What are you trying to sell?

So True!  I take way more pictures than I could ever use, just trying to decide what showcases the features best!   Joy

Tina, bad photos are a pet peeve of mine. I dislike the distorted ones as much as the narrow ones and totally agree with you - sometimes it looks like Craigslist rather than the MLS!

Tina,

Excellent suggestions to follow.. what are we selling!  A wide angel lense on the camera is a good investment or buy one that has that feature.. that could help.. maybe some don't know how to use it.. but your post will get us all talking!

Hi Tina~ I have bought those magnetic lens that you add to your camera.  I do not think they are worth it.  You are better off investing is a good wide lens that is built in to the camera.

I used to take my own photos for listings. I thought I was a pretty good picture taker but not a good photographer. I have a high quality camera and stitching software. I understand some basics about lighting. I know to put the seat down on the toilet and not stand where my reflection in the bathroom mirror will show up in the photo. Reality was, I was never completely happy with my pictures. They were o.k. in an average kind of way, but they did not issue a "call to action".

A few months ago, I joined with another REALTOR, Carl Medford, who has always used a professional photographer. What a difference! The photos that we put on the MLS and on various websites are so much better than average that there is no comparison to what I used to do and to what most agents do. Sure that's my opinion, but check them out http://www.38580goodrich.com/

These photos separate our listings from many that you will see and issue a strong invitation for potential buyers to see the house in person.

If you are not a professional photographer, hire one. You wouldn't refer a client to an amateur real estate agent, would you?

John Juarez, REALTOR

Windermere Properties of the East Bay

John@CarlMedford.com

510-673-0686

What a hoot.  I used to be an amateur photographer and it is amazing to me what I see for pictures on the MLS.  Pictures of furniture, as you said, grainy pictures, way too dark pictures, and the list goes on.  If you can't take acceptable pictures, then hire someone to do them for you.  Otherwise you are not doing an adequate job for your client.

Very great point.  I like the ones with the dog, does he come with the house?

Well, at least it was a nice bed. I've seen photos of just a mattress on the floor. Maybe that was to demonstrate the size of the room??

Worse, I've seen a LOT of photos of toilets. Kind of like they think not every house has one so they need to show it's there.

Now that everyone has digital cameras there is no excuse not to take enough shots to get some good ones.

And if you stand to make some hefty change when you sell the house, why not invest a few dollars in hiring a person who is trained to make homes look the best they can... a professional photographer.

Funny post Tina. I try to get as many pics as poss into the Listing. However, you will be glad to know that I do not include the "bed" pics. lol

How about 2 pictures (main is front view, okay; click for 2nd picture and behold side door picture) or no pictures of the home at all? According to writeup the home is so great; a picture doesn't do it justice so no picture?? Even with a cheap digital you can usually get a good shot of the room standing in a corner. When I find pictures taken from the middle of the room I expect they are trying to show a unique feature in the room but not looking at the window treatments. Also about 3 pictures of bedrooms; is it different views or separate rooms, no captions so who knows what you are looking at.

My buyers have told me don't send them MLS feeds that have no pictures because they are probably eyesores which is why the agents didn't take at least outside pictures. Like Joy #48 I fill my camera with pictures; I might take 2-3 pictures of one room, from different sides or entrances (if more than one entry into room); I always make sure that items in the room complement (straighten bed covers; straighten coffee table, open shades for natural light, etc.) the atmosphere of the room I'm shooting.

Great post-Also one of my pet peeves. At least this bed has no clothes on it. I have acutally seen photos on MLS where the bed is piled with clothes, or there is a laundry basket with clothes spilling out onto the floor, or they very blurry, or very dark pictures that you cannot quite make out what your looking at!

What are these agents thinking, or better seeing when they post these pictures??

Tina,

Good morning. You are so right, but was it the first or second photo that was used ?

I take all my own photos, and am very critical of those I post. Growing up in Retail, if the very first impression is not a good one, 'they' will just click to the next property- not seeing any additional photos or taking the opportunity to read any text.

Recently Paul Meleedy (RE/MAX International) created a FaceBook page for 'Really Bad MLS Photos' its quite ... interesting.

Steven Zimmerman Realtor ABR GRI / Prudential Best Realty, Inc. / GULF HARBORS - on Florida's Gulf of Mexico - Resident, Waterfront Specialist & Developer's Representative http://retaggr.com/page/StevenZimmerman

I absolutely agree....it would be great if we all focused on pictures of the property not the contents.

I prefer to focus on the marketing of a home and let a photographer do the photos, but I am still very critical and only choose a small % of photos to go online.  I want pictures that will create interest in the home.

With the quality of equipment out there, some amatures can provide tremendous shots and spend the time improving the photos with Photoshop etc...so not doing a good job can not be blamed on cost.  

Unless a Realtor has the time and skill to do this themselves I do not understand why they would not invest a few dollars.  

Tina,

You stepped in it, one of my biggest pet peeves. I use ridiculous pics in my listing presentation to show my prospects how I will effectively market their home, not their FURNITURE!

I really like pics with the trash can in the kitchen showing, or a kitchen counter with a huge bouquet of flowers in the middle of the shot, personal favorite- bath tubs with shampoo and soap laying out.  REALLY ?!?!

Tina, I have the same problem seeing the house sometimes, because I tend to get caught up looking at the decorating or family photos.  It is hard to see the house when the things are distracting, even when you are in the house and not just looking at pictures of it.

Tina, good post. Yes it's a pet peeve of mine also. Please show me the 'room' Mr. or Ms. Listing Agent and forget about the sellers stuff highlights.  The picture of the toilet is also a bath pic favorite of mine also.

I have never been able to figure out why possesses some agents to chose the photos they do. Dogs, plants, candles, sinks full of dishes. What are they thinking?

This is a bad one because the room looks big enough that an amateur could have taken 20 pixs and gotten an angle of the room, not the bed. I think that's the key, take lots of pictures of each room. You don't know what you will end up with. Now if it's a small room, it is much harder, so maybe stand on a chair.

This is, of course, for those of us who do not hire a professional photographer each time.

Practice can make perfect; or, at least, much better.