Real Estate Blog - My Magic Man

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My Magic Man

OK I'm sold on the professional photographer for staged home photography now.

Not that I wasn't before but I just hadn't gotten to know any before I met John McConnell, Professional Photographer (aka Magic Man) over the course of the last few months. He's not only a great photographer but he's also a fine person and becoming a friend. He's always got a smile on his face and a good word for everyone. His personality alone won me over. But in all honestly....

I also needed some great quality photos for myself and my marketing purposes but just hadn't gotten around to it nor made the allowance for it in my budget. I am also the worst when it comes time to take after photos of the staged homes I work on because of sheer exhaustion honestly. I don't take the time I need to take good photos or even at all sometimes! Can any body relate to this?

WHAT WAS I THINKING? IT'S MORE THAN WORTH IT for sure. And if you haven't thought about it before, truly think about it for the future.

Combining Professional Home Staging services with a Professional Photographer who understands the value is a win win win for YOU, the PHOTOGRAPHER and the CLIENT!

Please take a look at my first set of staged home photos of professionally photographed rooms in a totally remodeled, beautiful Allen, TX home I staged today. I'm exhausted but just was too excited and wanted to share some shots. It's MAGIC....

living room before staging

Living Room Before Staging (and floor replacement) Photographed by Karen Otto, Professional HOME STAGER

Living Room after staging

Living Room After Staging - Photographed by John McConnell, Professional PHOTOGRAPHER

view from living to eat in kitchen

View from Living Room to Eat-In Kitchen Before Staging - Photo by Karen Otto, Professional HOME STAGER

Living room and eat in after staging

View from Living Room to Eat-In Kitchen After Staging - Photo by John McConnell, Professional Photographer

Powder Room Before - Photo by Karen Otto

Powder Room After - Photo by John McConnell

For professional Home Staging Services, including staged photography, in Collin County, TX and surrounding areas, Home Star Staging is at your service North Texas.

UPDATE 12/2/07: John has joined Active Rain and has written his first blog. Please check it out and welcome John to our great network!

Posted by Karen Otto, Home Stager, Plano, TX 469)964-0516 www.homestarstaging.com on 11/07/2007 09:09 PM

Comments (50)

home staging, home, staging, plano, tx, collin county, karen otto, photography, john mcconnell

This post has been included in Texas Information Collin County, TX Information Plano, TX Information

50 Comments on My Magic Man

NOV

2007

Karen: Great work and love the photos. I understand what you mean about being too tired at the end of the day. Our other problem is that by the time we are finished-we lose the light and are shooting at dusk. We usually end up going back to reshoot. I'm impressed that you hired a professional. Your shots are terrific. Was it expensive?

Wahoo! That's what I like to hear! You bet, a professioal does a better job! Just like stagers want realtors to realize they will help the house sell more effectively, so do we photographers want to be of service. Staging doesn't help draw buyers if the listing photos stink!

I wish I could find someone like you to let me take their listing photos/before and after photos.

-Susie

Karen, could you send him down here? Those photographs are great!

Cheri - I know what you mean about the light. I don't like to even take the photos honestly, it's not something I do well, I STAGE well but want it shown in the right perspective. John was able to do what I needed but I couldn't myself. He is not what I'd consider expensive at all. It's well worth the investment for marketing purposes and it's something to offer your clients as well.

Susie - you're right about the photos online needing to be good. Offer your services to a Real Estate agency for a fair rate - maybe take only key room shots for a flat fee? I say let each profession do what it does best, a team effort always wins out!

Terry - why don't you come here and he can photograph the houses you help me stage?

Karen the house looks great!!! What a beautiful home. I am happy this seems to have worked out for you.

I was just thinking about this exact thing. I am too tired at the end of a staging project or to rushed. My photos are not turning out well, because I just don't have the time left in the day or as Cheri has said the light has changed.

I am going to start to look for a photographer. I just can't do it all!

My feeling exactly Joelle - we can't do it all!

I don't think our clients even realize how hard we work before during and after our jobs, it's not just the day we stage but the weeks and days leading up to our job, choosing the right look, accessories and furniture for their properties and then once they sell coming back and undoing it all.

I can't be a master of more than one profession and I choose to master the art of staging, not photography. It is well worth the investment.

Karen: Beautiful photos of a beautiful job. I always feel so blessed when I can find and afford a professional to do anything for me. But having a professional photog is definitely worth it. I'm glad this one turned out so well for you. Just the stress would have worn me out. Once again - beautiful!

Karen - The staging is wonderful as usual. I'm going to add calling some photographers to my to do list for tomorrow afternoon. I'm sold. Thanks.

Jackie

NOV

2007

Karen, The staging difference really shows through in the pictures. Great Job!

I will start looking for a professional photographer too.

