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Taking Better Pictures, Just Got Eaiser

By
Real Estate Agent with SpringsHomes

Taking interior pictures of a listing can be very challenging. Most of the problems occur due to a general lack of decent light. Well, I have seen the light! Gary Fong has come out with a great little helper for real estate photographers everywhere. The Gary Fong Lightsphere really helps on those dark rooms, especially when you have the classic intense light coming in through the windows, creating that scary “cave effect”.

This diffuser does a great job of dispersing light around the entire room. With a little exposure adjustment this tool helps you take some great interior images. You have to have a speedlight type external flash, the unit slides over the front of the flash and then a Velcro strap secures the diffuser to the flash but once secured the grip is so strong that it can support the entire weight of a camera, drive and flash securely.

For more information on this Cool Tool visit http://store.garyfonginc.com/diffusers.html

To see the results visit my listings: http://springshomes.com/featured.php

Don Wixom
RE/MAX Executives Nampa, ID - Nampa, ID
"Looking out for your next move..."tm

Joe, this looks like a great tool! I will have to check it out & see what the cost is.. I have a Canon detachable flash (shoe?), I hope it works!  I've been thinking about getting a new camera. Any advice?

Mar 17, 2010 02:38 PM
Cal Yoder
Keller Williams Elite - Lititz, PA
Homes For Sale in Lancaster PA - 717.413.0744

Joe,

Thanks, this is great info since I am certainly not a professional photographer.

Cal

Mar 17, 2010 02:40 PM
Robert Foster
United Country-Michigan Outdoor Properties - Northern Office - Wolverine, MI

As Don stated.   I will have to check this out.   I am looking at the Canon Xsi for my next purchase.

Mar 17, 2010 02:42 PM
Joe Boylan
SpringsHomes - Colorado Springs, CO

Robert,

The Xsi is a nice canera. I am currently using a Canon EOS 40D with the 580 EXII flash as a master transmitting wirelessly to a 430EX II. I use the Fong diffuser on both. By moving the 430 around I am usually able to fill the room with light. I think you could use the ST-E2 wireless transmitter with the Xsi, in retrospect I would have gone this way with less expensive flash units.

Mar 17, 2010 03:25 PM
Rod Datoc
www.datocdesign.com - Surrey, BC

It sure is a great little tool, but if you want to save some money there are many DIY alternatives on Instructables.com . The Gary Fong diffusers are all great products that command a pretty serious price tag but otherwise not a bad investment. 

The pop-up flash diffuser isn't very usefull IMO. Better off carrying a playing card in your wallet and holding it in front of the pop up flash with the white face of the card facing the ceiling, you'll get much more satisfactory results with the softer lighting that way if you must us the built in flash on  virtually any camera Point N shoot or DSLR.

 

Mar 29, 2010 12:31 PM
Pat, Ben and Martin Mullikin
M3 Realty - Brookfield, WI

Great tips. Thanks!

Mar 31, 2010 04:23 PM
Douglas Belcher
Chateau Realty - Nanaimo, BC
RE/MAX, Nanaimo ABR ePRO SRES

Looks great will it fit the speedlight 580ex? Do you use the domes? I bought the Canon T1i and love it but it dropped $200 in price 4 months after I bought it.

Nanaimo real estate

Apr 10, 2010 06:48 AM
Rick Phillips
Appraisals Guaranteed - Alexandria, VA
Expert & Customized Valuations

I got a lot of milage out of my Joe Demb "Flip It" (www.dembflashproducts.com) before losing it :/  Now I bounce off a wall, my hand, or some dude in a big, white shirt!

Apr 13, 2010 06:07 PM
Anonymous
John Urwin

Five years of Real Estate Photography and simple tools work very well. I use a Canon with a speedlite flash mounted on top. I also shot from a tripod to get best results. Even better results if you can manage Photoshop.:^)

When shooting indoors I turn the flash backward toward me and bonce the flash off a 8.5 x 11 sheet of white paper.

Recently I have shooting three photo with different exposures with no flash and processing the photos in software for HDR photography. Photomatix works great for getting professional photos.

 

Apr 14, 2010 12:40 PM
#9
Joe Boylan
SpringsHomes - Colorado Springs, CO

Douglas,

Yes, they do make a version that works great for the 580 ex I use that as my master flash.

Joe

 

Apr 14, 2010 02:37 PM
Joe Boylan
SpringsHomes - Colorado Springs, CO

What I appreciate about the fong products is that they actually attach to the flash. If you are using a secondary "slave" flash you can't actually hold anything behind it. Tried Duct Tape didn't really work so that's why I love the Fong products.

Apr 14, 2010 02:58 PM
Derek Myers
Key Real Estate - Pittsburgh, PA

Thanks for the post Joe.  Pictures tell the story of each home and is the first impression.  It always amazes me when I see listings with poor pictures.  I'll be checking this out. 

May 09, 2010 09:39 AM
Douglas Belcher
Chateau Realty - Nanaimo, BC
RE/MAX, Nanaimo ABR ePRO SRES

Great post...I love finding new things to make my product (selling real estate) better!

I still see the listing photos where you can see the Realtor never even got out of the car (side mirror in foreground).

 

Douglas Belcher

Nanaimo real estate

May 09, 2010 12:19 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Light. Let there be for better images, real estate photos.

Dec 11, 2012 10:09 PM