photography: Million Dollar Homes should have Million Dollar Photos
- 08/12/09 11:03 AM
Ok, so I would hope people would know by now that one of my biggest pet peeves is real estate photographs. It really drives me crazy with all the terrible photos I see constantly in the MLS database. I can understand terrible photos for $100,000 homes (but even those tilted photos get under my skin), but when it comes to terrible photographed homes priced in the million dollar range...I just don't get it.Homeowners - When you hire real estate agents to sell your home, do the agents even tell you about their marketing plan? Better yet, do you even ask? Do … (13 comments)
photography: Shooting Fireworks in Minneapolis
- 07/26/09 04:01 PM
Last night I took the chance to photograph the fireworks show in downtown Minneapolis for the annual Aquatennial celebration. It was my first time shooting fireworks so it was actually pretty fun trying to time the bursts. Out of 100 shots, I probably have five photos that are worthy of keeping. … (2 comments)
One of my favorite spots to visit in Minneapolis is Minnehaha Falls. A few weeks ago, I took the camera out on a cloudy day and was able to capture this silky effect of the waterfall. … (2 comments)
photography: Down the Wintery Lane in Minnesota
- 02/06/09 10:26 AM
The other day we got a misty snow early in the morning which coated the trees with glimmering snow. As the sun was rising, I decided to turn down a rural lane on the way from dropping my son off at pre-school and take some shots.
… (5 comments)
photography: Photos from the Blackberry Curve
- 10/13/08 03:41 PM
About a month ago I bought a Blackberry Curve...finally upgrading my phone to something that can help my business get better. Sprint has a fantastic "Everything" plan for $99/month, and I would never have gotten this phone if not for this plan. Tonight I was driving by Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis after showing some homes and decided to test out the camera for dusk shots. Here are three of the best photos I was able to capture. Not too bad if you ask me. (the last shot of the dock came out slightly blurry, so I thought the photo would make a great … (16 comments)
photography: Across the Lake in Loring Park
- 09/17/08 05:08 AM
Two weeks ago I visited Loring Park in Minneapolis to take some photos for one of my listings that is two blocks away. It was a great afternoon, and I got some wonderful shots. I didn't arrive until 2 pm, so I had to work around the sun. An easy way to do this, I have found, is to take photos from under trees, so that the sun is blocked out by the leaves and branches. Your own natural camera hood if you like. Each of these photos was taken under a tree...the second photo I let the tree branches become a … (7 comments)
It's nice being able to drive into downtown Minneapolis on a Monday, late morning, and have the road mostly to yourself. You sure don't see this in any of the other major U.S. cities. I love approaching the city from the south...you get a really great shot of the cityscape. For a photo I took while downtown, see my other Minneapolis Real Estate Blog. … (15 comments)
photography: Summer Wildflowers around Minnesota
- 08/07/08 09:10 AM
Here are some recent photos I took of wildflowers growing near my home. Some of these are hard to photograph as many are semi-shade and I haven't quite figured out how to get a good photo in shade without washing out the subject with a flash. Tall Bellflower Wild Bergamot Turk's Cap Lily … (2 comments)
photography: My Favorite Spot to Drive Through
- 06/25/08 03:12 PM
There is this little area of road near the Mississippi River just south of La Crescent in Southeast Minnesota that always captures my eye. If I had to describe peace, then this would be one of the first places I would think of. We drive though it every time I travel to Wisconsin to visit the in-laws. On one side is this old looking train bridge that sits just above a small tributary stream. On the other side is a water-marsh area that is always a nice bright green. Finally, after two years, I stopped to take some photos. Enjoy! … (12 comments)
photography: My Photos Lie...but I am not Going to Change Them
- 06/15/08 03:14 PM
Many real estate agents have a computer generated feedback system in place for their listings, so that when a home is shown, the agent can let the seller know what buyers think of their home. It is a great way to get honest feedback about price, condition, etc.Today I received some feedback on one of my listings. I had to chuckle at this one. Apparently I have been asked to put new photos of the home on the Multiple Listing System because the home looks nothing like the photos. In fact, the home is too small. Hmmm...the home is only 1000 … (19 comments)
photography: A Simple Lesson...
- 05/12/08 04:10 AM
...is to use natural light as much as possible. Now I know this might seem elementary, but how often do you take a shot outside and not think about the lighting? How often do you forget about that big bright disk in the sky and use it against you?
Sun behind a Cloud Full Sun I am sure you can see the difference a cloud can make. I took this shot at 2 pm. The sun is starting to creep around the side of the church, … (9 comments)
photography: Don't Forget the Black and White
- 05/07/08 04:11 AM
One my favorite mediums to take photos with is my little black and white setting on my camera. Sure you can go into photoshop and turn color photos into black and white, but I think you get a better result when you take the photos out in the field in B&W. You can instantly see how the shadows and grey areas fall in the photo and then tweak your camera position or subject matter. The coming rain storm was great to capture.
