How Far Is Too Far With Photo Editing?

Editing a photograph, especially in my business as inspector could get me into trouble. I never edit. I just make certain that I tell the truth. whether it is dark, improper exposure or what ever the case may be. I do not edit the photographs I take but I certainly do put small amount of comments inside the photographs that appear in my reports. Pointing out the exact problem.

I think editing, like when you pick up a magazine, is not showing you the real thing.      

About all I do to photos is:

• Correct the levels and white balance.  This simply fixes my lame ass photography skills.  Presents the room or the home in a more natural light.
• I will remove cars from driveways, trash cans, water hoses, extension cords, etc.
• I'll generally leave the sky as it is, even though most times in WA it's gray, grey, or some shade of full cloud cover.
• In my first year as an agent, I do admit that I did remove a power line or two.  But I won't any longer as it does accurately represent the home.
• I have occasionally "greened" up a yard or two.

Here is an example I did for one of my listings and used it to show others in my office what is possible with Photoshop (I used to work for Adobe, so I may be at a slight advantage)

http://trekkin.com/beforeafter.html

In this photo I:

• Removed the debris (bbq's, etc) from the left side of the door.
• Removed the garbage cans from the left side of the garage
• "Fixed" the broken window downstairs (This was to be done shortly after the home went on the market, so I felt it was still an accurate representation of the home)
• Removed the dangling electrical cord by the garage
• Notice the power lines are still in the photo and that would have been an UBER easy fix.
• The sky is still that shade of full cloud cover.

Did I go too far?  I don't think so.  Your comments?  I also left the photos full size so you could see any editing blunders I may have made.  At 400 px wide as is typical on the MLS, they would be barely visible.

John - Wow - you are a real Photoshop pro.  You should post your comment as a blog in the photography group.  

OK I would not actually do it but I think some virtual landscaping would have been a really nice addition.  ;) 

Well...I think, unless we're actaully selling ourselves (for $'s),  we can rid those nasty little wrinkles. What say  you? LOL

Sharon

You better believe it.  Who wants to see my wrinkles?  Not me!  :)

Jeff, The key thing to do is to take the photo correctly in the first place.

• Remove all distracting objects such as trash can, bikes etc
• Try different angles to get the house in the best light and see the most of it
• Frame the shot properly
• Edit it by cropping, brightening, color correction
• do not remove permanent objects such as utility poles
• Brown grass..In NC all our warm weather grasses go brown in the winter. So if the photo was taken then and the home is still on the market in the spring go back and take another
• Do not portray a false image..no-no!

Ginger

Taking a few minutes and picking up the strays can make a HUGE difference.  There are NO ethical issues that one can possibly present with images that are edited in camera. 

And, the nice touch was that the owner (standing behind me while I shot this with a point and shoot digital camera) said I needed to do all of the rooms.  And that after looking at her house on the website, she might not want to move...

That makes me want to shoot stuff like this...

I saw someone ask but never saw the response, so here it is.

Taken from NAR 2008 Realtor Code of Ethics:

Article 12
REALTORS^® shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing, and other representations.