuals. It’s a good editing software for real estate visuals. Canva is a popular graphic design platform that also offers basic photo editing tools.
Canva is a good option for creating social media graphics and flyers for your listings, but its editing capabilities are not as robust as dedicated photo editing software.
Canva is an online design platform that makes creating visual content accessible to everyone, even those without graphic design experience.
Canva boasts a drag-and-drop interface with easy-to-use tools, making it perfect for beginners. In addition, you can get started quickly with thousands of pre-designed templates for various purposes, like social media posts, presentations, posters, and more.
Additionally, Canva provides a library of free and paid design elements, including stock photos, illustrations, icons, and fonts. You can also upload your own images and fonts.
You can collaborate and work with others on designs in real-time. This is great for team projects or getting feedback on your work.
Finally, Canva has both free and paid plans. For instance, I started with the free plan with access to millions of elements and templates. However, I graduated to a paid plan to unlock additional features like premium content and team collaboration tools.
Editing Tips for Real Estate Photos and Videos
- Focus on exposure and white balance
Ensure your photos are well-exposed with balanced whites for a natural and inviting look.
- Straighten and crop
Straighten crooked horizons and crop your photos to improve composition.
- Enhance colour and clarity
You can use subtle adjustments to improve colour saturation and clarity without making the photos look oversaturated or unnatural.
- Reduce noise
Especially in low-light photos, noise reduction can help eliminate graininess and improve image quality.
- Virtual staging (optional)
Consider using virtual staging software to add furniture and décor to vacant properties, giving potential buyers a better sense of how the space can be used.
- For videos
Stabilise shaky footage, add background music and text overlays, and keep your videos concise and engaging (ideally under 2 minutes).
Beyond Editing Softwares for Real Estate Visuals: Essential Considerations
While editing software for real estate visuals is a powerful tool, it’s important to remember that great real estate photos start with good photography techniques. Therefore, you should invest in a good camera and lens.
You should also learn about lighting and composition, and aim to capture a variety of angles and perspectives that showcase the property’s best features.
Choosing the Right Editing Software for Real Estate Visuals
The best editing software for you will depend on your budget, skill level, and specific editing needs.
- If you’re new to photo editing, Canva or Luminar are great options with user-friendly interfaces and easy-to-use features. Thus, they are good editing software for real estate visuals for beginners.
- While checking on your budget, GIMP is a powerful free alternative to Photoshop, but it requires a steeper learning curve. However, you can watch several YouTube tutorials to learn.
- If you are a professional editor, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop are the industry standards and offer the most comprehensive set of editing tools. However, they come with a subscription fee.
Editing Software for Real Estate Visuals: Conclusion
To make your real estate images and videos appealing, you should invest in the right editing software. In addition, you should take the time to learn basic editing techniques, you can significantly elevate the quality of your real estate photos and videos.
Remember, high-quality visuals are essential for capturing the attention of potential buyers and getting your listings noticed in a crowded market. So go forth, edit with confidence, and showcase those properties in the best light possible!
We can help you elevate your images from the word go. We have the best drone photography and videography services you can rely on.
Editing Software for Real Estate Visuals: FAQS
- How much does editing software cost?
Editing software can range from free (like GIMP) to subscription-based models (like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop) which can cost around $10-25 per month.
- Is there a difference between photo and video editing software?
Yes, while some software offers basic editing functionalities for both photos and videos, professional editing programs typically specialise in one or the other.
Photo editing software focuses on tools like exposure, colour correction, and noise reduction. On the other hand, video editing software offers features like stabilisation, colour grading, and the ability to add music and text overlays.
- What are presets?
Presets are pre-made editing settings you can apply to your photos with a single click. These can save you time and ensure consistency in your editing style. Many editing programs come with built-in presets, and you can also download or purchase custom presets online.
- Should I outsource my photo editing?
This depends on your budget, time constraints, and editing skills. However, outsourcing can be a good option if you have a high volume of photos, lack the time to edit them yourself, or don’t have the necessary editing expertise.
- Where can I find real estate photo editing services?
Many companies specialise in real estate photo editing. You can find them by searching online or asking your local photographer network for recommendations.
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