real estate photography: Highlights from the 2009 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
- 12/17/09 05:00 AM
The new 2009 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers provides some very interesting points. Amongst others, and related to real estate photography, are that "90% of all buyers used the internet to search" and "84% of buyers reported the photos to be the most useful information".
NAR has recently released the 2009 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. The report compiles the results of 9,138 surveys returned by buyers and sellers who sold or purchased a home between July 2008 and June 2009. The surveys were sent to buyers and sellers based on deed transfers and other … (3 comments)
real estate photography: Real Estate Photo Terms of Service--forget and you'll pay
- 12/10/09 03:55 AM
Real Estate Photo Terms of Service--forget and you'll pay As a real estate photographer and videographer, I'm essentially selling a service to realtors in the Toronto and GTA area. Since this is not a product, and there is no immediate exchange, I have to--or at least I thought I did-- give realtors the benefit of doubt regarding payment for my work. For quite some time, I would do the work without any payment upfront and would trust that I would be paid for it. Hehe. Except for a few realtors who chose to pay me three months after I did the … (4 comments)
real estate photography: Virtual Tour gallery: A nice way to present your client's property in Toronto
- 12/02/09 05:08 AM
Virtual Tour gallery: A nice way to present your client's property in Toronto We prepare these slideshows for clients on a regular basis. They like it because we provide them with code that they can easily add to their blogs, websites, even emails. If you want one of these put together, feel free to let us know and we'll get one together with your photos and choice of music and titles. … (4 comments)
real estate photography: How you exploit others without knowing it
- 11/16/09 03:49 AM
It's funny. I used to scoff at the franchise photography companies out there (you know the ones that many agents and offices use--I can't name them for fear of being sued for defamation). Why did I scoff? Well, when I started out as a photographer, I called "the big company" in town and asked if I could work for them. I just wanted to make some extra cash before setting off on my own. I spoke to the owner of this franshise and he explain, quite impatiently and rudely, that not only do I require specific equipment (slr camera, wide lens, … (3 comments)
real estate photography: Before and After
- 10/29/09 04:54 AM
The before's are the agent's shots; the afters are mine--and I'll let you guess which are the befores and which are the afters. How much did it cost the agent? $79. Is it worth it? I think so. Do you?
… (9 comments)
real estate photography: Lessons in real estate photography
- 10/29/09 01:25 AM
I've been contemplating the idea of offering a lunch and learn of sorts, where I would present key photographic techniques for capturing good real estate interiors and exteriors to a group of real estate agents at their office. I'm sure I'd get a crowd, if only for the free pizza and pop, and I'm quite confident that the presentation would be enjoyed, if only by those non professional photographers/agents. I could teach about the importance of exposure, about how to use the histogram, about the importance of keeping verticals straight, and the ideal shooting heights for different rooms, and on and … (4 comments)
real estate photography: Marketing: In the days of telegrams, text messaging was a fictional technology
- 09/28/09 01:38 AM
In our short but accelerated--indeed, exponentially accelerated--technological growth, forms of communication are constantly evolving and changing, and for the most part, its wise to change with them, to adapt or be left behind with the relics. When the telegram was invented, I imagine that there were many who renounced anything to do with it and instead remained loyal to their post. When the telephone was introduced, I'm sure those who were used to the telegram had a hard time accepting this new form of communication. And when emailing and text messaging was introduced, I'm sure--actually, I know from experience--that there were … (3 comments)
real estate photography: Marketing: Make a bad photo look good
- 09/16/09 08:39 AM
Marketing: Make a bad photo look good I just wanted to share with you realtors and stagers what can be done to existing photos. If you have an existing photo that needs work, let me know and I can help improve it for you. Here's a good example of what can be done (note that the photos below are property of Clarity Northwest Photography and are only used here to demonstrate): By the way, the below are not two different photos but rather one original photo (the top one) copied and manipulated (the bottom one).
As a real estate photographer and videographer, I am shocked at just how many bad photos I see online, on MLS, of what people consider their biggest investment in their lives. What bothers me is that a chocolate bar company will spend millions on photos and videos to sell a $1 candy, but a homeowner won't spend a few hundred dollars fora photographer to sell a property worth hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars! Shocking, right? I bet if you were selling a $100,000 car, for instance, you would do your best to market it properly with nice … (2 comments)
real estate photography: Marketing: Less is NOT more
- 09/15/09 03:38 AM
I am proud to say that I am not the cheapest real estate photographer and videographer in Toronto. Absurd claim, right? Maybe not! I've learned through experience and market research that continually lowering prices results in continually lowered quality. And, without a doubt, that’s what realtors should expect from some of the cheaper photographers out there. Yes, amateur photographers may offer photo services that are cheaper than mine. But guess what? You'll be disappointed. I would almost guarantee it. There are many amateurs who are willing to work for next to nothing. Why? Because no one is willing to pay … (2 comments)
real estate photography: How to: improve your Real Estate marketing with bad photos
- 09/14/09 05:29 AM
Recently, after inquiring whether a realtor might want to try my video services for their listings, they told me that they prefer to do their videos themselves, and, oddly, they explained that they like their videos to be handheld, shaky, with an obvious amateur look to it. I immediately thought about that horrible movie, The Blair Witch Project, and was both stunned and interested to know more about this apparent trend that I have been missing out on. So I asked for reasons why they prefer this look. Unfortunately, the realtor could not give me any, or didn't want to, or … (2 comments)
real estate photography: Law: What you need to know about copyright in Real Estate
- 09/10/09 11:22 AM
In my research, I come across many realtor websites that use nice, professional looking photos in their banners, advertising, etc. As a photographer and videographer in Toronto, when I see these I wonder whether they are actually the realtor's own photos, purchased, or stolen. Judging by the quality of property photos posted, it was more than clear that they simply couldn't have shot the good photos themselves--the discrepancy was too great. As a photographer who spent the last 10 or so years fine tuning my skills, it irks me to think that people would steal photos and use them without … (10 comments)
Stone Home Photo + Video is a Toronto based real estate photo and video marketing company focused on serving Toronto and area real estate professionals.
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