I sent out a bit of marketing recently to the top 40 agents in WA state, the resposne has been overwhelming and I'm now swimming in bookings (that's the good news). The bad news is this has revealed a weakness in my business model which is time spent on backend process (post work). It's taking too long...strictly speaking I'm rapidly approaching more business than I can handle.

As a result, I'm shifting certain interior shots from primarily HDR to primarily strobe lit. This costs more time at the shoot but saves a ton more time on the backend.

I called up one of my long time friends and clients and they were all too happy to provide me with a home to shoot. ;)

Then I had a thought, since I'll be knocking around this big empty house enjoying some practice and experimentation, maybe a few folks would like to come along and work on their skills with me.

I'm more than happy to share my knowledge and opinions (lord knows I'm seldom shy about my opinions, lol).

The house I will be working in is a Johnson-Chen in the Newcastle Reserve. He's one of the premier builders here in the northwest and his houses are consistently among the finest I've seen.

(here's a couple pics I snapped last year of one of his buildings):

Anyway, there's a lot opportunity in a listing like this as you have many different lighting / composition arrangments, nooks and crannies etc.

I probably can't take more than 3-4 people at a time and still give the right amount of attention. It might be fun to post some of the work back to this group as well and sort of talk about different things tried etc. :)

If you are interested, please let me know. You will need to have an SLR and this is open to any realtors or stagers (no competitors please ;).

If there's more folks interested we'll need to figure out some way to pick. Maybe we do this once a quarter? Could be fun. 

Anyway, drop me a line.

Cheers, -B

Professional-Photographer
 
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13 Comments on Anyone interested in some hands on learning? :)

MAY
16
2008
317,998 Points 22 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Re swimming in bookings  .... how about taking on a "intern" and training them to do the post-processing HDR stuff...?  I would think that would be easier than training someone to "see" the shots the way you do on the site....

6:33pm • #2
419,611 Points 21 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Bryce, I sure wish you lived closer; we would jump on an opportunity like that.  My husband is still struggling with the indoor lighting.  Our pictures look better than 90% of them our there but that lighting can still cause us problems.

8:25pm • #3
135,935 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Bryce - When you are doing a shoot where you need a photo novice, a point and shoot camera, and 4 kids in tow - I'm all over it!!!

Seriously, it you lived anywhere near me I'd be there in a sec. Make sure the lucky dog blogs all about it, I'll have to be content to live vicariously.

8:55pm • #4
MAY
18
2008
483,202 Points 50 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Bryce: You have just lost me..... "primarily HDR to primarily strobe lit"... Can you explain it in plain English?

10:49pm • #5
MAY
19
2008
12 Featured Posts

Benjamin, thanks...if we get some interest maybe we can post our process (might benifit the group).

Cheryl, I'm thinking a lighting / assistant...it's fairly easy to direct someone to set up strobes etc, it seems to be less work than training them to do post work (hdr or otherwise). Plus I think strobes solve certain problems that hdr simply can't. Better to have them in concert. :)

Marchel, if your pics are 90% better that's something to take pride in. Everyone struggles with indoor lighting, even us professionals.

Maureen, I've always got a spot open for you and your four kids, just let me know. ;)

Loreena, HDR (or High Dynamic Range / Extended Dynamic Range) is a method of multiple exposures that allows the final image to caputre more stops of light than a camera can record in one shot. Basically you take 3-6 six shots from dark to light and blend them back together. See below. :)

http://activerain.com/blogsview/201917/Photography-1-1-HDR

Strobes on the other hand are non-continuous lights (flash) that are very high power, set up in multiple locations, they can be used to pump a large volume of light into a room so that the interior light levesl are much brighter, and as a result one or two exposures can capture both the interior and exterior.

Cheers, -B

2:44am • #6
4 Featured Posts

Wow, what a great opportunity Bryce.  I sure wish I lived closer,  I'd LOVE to be there!  Glad to hear that business is going so well for you.

8:29am • #7
1 Featured Post

Bryce, I want to know what little marketing tactic you sent out to start swimming in listings!! That's the secret I need to learn. :) Congratulations on all the work! Sorry I couldn't help. It'd be a long commute from Atlanta.

9:03am • #8

Bryce, i would love to do this but I am also not close...I am just becoming a realtor and want to get my staging designation, I love this stuff!!

9:22am • #9
MAY
20
2008
12 Featured Posts

Charlene, maybe next time. :)

Morgan, I put together a very nice printed portfolio (professionaly bound / offset printed etc) and sent it directly to the top 40 agents in my state. Works like a charm. ;)

Patrice, there's lots of good info on this board...stay with us and your bound to pick up more fun stuff.

Cheers, -B

2:42pm • #10
JUN
17
2008

Bryce,

Looks like I found a month-old post. Have you finished this home?

I would loooove to do this... was just looking at your website to see if you offered any training whatsoever.

I am not anywhere close, but have the opportunity to maybe escape for a few days at the beginning of August when my family will be visiting Oregon. If you are still in the market for "interns", assitants then, let me know, and I will see what can be done.

I really admire your work; hope to be like you when I grow up.

-Susie

2:52pm • #11
12 Featured Posts

Susie, sorry..there wasn't a ton of interest in this (at least not locally) and at the same time my busy season started. I am really really booked these days (which is good).

I may try to give this a shot at some later time (maybe during the winter season when more folks have free time). Myself included!

Cheers, -B

 

 

11:59pm • #12
DEC
04
221,227 Points

Very interesting post. I definitely think you will get some takers. We have a different system in place but always like to keep up with others.

Thank you.

1:37pm • #13

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Bryce Mohan

Bellevue, WA

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Bryce Mohan Photography

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