Editing/altering (photoshop) pictures of homes for sale?
Just a quick question; Is it legal to photoshop (edit) photos of homes for sale?
I have seen this happen many times AND by different agents in the area (2234 postcode) and I would of thought that such activity is not allowed.
It is amazing to see photos of a property and then go to an open house and see that the slight decline of the driveway to the house or the few steps up to the pool are to some degree much different in 'real life'. I know you may see a photo and then see something in person and think hmm looks a little different, prob just camera playing games with me, but in these cases its really largely exaggerated and if its legal than fine, but as a person, in my opinion I think its morally wrong to both parties...
8 Comments
I guess it depends on what sort of altering? I remember selling a house (was for an investment) and on the day of the photos there was a storm. So we decided to go ahead with the photos but edit in a bright sunny sky. I don't think it was wrong as it didn't change the aesthetic of the house, it just painted it in a better light.
If a house is photoshopped to look bigger or hiding defects, then that is completely wrong imho.
Absolutely no problem with that AJ, things like what you did is probably pretty common.
My issue, for a real example thats happened in the past, is when you get to a house and that "slight" dip of the land at the front of the house is now in real life so steep u would almost need ski equipment to go down it...
Hi Marko,
I usually get professional photography done on all my listings and the company that takes the photos do sometimes alter the sky just like AJ suggested, they also alter light but DONOT make a dark room appear as though it is sunny and facing north if you know what I mean.
Basically the idea is to present the home through photography exactly how it presents in real life, and that is why you use professional to take photos and alter light and colours etc.. as agents when we take our own photos , even on expansive cameras RARELY do the photos come out equal to the presentation of the home in real life they are usually always of a lesser quality this is the only reason i personally use Photoshop etc.
In my own experience I have never witnessed a colleague or even a competing agent present photography that is altered in order to “Hide” a particular defect or to present the property to be something other then what it really is.
In regards to your experience of looking at a photo with a slight “Dip” or incline in the land and then on closer inspection in real life finding that the block is so much steeper, than maybe only because any photography cannot properly explain a property like a physical inspection can could be the answer??
But let’s get one thing straight, it is illegal to photo shop a property’s defects in order to get people to go and have a look at a property only to find something that has been purposely deleted from a photo, you can’t do that! E.g you cannot digitally alter a steep incline to appear less step, you cannot erase a high voltage power line tower and electrical transformer box out of a pic in order to fool people.
If you have witnessed such an unethical act I would definitely encourage you to report the culprits to fair trading.
Is this for all states? I went to go see a house the other night, and it had a huge power pole behind it, with around 12 cables. In the picture, nice sunset sky, and no power pole. I did a google map of the house and you can clearly see this monster of a pole behind it.
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-watsonia-109673671
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=10+Eden+Avenue,+Watsonia,+Victoria&hl=en&ll=-37.709382,145.079347&spn=0.001307,0.002575&sll=-37.731016,145.059434&sspn=0.010386,0.020599&oq=10+eden&hnear=10+Eden+Ave,+Watsonia+Victoria+3087&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=-37.709274,145.079364&panoid=hS0BkNnNQBU3fyflVNkdKg&cbp=12,58.27,,0,14.88
I wrote an article on this subject and on how one real estate agent Photoshopped everything from landscape, imaginary trees to disguise neighbouring units and the orange sunset would look more like tropical Bali. He even had the guts to remove power lines to lure in more home buyers. It almost cost this agent $220,000 worth of fines.
The article is "Called How Real Estate Agents Legally Bend The Law When Photoshopping Photos And Why They Do It!"
http://realestatesevenhillsnews.com.au/2013/07/how-real-estate-agents-legally-bend-the-law-when-photoshopping-photos-and-why-they-do-it/
I wrote an article on this subject and on how one real estate agent Photoshopped everything from landscape, imaginary trees to disguise neighbouring units and the orange sunset would look more like tropical Bali. He even had the guts to remove power lines to lure in more home buyers. It almost cost this agent $220,000 worth of fines.
The article is "Called How Real Estate Agents Legally Bend The Law When Photoshopping Photos And Why They Do It!"
http://realestatesevenhillsnews.com.au/2013/07/how-real-estate-agents-legally-bend-the-law-when-photoshopping-photos-and-why-they-do-it/
I wrote an article on this subject and on how one real estate agent Photoshopped everything from landscape, imaginary trees to disguise neighbouring units and the orange sunset would look more like tropical Bali. He even had the guts to remove power lines to lure in more home buyers. It almost cost this agent $220,000 worth of fines.
The article is "Called How Real Estate Agents Legally Bend The Law When Photoshopping Photos And Why They Do It!"
http://realestatesevenhillsnews.com.au/2013/07/how-real-estate-agents-legally-bend-the-law-when-photoshopping-photos-and-why-they-do-it/
Sorry had a browser issue. I thought it didn't post. Anyway I hope the article helps and we can report any shady agents!
