Just a quick note...

You never know what will happen until you try....

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:24:48 -0500

At the beginning of the year I made a decision. It was a decision based on our current economic situation. A decision that I was encouraged NOT to make. I'm glad I did though.

That decision was to restructure my packages and prices and include a 10 image package I like to call "mls express", for realtors who want great photos, but don't want to pay much for them.

February and March were busier than the previous year, but April has more than doubled! I've had so many realtors comment on what I've done. They truly appreciate it. I think it's mostly the fact that I've acknowledged that there is trouble with the economy and I've tried in my own way to do something to help them. I want them to succeed, because ultimately, their success is my success.

With this move, I feel like I've become one with them, and we're on the same team. I'm not trying to take them for every last penny. I'm just trying to help them generate more interest in the properties they sell, so they will sell quicker. I provide an honest, valuable service at reasonable prices.

Before and After

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:13:10 -0500

As a real estate/interior photographer, it's my job to showcase the homes I've been asked to photograph. That means; show the size, the spatial relationship to other parts of the home, the colours and lighting in the home and the layout. I'm able to accomplish that with my experience, my equipment, the latest technology and passion for my profession.

Many of the realtors I work with like to take their own pictures first. Sometimes they can make it to a property before I can get there and sometimes.... they just like to take their own pictures.... not quite sure why?

I recently saw some pictures one of my regular clients took prior to me getting there. He did the best he could with his point and shoot camera.

I went in and did what I usually do and he loved the results. I later asked if he'd mind if I used his photos as a comparison between quick point and shoot pictures vs. professional images. ( I'm always trying to find ways to convince realtors of the importance and value in professional photography.)

He agreed! Yay!

Here are our results

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

So, which shots would catch your attention as a buyer?

Have a great day!

Linda

Streamlined prices

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:15:31 -0500

I've recently created a new marketing strategy in light of these tough times. I sent out some thoughts and new ideas to my local realtors in the form of a snail-mail deliverd letter, personally addressed to each and every one.

Here is the letter;

Our uncertain economy combined with the current real estate market calls for a proactive marketing approach. This is the time when you and your listings need to outshine the rest. It's time to stand out and get noticed. First Impression Photos is the first step to achieving that goal. For 2009 I've streamlined the list of services & prices to help you get off to a great year selling real estate. I want you to succeed, because ultimately, your success is my success.

Photographs are always the first element that connects with the buyer. It's the handshake ... the first impression. It's the one thing that cuts through the visual clutter to capture the buyer's attention. Everything in your marketing campaign relies on and revolves around the quantity and quality of the photographs.

Now, it's more affordable and easier than ever to capture the attention of prospective buyers and sellers with the new "mls express" package. You can be guaranteed to have 10 of the most appealing, eye catching, creative photos of your listing for as little as $89.

First Impression specializes in creating dramatic photographs for real estate professionals who recognize the importance and value in professional photography. What makes First Impression's photos different? Experience, an artistic eye, the use of innovative products and professional equipment, but most of all - passion. By creating and delivering high-quality photographs and services, I whole heartedly believe I provide an essential and irreplaceable value to my customers.

My belief is in the power of creating an identity for yourself, and the credibility it brings to you, to your image & to your business.

My passion is creating images that evoke emotion, thought and identity.

My dedication is to quality, service and you.

Call today and get your marketing dollars working for you!

Linda

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Where you need me, when you need me.

New year, new outlook!

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:23:28 -0600

Now that the busy holiday season is over I can concentrate on business again. My goal this year is to really put myself out there! I want to reach all the people in my area that have no idea who I am and what I do, and make Linda Sabiston of First Impression Photos a house-sold name!

I have created a gorgeous glossy brochure with just enough of my high quality images to make people want to see more, as well as some well thought out wording to grab even the most sceptical. I've also streamlined my services and prices.

I'm also going to reach beyond realtors to hotels, business', builders, developers, architects, designers etc...

These shots are for the builders of this home. They were so pleased they'd like me to do a few more of their custom builds.

I wish you all the best in 2009.

So many properties...so few buyers

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:42:42 -0500

Oh how I wish I had lots and lots of money!

I'd have a house on every corner of the Sunshine Coast! I just shot a gorgeous home in Gibsons yesterday. I could easily see my family living there. I honestly don't know why it hasn't sold yet.

I created a single property web site and I hope this will do the trick for these folks! Either that or I pray to the lottery gods!!!

www.1219sunnyside.com

Enjoy!

Bring it on!

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:42:39 -0500

There's just no stopping the houses coming on the market! Too bad sales aren't going as quickly. Things are sure to pick up ... as soon as the weather improves!

Here are some recent single property websites I've been working on....

www.4854eagleview.com

www.5231sunshinecoasthighway.com

Keep em coming!

I got a new camera!

