A real estate agency has faced criticism after photoshopping an unnaturally green lawn in a rental listing for an Adelaide property, with the internet mocking the 'Chornobyl'-like result. The incident highlights the fine line between enhancing images and misleading buyers in property advertising.
Professional real estate photographer Christine, who has worked in Sydney for 13 years, says adding grass is common practice, but the mistake in this case was making it look fake. She notes that while regulations have tightened since the days of removing telegraph poles, photographers still use techniques like wide-angle lenses, flash, and bracketing to make rooms appear larger and more inviting.
Under Australian Consumer Law, agents must ensure photos convey accurate information. An image can be misleading if it creates a false impression, such as showing a beach view where none exists. However, no fines have been issued for misleading real estate photography in the past 12 months, despite maximum penalties of $1.1m for companies.
Real Estate Institute of Australia president Hayden Groves says rules prevent 'distortion beyond mere sales puffery', but adds that adding a mock fire to a non-functional fireplace 'probably' constitutes misrepresentation. Christine admits photographers 'always' add fire and blue skies to create warmth, a practice most buyers accept without question.
Other common tricks include removing leaves from pools, cleaning fingerprints in post-production, and shooting from angles that hide flaws. Christine says the goal is to make properties look their best without crossing into deception, but the Adelaide case shows how easily enhancements can backfire when they appear unnatural.