My last photo post talked about close up pictures of flowers, but you might consider close up shots of plants as … (10 comments)
photography: A Great Time for Photos is...
- 05/03/08 04:39 AM
...right after a spring rain. If you want to get some great shots of flowers or foliage with water droplets, then head out with your camera after a rain. Yesterday we had a light spring rain with a slight chill in the air. I decided to bundle up in my rain boots and rain coat and try to get some shots like the pros. Spring is just happening in Minnesota, very late for the season, but there are still some great early flowers to photograph. The first flower I came upon was the Brunerra Hosta at the right. It blooms dainty little purple-blue … (22 comments)
photography: Jen's Number One Pet Peeve When it Comes to Marketing a Home for Sale
- 04/04/08 05:39 PM
For those of you that read my blog, you know that I am a big advocate of good photography. Now, I am no professional, but I have trained myself to realize and see the benefit photography can make when selling a home. So when I was had some extra time on my hands two weeks ago, I shot this video. Unfortunately, it is not finished, at least from what I had planned. A few days after filming, we took our kids to Chuck E Cheese when the grandparents were in town. Little did we realize it was spring break, so every kid … (28 comments)
photography: Sunsets over Minnesota
- 03/14/08 05:39 AM
Last evening I had the pleasure of witnessing one of the most spectacular sunsets I have seen in a long time. I had just finished an open house at my listing, when I realized how spectacular the clouds were, so I grabbed my camera and hurried outside. I was standing on the Bluffs above the Mississippi River, on the Wisconsin side in Prescott, with the sun setting over Minnesota. There were some rain clouds to the southwest, which you can see in a few of the photos. All in all, I just had to thank God for letting me witness the splendor. How … (12 comments)
photography: Luxury Home Marketing takes Extra Effort
- 02/14/08 12:18 PM
I recently sat down with a Twin Cities luxury home owner and discussed listing their property in the next few weeks. When it comes to selling a luxury home, I usually do what is called a "two-step" presentation. The first meeting is a chance to tour the home, listen to the homeowner's wants and needs, and get an overall idea on the scope of the property and its relationship to the market. Either the next day, or a few days later, I meet with the owners again, and give my presentation on the state of the market, my recommended listing price … (18 comments)
photography: How Light Can be Your Worst Enemy
- 02/11/08 02:04 PM
Six years ago I married into a Catholic family, knowing full well that one day I would convert into the church. Now this post isn't about religion, but religion is going to help me write this post. This Sunday I celebrated my Rite of Election at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. I had been in the church before during the last Ramsey Hill Home Tour, and knew it would be a great opportunity to test out my camera. The church is stunning, to say the least, and would provide some beautiful photos. But I knew I would have some major lighting problems, … (22 comments)
photography: For a Luxury Home, the Picture Says a Thousand Feelings
- 01/09/08 01:16 PM
If you read my blog, then you should know that I love photography. Sometimes words alone cannot express the beauty of a sunset, or the serenity of one simple gorgeous flower growing in a field. But great photography doesn't have to stop with nature. For the most part, photos tell a story. Real estate unfortunately has always been thought of as just "selling a home". Many agents neglect, or fail to see, that selling a home has become so much more. Buyers want to hear the story of the home and know the home has been loved. In addition, especially on … (16 comments)
photography: New Winter Scenes of Life in Minnesota
- 12/28/07 08:43 AM
Here are some new photos takes during the snow storms we had over the Christmas holiday. As you can see, I like Black & White photos, but I mingled in some colored shots here and there. The birds were kind enough to allow me to stand right next to the feeder and take action shots of them. After a while, my feet started to get numb and I had to go inside. Note to photographers: the cold makes your camera battery run down really fast so make sure to bring a spare. … (4 comments)
photography: The First Snow in Minnesota
- 11/23/07 02:34 PM
It snowed Thanksgiving morning and I was able to venture out into the cold to take some photos. I figured that photos in black and white would turn out really well with the white of the snow, and I think they came out pretty well. As one of the first sunny days in a couple of weeks, I had to hurry before it melted the snow. Sure enough, a half hour later, everything was melting. Today is was completely gone. I hope you enjoy some pictures of life in Minneosta at the beginning of Winter! … (10 comments)
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Ok, so I would hope people would know by now that one of my biggest pet peeves is real estate photographs. It really drives me crazy with all the terrible photos I see constantly in the MLS database. I can understand terrible photos for $100,000 homes (but even those tilted photos get under my skin), but when it comes to terrible photographed homes priced in the million dollar range...I just don't get it.Homeowners - When you hire real estate agents to sell your home, do the agents even tell you about their marketing plan? Better yet, do you even ask? Do … (13 comments)
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