Karen: the right photographer makes as much difference as the right stager! Wonderful job!

Mike in Tucson

Karen: It IS amazing the difference professional photography makes! Yours is a perfect example! It's funny you blogged about this because I was experiencing something similiar yesterday too. My photographer Jenny just did a photo shoot on my recent stage and sent the pics over to me. They were wonderful and I am so excited about them (I was going to blog about it and share my pics) I probably will soon.

Your work is fantastic! I'm sure this home will receive an offer very soon! I bet the homeowner and agent are well pleased! :)

MM - your houses always look like they came right out of Architectural Digest! It is a blessing to find someone who gets what we do and is willing to work with us. Hey, I actually slept thru most of last night, stress must be lifting if just from exhaustion ;-)

Jackie - thank you! You know it's like when I wrote a blog about hiring a professional to take a business head shot, it really makes a world of difference and even if you don't have a photog on every job (cost can be a concern), at least for some of your work, it will be of value to have it in your portfolio. Good luck finding one!

Thank you Leslie! I believe the good quality photos really capture the essense of the house too. It looks like you can step right into it from your computer almost!

Hi Mike! Thanks for stopping by and your kind words. You are correct - it is a TEAM effort.

Teresa, I want you to know I read your blog about combining your staging services with professional photography after I'd already hired John to do this job. It just reinforced my belief that I just had to do it. I'll look forward to seeing your photos.

Thank you for your compliment too! They're having 2 open houses this weekend, Sat. and Sun. it was truly like an extreme makeover type job. It's a blog for another day but they are hopeful they'll get an offer by Thanksgiving. That would totally rock!

Karen, a little birdie told me that you had found yourself a professional photographer to complement your staging services. That birdie was so right! Wow, woman --- both of you are so very good at what you do. Your clients have got to be just elated with what you are able to accomplish for them. Fantastic! Way to go!

Thank you Yvonne! I'm really happy to be able to offer this to my clients now. You're such a wonderful cheer leader!

Hey Maureen I got your comment in my inbox but can't see it here (AR page) for some reason. Thanks for checking it out! Long time no "see"... hope you are well.

I'd LOVE to do that Karen. Maybe one day we can do that. I have a good friend in Ft. Worth I haven't seen in ages. Would be a good excuse to travel to TX!

Karen,

You made a believer out of me. I'm going to call the photographer we used at our wedding. Great job on the staging.

Looks so nice, Karen. We are worth it!

Kathy

Karen,

It truly is amazing what a professional can do isn't it? Your staging is gorgeous, too!!!! From your title I guessed your post was on Magic Erasers.......this was much better!

Terry that would be sweeeet! Hey you could come to the January round table too - the date is going to be January, 10th... just a thought...

Ann - I was already a believer but just didn't do it! I was sick of bad photos or no photos for myself. There are just too many aspects to this job and I need help in many areas...as I slowly grow I learn more and more...Good for you!

Kathy - we ARE!

Anthea - Thank you for saying that and yes amazing is the word - when professionals join complimentary forces we make a great team!

I'm glad you wondered what the post was about and it was better than erasers for you. I'm trying to work on the titles of my blogs so they aren't boring and will peak reader interest.

Beautiful staging job! Love it love it love it! What a difference with a professional photographer!

I agree 100% with your comment "Combining Professional Home Staging services with a Professional Photographer who understands the value is a win win win for YOU, the PHOTOGRAPHER and the CLIENT!"

Right on, girl! =)

Karen house came out awesome, the quality of the pictures....priceless!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Abby thank you so much! Amen to the combining of services too it really is worth it.

Thank you for saying that Fernando and for reading.

Karen, I always thought your pictures were pretty good - but now that I see what a professional photographer can do - I'm calling one for our next job. Thank you for the kick in the pants...:) Betty

Hi Betty, you know I just wasn't pleased or proud of the photos - they never reflected the true "essence" of the job and truly I don't take them as much as I should. I really am too tired to even remember where in the first place I stood to take the before photos. I always seem to have enough of those but the finished result is what matters and even if not for every job, some are better than none. Good luck finding a photographer!

OK I am jealous! Great post. I totally agree that a professional photography is the best way to go. Hey, we should all practice what we preach...we tell REA's that they need a professional home stager instead of doing the staing themselves. Thanks for sharing and showing what we all (or at least the less photo savvy me) should be doing.

Would you mind sharing with us how much this cost?

Hi Janice, well we shouldn't be responsible for staging and the photography I feel. Yes I know it's a value added service for us to take photos but unless you're really good at it as I know some stagers are (Sue Argue are your ears burning?) staging is where our skill set is.

