I have even stood on top of my Jeep to get the shot I wanted. However, one must be cautious not to over dramatize an aspect of a property in a manner that misleads. Allow lighting to illuminate only what is factual. The light meter reads the sky and you wind up with a photo of a building that is one big shadow. I'm not sure what will.
Back lighting is another tool that an appraiser can use to illustrate a point.
In a recent assignment in which the condition of the street was an important aspect of the analysis, I wanted the reader to understand that the potholes were both numerous and big enough to swallow a small dog. So many of us have discovered that certain days of the week are better than others to take photographs, especially of comparables. Weekends are typically bad times to photograph comparable houses because families are usually busy washing their cars, mowing lawns, chatting with neighbors, etc. A weekday is usually the best to take a picture of a house. On the other hand, photos of commercial and industrial properties are typically best on weekends when there is less traffic and fewer people.