Thanks to all who wrote to welcome me to Active Rain. I feel welcome indeed.
I have been spending some time lately checking out the photographs that are posted to my local MLS service and other spots on the web. I have been trying to decide where to begin our discussion about fixing common flaws. I have identified what I believe is the most critical element in the images that I have seen. I wonder if you will agree.
Before I start writing about changes we can make, I want to mention some changes we will not be making. We will not be removing any telephone poles from your panoramic views. In fact we will not be making any changes that might misrepresent material facts of your listings. I have been professionally involved in the real estate market for over 22 years. In that time my wife and I have purchased and sold over 21 pieces of property. We know what constitutes "real property" and what factors determine the intrinsic value of the real property at the center of your listing. We have walked in the shoes of the buyer, the seller, the realtor, and the lender. We promise never to use our abilities to mislead a prospective buyer as to the reality of what your listing is, and is not. Having said that, isn't it our job to present what is real about your client's property in the best possible light?
So, after reviewing hundreds of listing images I think the most important element for me has to be lighting. In fact the quality of the lighting is one of the hallmarks that immediately identify for me the work of a professional photographer. It's not just me either, doesn't every buyer tell you they want a home that is "light and bright." Take a look at the image below.
Thanks to Angela Gauthier Mastromonico, of Coldwell Banker, South Laguna for the use of this shot. This image was produced by one of the premier professional real estate photographers in my area. The lighting is very distinctive in its uniformity. There are no hot spots and no dark shadows. We can clearly see every inch of this room. I am sure it would have been possible for this photographer to create a very different shot with lots of drama and mood. If I am a buyer though, I like this shot because I can really see the room.
How does one achieve light bright uniform lighting like this? I suppose if you are a professional you set up any number of remote lights with diffusion devices and years of experience tells you exactly where to position them for the optimum effect. If you are a Realtor chances are slim you have the equipment and expertise to do the same.
The good news is that with the invention of digital cameras, and the advent of comprehensive digital image processing software such as Adobe Photoshop, it has become possible to improve less than ideal exposure and lighting challenges after the fact.
Photoshop has its limits though so the better the original image is, the better it will be after it is optimized. First rule of thumb is that it is easier to correct an overly bright shot than an overly dark shot. The way digital pictures are captured, there seems to be more information hidden in overly light areas than extremely dark areas. That is why you have probably been told before to turn on every light in the house before you begin taking your images. This is a good first step.
One of the most common problems I have noticed is caused by extremely bright light streaming in one window or glass door in one area of the shot. A bright light in one area of the shot can fool the light meter in your camera into rendering the rest of the room overly dark. Here are a couple of things to try. Try to frame the shot so that the source of the bright light is not visible in the frame. Try standing near the bright window or door and shoot away from the door or window.
Also, try to learn how to adjust your camera to temporarily increase or decrease the automatic exposure settings based on the light meter. Many cameras have a setting that will allow you to set the exposure higher or lower by a stop or two temporarily. The adjustment will appear like something like +2+1+0-1-2. If you must include a hot window in the frame, you can set the exposure a click or two higher for that shot.
It can be difficult to spot those situations sometimes while you are in the room. Try a shot from each corner of a room to make sure you have options. Remember its digital so it costs you nothing to take more shots.
Finally, if you get back to the office and you find that in spite of it all, your photos are not light and bright, all is not lost. There are at least five different ways to brighten up a digital photograph in most photo editing software packages.
With Adobe Photoshop, probably the most obvious method is found by clicking image on the menu bar at the top. From the image menu, select adjustment then/ auto levels. Under the adjustment menu you will also find auto contrast, brightness/contrast, exposure, and highlight/shadows. After opening your image in Photoshop, try clicking auto levels and auto contrast first to see how they work for you. I find that the auto functions will often over do the adjustment. It is good to know that after each individual adjustment you can click edit on the tool bar, and find the fade option. Clicking the fade option will display a slider that allows you to fade the effect of the adjustment from 100% all that way back to 0% which takes you back to the original state of your image. Try a setting between 60% and 70% and adjust to taste.
I personally believe the curves adjustment does the best job of adjusting exposure because it allows you to adjust each color individually. The curves adjustment takes some practice.
Wow! I have been typing for days and haven't even completely covered one adjustment yet. I will pick up where I left off in the next post. In the mean time please let me know which photo flaws you would like to nominate for discussion. I'll be back soon.
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