Author: Claire Wright

How to Quickly Spot Check a Good Real Estate Photography

Evaluating an image could be subjective depending upon the purpose it could serve. Every viewer might have different tastes in terms of the aesthetic qualities of a photograph, closely looking for perfection with the advent of high-end camera devices and user-friendly digital image-editing software like Photoshop, Lightroom, Snapseed, and the likes.

Real Estate Photography is a growing industry which underscores tough and notable competitions among sellers and buyers. It stimulates property marketing and promotion as well as services. Since competition is tough, there is a great need for you to be able to produce quality products and you must know how to break boarders and limits to win the heart of the buyers.

In doing so, you must equip yourself with the incomparable skills in photography and update and discern your skills in digital image-editing software to fare with the growing real estate photography industry. These are some of the keys for you to be able to achieve a good product in the field of real estate photography.

Distinguishing a good photograph considering some terms and conditions, some standards and expectations, and some set of principles and rules necessary in the field of photography is a challenge in the decisive mind of the viewer.

How do you classify real estate photography as a good one? How do you ensure its marketability to improve your listing in the field of real estate photography? How do you sustain a quality and embrace a larger demand of it?

Here are some of real estate photograph qualities that must be present to consider it good.

Take note of them and make your output better than ever.

1. Expressive. The picture is an illumination of the real condition of the property. It has various layers and deep well-set structures that create impact and impression to the buyers.

2. Suitable. A good real estate photograph frames its subject, allowing only necessary objects that will create tone and color in the entire image. No unwanted objects or distractions are included which could affect the form of the place.

3. Well-staged. The entire place was prepared before the shot, evidently shown by the image containing a great background, well-placed furniture and things, and properly arranged pictures and objects.

4. Vocal. Spaces, shapes, figures, and structures provide the viewer a relaxing sight where lines meet perfectly against each other. Every single detail are put into account. Doors, ceilings, windows, floor, and other architectural designs are shown to the buyers. These add value to the property where beauty and quality are given utmost importance.

5. Clear and Concise. Every single and small detail matters. The clarity of the image must be vividly shown and that there must not be blurry areas in the photograph. View of the street must be minimized in exterior images. Focus on the property being sold so that the buyer will not seek for more.

6. Natural. The photograph does not offer an artificial or unrealistic representation of the property. Only real and tangible objects are shown in the picture. Also, the use of natural light creates a positive and happy feeling to the buyers.

7. Furnished but not over-decorated. It shows a well-furnished property but does not tolerate over decorations.

8. Weather-friendly. Rain, wind, fog, snow, sunlight and others can make or break the picture. The photograph shows a good quality if it was not broken or affected negatively by any of the mentioned natural circumstances.

9. Colorful. Range of colors give life in real estate photography. A good real estate photograph makes use of vibrant artworks or objects that carry and blast away the buyer’s attention.

10. Avoids Distortion. Sometimes this happens because of the lens of the camera that was used. It affects some vertical lines and makes it bend or lean backward. A good real estate photograph does not have distorted lines. It has well-shot lines that give the human eye an experience of the real features of the room.

11. Optimized Angles. The picture provides the viewer different yet constantly correct and amazing angles from any direction. It creates various perspectives through a single shot. The picture must have captured space, not stuff.

12. Includes Warm Colors. Emotions are elicited in a picture through colors. A vibrant color means happy while a dull means gloomy. In real estate photography, warm colors must be used to establish comfort to the buyers. It is not only vibrancy that must be taken into consideration but also warmth so that everything is in place.

13. Tells lifestyle. A good real estate photography demonstrates a lifestyle. This can be revealed by de-cluttering or adding objects suitable to the property you are selling. It must highlight not only the property’s feature but also the personality of the seller which are interesting and inviting.

