If the pictures on your Houzz page are average quality and look like everyone else, then you're competing on price and not likely to be hired for your aesthetic vision. Your character and individual aesthetic can come through by styling your images. Encourage a larger response and more ideabook saves by including in people in your images that act as accents to a scene. Remember to keep people in a supporting role by keeping them small within the frame or using subject blur. Houzz images are not portraiture. A viewer on your project portfolios should be focused on the architecture. Bring in flowers, wine, fruit and even meals as props for your images. Use pets! People love seeing dogs and cats in images. When considering the expense of a photographers time, these small additions will set you apart from the crowd of iPhone snapshots often found on Houzz pages. 

Remember, your Houzz profile is only as good as the photographs you use. Choosing images that inspire, entertain and convey a clear sense of your style is crucial to using Houzz for lead generation. If visitors aren’t interested in spending time browsing your pages, they’ll probably look elsewhere for an architect, interior designer, landscape contractor or design-build firm. 

Photo choices are subjective, of course, but everything you post should fall within a few guidelines. Ask yourself these questions before clicking that upload button.

Are The Images High Quality?

You know better than to post grainy photos, but be wary of posting any picture that is less than professional when you’re using Houzz for lead generation. This is not the place for cell phone pics, no matter how good you think they look. All photos should be high resolution.

If you haven’t already, consider hiring a home photographer to shoot your completed projects. These are professionals who know exactly what it takes to showcase your project in the best possible way. You can even use Houzz to search for them and read reviews.

Does It Show Off My Best Work?

Using your best images probably goes without saying, but you should stick to photos that show off your best work. If you ventured far from your style preferences to please a particular client, that photo might not be one to post. Visitors will assume the picture reflects your taste.

That being said, you do want to show a range of work. If you’re a custom home builder using Houzz for lead generation, you want photos that show different sizes, layouts, and architectural styles. A variety of techniques will help Houzz users understand that you’re versatile, adapting to the particular needs and wants of each client.

Do I Have Permission to Post It?

Homes are private spaces, and not everyone wants their project photos posted online for the world to see. On the other hand, some clients will be flattered and thrilled that you want to post pictures of their home. The important thing here is to ask for permission before posting any photo of a private space. When in doubt, get a signed property or model release. If not, you risk alienating or upsetting your clients - which works against your goal of using Houzz for lead generation. 

Will It Help Me Network and Grow My Following?

Houzz isn’t solely about posting photos of your work. Sharing the work of architects, designers or builders you appreciate forges connections with other professionals and increases the chances that people are searching the web for home ideas will come across your profile. You can share photos on other social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, or you can create idea books on Houzz that display the best examples of a particular design style.

Add product tags to your photos, too. These provide visitors with information on the items or materials featured and where to find them. Builders can tag photos with information about the cabinet maker or the landscape architect; interior designers can tag the company that sells the throw pillows or the woodworker who made the custom table. Adding product tags is a crucial step in Houzz for lead generation. It shows potential customers that you know your stuff, creates good vibes with product makers and increases the chances that Houzz users will stumble upon your profile when searching for products.