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Sat, 24 May 2008 19:02:05 -0500

There's a saying out there that goes something like this...."Just because you own a Nikon, doesn't make you a photographer".

I am passionate about the images I take. I spend a great deal of time editing them and making them as perfect as I can. I have been using a Panasonic FZ50 with a wide angle converter for the past year. And although it's a great camera, it has a few flaws that have always got under my skin. So, I've been saving my pennies and I recently bought myself a new camera...a Nikon coincidentally.

I bought a Nikon D40 with a Sigma 10- 20mm lens and a Nikon SB600 flash. I may pursue multiple flashes in the future, but for now, I'm thrilled with the results I getting with this set up.

I notice a huge difference in the quality of the final image, which will result in less time at the computer post processing.

I have already received incredible feedback from the 5 shoots I've done with the new gear. I'll stick with it!

I found a fitting quote

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:46:15 -0500

I love quotes...but I can never seem to come up with good ones of my own! But I've found one that suites my business to a T. I'm sure others could use it too, and boy, is it true!

"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur."
Red Adair quote

Have a great day!

Linda

Awsome water views

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:41:47 -0500

When you've got properties with to die for views, it's important to show them off. Most point and shoot cameras just won't do it for you. The way the view shows through a window has many determining factors. The sun, the cleanliness of the window, the haze outside, the ocean or lake. That's why it's important to invest in professional photos when you've got a property that has to outshine the rest.

The following pictures are three different houses.

Going Green with no limitations!

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:26:21 -0500

I've recently been doing a lot of virtual tours and slideshows. Word is getting out about me and I think realtors are realizing the value and importance of quality images. Not only that, but by having a virtual tour or more than a handful of images, we can actually reduce our carbon footprint on this earth of ours.

Imaging if you will, searching for a property where I live. If you don't already live on the Sunshine Coast, you have to take a ferry to get here, and you are more than likely driving on. If you're not, your realtor may pick you up in his or her car at the terminal. Then you'll drive from house to house searching for that one house that makes you say, "THIS IS IT!" After a day of driving around, you drive back to the ferry terminal, and back to your home, wherever that may be. My family did this routine 5 times before we found the "one". That's a lot of driving ... and a lot of carbon footprint!

Lets talk about money now. Ferry fare for a family of 4 in a car to come to the Sunshine Coast = Aprox. $83. Then you need gas in that car = you'll probably put at least $30 in the tank at $1.25 litre. You'll also need to eat while your out, lunch maybe even dinner = another $40 or more. And time, how much time goes into house hunting? Travel time, time in each house, time at the realtors office, time on the phone.

If each and every home listed had a virtual tour or 20 or so quality images, people could view these from the comfort of their own homes, saving money, time and the environment. They can evaluate the ones that will and will not work for them and only view the ones that peak their interest. Not to mention, this is a time saver for sellers too. The stress of trying to keep a busy household spotless will become less, making them happier! And happy clients is what we are all striving for!

There is no limitation to the homes that should have quality imaging done. Last week I did a 2.2 million dollar home; http://www.12640kent.com/ Yesterday I did a VT on a mobile home; http://tinyurl.com/3ohybo

There are no limits! Encourage everyone you know to at least try a virtual tour or property website....do it for the earth!

Thanks for reading,

Linda

High bank waterfront

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:36:30 -0500

So this most recent photo shoot I was on was an older home sitting on a .93 Acre lot high above the Pacific Ocean. The house itself isn't what's going to sell the property, the property is what's going to sell it!

Although I really liked the interior and had fun shooting it, the Realtor was looking for more property and scenic views than interior.

It was a challenging shoot. Why? Because we are just on the verge of Spring...here in beautiful British Columbia we are still very much soaked in rain and grey/white skies. It makes getting those blue sky, blue water money shots challenging.

The interior is very warm and rich with wood. I actually went back later in the evening to get some sunset shots and what a difference the evening sun made on the wood. Beautiful!

Luckily the homeowner had a few summer shots to add to the presentation, as well as one interior shot. I don't usually like to add other people's photos to my projects, as the quality, lighting and resolution aren't usually the same as mine, but for the purpose of selling this particular house, it was necessary.

I created a single property website for this home. Check it out at www.713geddes.com

I also produce interactive 360° virtual tours which suite some properties better than others.

I'm including one of the Realtors kitchen photos and one of mine...just in case there are still sceptics out there that can't see the value of hiring a real estate photographer. More of my work can been seen at www.lindasabiston.com or at www.firstimpressionphotos.com

Before

After

I just found another blog post from another RTV full service dealer backing my thoughts. Here is what she had to say.

Worth more than a thousand words...maybe even a sale.

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:44:08 -0500

Here's a little article I did for our local paper. It was placed smack dab in the middle of the real estate section, and I've had quite a few people comment on it.

