about style house photography

Marilyn has been photographing homes since 2005 when she began working for Carolina Premier Magazine. In 2009 she started Style House Photography and has photographed and measured thousands of homes for sale in the Triangle, Triad, and Pinehurst areas. 

Before becoming a photographer, Marilyn had a long career as a graphic designer and account manager in the advertising agency industry. The photo at left was taken in 1989 of Marilyn at her design desk in Chapel Hill while working for Jennings & Company. The image was featured on the cover of their capabilities brochure. 

Originally from Michigan, Marilyn has been in North Carolina for 35 years and has a grown son who is married and lives in Wendell. As a musician, Marilyn has performed with the Chapel Hill Brass Ensemble, The University Band, and Gilbert & Sullivan's Opera Orchestra. When not shooting houses, she spends time walking her 95 pound American Staffordshire dog, Lincoln. She also has an extensive collection of stereo photo cards, post cards, and vintage prints.

• Photography of residential and commercial spaces
• Square foot measurements taken at 1/10 of a foot
• Interior and exterior room dimensions
• Detailed Floorplans
• Virtual Staging
• Pre-Photo Consultations
• Aerial Photography & Video
• Full Production Interior & Exterior Video
• Book Design

Based in Raleigh, most of central North Carolina is covered.  

Style House Photography is a woman-owned local business. For a personalized experience, you will talk directly with Marilyn for all photography jobs. 

Marilyn takes extreme care when shooting houses of any size. Images are created with a combination of what attracts a buyer, proper balance of composition and light, and accurate display of color. Unique photos will include architectural details and "pass through" images showing the flow of a house.

To photograph a house at its best, a photo preparation list is available for sellers and for agents to use in a listing presentation. A pre-photo consultation is available for $85 when expensive staging isn't needed.

Marilyn shoots with a full frame Canon EOS R Mirrorless Camera. Three external speedlights are used for lighting and color balance. Images are created by expertise use in aperture settings, exposure compensation, and ISO settings.

All images are processed through Photoshop with digital enhancements and skew corrections. 

How far in advance do I need to book an appointment?

2 to 3 days in advance is ideal except for April, May and June. These months may require 4 to 7 days in advance. Saturday and Sunday appointments are available as back up days.

What is the turn around time?

Photos and measurements are delivered in 24 hours or less. Floorplans may take an extra day. 

What type of payment do you accept?

All major credit cards and all debit cards are accepted. Paypal and Zelle can be accepted with advance notice.  State and County sales tax is added to all invoices. Charges will occur once the job has been delivered.

How many images do I receive?

45 to 65 images are delivered for each house so the agent can choose which photos to use in the listing. Photos are sized for MLS use. High resolution images are available upon request. Amenity photos are included at no extra cost.

How are the photos delivered?

An email will be sent with the payment, photo download link, and file download link. Download links stay active for approximately 4 months. All images and files are kept by Style House Photography forever.

Do I own the photos?

Style House Photo retains ownership of photos and floorplans. The fee paid includes usage rights only. Reselling of images is not allowed. 

Are you a licensed appraiser?

I'm not a licensed appraiser, but I did train with one and spent 2 months in the field with him. In addition to measuring the perimeter of a house, each interior wall is measured to 1/10 of a foot. Apex software is used to calculate square foot, the same software that appraisers use.

What if it's raining on the day of the shoot?

With most houses, the photoshoot will proceed as planned so you can get the listing up and running. The interior is not affected by rain or clouds. On the next sunny day when shooting in that area, Marilyn will swing by at no extra fee for additional exterior photos.