As far as cost goes, he generally charges somewhere between $75 - $150 on up (depending on the size of the house, how far he has to travel etc.) for a MLS photo set ( he provides a CD disk on the spot [he burns it right on his computer at the house] to the Realtor/Client and myself with over 30 photos to choose from in it so you can "shop" for the best shot) But I don't know what the going rate is for other photographers in other areas so do some shopping yourself and ask around. Maybe you don't need that many photos and you can work out a deal somehow. Call a local college and ask for the photography dept. or media students who may be interested in some side cash.

NOV

2007

Karen, this is a great idea for us and for the client. I like the fact that your photographer does the CD on the spot. Saves time and energy, precious commodities for staging!

Wendy Casey - Vancouver, BC

You're right Wendy, time and energy are precious!

Karen what a beautiful job you did with this house, I especially like the pic showing the view from the LR into the kitchen.

Phyllis Pafumi

Hi Phyllis! Thank you so much. I like that angle too, I would have never been able to capture it so well with my little digital camera.

NOV

2007

Hi Karen: And just as I was about to invest in a Kodak EasyShare 570 or 705 for their wide angle capabilities. Now, I'm back on the fence as to buy the camera or the services of a pro photographer. These shots John McConnell did for you ARE excellent and DO truly reflect your superb staging. Hmmm...decisions, decisions. And, yes, the argument that we stagers stage better than realtors on the whole does lead to photographers photograph better than stagers do, Sue Argue of course excepted (but, and quite a few others!)

Hi Pat!

I know exactly what you're saying here leave what others do best to others (we can be a jill of all trades but master of what?).

I don't think every job is going to opt for professional photography (especially smaller jobs) so having a good quality camera for yourself is not a bad idea. But when asked for photos by a client I would prefer to refer the services of a professional who understands angles, lights and setting better than me. It makes for a more dimensional look and really the difference as seen here is night and day. My photos are "flat" where as, John's came to "life".

Thanks for your comments my friend!

NOV

2007

Hey Karen, this is pretty impressive. Have you bought your camera yet? Planning to?

Thank you Loreena. I know you're into photography and take great pictures!

No I still have my little Sony that's about 4 years old. It is OK but I am still in the market for one. And I've read others who say they have the Kodak EasyShare 570 or 705 which is an option. Maybe santa will bring me one?

NOV

2007

Hi Karen,

He did an excellent job on that bathroom pic and bathroom's are usually SO hard to photograph. you've got me sold!

NOV

2007

I KNOW that bathroom looked awesome in person but it really showed well for the photo Beth once John got a hold of it.

Hello Karen, This is a great topic and one that is so very important to all Professionals. Good photos of work you do today is one of the key building blocks for any staging business for tomorrow. We are very fortunate here in that we have a person on staff who is responsible for the photography, Me. One of my many behind the scenes duties as a support person for my wife (Linda, the stager in the family) is to take photos and then later enhance them. I do that because just as has been mentioned above, the staging team is usually completely worn out when done and thinking more about a hot tub than photos. Cover this base, it will pay great dividends down the road when someone wants to see the work you are doing and you can produce great photos in a portfolio or on your web site. And if you don't have a magic man, make sure that you have a quality camera.

Hi Gary, thank you for stopping by. How fortunate for your team that YOU are the magic man! I completely agree with you about great quality photos being "key building blocks" for business. What a great statement! And yes, a good quality camera is important too.

Karen, your before and after photos combining excellent staging and photography have made me a believer. Wow, what a difference staging makes.

Gary so glad you took a look! Welcome believer!!!

The way a house shows with the combined marketing services of Realtor, Stager & Photographer makes a huge difference for the successful sale of the property. The investment pays for itself with a faster sales time and top dollar.

Karen you did a fabulous job staging and I loved the after photos. I think I will start looking for a photographer in my area as well to add to my box of tricks! No wonder you've called him Magic Man.

Thank you Roberta! I can't speak highly enough of John and the difference it has made for the quality of photos. I feel my work can be truly better represented through professional photography.

Try a local Community College's photography department for starters, there might be a hungry student who may be able to help you for not a lot of cash but it will give them and you some experience and exposure.

DEC

2007

John recently joing AR and has written his first blog and I've just updated mine to reflect that.

Here's the link in case you want to check it out!

DEC

2007

Great pictures! I love the color choices!

Thanks for checking it out Kristina!

Wow, Karen, the interior photographs of your work is wonderful. Kudos to you and your "magic man"

The lighting is key and I wouldn't know how to light right if it grabbed me by the arm! Thanks for stopping by Julianna.

DEC

2007

I totally agree with you about the importance of a professional photographer. After all of our hard work and the homeowners investment in staging, these photos more than pay for themselves.

It does make a world of difference. As others have said, let each pro do what they do best and compliment each of our services.

Thanks for reading Jo!

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