March 20, 2019
The Difference between a Professional and Amateur Real Estate Photographer

Photography is something that requires sense of art and craft using a camera. It is always exciting for both beginners and professional photographers to explore and discover new things that give life and color to the world. In the field of interests like sports, events, nature, and others, it is always possible to improve photography skills with the time, passion, and dedication to it. One can be successful at a certain field of interest or two, or others can possibly be prosperous in many niche of photography.

One of the fields that is popular in demand is Real Estate Photography. It can be in the form of leisure or can be a work that gives many opportunities for a better life. This can be both a form of art and craft that leads to a progressive form of industry. It includes exterior and interior designing which could only mean detailed arrangement of objects and other factors necessary for the product. Its objective is to sell or rent a property.

The competition here might be really tough because of the increasing rate of interest in this profession and vocation. To market your products, you must have the edge and secrets toward creating valuable products and attaining constant customers. This entails specific technique and discipline. But how can you really be considered as an amateur real estate photographer or a professional one? Let us examine some of the features and characteristics of both.

Amateur Real Estate Photographers

Before being so concerned with the artistic and aesthetic entirety which includes the emotions of a professional photographer amateurs commit errors in the picture itself, and the purpose behind each is also affected.

1. Lines. An amateur real estate photographer could not use lines properly. Vertical lines converge while horizontal lines are not aligned properly, resulting into an angle that frames the property incorrectly. This affects the interior shot where the structures seem leaning in toward each other.

2. Perspectives. They tend to shoot a weak one-point and two-point perspective. One-point perspective shot of an amateur photographer does not converge on a single vanishing point. While for two-point perspective, they could not use the diagonal lines in creating a clear and dynamic shot. Failure to shoot correctly these perspectives will make the photo unattractive and boring.

3. Contrast. Using a flash in shooting may deter the attainment of a good quality photo especially if the flash was shot toward the subject without diffusion. Amateur photographers could not use the color contrast and tonal contrast well. This happens because of improper use of light and dark tones that complement to the quality of the picture.

4. Balance. This pertains to the improper removal of unrealistic color cast and inappropriate use of light sources with different temperatures which results to an imbalanced image.

5. Shadows. Dark rooms are caused by hard and heavy shadows. This is not ideal for real estate photography since buyers look for a stunningly bright picture.

Professional Real Estate Photographers

While amateur real estate photographers commit mistakes in the basic skills of photography, professional ones enjoy the art and express the craft exquisitely amazing.

1. Artistic. They direct their own art. They capture the right image and know exactly what the buyers are looking for before they actually take the shots. They rearrange room that is suitable for the buyer’s taste by adding or removing objects that will complete the detail of the product.

2. Wider Perspective. They are masters when it comes to angles and lightings. This makes the picture extremely desirable for the buyer because the best structures are taken into account. It is possible due to a preparation and setup that counts hours or even a number of days. They analyze the scene’s structure inside and out, and the lights and exposures as well for them to decide what tools they must use in the shoot.

3. Detailed. They decide what elements and details are to be included in the shoot. Spaces and forms for three-dimensional effect are utilized to create an appealing image to the target buyers.

4. Decision-maker. Out of all the shots, they can decide whether what shot can be considered the best for editing and enhancement, typically those shots that will serve different purposes.

5. Editors. They can add up some details they missed in the photograph using any enhancing software like Photoshop or Lightroom which makes the picture more powerful, vibrant, and interesting to buyers.

March 9, 2019
6 Reasons why Homeowners Love Living in LA

LA can seem like a charming city to everyone. Think about Beverly Hills, Silver Lake, and all the interesting places in between. If you’re thinking about moving to LA, you might already know that Los Angeles is another expensive real estate market next to New York.

However, there are lots of perks to living in LA that many people are not actually leaving the city.

1. Weather. This is the most obvious reason why people love LA. The weather is mostly the perfect 73 degrees out unlike other places in the country. This is also the weather for most days of the year. It’s not too hot nor too cold which makes it perfect for ice cream and a bike or a walk out. Although in the summer the temperature can get a bit hot, it’s not too humid. It’s also sunny 90 percent of the time which is great for being out and about all the time.

