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Let Your "Before and After" Pictures Be Worth Two Thousand Words

By
Home Stager with Interior Solutions by J.D. Eiman

Hello stagers, real estate agents, and photographers:

Sometimes when I look at "before and after" photos on Web sites I have a hard time telling that it is the same room. The angle has followed the furniture (which has moved) and the viewer is no longer awed by the transformation, but convinced that it is just a different room all together! This is not really very benefitial for our industry.

To anyone who takes a photo of something or somwhere that will be transformed - try to create the best before and afters that you can. The most important and most basic requirement: take the photo from the same angle / place. I feel silly even saying it - but it really matters so much. Here are a few hints for doing so:

  1. Take notes when you do your "before" shots. Make a note where you were standing, the orientaion of the camera (vertical or horizontal), the angle you shot and what was in view. For example: on the first step of the staircase, across front of room, horizontal, right side of frame on left edge of window, left edge of frame includes mantle. This may sound like a lot of note taking for a simple shot - but a great set of B&A photos is worth TWO thousand words! Also remember that after a view hours of rearranging and some 20 photos you'll be surprised how well you forget where you were when you took each photo. Digitals help, but it takes time to look through all the photos and analyze that small screen, notes will never fail. In time your note taking will develop a short hand that you'll know (mine would look like: 1stairXroomfront-H-leftwindowR- all mantleL) if you still find this too time consuming maybe you'd benefit from creating a photo traking form.
  2. Use physical features in the room like doorways and handrails as markers. I lean against the door jam to physically imprint a memory of my place. I'll have the window trim on my spine to lock me into the next position. Mark it with a piece of tape as long as it doesn't show in your next photo, and try to take the photo with a good downward angle. For you petite photographers, this means you might want to always shoot from the first rung of a step ladder (use the same ladder for "after").
  3. The same person should take before and after - as they are still the same height (unless you changed your shoes). Remember to stand on that ladder again.
  4. While you'll remember to take photos of key locations, the places where the furniture is drawing your eye, and the architectural details, like the fireplace, don't forget to take the odd directions, too. If we are there to put the furniture in it's best place, then most likely it will not be where is was when you came in when you are ready to go home. The original view from the door may draw your attention toward the slider and the big couch pressed against the wall - but the finished room will hightlight a cozy conversation area and a window. Try to plan your room in your head before hand and take that shot too, even if is a bald corner. 
  5. If all else fails, take the "before" shots AFTER the "after" shots. Which really makes them the "after" shots, but you get what I mean. This is actually the "professional's" way to do transformation shots, but those people have too much time, and too much muscle. If you get the room done and don't have the before shot - your best bet would be to undo the room - remembering where you were standing for the after or shooting again - after redoing the room ... I used this technique in this little kitchen nook area in my staging gallery, as an example.
  6. Finally and most importantly - Use photoshop to edit the small variances in the photo. By switching back and forth quickly between two photos the small differences will appear: less ceiling showing, more wall showing to side of window, photographer was stanidng closer/further. The new items on the mantle or counter top should almost appear and disappear (like magic) without the surfaces moving. For my best example see the photo of the bathroom (last one) in my staging gallery. Sometime the camera is off just a little in angle - with "rotate" you can turn a small degree, but then you'll need to trim the edges. Always save under a new name in case you go edit crazy and do something incorrectly, you always have the original to go back to. In fact, try to save oftern as editing can take a long time and to loose all your changes just trying to undo the last, could set you back an hour! If you don't know how to use photo editing software, get help, take a class or just experiment on extra file copies of a few photographs. It really only takes practice.

If when you get home to edit you realize you didn't get an "after" photo to compliment a great "before" ask the home owner to take one and e-mail it too you, if you can't get there yourself. Odds are that their angle will be close if you detail your location (from your notes). It is better to have a good "close" than no shot at all.

Now maybe it is just me and I love DETAIL - but I am sure there are a few homeowners out there who appreciate the kind of exacting detail I strive for in my photos. It may take some extra effort but aren't the photos of what we do the story we are trying to tell: How staging transforms homes and helps people. Let's help them see that more easily and more dramatically! May all your photos be in focus and your angles the same!

