Understanding the equipment necessary for twilight real estate photography and its technical components can go a long way to improving your real estate photos. Not all photographers are as technical as others, but it always helps to know the basics.
How Much Does the Equipment for Twilight Photography Cost?
Twilight photos surprisingly don’t require a lot of specialized equipment. You may think that a photo shoot takes a lot of equipment to execute, but it doesn’t have to. The amount of equipment for a real estate shoot varies, and understanding what you actually need will help you decide what to bring.
As mentioned before, there are two different directions you can take when it comes to equipment. The first is relying on your photo editing to perfect your images, which will then require a tripod. The second and most popular approach to real estate photography involves using a tripod, trigger and speedlight flash.
Speedlight Flashes
Chances are, speedlight flashes aren’t actually as pricey, or as bulky as you may think when you hear their technical name. Speedlights are actually small, battery-operated lights that can easily fit into the palm of your hand and a small gear bag.
If you’re thinking of purchasing a speedlight flash, make sure to do your research first. The brand of light and its original release date have a lot to do with its price. You can almost always find an older and cheaper version in good condition, like the Nikon SB-80 DX Autofocus Speedlight Flash. If you go this route, you can get your own flash for about $100 or less.
Nikon SB-80 DX Autofocus Speedlight Flash
More expensive speedlights can run a minimum of $200 or $300. But higher end speedlights, like the Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT, go for about $500.
Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT
Before purchasing a light, think of how much you’ll use it, how often you’ll need it, and what features you’d like it to have. The answers to these questions will help you decide which price point is best for your needs.
Photography Lenses
Perhaps most importantly, you’ll have to purchase the right lenses for your real estate photography business. There are a lot of different brands and variations to choose from, but regardless, a good quality lens will be a bit pricey.
For example, the Canon 24-70MM F2.8 USM is great for shooting in low light environments. If you frequently shoot low-light real estate photography, then the $1,749 price tag on this lens might be worth the expense.
Canon 24-70MM F2.8 USM
Of course, you can always find cheaper options. The Sigma 20MM F/1.4 ART DG HSM is another great lens that’s priced at $899. This lens has a generous aperture range and isn’t known to distort wide-angle shots. Overall, Sigma isn’t as popular a brand as Canon, but they still make quality equipment, especially given the discount in price.
Shutter Release Triggers
Lastly, the most inexpensive equipment you’ll need is a shutter release trigger. Think of triggers as remote controls for your camera. When you activate a trigger, the trigger captures the image on your camera. That way, you won’t need to touch the camera itself, which could add a shakiness to the image while the lens is open.
Your camera body will likely determine what kind of trigger you need. The cheapest triggers run as cheap as $8, but triggers come in both wireless and corded, so they are compatible with different camera models. Check to see that a trigger is compatible with your camera first.
For something with more features than a simple trigger, consider something like the Canon Wireless Remote Control BR-E1. At $39.95, it has additional capabilities that may assist you in your shoot. Again, make sure this device is compatible with your camera before you purchase.
