Insight Filmhouse: Style Guide
This style guide is meant to be a field guide to Insight Filmhouse Photographers. Our goal is to be unified in our approach but creative in practice — creating a predictably quality experience for our clients no matter which provider they choose. This is an internal document: do not share with others.
Our Approach
The Home Is the Subject
Real estate photography sits somewhere between architectural photography and interior design photography.
Architectural photography is focused on the building and space. Interior design photography often focuses more on furniture, styling, and design.
We use parts of both, but the home is always the main product.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Strong Insight hero image showing a full interior space]
Show the Space Clearly
A buyer should be able to look at a photo and quickly understand the room.
Show its size, layout, features, and how it connects to nearby spaces.
Be Intentional
Do not use the same camera position for every room.
Ask: What is the subject of this photo?
That answer should help decide your camera height, position, and composition.
Camera Height
Follow the Subject
A simple starting point is to place the camera near the vertical center of your subject.
If you are photographing a whole room, the room is the subject.
If you are photographing a bathroom vanity, the vanity may be the subject.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Whole-room example with camera height shown]
Whole Rooms
For a wide room photo, try to balance the amount of floor and ceiling.
The camera will usually sit somewhere near the middle of the room vertically.
Smaller Subjects
When the subject is lower, lower the camera.
For example, when photographing a bathroom vanity, faucet height is often a good place to start because it is close to the vertical center of the vanity.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Vanity example photographed around faucet height]
Keep the Camera Level
Keep the camera level so walls, doors, and other vertical lines stay straight.
Composition
Find the Subject
Before taking the photo, decide what matters most in the frame.
It may be the room itself, an island, a fireplace, a bed, a view, or another feature.
Build the photo around that.
Establish the Room
Start with the angle that explains the room best.
The first goal is to help someone understand the space.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Strong establishing shot of living room or kitchen]
Straight-On or Angled
Straight-on photos work well when a room or feature has strong symmetry.
Angled photos work well when they show more of the layout or help connect spaces.
Choose the one that best explains the room.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — One straight-on composition and one angled composition]
Two-Point Perspective
Any composition that isn’t straight on can technically be considered two-point perspective.
Leading lines go in more than one direction, which creates opportunities to highlight multiple points of interest.
[IMAGE — Two point perspective photo]
Styling the Space
The Finishing Touch
We are not professional stagers, cleaners, or interior designers.
We are also not photographers who say, “That’s not my job,” when a small change would make the photo much better.
Small finishing touches are part of making a space photo-ready.
Minimum Standards
Before photographing a room:
Put toilet seats down.
Turn ceiling fans off.
Straighten obvious pillows and bedding.
Fix small things that look crooked or out of place.
Remove simple distractions when it only takes a moment.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Clean, well-prepared bathroom or bedroom]
Blinds and Curtains
When there is something good to see outside, we usually want to show it.
When a window only looks at a nearby wall, siding, garbage area, or another distraction, closing or lowering the blinds may look better.
Keep blinds and curtains consistent within the room.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Interior with attractive view through windows]
Be Helpful
If the client is still getting ready and there is less than about 15 minutes of reasonable prep, help them finish.
Move a few small items. Straighten the room. Fluff the pillows.
Know the Limit
Small adjustments are part of the job.
Cleaning the house, moving large amounts of furniture, or completely restaging a room is not.
Coverage
Follow a Route
The easiest way to miss a room is to bounce around the house.
Choose a natural path and follow it.
Clockwise or counterclockwise both work. Pick whichever direction makes the most sense for the home.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Floor plan with one continuous route drawn through the house]
Finish One Floor at a Time
When possible, finish the rooms on one floor before moving to another floor.
A simple route makes it easier to know what you have already photographed.
Open Every Door
Check every door before moving on.
A door that looks like a closet may lead to a basement, stairs, utility room, or another part of the home.
Start With the Establishing Shot
In each important room, start with the photo that best explains the space.
Then add more angles only when it shows something new.
Give Important Rooms More Coverage
Large or important spaces normally need more coverage.
Kitchens, living rooms, primary suites, and other major spaces take angles.
A simple bedroom, laundry room, or half bath may need only one or two.
Photograph What Sells the Home
Make sure to capture features that add value, including things like:
Views
Fireplaces
Built-ins
Architectural details
Upgrades
Outdoor living
Special features the agent wants highlighted
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