OK, more geek-speak. This is about the photos that agents (or FSBO) have on their sites. I know this has been discussed to death, but I have a few more pointers that may help. A photo can be worth a thousand words, but are those words the ones you want to be saying?

Having a background in graphic design and working on many a photo shoot (and taking a few pix myself) there are some basic rules to follow.

1. Have a good camera. The days of the throwaway camera are gone. Invest in a good digital camera.
2. Know some good image editing software. From my design days, I use Adobe Photoshop. I don't expect anyone to go out and buy this very pricey program, and learn how to use it. But there are good (free) programs that you can use for basic photo editing. By editing, I mean lightening up a dark photo, sharpening up a slightly blurring photo, doing some minor color correction. As I am very comfortable with the software, sometimes I will do something like remove a trash bin that is showing, or taming a reflection on a window.
Notice the plug hanging in the center. A little editing, no more plug and a better crop help.

Original photo Same photo with minor color correction.

3. For interior shots, use natural light, usually in the morning or early evening. Do not take photos during high noon. You will get glaring sun and harsh shadows.

Beautiful soft light.

4. For exterior shots, especially 2-story homes, try to get yourself off the ground. Stand on the bed of a pickup truck (or I have stood on the roof). This help the house appear from eye-level, not like you are lying on the ground. The house does not appear to be looming.

5. Try to imagine yourself as a buyer. Nowadays with so many buyers doing their initial 'shopping' on the internet, the photos on the listing can make or break it. Haven't you all had clients immediately say "NO!" to a showing because they didn't like what they saw online?
6. No one wants to see corners or rooms, or part of a vanity or island. Get a wide angle lens for your camera and get as much of the room as possible.

Nice lighting, but it is only showing a part of the island. Show the whole thing.

7. If there is something worth seeing in detail (custom woodwork, detail on a cabinet, etc) get a close-up of it. (On most digital cameras there is a Macro setting)

What are we looking at? The beautiful corbeil (with a slight color correction).

Detail of the island Detail with a crop on top and on side.

Showing the light fixtures in the kitchen.

8. Make sure the pix are of the home, not of the things in the home. How many photos have you looked at and you don't remember anything about the house, but you remember the photo of some guy wearing a leopard print thong? Make sure the house is the primary subject of the photo.(I don't have any photos to show as an example)
9. In your copy, write something memorable and emotional. I can see it is a kitchen, tell me how as a buyer I can see myself baking cookies and preparing family dinners in that kitchen. You want to create an image in a buyer's mind of them in that kitchen. "Can't you see your entire family gathered around the spacious kitchen island, anticipating the wonderful meal prepared by you in your new kitchen?"

10. Make sure the exterior photo is taken with room on either side. If you cut off one side, the viewer will wonder what you are hiding. An unsightly shed? An overgrown bush? A dent in the wall? Don't let them imagine, show them.

I added the sky to an otherwise gloomy day picture.

11. Use a tripod. I don't know of anyone who is steady enough all of the time to take perfect photos. Plus, you look cool if you are walking around with a tripod.
12. If you are uncomfortable taking the photos and know you don't have the time or the want to edit them, hire someone. Call the local college and talk to the photography department. They will gladly give you names of students who would love to do this. You get quality work cheap, and they get great pieces for their portfolios.

So try to remember some of these tips when you are taking your next photos. I looked at one house online where the agent took pictures through a fish-eye lens. If you don't know what that is, it is an image that looks like you are looking through a bubble. Not too flattering!

I created this one so you could see it. Lovely, isn't it???