Can you trust real estate listing photos anymore?

With editing software and AI tools becoming more advanced, it is easier than ever to alter images of a property before it hits the market. That is exactly why California Assembly Bill 723 (AB 723) is going into effect on January 1, 2026.

In this episode of the Kern County Real Estate Review, Laurie McCarty is joined by Chris O’Donnell, owner of Selling Image and one of Bakersfield’s most trusted real estate photographers, to break down what AB 723 really means for buyers, sellers, and agents.

AB 723 requires a reasonably conspicuous disclosure on any listing photo that has been digitally altered or AI-generated in a way that changes physical elements of a property. It also requires access to the original, unedited images through a link, URL, or QR code. The goal is transparency and protecting buyers from misleading property images.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What counts as a “digitally altered” real estate photo
• How AI is changing real estate photography
• What must now be disclosed under AB 723
• How this law impacts virtual staging
• Why transparency in listing photos matters
• What buyers should watch for when viewing homes online
• How agents and photographers are adapting to the new requirements

If you are buying, selling, or simply browsing homes online, this is a conversation you need to hear.

Tune in to understand how AB 723 will change real estate listings in California and what it means for the future of real estate photography.