Photographs are powerful bait. Good ones can lure buyers; poor ones can turn them away.
Spring is in the air and the real estate market is picking up. Buyers are scouring the papers and the Internet looking for the perfect home and sellers are cleaning, painting and pruning, all in preparation for another busy summer of moving.
House hunting and selling can be time consuming, expensive and stressful, particularly for those wishing to move to the Coast. Without quality, accurate pictures the search can be even tougher. Whether you use a Realtor or try it on your own, one of the most important aspects of selling your home are the pictures you use to represent it.
In today's real estate market, high quality photographs are the foundation of a successful marketing strategy. For a home to sell quickly and at top dollar, it needs to entice as many prospective buyers as possible. For this to happen, the listings must have a strong visual appeal.
A real estate photographer has an eye for composition, highlighting the homes best features. Equipped with a high quality camera, tripod, wide angle lens and external flash, the photographer will take many images and choose the best to optimize for colour, density, contrast and size. Lens distortion and perspective, created by the wide angle lens, are also corrected. The final image results are clear views through windows, a bright interior and a true representation of the property.
Professional real estate photography adds enormous value to a realtors marketing campaign, as well as their professional image. For sale by owners' (FSBO) can also benefit from using a professional photographer by having a single property web site created, complete with a 123yourstreet.com web address. High quality images that accurately represent the home combined with a Real Tour Vision 360° virtual tour is a winning combination for Internet marketing.
The Internet has become one of the leading choices for marketing homes for sale. A 2007 survey from The National Association of Realtors reports that 84 per cent of home buyers used the Internet in their search for a home, up from 80 per cent in 2006. The images a buyer sees online, are often the only chance to make a good first impression. They are looking for homes that have been well cared for, clean and bright and their judgment starts as soon as they click on a picture. Ensure you make a solid first impression.
If we can raise the bar on real estate photography, everybody wins. The client is impressed with their Realtors marketing platform (and will spread the word), buyers (who may also be sellers) are better able to locate their dream home and FSBO can feel confident in knowing they are using the best tools and resources to market their property.

Linda Sabiston First Impression Virtual Tours and Photography
http://www.firstimpressionphotos.com/

This little house

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 09:49:50 -0600

I did a 360° virtual tour of a 75 year old cottage in Gibsons this week. This gem sits high above the pacific ocean with views that stretch to Vancouver Island. It was so deserving of the best images I could capture, so I really took my time, both in taking them and in post processing.

Spring is just around the corner!

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:36:16 -0600

Well, I've just completed my new pitch to the realtors in my area. In this pitch I've really tried to focus on what I feel I do best, which is still photography. Don't get me wrong, I love doing the virtual tours too, but the individual still image production is my passion.

Finding the perfect angle to capture the esscence of the room or the property, getting the lighting and colours to match with what I saw in real life....I love the challenge! I take every image into photoshop for colour corrections, density and brightness adjustments. I also believe that every vertical wall should be straight, so I correct perspective as well as barrel distortion. It takes a bit more time, but it's worth it!

The sun makes the phone ring!

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 09:11:18 -0600

It's been a long, quiet winter in the real estate photography business. Since about the end of September, when the rains really hit and the skies are constantly grey, the need for real estate photography has been quiet. But a few weeks ago we had about 5 days of sunshine....and wouldn't you know, I had call after call! We definately have to take advantage of those good days at this time of year, and I'm a regular on the environment Canada website!

It's going to be interesting to see what is more popular this year regarding the various forms of photographic marketing I can provide. In the past few weeks I've done a single property website http://www.royalreach.ca/ as well as a few virtual tours http://www.tinyurl.com/yrprz9 and on the next sunny day I'm heading out to take a 5 shot still panorama for a property developer to use as their main marketing image. I'm also keeping up to date with my websites www.firstimpressionphotos.com and www.lindasabiston.com so there is no question about my photographic style or the quality of images I produce.

Here's to a fantasic 2008!

Call me... first!

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:20:46 -0500

I've just come back from mls, where I've checked 7 listings I've done photography and virtual tours for.

Not one of those listings has taken advantage of the fact that they have a CD full of high quality images. The images on the listings are the ones shot by the realtor.

How hard or time consuming is it to replace them? Or maybe the question is....why don't they care?

How do I convince them?

Linda Sabiston (First Impression Photography & Virtual Tours) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:21:49 -0500

That's my question.

How do I convince the realtors in my area that a slow market is when they really need to start marketing. How do I convince them that a virtual tour and photography is less than 1 weeks advertising in the local paper? How do I convince them that quality is important? How do I convince them that their prospective buyers AND sellers are looking on the internet more than ever before? How do I convince them that this will benefit them? How? How do I do that?

How do I convince them to call me before they go and take their own photos? How do I convince them *politely* that the point and shoot camera they use just doesn't have the quality or wide angle ability that mine does?

I'm reliable, I'm professional, I'm local, I'm here for you and I'm ready to impress!

Because, you only get one chance to make a great First Impression...