Looking for v705 real estate tutorials

Hi guys - as you probably know I am really new to real estate photography, I jumped on the Kodak v705 bandwagon and my pictures have really improved as a result of the wide angle - which is great - but now I want more.

I have read everything that Cheryl, Bryce and Aaron have ever written and I am grateful for their help and encouragement. I am on my way to being a better photographer, but I could really use some tutorials written specifically for the v705 in really easy to understand language. There are 22 different modes on this tiny camera and I really have no idea what to set them on. I'd like to know which settings to use to accomplish the following:

I would like to take pictures where the entire field is in focus. I'm not boking around here. (bad pun)
I'd also like to get the yellow out of my photos.
Getting the colors to look more natural would be nice also. I use red a lot in my home staging and it often comes out almost day glow. I am using the flash pretty much all the time.

If anyone has this camera - what do you set it to? Any secret tips of great interior shots? Any info would be helpful.

Here is one where the color is totally washed out, the red is weird and there is a bad reflection on the glass. I still don't have Photoshop so this photo has not been edited at all. I just switched to Mac and am planning on purchasing Photoshop Elements. Unless anyone has a better idea.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Posted by Maureen Maureen on 04/13/2007 01:36 PM

Comments (30)

Originally posted at: Rockland Home Staging: Looking for v705 real estate tutorials

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30 Comments on Looking for v705 real estate tutorials

APR

2007

Hi Maureen,

As you know, I am an amature with the exact camera and the same types of problems. However, one thing I have learned is to turn off the flash. Then go into your photo edit program and add light.

Seems to help me.

Joelle

Joelle - I have been looking all over the internet for tutorials and articles - that is one of the suggestion that they all said. OK so I'll turn off the flash from now on. It really distorts the colors. The above room looks like a clown room - in person it is very subtle and pretty.

Did you read Cherly's post here on Exposure Compensasion. I am going to play around with that tomorrow.

Joelle Green

I am new to the Kodak v705 myself having had it only 3 days. Thers is a white balance and exposure compensation adjustment that should correct these problems. I have not played with it yet so I cannot give specific advise.

I have many years of photographic experience and will share when I get the hang of this new camera. Do not use the flash. It is not powerful enough for room shots, use it for people when you are 4 to 6 feet away.

The 22 settings are pretty self explainatory. I will comment more when I have a chance to study them in detail.

Do get Photoshop Elements. If you have a Staples in your area you can get it for $59.99 until 4/21/2007.

Your Techo-Junkie

Mike, you are the bomb! Thank you for being so kind. I am sure Maureen and I will be waiting with baited breath. In the meantime I will play around with too.

Joelle Green

So NOT a Techno-Junkie :)

I loved your babyboomer comment on another blog. You Rock!

Mike - OK I'm turning the flash off - that is a start. I have a Mac so I have to get the Photoshop Elements Mac version. I'll look around for it. I really think I have to spend a few days just shooting practice shots - my problem is when I change things around then get the pictures I cannot remember which setting I had the camera on when it came out good. You know what I mean?

Joelle - Sometimes it is so hard to learn all this stuff. If a blog has the word aperture I just can't focus. (pun intended)

That is funny Maureen, I am laughing. I am totally with you. I am trying to learn so much right now my brain hurts.

All I really want to do is just to make rooms look good and take their photo's. The rest of it is just killing me! To much Arty Farty in me. Oops are we aloud to say that! I really want to be as professional as possible thought to my clients.

Joelle

Hey, I am just looking at your photo again. Turn on the table lamp and any overhead lighting. Try a few shot (without the flash). Then try some without any overhead lighting as well. Create ambience in a room like that. If you can, duck tap the wire out of the way as well. Move the table in a little closer to the sofas, and even position the sofa on the right a little further in. Put some flowers or a nice plant on the coffee table too,and a couple of stacked hard cover books. Then re-shoot it. I know that has nothing to do with the camera. But it will help the composition of the photo. Okay while your at if you move the grandfather clock out of the picture and replace with a tall green tree - up light of course, that would soften the composition as well. O.K. now I am getting bossy. Sorry. I can't work a camera, but I do think composition is a important part of good photography.

