Comments on: How To Take Great Real Estate Photographs http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/blog/how-to-take-better-pictures Selling Vacant Realestate Has Never Been Easier Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:32:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Vern http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/blog/how-to-take-better-pictures/comment-page-1#comment-22 Vern Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:19:35 +0000 http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/?p=599#comment-22 Jay I need to follow up with you. Other than the "hack" comment I agree with you on all your other points. As for the plumb problem, all people who don't use software to correct this is to bend their knees. Make the walls plumb in the view finder. I checked your site and your photos great. See some of mine at tours.vlindemann.com Vern Jay

I need to follow up with you. Other than the “hack” comment I agree with you on all your other points.

As for the plumb problem, all people who don’t use software to correct this is to bend their knees. Make the walls plumb in the view finder.

I checked your site and your photos great. See some of mine at tours.vlindemann.com

Vern

]]> By: Vern http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/blog/how-to-take-better-pictures/comment-page-1#comment-21 Vern Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:04:59 +0000 http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/?p=599#comment-21 Comments annoy me - so to get even I am going to annoy you. Jay - I am not a hack but yes I can photo a most homes in 30-45 minutes. I will however spend that much time digitally editing the images. Most Realtor are not going to tolerate you spending a lot of time doing your thing. The video on how to photo a house is good but please, please take a few minutes in digital editing to correct the parallel perspective and get ride of the fish eye distortion. Inside shots should always be done on a manual setting. First do settings for outside exposure, then use fill flash to balance inside. Real estate is about location, location, location. If what is outside the window is a plus, don't wash it out. While your video is great for promoting professional photography, it doesn't do a great job in the technical arena. Vern Comments annoy me – so to get even I am going to annoy you.

Jay – I am not a hack but yes I can photo a most homes in 30-45 minutes. I will however spend that much time digitally editing the images. Most Realtor are not going to tolerate you spending a lot of time doing your thing.

The video on how to photo a house is good but please, please take a few minutes in digital editing to correct the parallel perspective and get ride of the fish eye distortion.

Inside shots should always be done on a manual setting. First do settings for outside exposure, then use fill flash to balance inside. Real estate is about location, location, location. If what is outside the window is a plus, don’t wash it out.

While your video is great for promoting professional photography, it doesn’t do a great job in the technical arena.

Vern

]]> By: Martha Stanton-Smith http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/blog/how-to-take-better-pictures/comment-page-1#comment-14 Martha Stanton-Smith Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:08:22 +0000 http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/?p=599#comment-14 I like your statistic: "A recent study indicated that homes shot by a professional have an increase of perceived value of 12.8%." I would like to quote this but being a little 'anal' I always like to verify my stats. Could you please tell me the source? I like your statistic: “A recent study indicated that homes shot by a professional have an increase of perceived value of 12.8%.”
I would like to quote this but being a little ‘anal’ I always like to verify my stats. Could you please tell me the source?

]]> By: Jay Groccia http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/blog/how-to-take-better-pictures/comment-page-1#comment-11 Jay Groccia Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:36:10 +0000 http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/?p=599#comment-11 Here are my tips for improving your real estate photos: 1. Don't point the camera down - it makes the room look small. 2. Don't use on-camera flash - it makes ugly shadows and hot spots on reflective surfaces. 3. Set your camera's exposure (remember, the "P" setting is evil) to keep windows from blowing out and illuminate the room with off-camera slaves 4. Make sure all lighting fixtures are ON - get new bulbs. 5. Don't let the walls splay out - keep them plumb - this isn't a circus fun-house so don't make it look like one in your photos. 6.Take your time. Only a hack will claim they can photograph a house in 30 minutes. 7. STUDY major magazines (Architectural Digest, Dwell, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Country Living. Better Homes & Gardens, or Martha Stewart Living) - your buyers do. If you can't make your photos look like they belong in the magazine, that's the clue to hire the pro. For your viewing enjoyment check out this wonderfully restored Victorian mansion: <a href="http://www.onlinepropertyshowcase.com/showcase/10275" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.onlinepropertyshowcase.com/showcase/10275</a> Jay Groccia Principal Photographer, OnSite Studios™ Founder, OnlinePropertyShowcase™ Here are my tips for improving your real estate photos:
1. Don’t point the camera down – it makes the room look small.
2. Don’t use on-camera flash – it makes ugly shadows and hot spots on reflective surfaces.
3. Set your camera’s exposure (remember, the “P” setting is evil) to keep windows from blowing out and illuminate the room with off-camera slaves
4. Make sure all lighting fixtures are ON – get new bulbs.
5. Don’t let the walls splay out – keep them plumb – this isn’t a circus fun-house so don’t make it look like one in your photos.
6.Take your time. Only a hack will claim they can photograph a house in 30 minutes.
7. STUDY major magazines (Architectural Digest, Dwell, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Country Living. Better Homes & Gardens, or Martha Stewart Living) – your buyers do. If you can’t make your photos look like they belong in the magazine, that’s the clue to hire the pro.

