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Great Real Estate Photography - Because Every Day's an Open House

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Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Boston - Metro

Great Real Estate Photography - Because Every Day's an Open House

There has been a lot of talk about "fancy" photography these days as being just another gimmick. Ryan Hukill - Edmond Realtor® Activerain's blog post on "Great Real Estate Photography - A Listing Agent's Responsibility" received quite a bit of chatter. Comments suggested that great photos as being "deceitful" to "a story can be told visually as well to entice and romance the buyer".  Photos which are clear, well lit, well balanced, with great composition are a means to tell a story to evoke an emotional response in the viewer to want see more.


When I think of marketing a client’s home, I think how I can get "Sticky" with the viewer. Superb real estate agents don't just think about how to expose a listing; they think about how to get personal and how to romance a buyer "virtually" through the front door...  Superb agents recognize that they're the portal into other brokers and agents websites and in turn their buyers. And while American buyers may not be ready for  sexy Neo Property videos, they respond positively to great photos.  I recently came across an Oregon Real Estate Photographer and have to say that this guy's photos really rock. Not to mention that he has a remotely controlled "heli-drone" for arial photos and video. Locally here in the Greater Boston area we have Nashua Video Tours & Photography.

To make my point, I submit below before and after photos. All before photos are from actual listings that did not sell. The after photos are photos I had taken for the same properties. To see these pictures  in full HD resolution please see my Shutterfly.com website at http://bartfosterbostonrealtor.shutterfly.com  Ever since the multiple listing services made it possible to add 10, 20 even 30 pictures, things got real messy. Far too many think more is better. It's not. Fewer high quality photos will cause buyers to stop and enjoy and hopefully call you for to see the property in person. 

For the sellers out there,  . . . how would you want your home to look to the world? I hope its more in line with my After photos.

 


Parking lot anybody		  
Full Flash set to zoom to compensate for back lighting by sun 
 
Taking a photo head on is not recommended unless this were the view!
 
Taken at an angle opens the room up
 
The hint of a bed makes the point that mornings are meant to be enjoyed
 
Finished basements need not look cold and dark
 
  Unfortunately the deck furnishings were put away.
 
Long exposures, 5 photos +/-2EV fuzed into one
 
No flash, 5 photos +/-2EV fuzed into one
 
Fill flash w/T1 gel filter, 5 photos +/-2EV fuzed into one
 
Fill flash w/T1 gel filter, 5 photos +/-2EV fuzed into one
 
1/16th Fill flash w/T1 gel filter, 5 photos +/-2EV fuzed into one
 
Fill flash w/T1 gel filter, 5 photos +/-2EV fuzed into one
 
Fill flash w/T1 gel filter, 5 photos +/-3EV fuzed into one
 
1/16th Fill flash w/T1 gel filter, 5 photos +/-2EV fuzed into one
 
Full Flash set to wide angle, 5 photos +/-3EV fuzed into one
Their Equipment List:
Point And Shoot
Smart Phone

 

My equipment list:
Camera: Nikon D3000
Lens: Tamron 11-18mm
Flash: Nikon SB-800 (used for fill and ceiling lighting in HDR)
Flash Gel Filter Kit to balance the flash with available lighting
Tripod: Sturdy for long exposures & bracketed shots a must
White Balance Lens Cap (coffee can lid)
HDR Software (High Dynamic Range)  Photomatrix
Software (color adjustment, cropping, darkroom, selective exposure corrections) Photoshop

 

Show All Comments
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

An out-of-the-country client called yesterday and asked me to video a property for him as the photos were so 'unprofessional' (his words) he could not determine whether it was of interest to him or not.

Dec 13, 2012 11:32 PM
Bart Foster
Keller Williams Realty Boston - Metro - Boston, MA
Boston MA Real Estate

Woooo. Good morning folks and what a surprise this morning find that I have featured post.

@Fernando, this morning I was thinking how I missed noting that I consider myself an Amateur in the positive light. As an ex-Amateur radio operator (HAM) we trained and learned a trade which was our hobby, as an amateur photographer I have aspirations to excel yet not ready to go professional. So for the record all of the after photos I personally took. Are they as good as a well trained professional? no.... are they pretty darn close? You be the judge.

Being good at what we do requires an investment of time and money. So Fernando, I was going to add that as a minimum I wished to encourage agents to seek out and make use of a good Amateur photographer.

Dec 13, 2012 11:35 PM
Bart Foster
Keller Williams Realty Boston - Metro - Boston, MA
Boston MA Real Estate

@Norma... I believe you... This past summer I listed and put 243 W Newton St UAG in under a week to a buyer who never stepped inside until after the home inspection.  Having lost out to a few hot properties, his agent came to confirm that it was as nice as it looked and took the most crazy video by her phone?

