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My Magic Man

Home Stager with Home Star Staging

November 07, 2007 01:09 PM

OK I'm sold on the professional photographer for staged home photography now.

Not that I wasn't before but I just hadn't gotten to know any before I met John McConnell, Professional Photographer (aka Magic Man) over the course of the last few months. He's not only a great photographer but he's also a fine person and becoming a friend. He's always got a smile on his face and a good word for everyone. His personality alone won me over. But in all honestly....

I also needed some great quality photos for myself and my marketing purposes but just hadn't gotten around to it nor made the allowance for it in my budget. I am also the worst when it comes time to take after photos of the staged homes I work on because of sheer exhaustion honestly. I don't take the time I need to take good photos or even at all sometimes! Can any body relate to this?

WHAT WAS I THINKING? IT'S MORE THAN WORTH IT for sure. And if you haven't thought about it before, truly think about it for the future.

Combining Professional Home Staging services with a Professional Photographer who understands the value is a win win win for YOU, the PHOTOGRAPHER and the CLIENT!

Please take a look at my first set of staged home photos of professionally photographed rooms in a totally remodeled, beautiful Allen, TX home I staged today. I'm exhausted but just was too excited and wanted to share some shots. It's MAGIC....

living room before staging

Living Room Before Staging (and floor replacement) Photographed by Karen Otto, Professional HOME STAGER

Living Room after staging

Living Room After Staging - Photographed by John McConnell, Professional PHOTOGRAPHER

view from living to eat in kitchen

View from Living Room to Eat-In Kitchen Before Staging - Photo by Karen Otto, Professional HOME STAGER

Living room and eat in after staging

View from Living Room to Eat-In Kitchen After Staging - Photo by John McConnell, Professional Photographer

Powder Room Before - Photo by Karen Otto

Powder Room After - Photo by John McConnell

For professional Home Staging Services, including staged photography, in Collin County, TX and surrounding areas, Home Star Staging is at your service North Texas.

UPDATE 12/2/07: John has joined Active Rain and has written his first blog. Please check it out and welcome John to our great network!

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Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Hi Phyllis! Thank you so much. I like that angle too, I would have never been able to capture it so well with my little digital camera.

Nov 09, 2007 01:34 PM

Patricia Ebrahimi

SHOW SMART! HOME STAGING & Color Consultant - Rockville, MD

Home Staging the Washington DC Area from Rockville MD

Hi Karen: And just as I was about to invest in a Kodak EasyShare 570 or 705 for their wide angle capabilities. Now, I'm back on the fence as to buy the camera or the services of a pro photographer. These shots John McConnell did for you ARE excellent and DO truly reflect your superb staging. Hmmm...decisions, decisions. And, yes, the argument that we stagers stage better than realtors on the whole does lead to photographers photograph better than stagers do, Sue Argue of course excepted (but, and quite a few others!)

Nov 09, 2007 10:36 PM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Hi Pat!

I know exactly what you're saying here leave what others do best to others (we can be a jill of all trades but master of what?).

I don't think every job is going to opt for professional photography (especially smaller jobs) so having a good quality camera for yourself is not a bad idea. But when asked for photos by a client I would prefer to refer the services of a professional who understands angles, lights and setting better than me. It makes for a more dimensional look and really the difference as seen here is night and day. My photos are "flat" where as, John's came to "life".

Thanks for your comments my friend!

Nov 10, 2007 01:24 AM

Loreena and Michael Yeo

3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX

Real Estate Agents

Hey Karen, this is pretty impressive. Have you bought your camera yet? Planning to?

Nov 10, 2007 04:52 PM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Thank you Loreena. I know you're into photography and take great pictures!

No I still have my little Sony that's about 4 years old. It is OK but I am still in the market for one. And I've read others who say they have the Kodak EasyShare 570 or 705 which is an option. Maybe santa will bring me one?

Nov 11, 2007 01:03 AM

Minnesota Home Staging Firm, Minnesota

Minnesota Home Staging Network~ MN's Top Home Staging Firm - Inver Grove Heights, MN

Hi Karen,

He did an excellent job on that bathroom pic and bathroom's are usually SO hard to photograph. you've got me sold!

Nov 19, 2007 03:28 PM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

I KNOW that bathroom looked awesome in person but it really showed well for the photo Beth once John got a hold of it.

Nov 19, 2007 11:51 PM

Gary Barnett

Home Matters - Indianapolis, IN

Home Matters Property Stylist Group, Indianapolis

Hello Karen, This is a great topic and one that is so very important to all Professionals. Good photos of work you do today is one of the key building blocks for any staging business for tomorrow. We are very fortunate here in that we have a person on staff who is responsible for the photography, Me. One of my many behind the scenes duties as a support person for my wife (Linda, the stager in the family) is to take photos and then later enhance them. I do that because just as has been mentioned above, the staging team is usually completely worn out when done and thinking more about a hot tub than photos. Cover this base, it will pay great dividends down the road when someone wants to see the work you are doing and you can produce great photos in a portfolio or on your web site. And if you don't have a magic man, make sure that you have a quality camera.

Nov 20, 2007 12:37 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Hi Gary, thank you for stopping by. How fortunate for your team that YOU are the magic man! I completely agree with you about great quality photos being "key building blocks" for business. What a great statement! And yes, a good quality camera is important too.

Nov 20, 2007 12:45 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Karen, your before and after photos combining excellent staging and photography have made me a believer. Wow, what a difference staging makes.

Nov 20, 2007 01:05 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Gary so glad you took a look! Welcome believer!!!

The way a house shows with the combined marketing services of Realtor, Stager & Photographer makes a huge difference for the successful sale of the property. The investment pays for itself with a faster sales time and top dollar.

Nov 20, 2007 01:20 AM

Roberta Anderson

Hearth & Home Staging - Silverdale, WA

Hearth & Home Staging, Staging Kitsap County

Karen you did a fabulous job staging and I loved the after photos. I think I will start looking for a photographer in my area as well to add to my box of tricks! No wonder you've called him Magic Man.

Nov 20, 2007 01:58 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Thank you Roberta! I can't speak highly enough of John and the difference it has made for the quality of photos. I feel my work can be truly better represented through professional photography.

Try a local Community College's photography department for starters, there might be a hungry student who may be able to help you for not a lot of cash but it will give them and you some experience and exposure.

Nov 20, 2007 02:03 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

John recently joing AR and has written his first blog and I've just updated mine to reflect that.

Here's the link in case you want to check it out!

Dec 02, 2007 01:01 AM

Kristina Leone

Lionheart Home Staging, LLC - Minneapolis, MN

Great pictures! I love the color choices!

Dec 03, 2007 06:39 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Thanks for checking it out Kristina!

Dec 03, 2007 07:53 AM

Julianna Hind

eXp Realty - Tacoma, WA

REALTOR, 206-679-4768, Tacoma Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, WA

Wow, Karen, the interior photographs of your work is wonderful. Kudos to you and your "magic man"

Dec 03, 2007 09:48 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

The lighting is key and I wouldn't know how to light right if it grabbed me by the arm! Thanks for stopping by Julianna.

Dec 03, 2007 11:52 AM

Jo Potvin

Design To Market LLC - Cincinnati, OH

Home Staging Cincinnati - Design To Market

I totally agree with you about the importance of a professional photographer. After all of our hard work and the homeowners investment in staging, these photos more than pay for themselves.

Dec 16, 2007 11:05 PM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

It does make a world of difference. As others have said, let each pro do what they do best and compliment each of our services.

Thanks for reading Jo!

Dec 17, 2007 12:08 AM

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