Real estate photo editing glossary
Short, plain definitions of the editing and delivery terms used in real estate photography, with how each one works in ShotVista.
- Virtual staging
Adding furniture and decor to a photo of an empty or sparsely furnished room with software, so buyers can see how the space could be used.
Many MLSs and portals require virtually staged photos to be labelled as such, and some ask for the unstaged original too. In ShotVista, virtual staging is a premium edit that costs 3 credits (6 in 4K), with a choice of room type and furniture style.
- Virtual renovation
Showing a room with updated finishes, such as new floors, cabinets, paint or fixtures, while keeping its layout, to show the potential of a dated space.
Like staging, it should be disclosed as a visualisation. In ShotVista it is a premium edit (3 credits).
- Sky replacement
Replacing a grey, white or blown-out sky in an exterior photo with a clear or more attractive sky, and matching the light on the house to it.
In ShotVista you choose the sky style (clear blue, partly cloudy, dramatic or golden hour). It is a standard edit (1 credit).
- Window pull
Recovering the view through windows in an interior photo, so the windows show the outside instead of a white glow, while the room stays correctly exposed.
Traditionally done by blending a darker exposure of the windows into the main shot. ShotVista does it as an AI edit (1 credit).
- HDR bracketing
Taking several exposures of the same frame, from dark to bright, so that both the brightest and the darkest parts of a room are captured with detail.
The brackets are then merged into one balanced photo, usually in desktop software. ShotVista does not merge brackets: upload your merged photo or best single exposure and use a window pull or auto enhance on it.
- Day-to-dusk (virtual twilight)
Turning a daytime exterior photo into a twilight shot, with a dusk sky and warm light in the windows, without returning to shoot at dusk.
In ShotVista this is the twilight edit (1 credit).
- Decluttering and item removal
Removing personal items, clutter, cables, cars or the photographer’s reflection from a photo so the space reads clean.
Removing permanent features (power lines, damage, neighbouring buildings) can mislead buyers, and many MLSs restrict it.
- Vertical (perspective) correction
Straightening walls and door frames that lean in or out because the camera was tilted, so verticals in the photo are truly vertical.
You can measure how much a photo leans with the free listing photo checker.
- MLS photo rules
The requirements a multiple listing service sets for listing photos, such as file size and dimensions, the number of photos, and whether edits like virtual staging must be disclosed.
Rules differ between MLSs and change over time, so check your own. ShotVista does not certify MLS compliance; the free spec sheet template helps you record your MLS’s rules in one place.
- Delivery page
A web page per listing where the client views, downloads and approves the photos, instead of receiving files by email or a file-sharing link.
ShotVista delivery pages carry your branding and can require payment before download and accept revision requests.
- White-label delivery
Delivering photos on pages that show only your brand and domain, with no mention of the software vendor.
In ShotVista, white-label delivery and a custom domain are part of the Ultimate plan; other plans show a small "Powered by ShotVista" link.
- Credit (ShotVista)
The unit ShotVista uses for AI edits: one credit edits one photo in 1K, a 4K edit costs 2 credits, and premium edits such as virtual staging cost 3.
Try ShotVista on one of your photos
New accounts get 2 free credits, enough for one photo in 4K. No card required.
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