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MLS Photo Collages & other Photoshop adjustments

So this house started with a great image taken by the homeowner. I pulled it into photoshop and added the following:

1) Saturation & Lightened it up

2) Sharpen setting

3) Inserted 3 photos with white drop shadow (see 5 examples)

By default most websites duplicating the MLS (Realtor.com) will only show 1 photo by default. By putting up a collage, the home buyer can see within a second that it is spacious inside and they have a pool in the backyard. Sometimes I also put in the remarks "Ask your agent for the 30 additional photos."

As a buyer, which would you prefer?

Also you can do some of these features in Google's Free Picasa. The collage option however is limited to putting 4 photos that are of the same size in a tile format. Still better than nothing.

- Written by Frank Borges LL0SA- FranklyRealty.com

Collages are just one of the dozen things that we do standard. That is why our slogan is "Excellence Comes Standard" (tm)

Due to popular request, here are more examples:

The one above used text to highlight the key differences vs the other 40 condos in the same building!

Make sure not to miss my other 10-20 Realtor tips

Update: Cheryl was so kind as to create a "how to" on collages!

Photoshop Elements 5: Creating A Llosa Collage -

Posted by FRANK LL0SA- Northern Virginia Broker .:. FranklyRealty.com on 05/08/2007 07:41 AM

Comments (34)

20 realtor only tips, 100 tech group, photography

Post is included in group: Photography
Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: Real Estate Rookie
Post is included in group: Photoshop Elements for Real Estate

34 Comments on MLS Photo Collages & other Photoshop adjustments

Hey Frank, That's a very good idea. It's eye appealing and a great way to skirt around the one picture limitation. I think I will start doing it. Thanks for sharing.

05/08/2007 07:54 AM

by Tutas Towne Realty, Inc

Excellent idea!!! I can not believe I didn't think of it before - thank you for sharing.

05/08/2007 08:00 AM

by Lake Wallenpaupack Pike County PA Real Estate | Karen E Rice (WEICHERT, REALTORS® Paupack Group )

Thats why I get the big bucks!

Frank

05/08/2007 08:04 AM

by Northern Virginia Homes - FRANKLY REAL ESTATE Inc

Good short suggestion!

05/08/2007 08:12 AM

by Andrew Mooers | Northern Maine Real Estate / Aroostook County Broker (MOOERS REALTY)

Frank...

How long did that take you to do? I bet you not much time at all.

Realtors either need to learn how to "fix" their pictures... or have a professional shoot them. Because pictures REALLY are what give a buyer their "First Impression".

05/08/2007 08:15 AM

by Craig Schiller (REAL ESTAGING, a nationally recognized leader in Staging.)

Frank: I did not know Google had bought Picasa. Maybe I'll try it again. Thanks!

05/08/2007 08:19 AM

by Roberta Murphy ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (Villa Sotheby's International Realty)

Hey Craig,

I had to chose between 30 photos, so that took some time. The photos weren't great. It was missing a kitchen shot that really showed a) granite and b) high-end stainless steel appliances. All in all it took maybe 20 minutes, but I have done some in as little as 5 minutes.

I normally spend a good 30-60 minutes color correcting all the photos. I first do it in Picasa and I can get 90% of them that way. I bring into photoshop the main image and a few others that might need tweaking. Also for the image above, I digitally removed an oversized love chair.

Frank

Sometimes I put text in too, go back to blog! I have since posted MORE examples in the main blog since this has received such a good reaction.

05/08/2007 08:31 AM

by Northern Virginia Homes - FRANKLY REAL ESTATE Inc

Thanks. I have this bookmarked.

05/08/2007 08:58 AM

by Lake Wallenpaupack Pike County PA Real Estate | Karen E Rice (WEICHERT, REALTORS® Paupack Group )

WOW - Frank. What a great idea and it looks like an easy program to work with. It really makes quite a statement. Thanks for sharing!

05/08/2007 09:10 AM

by Calie Waterhouse (Chandler AZ)

Frank, looks great what size do you use for the MLS 360 X 240 with a 72 or 96 DPI?

05/08/2007 09:10 AM

by Mitchell Jamel e-PRO Realtor (Brite Realty - Saint Augustine Florida)

Great job, Frank! I use Picasa2 as well, and absolutely love it.

Thanks for sharing.

05/08/2007 09:18 AM

by Suzanne Bennett: Sold By Design- St. Petersburg (Sold By Design)

Thanks for the tip Frank. I'm going to check out picasa2 today. I've not heard of it before.

05/08/2007 09:26 AM

by Keith Jeppson - Salt Lake City Real Estate (Keller Williams Utah Realty)

Hey Mitchell,

I don't remember the exact dimensions. Our MLS has an odd default size. If you upload all the images untouched, it will leave a white bar on the sides. So I have to crop a bit from the top and bottom (thus making it wider) in order to use up the full frame.