2. Diversity. You will meet different types of people in LA. The city is a huge melting pot culturally and ethnically. LA has a consistent influx of immigrants which makes it even more vibrant and colorful. It is a city of transplants and is the 12th most diverse city in the country. Over 200 languages are spoken in Los Angeles. This kind of diversity fuels the city, from its food to its culture. This creates more meaningful adventures and experiences for everyone in the community.

3. Increasing home valuation. Home prices in LA have appreciated over 70 percent in the last five years. The real estate market did take a huge hit during the recession. However, it’s now going strong. Breaking through the LA housing market can be difficult for first-time homeowners because of the home prices. However, its year-on-year growth is a good reason why many homeowners stay and love living in LA.

4. Neighborhood. Los Angeles is not just a city. It is composed of more than 80 neighborhoods and districts merged into a single city. Each neighborhood was developed piecemeal and has its own definitive characteristic. This means there is always a specific part of LA for every homeowner. There are some neighborhoods that come with great schools. Others are a focal point for certain ethnicity. No matter what kind of neighborhood you’re after as a homeowner, you can surely find one in LA.

5. Investing. There are a lot of investors coming and moving to LA because of the growing start-up community and also the real estate industry. This is especially true for foreign investors that think LA is a strategic location for their new real estate portfolios. Many Chinese investors consider the coastal communities in LA to be inexpensive. This also has become a favorite destination for them. In turn, this propels the growth of the real estate industry in LA and makes it even more favorable for current homeowners.

6. Lifestyle and attitude. Because of the pleasant weather in Los Angeles, there is a strong fitness and outdoor lifestyles that are imbibed by the city and its people. The gyms are everywhere and easily there are trails and parks for those who want to hike, run, or bike in the outdoors. There is also a prevalence in the casual and cool attitude in LA. You’ll definitely see the laid back West Coast feel everywhere. The dress code is usually casual.

There are other reasons as to why homeowners and everyone in general love LA. Aside from the growing real estate market, its diverse culture, and casual lifestyle, Los Angeles is home to a good job market, a delicious food scene, and a variety of activities. You’ll never be bored of LA and it’s a city brimming with opportunities and good fun.

March 8, 2019
Self-Taught Real Estate Photography

The markets in real estate are constantly growing and heating up. The demands too are getting higher. Because of this, real estate photography has never been more essential in selling properties than what we experience today. Since real estate has always been high on demand, competition in photography is thriving.

Real estate and architectural photography always go hand in hand. Many people today engage themselves in the practice of real estate photography. Real estate brokers and agents are in partnership with photographers to shoot properties for marketing purposes. Many buyers initially look for pictures or videos of the properties they wanted to buy before having an ocular inspection.

But many individuals who wanted to become real estate photographers find it hard to develop the necessary skills to master this business. Some of them finished Interior Design and Architecture. Others finished computer-related course. Interestingly, some topnotch photographers developed their technical skills because photography is just their hobby.

But regardless of the kind of degree people hold, real estate photography can be self-taught. With the use of proper technology combined with a touch of creativity, the angles, composition and perspectives can be done naturally in a professional quality.

Self-help Tips to Master Real Estate Photography

In self-studying real estate photography techniques, how to get started is the primary consideration. Starting from scratch can be a big challenge. It is beyond doubt that an individual has the interest in this business if he is eager to learn something in this industry. This is this very reason that propelled him to practice photography. The only thing that results in backpedaling someone to pursue photography is the lack of the necessary skills.

Below are some self-help tips in realizing your dream to become a real estate photographer.

1. You are not shooting for yourself

A start-up photographer must always have a mindset in marketing because real estate photos are for buyers and clients alike.

2. It is not necessary to get all the best gear

In photography, investing in camera equipment is the basic material to own. It is not necessary for someone to own the best gadgets if you are just starting to learn. All you need to have is a camera, lens, and tripod. It is also important to have supplemental lighting and editing app like Photoshop.

