Real estate photo editing terms
The words photographers and editors use, in plain English, with a note on whether the MLS rules usually ask for a label.
Updated on
- Bracketing
Taking several photos of the same view, one after another, at different brightness: some darker, some lighter. Usually 3, 5 or 7 shots from a camera on a tripod.
- HDR (high dynamic range)
Joining bracketed photos into one, so the dark corners and the bright windows both show detail. Many phones do this on their own when HDR is on.
Normal processing: usually no label.
- Flambient
Short for flash plus ambient. The photographer takes one photo with the room’s own light and one with a flash, then blends them for clean colors and bright, even light.
Normal processing: usually no label.
- Window pull
Making the view through a window visible instead of a white glare, using a darker photo of the same window taken during the shoot.
No label when it shows the real view. Adding a view that is not there is not allowed in some MLSs.
- Sky replacement
Swapping a gray or white sky for a blue one in an exterior photo.
Counts as altered under California AB 723: needs a label there.
- Virtual twilight (day to dusk)
Editing a daytime exterior photo so it looks like it was taken at dusk, with a glowing sky and lights on inside.
Usually needs a label; Stellar MLS lists twilight changes as alterations.
- Virtual staging
Adding furniture and décor to a photo of an empty room, so buyers can picture the space in use.
Needs a label almost everywhere, such as “Virtually staged”.
- Virtual decluttering
Removing furniture or personal things from a photo with editing instead of moving them for real.
Usually needs a label; CRMLS counts removing furniture that does not come with the sale.
- Digitally altered
The label for a listing photo that shows something different from the home as it is: added, removed or changed parts. California, Arizona, Florida and Wisconsin rules use it.
- MLS (multiple listing service)
The shared database where agents list homes for sale. Each MLS sets its own rules for photos. Its listings feed sites such as Zillow and Realtor.com.
For the full rules, read the MLS photo rules.
Edit your listing photo, keep the original.
Start with one photo. Your original always stays as you took it.