I showed a few photos from my newest portfolio. It was inspired after reading Maureen's post I stole Juliet and Beth's portfolio. You should to. She advises her inspiration came from Juliet Johnson and Beth Panode.
If you saw my comments at all you know I was smacking myself on the head with the power of the aha moment. I use kodakgallery all the time to manage my portfolio photos, before and after slideshows, etc. How did I not figure this out.
Last night I posted a blog about how I've started looking at my work from a different perspective, What do your photos show? A new look at a staging portfolio. I posted a couple of photos from my new book, the one inspired by Maureen, Juliet & Beth... I've gotten a lot of quesitons, so I thought it might be helpful to show a few more pages and discuss my thought process and different ideas for the book....
In the set below I wanted to show off how simple changes with paint can create dramatic differences. It seems that I often recommend painting cabinets or paneling and it is easier to convince sellers the difference it will make when I show them past work....
This next set shows a little before and after focusing on MLS. What would this photo have meant to a potential buyer? The full room after staging is on the left and the before and after view on the right...
This last set shows various rooms in the same home. It talks about how we make the home feel larger by keeping continuous color and texture throughout the home.
Notice that the photos show a variety of colors, textures, and furniture styles. The homes radically vary in price point, but they all still look 'classy'. This helps put clients at ease that you will acheive a cohesive look regardless of list price.
My book was primarily about my work. I did not add an about me section, etc. I actually added very few before
and after sets. I primarily focused on the finished look. This works particularly well because I specialize in vacant properties, but even if you specialize in owner occupied consider that it doesn't necessarily matter what the before looked like, in the end you will be judged by the after....
I hope this helps answer some of those questions out there and inspires you to take your portfolio up a notch! I certainly know I owe a HUGE thank you to those 3 wonderful ladies who inspired me!
Melissa Marro www.StagingAndRedesign.com www.RedesigningCharleston.com
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Melissa - Your portfolio looks fantastic. I think it is important to think of how you plan to use the portfolio before you create it. Some of the photos I chose to include don't necessarily illustrate my best staging work, they illustrate a point I'd like to discuss, like painting cabinets or religious artwork. It helps me discuss things that apply to many homes in my target market. I think you're right, these portfolios will take us up a notch.