Laura 's Blog

Hollywood Billiards - Commercial Property Virtual Tours and Photography

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:40:23 -0500

I got a call from Amber Fonzen, Event Coordinator for Hollywood Billiards, to photograph their facilities. I had heard of Hollywood Billiards from my husband's stories of studio wrap parties there. Other than that, I had no idea what to expect. I was very excited to see what I was up against. I was very pleasantly surprised to see such a cool building! There are some really great nooks and crannies around for parties or just a nice night out playing pool. This place has great ambiance and a great feel. All in all, I think I was there for 2 hours photographing still photos and virtual tours. Amber, the owner Jeff, and the staff were really great to work with and so helpful.

Take a look at the virtual tour and the still photographs below.

I'll definitely be back to Hollywood Billiards. I plan on adding HDR(high dynamic range) into my photography and I think their building would be a perfect test. Also, Jeff and Amber offered me a few free games of pool...we're definitely taking them up on their offer! Thanks Amber and Jeff!

Virtual Tours Working for You!

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:45:48 -0500

I love it when a client calls to let me know that I single handedly sold a house for them. While I was photographing his own home that he was listing, Lior Kane told me that I had sold this house for him. I laughed when he said this. However, he said he wasn't kidding. The virtual tour that I had taken of the house had caught the eye of a couple in Los Angeles. Pasadena wasn't even an area that they had considered looking. Then they saw my virtual tour and immediately called. They were at the house for a viewing the next day and made an offer. I have to admit I'm pretty happy. I know virtual tours are a really great tool, but that is such a great example of how they can work for you. Now the real question...where's my commission Lior?

Rental Photography

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:32:46 -0600

I started out in this industry photographing apartments and rentals. I feel like that aspect of photography is something I know and really enjoy....I know there really isn't much difference. My real goal when I photograph a rental or a house for sale is to show the room size and the extras that make it special. Pamela Rich from Condos LA gave me a call to photograph her house. I have been to her home before and just love it. It's a very young, fun house. Modern and just the right amount of space. They decided to rent out this home and move to the coast...I'm very envious! Take a look...

Glendale Ranch House

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:16:17 -0600

Friday I photographed a house for my client Lior Kane with American Realty Centre. It's a beautiful little house in the Glendale hills. 2 Bedroom, 2 bathroom with beautiful built-ins and great details around. It really was a cozy home. Take a look at the virtual tour here...

Commercial Virtual Tours

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:52:35 -0600

Alright I've been back for two months but I sure haven't updated my blog. I've kept nice and busy...I love it. One of my clients is Randy Rohrer from Pacific West Commercial and Industrial, has used my photography for a few commercial properties and a residential property. On this latest shoot, we were talking about the compliments he's gotten on the virtual tours of his commercial properties. He's really happy the virtual tours and has even had someone tell him that he should get virtual tours on all of his properties...I completely agree Randy! As I was working on the virtual tour I couldn't help but notice how well commercial properties and warehouses show with the virtual tours. I just feel that the virtual tours really show the spaces well. Take a look at this commercial property on Naomi St. in Burbank

Click here to take a look at another one of Randy's properties on West Palm

I think the virtual tour looks very slick. If you're interested in having your commercial property photographed...let me know!

Big Bear Vacations

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:53:58 -0500

On my www.MediaCarrot.com blog I mentioned that I was going up to big bear for a photo shoot, but I didn't give all the details that I usually do. I didn't want to say to much and jinx it but, I was going up for a test shoot for Big Bear Vacations. Big Bear Vacations is one of the top property management companies in Big Bear. Turns out they were very happy with my test shoot. I now have a contract with them to photograph 200-300 of their properties(they are getting new vacation rentals every time I go up there)! Woo-hoo! I love it. I get to drive up to beautiful Big Bear once or twice a week. It will be a project that we'll work on for the next year. I'm very excited to photograph all their vacation rentals and they seem just as excited to have new photos and virtual tours for their vacation rentals. Anyone looking for a nice place to get out of town, Big Bear is a two hour drive from Los Angeles. Beautiful, relaxing, small town feel and not too far to worry about the amount of money you'll be spending on gas, but lots of blue lake and blue skies! From what I hear it tends to be a big snow ski area and quieter in the summer. I say Big Bear is the place to head this summer! The summer rentals are very reasonable and very cozy...as I photograph the cabins I'm picking out which I intend to rent when I have some time off! Take a look at some of the photos. I'll keep you updated on how this project is going and the best cabins up there to rent! In the mean time give Big Bear Vacations a call! (800)524-6600

This is Cabin 991 "Winding"

This is Cabin 977 "Hillside Hideaway"

Bel Air Rd Property Photo shoot

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:47:23 -0500

I got a call from a Argyropoulos Design. The owner had a house he wanted photographs and a virtual tour for. He was also interested in renting the home out for a filming location, so I showed him the property website that I had made for Granada Hills Estate. He loved it and wanted something with a similar feel. I made him a very very simple website with a slideshow that I really like. He was so happy with it and says he plans of bragging about me to some other friends that might be interested in my photography. I say brag away! In the mean time take a look at the photography...it's a beautiful house!

