Poor photos make agents less competitive - claim

A veteran property photographer has revealed the ‘easy to spot’ signs that shows an agent isn’t using professional photography, warning it may mean missing out on listings.

Former Foxtons photography supremo John Williams, now sales director at property marketing and design agency Fourwalls, shared his industry wisdom in the latest On The Record podcast from OnTheMarket.

Speaking to the portal’s chief executive Jason Tebb, Williams said: “When you do walk down the high street, and of course in places like London people are much more switched onto having professional services done, but as you go a little bit further you walk down the high street and you can clearly see the agents which haven't employed a professional service, because you know they're not straight, there's no blue skies.”

“You know, they've tried to blow them up a little bit too big in the window and they've gone a little bit grainy.”

He said the cost of actually getting property photos done professionally is not expensive, adding: “It must be quite tough if you are going to pitch to a client and you don't have a professional photography service, and as we know these days, they would've had other agents in, so you are probably on the back foot if you don't have something in your armoury.

“This is where it's moved on even further from the basics of photography and floor planning, because the really savvy agents now are utilising everything from the videography, the social reels, the drone, where it's relevant out in the country, or you know, town areas. So they've got everything to really win that listing.”

He also added that there is a growing trend for listings to include photos of pets such as cats, dogs and even horses.

> Listen to the full podcast