Back in February I wrote my first and only article on Real Estate Photography for Rain City Guide with suggestions for improving the quality of real estate photography images. I guess I had high expectations. But sadly, there are still listings out there with what I’d have to call ‘awful’ pictures. I’m somewhat disappointed. I thought I could change the world, or at least the quality of marketing images of Real Estate. Today I picked up a very slick, glossy Real Estate publication of premier listings to ogle what I expected would be some awesome and inspiring interior photography and I really couldn’t believe what I saw. There were certainly good exterior photos, including aerial views of sweeping estates, but I saw several poor interior images on full page listings of multi-million dollar homes which must have been a significant advertising expense for the Realtor. Several of the interior images were much too dark to really show off what must have been beautiful interiors and many of them showed converging verticals created by the use of a wide angle lens, which may not have mattered much anyway as the images were so dark. I have to tell you, a digital camera in the hands of someone who doesn’t know what he/she is doing is a dangerous thing. I don’t know if the Realtors don’t think it’s important, they don’t recognize poor image quality or some other esoteric explanation.
However, I have a confession to make. Some of the images that come out of my camera are pretty darn bad. Fortunately no one sees them at this stage and I wouldn’t want you to. So how do I get people to pay me to photograph their listings? Well, the image capture with my camera is only the first half of the photographic imaging process. The other half is image editing or post processing that takes place on my computer with software such as Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. And it’s amazing what image editing tools can do to transform an image. Referred to as the digital darkroom, I learned fairly early at my entry into
digital photography to regard image editing as an extension of the camera. Although camera manufacturers strive to create cameras for the point and shoot crowd that will require little or no post processing, almost all images will benefit from some editing and the high end digital SLR camera’s are intended more for user involvement in the post processing. This involves making necessary corrections in lighting, color balance, saturation and perspective. Sometimes even a few more tricks are at our disposal for a photographic faux pas or a special touch like a sky replacement. Ideally, photographers consider a good original capture important and reliance on too much editing to be a bad strategy. In the case of interior photography for real estate professionals, I have a choice between bringing in and setting up lights (a time consuming process on location) or simply shooting with both flash and/ or available light and working out the results on the computer. For most homes, the Realtors or home owners are comfortable with about an hour of their time to be present while I’m shooting the interior. After about an hour for the average home, I’ve worn out my welcome, so I’ll only set up the lights in a situation where I consider it a necessity.
For the purposes of illustration, I’m going to be brave and show you how one of my images looked when it came out of my camera and follow it with what it looked like when I submitted it to my customer.
[photopress:kitchen_before.jpg,full,centered]
Pretty bad, huh? Would you pay me for something like this? I could try to convince you that the carpenter was really incompetent to explain those slanting cabinets and walls, but would you believe me?
[photopress:kitchen_after.jpg,full,centered]
The final image may not be quite ready for the cover of Architectural Digest but most people (agents and buyers) when they see the ‘after’ image are likely to respond ‘wow, what a beautiful kitchen!’ After all, it’s one of the primary selling points of this home and it should make that impression. Do I make my point?
I agree, but other basics imply too. Check your description (don’t call your house the ugliest in town) and encourage the client to clean up the outside for curb appeal. You don’t want your house looking like this!
Most agents should forget about Photoshop or Elements. Download Picasa from Google (free) instead. EXTREMELY user friendly/intuitive and can do 99% of what most people want to do with their images. Photoshop has many advantages and is extremely powerful but is also anything BUT intuitive.
Also, good idea to rotate your image to make walls/ceilings appear horizontal. Your image above, for example, has a slight skew to the left.
In Picasa, I usually follow something like this…
1. Contrast
2. Saturation (oversaturate slightly for web use)
3. Rotation
4. Crop
5. Photoshop only if needed.
Salud!
p.s. Maybe I’ll post my version of this tip at some point.
I agree, but other basics imply too. Check your description (don’t call your house the ugliest in town) and encourage the client to clean up the outside for curb appeal. You don’t want your house looking like this!
Most agents should forget about Photoshop or Elements. Download Picasa from Google (free) instead. EXTREMELY user friendly/intuitive and can do 99% of what most people want to do with their images. Photoshop has many advantages and is extremely powerful but is also anything BUT intuitive.
Also, good idea to rotate your image to make walls/ceilings appear horizontal. Your image above, for example, has a slight skew to the left.
In Picasa, I usually follow something like this…
1. Contrast
2. Saturation (oversaturate slightly for web use)
3. Rotation
4. Crop
5. Photoshop only if needed.
Salud!
p.s. Maybe I’ll post my version of this tip at some point.
Very impressive before and after. Maybe, in order to finish the lesson and your point, you could tell us what you did to the photo to improve it so much?
Although don’t use Picasa because I am a Mac user, I recommend it to everyone I know who owns a PC and a digital camera. If you really want power though, go with Photoshop Elements or perhaps Paint Shop Pro. Photoshop Elements is not expensive and has Quick Fix mode that is very easy to use and you still have all the access to the additional tools. And then there is iPhoto for the Mac folks, comparable to Picasa.
http://picasa.google.com/index.html
Even if you don’t shoot your own listings. Get picasa.
Yes Osman, I could have lifted the left edge upward with the distort tool ever so slightly. I guess then it would be ready for the cover of Architectual digest. 🙂
Although don’t use Picasa because I am a Mac user, I recommend it to everyone I know who owns a PC and a digital camera. If you really want power though, go with Photoshop Elements or perhaps Paint Shop Pro. Photoshop Elements is not expensive and has Quick Fix mode that is very easy to use and you still have all the access to the additional tools. And then there is iPhoto for the Mac folks, comparable to Picasa.
http://picasa.google.com/index.html
Even if you don’t shoot your own listings. Get picasa.
