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May challenge ~ Before and After~Only for you Dick Greenberg

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899

It’s fun to take photos and editing is such a creative activity, but, at this time in my career I’ve learned to do what I do best: “List and Sell” and hire the rest! I delegate photos to the professional photographers and love their clear, sharp, creative, HD photos they take for my listings. My sellers are always thrilled and often say …. “Wow these are so good I think I’ll stay!”

Dick Greenberg's  challenge this month is forcing me out of my comfort zone...only for you Dick I’ll complete this challenge!

I used a picture of a home I was going to list for my Comparable Market Report. I was trying not to let the neighbors see me snapping a photo and the time of day was all wrong for lighting (I know why my photographer always asks what direction the home is facing to get the right sun light). I was shooting into the sun and it was kind of overcast so the lighting was bad and the photo was not clear and sharp.

Here is the house before I made it better:

After using 2 programs Pixlr and Ribbet here is the finished photo:

 

In Pixlr I added blue sky. In Ribbet I went into touch-up and 1.) used the dodging  feature to lighten parts of the sky and 2.) I burned the trees to darken them and the brick side of the house where both were washed out. Then went into the basic edit tool and gave it clarity. Presto! I transformed the photo to a better shot but still nothing like my professional photographer can produce! I'm going to stick with with I do best "List and Sell" and hire the rest! But thank you Dick Greenberg for the challenge!

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I specialize in Listing and Selling homes in the NW Austin Area. I use my experience to guide clients through the process, whether selling or buying. It’s a beautiful thing when your career and a passion come together. I love what I do!

 

Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

I AM RIGHT THERE WITH YOU...PHOTOGRAPHY  is a wonderful thing....when someone else does it !

May 16, 2017 04:44 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Oh my gosh Dorie-we are on the same page! I'm going to try Pixlr to add blue sky! And just discovered the dodging and Burn edits when working on my photo! Job well done!!!!

May 16, 2017 04:58 AM
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

We can all learn a little more when it comes to taking photos.

May 16, 2017 04:59 AM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Dodging and burn are new terms for me, but it certainly worked well for you Dorie!

May 16, 2017 05:14 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much, Dorie, for sharing your photo editing skills.

May 16, 2017 05:18 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Your editing made quite a difference from the original, Dorie!  It takes time to master editing, but it's worth it.

May 16, 2017 05:28 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good morning, Dorie -- and you do that "list and sell" thing so well.  Rinse. Repeat.   

May 16, 2017 05:33 AM
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Good Morning Dorie Dillard,

I'll have to check out those 2 programs you shared Although I only use a pro.

May 16, 2017 06:00 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Good Morning Dorie Dillard,  blue sky sure makes a different.  Good to learn about these techniques.

May 16, 2017 06:17 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Dorie, I agree with you, list & sell, and hire the rest!   You did a good job with the touch-ups though!  

May 16, 2017 06:28 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

You did a great job!  I like the addition of a blue sky!  Was it not already blue out or did the photograph take it away?

May 16, 2017 06:39 AM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Dorie, even though this isn't what you do best the transformation is impressive. That blue sky really makes a big difference. I'm with you - list and sell and hire the rest. 

May 16, 2017 07:35 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Dorie, Very good. Makes for a nice change and way more dramatic. 

May 16, 2017 08:09 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Dorie. I see the change and it helps but so would cutting back that tree. :)

May 16, 2017 09:02 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Dorie,

Nicely done, and I agree the professional photographers are very valuable to us in this business.  A

May 16, 2017 09:07 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Dorie, 

It is always a great idea to put our feet in the photographer's shoes. 

May 16, 2017 10:23 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Dorie - Your edits made a big difference and were certainly worth a trip outside the comfort zone. Thank you for your entry!

May 16, 2017 01:30 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Stepping out of your comfort zone is a good thing and you did it well! Nice job!

May 17, 2017 06:25 AM
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

You did a wonderful editing job, Dorie.  The difference in sky makes such a big impact on the photo overall.

May 17, 2017 01:17 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Dorie, I like adding the blue sky. I haven't used Pixlr and will check it out.

May 23, 2017 07:52 PM