Avoid Temptation
Never take real estate or vacation property photos in vertical (portrait) orientation.
We live in a selfie-driven world, where portrait mode makes perfect sense for photos of people. But when photographing real estate or vacation properties — whether interiors or exteriors — shooting in vertical orientation is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.
Holding your camera vertically makes the world appear narrower and smaller — the exact opposite of what you want to achieve.
Even in Narrow Spaces
This simple rule applies even to challenging spaces like narrow hallways, bathrooms, and galley kitchens. The answer is still the same: never shoot in portrait mode. There's always a better angle or perspective that allows you to capture the space in landscape orientation.
Why Landscape Orientation is So Much Better
- Real estate and vacation rental websites are designed to display photos in landscape format.
- Human vision naturally perceives the world as wider than it is tall.
- Portrait photos make every room and outdoor view look smaller and more cramped — and nobody wants to feel like the rooms or property are tiny.
Shooting in landscape helps your property look more spacious, inviting, and true to how people actually experience it.