As for size, either of those resolutions is fine since they tend to make them pretty small.

Frank

05/08/2007 09:37 AM

by Northern Virginia Homes - FRANKLY REAL ESTATE Inc

Awesome visual prsentation!! Thanks for sharing - back to photoshop class I go!! :)

05/08/2007 10:18 AM

by Deanne Knutter (Turning Leaf Equities, LLC)

Excellent! Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.

05/08/2007 10:22 AM

by Diane Bell, Hilton Head Real Estate, Bluffton (Charter 1 Real Estate, Hilton Head, Bluffton, SC)

Wow, what a wonderful idea!! Thank you for sharing, I'm going to play with my photoshop this week!

05/08/2007 11:01 AM

by Ana Connell--Burbank Real Estate (Exit Family Realty)

This is a great idea! I do edit any pics needed for lighting, etc., but I hadn't thought about making a collage for the main pic. Thanks for the post!

05/08/2007 12:34 PM

by Vickie Arcuri - Ft. Lauderdale Real Estate (EWM Realtors- Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell, Inc.)

Well done Frank! I use PhotoShop as well, but you have given me some neat new ideas. Thanks!

...Jay

05/08/2007 12:41 PM

by Jay Burnham - The Coldwell Banker Guy (Coldwell Banker)

Great idea, I've seen the collage a couple of times on MLS, but never done as nicely as you've done here.

I have photoshop elements but can't for the life of me figure out how to use it.

I'll have to figure it out now that I've bought the Kodak v705!

05/08/2007 02:30 PM

by Dane Caldwell - Downtown Toronto Decorator Home Stager (2 Hounds Design + Home Staging)

I really like the idea of inserting additional photos to minimize an otherwise boring front yard (or even worse, the street). Thanks for the ideas!

05/08/2007 03:25 PM

by John Novak - REALTOR®, Las Vegas and Henderson, NV (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace)

Frank thank you for the information what a great idea to add additional pictures to the main photo .

05/08/2007 05:17 PM

by Joe Gomez (Realty Executives of Treasure Valley)

Hi Frank - Love this post, and I have bookmarked it! I use Picassa already, but did not know anything about doing the collages. I'll have to check that out as I love that effect.

Many thanks for sharing this post - excellent tips!
Ann

05/08/2007 06:17 PM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

Frank...

I snagged Picasa a month or so ago. Feel in love with it. My photos have never looked better :)

TLW...ROAR!

05/08/2007 06:18 PM

by "The Lovely Wife"...Broker Bryant's Wife :) (Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. )

Wow that is an improvement. I am interested in photoshop but the learning curve is massive. I just have to get to amazon and get Photoshop for Dummies. But yeah definitely the "afters" are great!

05/08/2007 06:49 PM

by Todd & Danielle Millar (Glenn Simon Inc.)

Good job. I like it when we can find creative ways to legally get around the liitations (not the intent) of technology. I also like your use of the software to make the picture more appealing.

05/08/2007 07:18 PM

by Larry Morris, CMPS, Newberg Oregon (NW Lending Solutions)

Beautiful pictures. Those building look so big! Great post.

05/08/2007 10:18 PM

by Christy Powers - Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent (Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners)

Frank, thanks for the pointers. You've done a great job of proving how the small things can make a huge difference.

05/08/2007 10:44 PM

by Ryan Hukill - Edmond Realtor® (Hukill Group - Paradigm Realty)

Frank -- You should probably add this to the Photoshop Elements for Real Estate group, too. (I hope I didn't step on Mike's toes by saying that) :-)

Todd & Danielle -- Check out the Photoshop Elements for Real Estate Group .... you might not need to buy the book ......

05/09/2007 07:12 AM

by Cheryl Johnson, Bob Taylor Properties, Inc., Los Angeles, CA

Frank, nice job on the photos. I'm curious about the location of the palm tree in Arlington.................................

05/09/2007 06:28 PM

by Dave Rosenmarkle (Highland Realty)

Gosh, you are good !!

05/09/2007 06:43 PM

by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor, Michigan)

It's amazing the clarity of the pictures, after you sharpened the image! I love the collage idea!!

05/11/2007 06:49 AM

by Ed Vogt, Grandville, MI Audu Real Estate (Audu Real Estate)

I don't think I ever put up a photo that didn't get a photoshop treatment, I don't sharpen much but lightening and blending, resizing, and occasionally titling. Your example was great, we all know what green grass looks like so why not take advantage of the space.

05/11/2007 07:32 PM

Couldn't you paint the yellowed palm fronds green?

Just Kidding... Good job!

05/15/2007 08:08 AM

Impressive details...I need to run out and get photoshop today!!

08/17/2007 12:17 PM

by Tracy Santrock - Cary NC Real Estate (Fonville Morisey)

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