All you experts out there feel free to jump in any time.

Joelle

APR

2007

Hey Joelle - This is not a home staging - it was an inexpensive redesign - working with only what the client already has. The grandfather clock would not be my choice either - it throws off the balance in the room. Actually I wouldn't use the entire color scheme for staging and it's not done yet. I just threw the photo up because it really illustrates the color problems I'm having. I will be able to shoot the home again -when I go in with the final accessories and new rugs. I'll see if I can come up with some better shots.

Hey Mareen, Sorry, I did't actually mean to imply there was anything wrong with the staging. God, knows when you are working with other people's stuff you are severly limited. Just if you have access to ways of changing the composition of the photo. Then you could try. If you are going to use it in your portfolio. (I can see, I am going to suffer from James electronic -communication issues! Trying to be quick in what I type. (insert lots of happy faces).

Joelle

Kodak offers tutorials and a full manual online FOR THE v705. The tutorials are a bit quirky, but may help you.

MANUAL

TUTORIALS (Select V Cameras and click on v705)

I will see if there is anything else that may be of yse for you.

Your Techno-Junkie

Thank's Mike! I have gone through some of them.

I have posted comments to Frank Llosa's and Jeff Turner's blogs on the Kodak v705, asking them to share and provide tutorials on its use.

Jeff is the prime advocate of the v705, and created video tutorials such as the one on Wufoo. Frank is a past National Geographic photographer and has created a course on the v705 which he presents in Virginia.

I mentioned that you, Joelle, any myself would appreciate it if they would contribute blogs on this subject.

Joelle - Here is the before. This was a huge redesign project. The home had all white walls no light fixtures and really over sized furniture. It has taken me over a month to get it to where it is and there is still so much to be done. We are in the process of getting all new window treatments. Some day it will be done and hopefully I'll get a better photo. I don't think I could really ever use it in a portfolio. Especially considering there is a kid in the before. I blurred her face out. LOL

Mike - thank you so much!!! I don't know Frank. I'll have to look him up.

Are you kidding!! This is a great before!!! The worse a before looks, the BETTER the after looks. You have done a great job. I love the wall colour. What is it? You definately need to add it to your portfolio. The room is unrecognizable, except for the grand father clock! You go Girl!!

Joelle

Thank you Mike, I will have to look him up too! My God, AR is amazing!

Joelle - It is called Dry Sage. It really is much prettier in person. Here is a blog with all my favorite colors in it.

ROY G BIV - Is he a friend of yours???

Thanks Maureen, that is great.

Joelle

Maureen... iphoto came with your Mac. You'll be surprised what you can do by just clicking the edit link below any photo. Open that up and use the "adjust" tool to edit the levels in the photo. You'll be surprised how powerful it is.

There is also a great website called picnik.com that i've done a tutorial on already, but haven't written up yet. Perhaps I'll do an iPhoto one for all the mac users.

Here is a snap of the adjust menu:

adjust

Maureen and Joelle,

I just posted my first tutorial on the Kodak v705. It is on white balance. Please post a comment on my blog.

Kodak v705 Tutorial I - White Balance

Mike you rule!

Jeff - I will check out the site you recommended. I have been going through the tutorials at: http://www.vtc.com/apple.htm I am learning a lot. There really is so much to learn, so many kids to feed, baseball games to attend, homes to stage and so few hours in the day. I'm sure you can relate.

Kids? I have kids? :)

Jeff - your wife must be a saint!!!!

Oh, my goodness, the kids, the husband, the house, the yard. Yikes it keeps piling up. Is just so peacful here in the Rain.

APR

2007

hmm. I would angle the clock.

Oh, sorry...that's not what this blog is about. *smile*. Just couldn't resist. :D

Karen - I did try to angle the clock. It did look better, but it was not stable and the homeowners have 2 small children.

Darn kids! LOL (just kidding).

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Maureen Maureen

Orangeburg, NY

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Address: Rockland County NY, Bergen County NJ

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