 

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Kris Floro
All Dolled Up - Burlington, KY

I love the mouse roll over on your photos!  I have the same issue when trying to get the same "after" shot.  I found that using tape on the floor where you would stand for both before and after helps, too!

Kris

Jul 24, 2007 10:55 PM
Home Staging
Reston, VA
Great post Julia.  There always seem to be a thousand "hats" we have to wear as business owners and I struggle with being a decent photographer and am often frustrated when I get home and don't have as many good shots as I thought I did.  This is an area I continue to work at....along with several others. I consider myself a constant work in progress :-)
Jul 24, 2007 10:59 PM
Juliet Johnson
Vizzitopia - St Johns, FL
Jacksonville Photography & Digital Marketing
It's a real problem lining them up for the portfolio later, if you've changed it all around.  I now take my befores with me, so that I can get the same shots for my website.  If I can't get it then, I try to remember to do it as I de-stage.  It'll happen one day.
Jul 24, 2007 11:48 PM
Ginger Magoon
Remax - Bryan College Station - College Station, TX
Bryan, College Station Texas Real Estate
Great post.  Thanks for the info.  Well done
Jul 24, 2007 11:49 PM
Susan Smith
Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT

Wow...I could mouse over your photos all day!  Such instant gratification!  Thanks for the tips.  I just got a new camera, now I'll know what to do with it!  I'm bookmarking this post!

Susan

Jul 25, 2007 01:30 AM
JoAnn Eiman
Interior Solutions by J.D. Eiman - Placentia, CA
Interior Solutions, Home Staging in O.C.

I don't presume to be comprehensive in my list as I have already thought of more points. I enjoy the feedback - I haven't thought about "before" photos when de-staging, as I am usually just in the mode of get-it-out-of-there... and often just send my crew. Thanks for reminding me of that, it delays the final product, but again, better late then never. Thanks Juliet.

7. Use a TRI-POD if you are doing the photos is de-staging or as described in item 5. I don't use them on a regular basis as they are too much effort for me, but I own two, a small table top and a full size.

Take photos of table tops and vignettes, after the fact. Since these are usually fairly simple. It's not too much effort.

I agree, Denise, we are all works in progress, and I just wanted to encourage others to think seriously about their B&A's.

Susan, I giggled out loud when I read your post - instant gratification is why I do staging and not interior decorating!

Jul 25, 2007 02:59 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY

Joann - Thanks so much for the great suggestions!  If the job takes more than one day I bring the before pictures with me that way I know exactly what the befores looked like.  

You should so some photo comparisons and post them in the Photography  group!

Jul 25, 2007 03:23 AM
Susan Smith
Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT
Hey JoAnn, glad I could make you giggle!  ;)  Hey, one of my best friends lived in Placentia - have had great "girls weekends" there!  She's in NC now (fish out of water, really!).
Jul 25, 2007 03:51 AM
Yvonne Root
rooms b.y. root - Prescott, AZ
Home Stager - Northern Arizona

JoAnn, Thanks for feeling silly and still posting. This is stuff I need to know more about. I have been saying I can't instead of I'll try. You are one of many here on AR and in private conversations who have made me think that perhaps I can. When I tried to give you and 5 and to bookmark you I kept getting an error message from AR. Hopefully, with my 3rd try you will be bookmarked and have a 5 rating.

 

Jul 25, 2007 09:41 AM
JoAnn Eiman
Interior Solutions by J.D. Eiman - Placentia, CA
Interior Solutions, Home Staging in O.C.

y,

Clever name for your company - thanks for the post, the rating (or at least the trying) it's the trying that counts! I am new at this - and i see you are impressively at 27000+ points. You've been at this longer than me- do you have any additions to the list?

Jul 25, 2007 10:39 AM
JoAnn Eiman
Interior Solutions by J.D. Eiman - Placentia, CA
Interior Solutions, Home Staging in O.C.

Susan:

Let me know when the next girls weekend here in Placentia is- I'll join you at a spa for sure!

Jul 25, 2007 10:41 AM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hey J.D.

Wow, great job on this post. Wonderful information, thank you for sharing!

Jul 25, 2007 02:19 PM