Dec 13, 2012 11:42 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

There are pictures and well then there are living statements and the difference is noticeable too...good post

Dec 13, 2012 11:55 PM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Bart,  A good first step would be for agents to get rid of the cheapie P&S cameras !

Dec 14, 2012 12:15 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

The first open house starts online. Nice examples and wonderful display on your website. Much continued success.

 

Dec 14, 2012 12:21 AM
Fred Sed
Fred Sed Group ~ Your Premier Southern California Realtors - Irvine, CA
Your Southern Cali Realtor, Why? Because Fred Se

Great post Bart! While some of the before photos are "ok", when compared to the enhanced ones, there is no comparison. A little HDR can go a long way in telling a story of the home to buyers and romancing them into your property.

Dec 14, 2012 02:34 AM
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

Bart, wonderful post.  I take my own pictures, and I am my harshest critic.  I am getting better at it though, as I know prospective buyers are surfing the web and looking at pictures, and since a picture is worth 1,000 words, good pictures are worth a lot more.  Bookmarked and thanks for this post.  I liked it a lot!

Dec 14, 2012 03:30 AM
Bart Foster
Keller Williams Realty Boston - Metro - Boston, MA
Boston MA Real Estate

Fred, as I was recently given a pre-foreclosure property to move as a Short Sale which is now rented.  I so wanted to move all the stuff for the photos yet I could not. Needless to say,  I had to learn Photoshop's clone tool real quick as "OK" is not a word I like to use when it comes to my photos.

Gary: I am like you, I have always taken my own photos and I'm my worst critic. Initially in part because I love photography and in all honesty was not ready to put down $200-300 for a professional. Plus I am a fast learner. I knew that great pictures sell and have invested countless hours getting better at it. My equipment has been no small investment, and I have my eye on a new Nikon D800 full frame camera and Nikor wide angle zoom lens. What I save I can reinvest into better equipment.

On my Christmas list is the following:

Dec 14, 2012 04:08 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Bart...I think your advice about not taking photos face on but at an angle is well documented with the photo examples you've posted.  I believe that will be very helpful for many of us.

Kate

Dec 14, 2012 04:27 AM
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Terrific way of showing what a big difference small adjustments can make. I must admit, working with photo's is one of my favorite parts of the job.

Dec 14, 2012 04:41 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

The biggest mistake that can be made is not having great, enticing listing photos. Your post is a good "before/after" explanation, without so many words! 

Dec 14, 2012 05:06 AM
Kenneth Cole
Weichert Realtors Appleseed Group, 2043 Richmond Ave. S.I.N.Y. 10314. office phone 718-698-9797, Appleseedhomes.com... - Staten Island, NY
NYS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

You have great ideas Bart.  You might want to check out the drone with the FAA before you spend big $$. 

Dec 14, 2012 08:56 AM
Bart Foster
Keller Williams Realty Boston - Metro - Boston, MA
Boston MA Real Estate

Kenneth, can imagine how a seller might react if during a listing appointment I promised a full HD arial video tour of their homestead. 

Dec 14, 2012 09:11 AM
Katherine Rasch
LoKation Real Estate - Melbourne, FL
I don't think outside the box; I build a new one!

Great article. Thank you very much for this. (And thank you for exposing me to the Neo Property ad...I had not seen it before and enjoyed it very much.)

Dec 15, 2012 05:07 AM
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc - Gulf Breeze, FL
Buyers Agent 800-309-3414 Pace and Gulf Breeze,Fl.

I am getting better and better so I hope to re read and re read again these helpful tips.

Dec 16, 2012 01:29 PM
Bart Foster
Keller Williams Realty Boston - Metro - Boston, MA
Boston MA Real Estate

@Katherine: There are quite a few fun Neo Property ads out there. 

@Joice: Thanks for reading and always aim higher

Dec 17, 2012 08:30 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Bart, It's great that you have a passion and a gift for photography.  I've seen photos that agents have taken that are better than those taken by a professional virtual tour company.  I do the best I can with my listing photos and don't include photos that don't make sense (less can be more). 

Dec 27, 2012 05:47 AM
Michael Mahoney
Real Broker, LLC - Boston, MA
Boston Realtor

Wow! The change in the photos from before is dramatic. You have great skills. Keep on pushing. Nice job!

 

Feb 09, 2013 12:30 AM
Larry Costa
Century 21 Classic Gold, Carver MA - Carver, MA
Realtor, MA Real Estate

Real nice job on the photos. What exactly does the T1 gel filter do? Is that what is giving the pictures that POP?

Feb 15, 2013 09:23 PM
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