Is There a Difference Between Photo Editing and Photo Manipulation?

Is There a Difference Between Photo Editing and Photo Manipulation?

Professional photo editors strive to enhance images without crossing ethical boundaries, making sure you won't damage your clients' reputations and disappoint potential buyers. We're going to explain the key differences in real estate photo editing vs manipulation to help you understand how editors can still provide authentic representations of properties during post-processing.

Real Estate Photo Editing vs Manipulation

Real estate photo editing is the basic skill that makes sure photos get processed realistically, helping a potential buyer see and understand the actual features of a property. Photo manipulation, on the other hand, is the altering of backgrounds and adding non-existent elements. 

An empty living room

Real estate photo editors play a vital role in enhancing property images while adhering to ethical standards, guaranteeing that potential buyers receive an accurate representation of the property. However, the real estate industry contains a lot of jargon that can be mixed up. To get a better grasp of the difference between photo editing and photo manipulation, we go through the distinctive traits of each. 

What Is Real Estate Photo Editing?

Photo editing is the first set of skills that are enough to produce an improvement to the photo. Editing real estate pictures is the realism or accurate representation of the real thing. Note that whatever people see in the pictures is what they are expecting when they personally tour the property. 

An editor makes the picture look closer to how the human eye will perceive it because cameras cannot adjust to the range the way eyes do.

  1. More often than not, colors are made to be livelier than what they are in the RAW image. For instance, an interior wall with a nice olive shade of green is covered by the glare of the sunlight through the windows. Real estate photo editing brings out the colors by adjusting them.
  2. Poor lighting can undermine the beauty of property photos. Editing will even out the light, allowing any adjustment to the overall brightness and visibility of the image details.
  3. It is a process that checks the photo for any localized areas that were missed during the earlier process of enhancement. It also treads on checking shadows, blemishes, and unwanted small objects.

Concrete examples of photo editing include exterior shots that have the sky made brighter. Another example is an interior whose glaring windows were adjusted to even out the light and show the magnificent garden view.

A long stairs and an empty living room

What Is Real Estate Photo Manipulation?

The difference between real estate photo manipulation from photo editing real estate pictures is that manipulation takes the changes to a whole new level.

Photo manipulation works by combining two or more real estate photos together. Here, editors can add, replace, and transform various elements in an image.

  1. Photo manipulation edits entire backgrounds to make the subject of the photo look like it is in a different setting. An example would be setting the house in a snowy background to make it look like a home in the middle of a snow field.
  2. Manipulation also means putting things that were not there before. A more common example of photo manipulation is furniture staging. A common practice is overlaying TVs or putting fires into fireplaces to create an impression of attraction and liveliness.
  3. Most photo manipulation needs will most likely be done for advertising purposes, to create logos for the real estate company or simply to entice, not mislead.

Such visualization through photo manipulation can help you achieve what you want a photo to look like. However, do note that for real estate photos, photo manipulation is done less frequently than editing because of the attempt to maintain a realistic representation.

A room with purple walls, table, walls, and organizers

Differences Between Image Editing and Photo Manipulation in Real Estate Photography

Learning the distinction between image editing and photo manipulation can mean the difference especially when talking to clients and asking about the level of image enhancement they want to achieve.

  • Image content: Real estate photo editing preserves original image elements by adjusting colors and lighting or straightening vertical lines to improve image quality. In contrast, photo manipulation alters reality by removing or adding elements, which may potentially lead to misrepresentation if not disclosed.
  • Technical aspects: Editing often uses a single layer and basic tools like sharpness and exposure adjustments. Meanwhile, photo manipulation involves working on multiple layers and complex tools for sky replacement or cloning.
  • Skill level: Real estate image editing requires basic knowledge of photo editing software, whereas photo manipulation often relies on experienced editors with advanced post-processing techniques.
  • Purpose: Editing mainly aims to enhance the existing image to make it more appealing to buyers while maintaining accuracy. On the other hand, photo manipulation brings imagination into the image or corrects issues missed during a shoot, like adding furniture or changing the sky's color.
  • Ethical considerations: Basic editing is generally accepted in real estate photography as it focuses on presenting the property as accurately as possible. Meanwhile, photo manipulation may raise ethical concerns when not disclosed and mislead potential buyers if used excessively.

Similarities of Editing and Manipulation in Real Estate Images

Despite their distinct differences, real estate photo editing and photo manipulation still share some aspects:

  • Both editing and photo manipulation modify multiple images with creative intent, aiming to enhance visual appeal.
  • Color correction and exposure adjustments are common requirements for both editing and photo manipulation processes.
  • Editing and photo manipulation often use the same editing program, including Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.

A woman editing on the laptop

Related Questions

How to Professionally Edit Real Estate Photos?

Professional real estate photo editing involves adjusting contrast, exposure, and color balance to accurately represent the property while enhancing its visual appeal. We also use advanced techniques such as noise reduction and selective sharpening to improve image quality. While realtors may request photo manipulation, it's important to maintain the property's true characteristics.

What Do Realtors Use to Edit Photos?

Realtors can use image editing software designed for real estate photo editing, such as Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or BoxBrownie. Professional photo editors mainly use these programs to enhance property images efficiently while maintaining a professional and realistic appearance.

Are Photo Editing and Photo Manipulation Bad for Real Estate Images?

Photo editing, when done professionally and ethically, is not bad for real estate images. It can enhance the visual appeal of properties and correct issues like lens distortion. However, photo manipulation that significantly alters the reality of a property can mislead potential buyers and damage the realtor's credibility.

Conclusion

Understanding the nuances of real estate photo editing and photo manipulation can help you choose the best post-processing service to represent properties in their best light while maintaining trust and integrity with potential buyers. Our real estate photography editing services can apply the appropriate editing techniques to produce stunning property visuals for your real estate client’s credibility and successful sales.

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