Filming Location Photography and Virtual Tour

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:35:27 -0500

I got a call from a home owner looking for photography, a virtual tour, and a property website earlier last month. He had decided to put his house up for a filming location rental and general rentals. He just let me go wild with the photography and I had a great time. I got to experiment with my slideshow software and also make him a nice little website. Take a look at the Photos and Virtual Tour...

Sienna Residential Virtual Tours and Photography

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:35:38 -0500

I was contacted back in April by David McKinzie of Sienna Residential to photograph some of their model homes in Oxnard. The homes were only blocks from the beach...who wouldn't love that! I love photographing model homes. Model homes by the beach are even better. Take a look at the photographs. I love the landing on the roof of the homes with a straight view to the water...Take a look at the virtual tour.

More Real Estate Photography for Pamela Rich

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:30:30 -0500

I was called again to photograph some real estate photos for Pamela Rich at CondosLA.com. This time is was for a unique condo on Curson Ave. The architect who designed the condo was currently living there but he and his wife had decided to move. Let me tell you, I love photographing for architects, designers, and stagers! They all think about the lighting as a part of the design. There is extra detail put in the lighting lighting. You'd think as a photographer and knowing how lighting can change space, that I'd have an incredibly lit apartment. Me, I think about utility. The great lighting in my office and living room was all designed out by my handy and thoughtful boyfriend. Anyway, this condo was great to photograph. Lots of angles and odd shaped rooms. It was a little challenging and I definitely felt a little more pressure on me. The architect also being an artist, I wanted to make sure he was happy with my representation of his design. However, don't worry, I try my hardest to do my best with any and every building and home I photograph! Well, take a look at the photos!

1968 Pasadena Home

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:20:34 -0500

I love this house! I realize that if I were to move into this home that I would totally have to change my decor to 60s chic. Hoever, If I lived in this house would totally be alright with that! I was hired to photograph some real estate photos and virtual tours for this house in Pasadena back in April (I'm very behind on my posts!) The exterior of the house was normal if not a little plain and hidden behind big shrubs and hedges. However, the minute the owner opened the front door, I was sold! Right inside the door is the coolest fireplace. Not only that but the dining room has the same dark wood paneling that I grew up with in our 1960s house, and the most perfect dining room table and light fixture that room could have. This house was amazingly preserved! Chuck(the homeowner)took great pride in his hilltop house in Pasadena. The house was built in 1968 and he bought the home from the builder in 1969. I wish him lots of luck selling his house. I hope it's someone who can really appreciate some of it's 60s charm. Take a look at the virtual tour here and that view!

Busy Week!

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:35:45 -0500

So I have had a nice, busy week with lots of little shoots. I was in Los Angeles, Sierra Madre, Oxnard, Camarillo,and Pasadena shooting real estate photography and virtual tours. All my shoots this week were great, but I think out of all the shoots this week the Sierra Madre shoot was my favorite. It was just a nice simple virtual tour shoot in beautiful Sierra Madre. If you haven't been, you really should. Manicured lawns, beautiful houses, an old town square. It really is a lovely town.

This photo shoot was for Reni Rose at Prudential California Realty. It was really great to work with Reni and her wonderful assistant Joyce. She was really great to speak with. And making my week even better they gave me a great recommendation...

"It was very nice to meet you today and thank you so much for your every efficient service. You showed up on time, were very business like as well as personable and pleasant...and you got the job done very quickly. We are very happy with what you produced for us. The results are just what we wanted. Thank you, again, it was a pleasure and we will certainly call again when we have a need for another virtual tour."

Click here to take a look at their Virtual Tour!