Yes Osman, I could have lifted the left edge upward with the distort tool ever so slightly. I guess then it would be ready for the cover of Architectual digest. 🙂
Ditto on the Photoshop Elements tip, it should be all you’ll need for editing. Another thing for interior photos that is a must in my book is a wide angle lens. Nikon has a couple of CoolPix versions that have a 24mm wide angle built right in. Kodak just released a camera with two lenses built in, one of which is super wide angle. http://www.machome.com/reviews/0604/KodakV570.lasso
One problem with wide angle is perspective, sometimes columns will look bowed or you may see curvature that you did not expect, which leads me to must have number two, and it’s free. A plug in for photoshop (works with elements) called PTLens. This little gem will works with the specs of your lens and the exif data of your photo to straighten out those lines and give the correct perspection to your photo. My wife Laurie is a professional real estate photographer and uses it every day. Get it at http://www.ptlens.com.
Mark,
I too posted an article on how to improve the photographs realtors use to present their listings. It focuses on the effects created using HDR.
You can check it out here: http://realestatetomato.com, or the permalink: Here
I have been following RCG for a few weeks now, keep up the great work!
Mark,
I too posted an article on how to improve the photographs realtors use to present their listings. It focuses on the effects created using HDR.
You can check it out here: http://realestatetomato.com, or the permalink: Here
I have been following RCG for a few weeks now, keep up the great work!
Mark, Nice before and afters. I like how you present tours on your site as well.
For PTLens, try this URI:
http://epaperpress.com/ptlens/
Also regarding HDR, MS is researching a continuous flash app that would be nice if it’s really as easy as they make it look.
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Sorry about the bad link to PTLens. There is a photoshop action available at http://www.fredmiranda.com for HDR called DRI pro. It can help speed up the process. Jook Leung at http://www.360vr.com released an HDR for dummies guide a while back, I couldnt find it on his site but I am sure he would be glad to share. Also, the International VR Photographers Association is a good resource as well. http://www.ivrpa.org
First time poster here: Glad to see some recognition of this problem! The most important thing an agent can do for their sellers today is to get lots of superior images up on the web. Here in St. Louis I am continually astounded at the plethora of dark, awful images, and “what were they thinking” photos of toilets, ceiling fans, etc, or NO PHOTOS at all! How do these idiots even get listings?
If you have access to Photoshop (I know not everyone does) the most useful tool is the crop tool with the “perspective” option checked. This lets you do a “virtual” correction to keystoning and converging verticals just like the old professional view camera architectural photography.
If you want to do your own Flash slide shows, there are many products out there, but I can recommend “Thumbgallery” (see http://www.flashrelief.com/) as an easy to use component. You can see a sample featuring (mostly) my photography at
http://www.botanicalcondos.com/area.htm
For most of my listings, I take a lot of my own photos, as I have a background in photography and image correction, so I have hi-res images for color flyers, but I ALSO have a great local photographer who comes in and shoots a batch of wonderful web-ready wideangle shots and virtual tours.
It’s worth the investment (typical agent–“you mean you actually PAY someone to shoot your listings? That costs MONEY!”) My business would be a lot less successful without quality photos.
First time poster here: Glad to see some recognition of this problem! The most important thing an agent can do for their sellers today is to get lots of superior images up on the web. Here in St. Louis I am continually astounded at the plethora of dark, awful images, and “what were they thinking” photos of toilets, ceiling fans, etc, or NO PHOTOS at all! How do these idiots even get listings?
If you have access to Photoshop (I know not everyone does) the most useful tool is the crop tool with the “perspective” option checked. This lets you do a “virtual” correction to keystoning and converging verticals just like the old professional view camera architectural photography.
If you want to do your own Flash slide shows, there are many products out there, but I can recommend “Thumbgallery” (see http://www.flashrelief.com/) as an easy to use component. You can see a sample featuring (mostly) my photography at
http://www.botanicalcondos.com/area.htm
For most of my listings, I take a lot of my own photos, as I have a background in photography and image correction, so I have hi-res images for color flyers, but I ALSO have a great local photographer who comes in and shoots a batch of wonderful web-ready wideangle shots and virtual tours.
It’s worth the investment (typical agent–“you mean you actually PAY someone to shoot your listings? That costs MONEY!”) My business would be a lot less successful without quality photos.
It doesn’t take much to make an OK photo really pop. Another option for Mac users is iPhoto, it comes with new Macs and is part of iLife (I think it’s $69).
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Photography in real estate is completely overlooked. Putting the time into taking a great picture is really important.Most real estate pictures will be seen by hundreds of people, people are unknowingly are more respective to better pictures. Learn to take better pictures.
“The worst MLS Photo of the Day” is a regular feature of “Uncle Jack’s Vintage Vegas” which I often visit and sometimes comment on- mainly for this hilarious feature. As can be seen by my WebSite(s), I use digital photos a great deal.
http://veryvintagevegas.com/2009/07/03/worst-mls-photo-of-the-day-246/
“The worst MLS Photo of the Day” is a regular feature of “Uncle Jack’s Vintage Vegas” which I often visit and sometimes comment on- mainly for this hilarious feature. As can be seen by my WebSite(s), I use digital photos a great deal.
http://veryvintagevegas.com/2009/07/03/worst-mls-photo-of-the-day-246/