Hi! We’re Rhys and Ellie, owners of Picture It 360, based here in the Algarve. Every day, we help real estate agents and homeowners showcase their properties in the best possible light – literally!
Professional photography has always played a key role in selling homes, but in today’s digital world, it’s more important than ever. With platforms like social media, websites, and property portals becoming the first stop for most buyers, the images you put online create that all-important first impression. Great photos don’t just make people stop scrolling – they make people book viewings.
What Professional Photography Really Offers
We often say that professional media is your chance to show clients you’re serious about selling their property. Whether it’s a cozy apartment in town or a million-euro villa with ocean views, every home deserves to be presented at its best.
We continuously invest in the latest equipment to ensure we stay among the best in the Algarve. But it’s not just about having good gear—it’s about knowing how to use it. Our goal is to paint a realistic, attractive picture of each property through a mix of wide angles, detail shots, aerial drone views, video tours, and even 3D virtual walk-throughs. This is especially important for international buyers who aren’t here to view in person – they need to feel like they’re walking through the home from wherever they are in the world.
What Happens Without Professional Photography
We’ve all seen those listings – dark rooms, awkward angles, blurry phone camera shots, or cluttered spaces. Poor-quality photos don’t just make the property look bad – they can actually reduce interest and lower the perceived value of the home.
Buyers often scroll straight past listings that aren’t visually appealing. The opposite happens when the photography is professional: the property stands out, feels premium, and inspires potential buyers to imagine themselves living there.
A Look Behind the Scenes
Every property we shoot starts with a bit of planning. We always ask the agent or homeowner to share a Google Maps pin so we can check the property’s position and decide the best time of day to capture it in the right light. While the Algarve is known for its sunshine, this year’s weather hasn’t exactly been on our side – but we always try to pick the best possible day!
Once on site, we walk through the property with the agent or homeowner to make sure everything is ready – lights on, cushions fluffed, and any distracting clutter cleared away. The goal is to make the home look lived-in but not overly personal, giving buyers the space to imagine their own life there.
When shooting inside, we use a method called “Flambient” photography, which involves capturing multiple layers of the same image and blending them together for perfect lighting and colour balance. For outdoor shots, we use a HDR method to make sure bright skies and shaded areas are both perfectly exposed.
And here’s something many people don’t realise: the shooting is only half the job! Back at the office, we carefully edit all the images, making sure they look natural but polished. We then upload everything into a private online folder, ready for the agent to share with clients or publish online.
It’s Not All Work… Well, Mostly!
We meet so many different people in this job – from agents and homeowners to pets that want to sneak into the shot! And of course, when we’re out all day with no breaks, we’ve learned that packing snacks is just as important as packing our camera gear – we’ve even made it part of our routine!
If you’re thinking of selling your home here in the Algarve, remember that the way you present it online matters more than ever. Working with a professional photographer doesn’t just make your property look good – it makes sure it gets noticed.
We’re proud to work alongside professional real estate companies like Lusoland, who understand the value of high-quality marketing and go the extra mile for their clients. Together, we help make sure every property stands out to the right buyers, whether they’re just around the corner or halfway across the world.
Guest blog by Rhys and Ellie, owners of Picture It 360, professional real estate photographers and videographers based in the Algarve, Portugal.