For your viewing enjoyment check out this wonderfully restored Victorian mansion:
http://www.onlinepropertyshowcase.com/showcase/10275

Jay Groccia
Principal Photographer, OnSite Studios™
Founder, OnlinePropertyShowcase™

]]> By: Jay Groccia http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/blog/how-to-take-better-pictures/comment-page-1#comment-10 Jay Groccia Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:26:04 +0000 http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/?p=599#comment-10 Hire a professional for the same reasons you want homeowners to hire you to sell their home. The days of old-fashioned curb appeal (the only thing that matters is pretty front yard) are long gone. In today's connected world, buyers simply click their mouse and are suddenly INSIDE the house. That means your online presentation is critical. Dark rooms with blown-out windows don't inspire people to buy, they just get people to click the BACK button. Real estate agents and FSBOs that invest in professional photography sell their homes faster and for higher prices. A recent study indicated that homes shot by a professional have an increase of perceived value of 12.8%. There are two things you can do to sell your house faster. Lower the price or UP THE MARKETING. Hire a professional for the same reasons you want homeowners to hire you to sell their home.

The days of old-fashioned curb appeal (the only thing that matters is pretty front yard) are long gone. In today’s connected world, buyers simply click their mouse and are suddenly INSIDE the house. That means your online presentation is critical.
Dark rooms with blown-out windows don’t inspire people to buy, they just get people to click the BACK button.
Real estate agents and FSBOs that invest in professional photography sell their homes faster and for higher prices. A recent study indicated that homes shot by a professional have an increase of perceived value of 12.8%.
There are two things you can do to sell your house faster. Lower the price or UP THE MARKETING.

]]> By: Linda Bryan, real estate redhead http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/blog/how-to-take-better-pictures/comment-page-1#comment-9 Linda Bryan, real estate redhead Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:07:29 +0000 http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/?p=599#comment-9 With a little practice, you can shoot some great video with a Flip. I bought mine on eBay for $85 and it was the key to selling a condo for me in the first week! With a little practice, you can shoot some great video with a Flip. I bought mine on eBay for $85 and it was the key to selling a condo for me in the first week!

]]> By: Bryan http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/blog/how-to-take-better-pictures/comment-page-1#comment-7 Bryan Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:42:12 +0000 http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/?p=599#comment-7 Arthur, If you have any type of digital point and shoot camera that will work fine. You do not necessarily need the type of camera in the video, that camera will just help your pictures look a little bit better. If you do not have any camera at all I would recommend making an investment and buying one. If you are in the real estate business it will be a good investment if you will be using it a lot. There is a tone of research online about good, reasonably priced cameras. A good place to start may be amazon.com If buying one is not an option than maybe you can borrow one from a friend or family member, or consider hiring a photographer in your area. I hope that helps. -Bryan Arthur, If you have any type of digital point and shoot camera that will work fine. You do not necessarily need the type of camera in the video, that camera will just help your pictures look a little bit better.

If you do not have any camera at all I would recommend making an investment and buying one. If you are in the real estate business it will be a good investment if you will be using it a lot. There is a tone of research online about good, reasonably priced cameras. A good place to start may be amazon.com

If buying one is not an option than maybe you can borrow one from a friend or family member, or consider hiring a photographer in your area.

I hope that helps.
-Bryan

]]> By: Arthur Tillis http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/blog/how-to-take-better-pictures/comment-page-1#comment-6 Arthur Tillis Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:04:38 +0000 http://virtualstagingsolutions.com/?p=599#comment-6 Hi, Thanks for the information. It seems very interesting. However, I do not own a video camera to take the pictures. Any suggestions? A.Tillis Hi, Thanks for the information. It seems very interesting. However, I do not own a video camera to take the pictures.
Any suggestions? A.Tillis

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