Now Offering! Real Estate Property Websites

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:23:25 -0500

Over the last year that there has been more and more interest in showcase websites of homes for sale. Using the address as the domain name, when a buyer drives by a home that is for sale, when they get home they can type in the address www.8262WoodshillTrail.com. There they can find out any in contact information, photographs, virtual tours, and all those other details of the home. During the last year I have been toying with the idea of providing websites for real estate. I think they are a clever idea. Most buyers will look for the home on Realtor.com first, but if it's not listed on Realtor.com where do buyers look next? The Multiple Listing Service(MLS) can be a bit confusing, which area MLS is it listed on? However, using the address as a domain name, when you have the address of the home for sale, you have the website name. Once I realized how smart this really was, I decided that I had to start offering the real estate websites in my packages. So, I have spent the last week figuring out how to make these websites myself. I'm actually finding it very fun and different for me. My goal is to keep them simple, clean, and keep information available and easy to find. Here is my first version. click the image or the URL above to get a full view. So let me know what you think. You'll be able to see real estate websites added into my packages in the next week or so. I'm pretty excited!

Los Feliz, Ca Photo Shoot

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:45:47 -0500

I got a call earlier this week to photograph a condo for a Realtor that I had worked for a month back. Pamela Rich's marketing manager, Vince, gave me a call to photograph a great condo in Los Feliz. First I have to say, I think it's brilliant of her to have hired someone to do her marketing and creative. I know, we can't all hire someone to work all our marketing for us, but it is really top notch and just great looking! Take a look at their website CondosLA.com.

Now I tend to like the manicured look of Los Feliz Blvd. but this was a great apartment. Nice space, hardwood floors, and lots of light! I liked it and was told I should purchase it. I would love to, but it's up to all of you realtors out there to hire me...lots and lots of work! Anyway, this is a one bedroom, one bathroom, with a nice nook area that would make us a nice office. Take a look at some of the photos...

Virtual Tours aren't just for Homes sales, but Vacation Rentals too!

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:24:54 -0500

Just like the title says, Virtual Tours aren't just for Home sales. I got the opportunity to photograph five cabins in Big Bear last week. What made it even better was that the owner let us stay in one of the cabins for the night. Only one night away but what a nice time! It had snowed the week before, so there was a lot of snow every where. It gave me the chance to practice my evening and sunrise photography. It's was worth standing knee deep in snow to get these shots...Also, click here to view some of the virtual tours!

Bear's Lair

Pine Tree Cottage

Summit Ridge

Meadow Lake Cottage

The Best Sales Call I've Ever Gotten!

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:39:46 -0500

I got the best call today! I got a message on my voice mail from a man saying that he was looking for a photographer to send to some listings he has in Santa Barbara and Ventura, ca. Great! I called him back. He answered and started explaining he needed a photographer in that area and then asked me to hold. I heard him talking to someone in the background and he asked me to hold again. I said I would and then heard him tell someone my name. Right about here I knew I was looking at a sales call. All of a sudden a woman gets on the phone and tells me she is his "Floor Manager". I didn't catch her name but wish I had!

She started telling me to bring up web pages and we were going to do a search. Well I stopped her there and told her to just email me all the information. I would call back if I am interested. This is standard with me and everyone I have said this to has been just fine with it. I like to take my time, look through and get a good idea first. If I am interested or have questions, I will call them. She was having none of that. She said if I just stay on the phone that she will explain it all to me. I again told her that I didn't want to spend the next 20 minutes on the phone and please email me the information. She told me she was trying to tell me the information. After the third time telling her to just email it, she interrupted me again and said that if I just listen to her, she would give me 30 days to look through the information. I laughed at her generosity of 30 days. Then told her that this approach wasn't working with me, it was time to move on and I wasn't going to argue on the phone with her. She can email the information or hang up. Then she kinda snapped. She was not going to email it cause I was just "blowing her off". This made me laugh. If I didn't actually want her to email me the information I wouldn't have asked her to and honestly I would have hung up on her when she started her spiel. I told her I wasn't blowing her off. She said again that she wouldn't email it to me because I was blowing her off. Now I don't know if it was a threat or she was trying to put a curse on my website, because she blurted out that no one was ever going to see my website if I didn't use her company! I loved it! I was thinking, well you found it, Google analytics is telling me that I'm getting very steady good amount of traffic, and my sales are telling me people are seeing my website. I laughed when she asked me what my problem was, I nicely said goodbye and hung up.

I would have loved to stay on the phone to see where she was going to go next but, it would defeat the purpose of not wanting to stay on the phone for twenty minutes.

She sure didn't sound like a seasoned sales person. I had the luck of working in the same area as a bunch of salesmen and I heard all kinds of things there. However, I have never had someone get so defensive and then insult me to try to get my sale. That tactic didn't work but it sure made me laugh!

My thought is people love to hang up on sales calls...don't give them a reason to!

Where is their Virtual Tour?

