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Digital Photography for Realtors - heading toward Virtual Reality

By
Real Estate Agent with Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info DB-17066

I am amazed that many Realtors still have not come into the digital age and invested in a digital camera.

I was trying to remember when I first invested in my first digital camera and think it was back in 1999 when I got my Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation from the National Association of Realtors.  I still have mine and use it when I teach e-PRO classes to impress my students with my "state of the art" technology.

original Epson PhotoPC digital camera

This was the first digital camera to sell for under $500 (the original MSRP was $999).  Look at the amazing specs on that beast!  Quality 24 bit color images (the word Mega Pixel wasn't even invented yet); you could store 16 high resolution (640x480) photos; lightweight (approx. 1 pound); etc.

It is amazing to realize that was only 15 years ago.  Now, my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is my digital camera of choice with it's 16MP camera, 32 GB internal and 64 GB micoSD card, and is also a cell phone, GPS, computer, micro tablet complete with s pen, etc., etc., and I paid only $149 for it with my upgrade.

So how it is some real estate agents still can justify buying a digital camera?  I guess as they are still looking through their rose colored glasses wondering if this internet thing is just a fad or not, I will be enjoying the view through my Samsung Gear VR (Virtual Reality) goggles.

Samsung Gear VR goggles

 

Comments (6)

Jim Paulson
Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID
Owner,Broker

Here is an interesting article I just read from April 1996 about my first digital camera on page 77 . . . 

Popular Photography article April 1996 on the digital future

May 29, 2015 08:59 AM
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Before e-pro, and back when we could submit 9 photos with our listings, I was at a training with my previous broker. I asked " what kind of digital camera do you recommend "?, the so called expert answered " Any $100.00 digital camera will work". then he immediately went on to another subject, and it was obvious that he didn't even want to discuss digital cameras. Many brokers and agents still think like that.

May 29, 2015 09:22 AM
Jim Paulson
Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID
Owner,Broker

I got so excited by some of the things I was reading writing this blog that I just took another leap forward and just ordered the Project Tango Development Kit from Google.  Now that will be a learning curve that is almost straight up in the air for me!

May 29, 2015 10:00 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I think one of the more important skill sets a real estate agent can acquire, is that in the field of photography!

May 29, 2015 12:17 PM
Jim Paulson
Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID
Owner,Broker

Dale Carlton, 2015 President of CRS, teaches a great photography class for Real Estate.  CRS Photography Webinar 

May 30, 2015 02:01 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

No doubt, with time, buyers will demand more sophisticated and efficient  ways to view properties, the virtual realty tours will be there to fill that demand. 

Sep 04, 2017 06:47 PM