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:24:55 -0500

One thing I have heard lately is "I have a listing but, it's not worth a virtual tour". This is something I don't understand, because that is exactly the house that needs a virtual tour! Not only should those big beautiful houses get virtual tours, but those little homes need them also. Nothing makes a drab home look worse than out of focus, dark, distorted, less than good photos. Well composed, well exposed, professionally edited photos can really show the real potential that a home has and get those buyers in there!

Something I feel strongly about is that your client wants to know that you are doing the best to market their home. However, something else I think should cross realtor's minds is this...Do home buyers think that if a realtor doesn't feel a home is worth professional photos and virtual tours, maybe it's not even worth looking at?

Believe it or not, there were many times when I have heard someone looking for a new place say, "if it doesn't have a virtual tour than I don't even waste my time." Believe me this wasn't said by my friends to make me feel better as a virtual tour photographer. I have heard this from co-workers and people in general. I used to work for Realtor.com and their apartment and rental site. One thing we wondered was why take the time to post a listing or apartment online, and not take full advantage of that internet marketing and post virtual tours and photos? From what I understand purchasing a quality virtual tour is less expensive than posting a listing in a real estate magazine or in a newspaper for the length of time a house is for sale.

It seems simple to me. It's your job to market that house to the best of your ability, and it's our job as photographers to make that marketing even better! Now I know I am very enthusiastic about virtual tours, but there are so many times when I just don't understand... why you haven't ordered your virtual tours yet!

Laura Nelson

MediaCarrot

www.mediacarrot.com

Travel

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:06:37 -0500

I have been a Real Estate photographer for only 4 years but, I have been taking photographs for as long as I can remember. I met some of my best friends in photography school. It's a career, but also a hobby that I have been lucky to share with people very important to me. My father was a very talented photographer although he didn't always see it. I think my sister and I both inherited his talent but there are times when I think my sister got more of it. Now I love my photography if you don't mind me being a little less than modest, but she has this natural style that amazes me constantly. A few years ago I was able to take the trip of my dreams to Europe with my sister. We packed up our photography gear and trucked around England, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria for over three months. Now I am sitting on a couple thousand photos that many people haven't ever seen. So I thought I might start showing those off just so you can see a different side to me.

Laura Nelson

MediaCarrot photography

www.mediacarrot.com

Halloween!

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:09:26 -0500

Come October I really start getting into Halloween. I love getting dressed up, going to the pumpkin patches, going to see the haunted amusement parks, but most of all I love ghost stories!

Being a Virtual Tour photographer, I get to go into a lot of beautiful houses and buildings. However, recently I got the opportunity to shoot some vacant houses for a company. No problem. It would take two days to shoot all 15 houses. All were beautiful houses that I assumed had been foreclosed. I shot the first day by myself but by the end of the shooting day, I was already calling looking for someone to come with me for the next half of the houses! It's not like any were out right scary but there were times when I definitely wasn't feeling like I was alone. I there was even a house that it felt so strong that I said out loud "Don't worry I'll be out of here as soon as possible and you can have your house back"

So the next day a photographer friend came with me. She wanted to train with me and I figured it would work out perfectly. I didn't tell her exactly why I wanted her to come with. She just thought it was for training. But at the end of the day I asked her if anything felt weird to her. She told me that three of the houses we were in felt very uncomfortable. Turned out to be the exact same houses I felt that same way in. Even down to the second floor towards the back felt very tense in one house.

Another virtual tour photographer that I know told me that sometimes when you feel something that strong, something tramatic like a murder could have happened there. I don't know what happened in any of those houses and I'm not sure I want to really know, but I won't shoot for that company by myself again.

Has anyone else run into any "haunted" houses out there?

Introduction

Laura Nelson (MediaCarrot photography) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:57:00 -0500

I have been blogging for a little while on my website www.mediacarrot.com. I was introduced to blogging a little while ago but was slow to start. I'm not even sure why I started the first day but there was no turning back.

I'm not sure what exactly I enjoy most about blogging. I have my website, but I like showing my personality in my blog. I also get to show some of my shoots(this is something that my mother loves. She lives in Northern California and I live south). When I first was designing out my website, I was sure I wanted something clean and simple but I wanted it to feel corporate. I felt like I would have more credibility if I looked more corporate rather than one girl and her friends from photography school. Honestly I think the blog has gotten me more jobs. I get compliments on my website style and then they go on about how much they love the blog and they like to see that personal side and know what they will be working with. They can see my enthusiasm for my work but honestly, I think it fulfills that little voyeuristic side everyone has, to know what's going on in other people's lives.