3. Develop creative skills of photography

There is no school for creativity. But there is always a time to practice in making your craft perfect. Creative skills can be developed through constantly perfecting your ideas. Creativity entails uniqueness because this is a special kind if sensibility owned only by the photographer himself.

4. Develop technical side

Mastering photography starts from the proper use of the camera. Your camera must have the space for cable release, a flash, assortment of lenses and wireless triggers. Aside from this, it is a requirement that wide lenses must be used. Using a 10-22mm or 12-24mm is perfect for cropped sensor cameras. Use a 16-35mm lens for full frame cameras. Using tilt-shift lenses is the best way to prevent vertical lines to converge.

Extra lighting is advisable because it can be used to areas where indoor subjects cannot benefit from daylighting. If you want to have a perfect blend of lighting, try light hitting a front of a home just after sunrise or at dusk. They can be the perfect periods of the day to light hit outdoor home fronts.

Other things to consider in self-studying techniques in photography are camera height and vertical edges. It is a cardinal rule that vertical edges must always be correct. These edges can be corners of walls, door frames and windows. It is of basic importance to know the angles you are shooting when tilting the camera to find out if the edges converge or diverge.

5. Show extra careful in processing the photos

The use of Photoshop in editing pictures is a common technique in processing photos. Do not start from an advanced technique. Editing images can be easy and fast, while there will be times when it is hard and takes longer time to process. Some photographers opt to edit image using Lightroom and other special editing apps.

March 8, 2019
6 Basic Drone Real Estate Photography Tips You Should Learn

The art of photography has been boosted by drones. They have propelled photography to new heights and have taken the world by storm. Drones have been considered by photographers as a vital source to produce beautiful photos. They have opened up countless possibilities for photographers and videographers alike.

Most especially for the aerial views of real estate properties, using drones can bring out unique and interesting perspectives. The use of drones allows every photographer to take photos at a higher perspective. According to Digi Cam Control, drones can instantly change plain old photos into something impressive.

One can be truly impressed at how drones are capable of giving unique photos and videos. Especially important for photographers, drones have built-in cameras to rotate to provide them more freedom in creating magnificent photos. Aside from this, drones can help you reach far-flung areas that are inaccessible.

Real Estate Drone Photography Tips

Nowadays, drones are great not only for hobbies but to businesses as well. Adding drone to photography and videography real estate business can really help boost your business thus, increasing cash flow. To be able to master the use of drones, try the following tips below.

• Basic function of drones must be clearly understood

According to dronevibes.com, learning to understand the equipment and finding time to practice it is the initial thing to do. Many drones that are available in the market today are very easy to operate with little practice time to spare.

Making the drone fly in the air and just pushing the shutter button is the easiest part of the work. A photographer also needs to understand the light condition and the environment first before producing the well composed and graded photographs.

• A well-planned shoot is a requirement

As with all types of photography engagement, it is important to plan ahead. One of the reasons why photos are produced creatively is because the photographer must initially spend time researching the specific location of the property. To make things easier, Google Maps will aid you in scouting the area.

Choosing a perfect time of the day to shoot is crucial in the development of a good photograph. Also consider the position of the sun during aerial drone photography because proper lighting is a big factor in the contrast of the shoot.

Pre-visualizing the shoot will definitely help each photographer to assess the available points of view. For this reason, the camera’s settings can be adjusted like the metering mode and exposure mode.

• Check propeller balancing and vibration dampening

According to http://www.droneybee.com/drone-aerial-photography/, it is always important to check the propellers of the drone frequently to avoid the wobbling effect that basically affects the photo or video shoot. Even the slightest imbalance can create an uneven weight distribution that can significantly create extra movement that is prohibited in photo shoots.

• Know the weather of your location

Even if you are very creative in your drone photography techniques, it is still better to avoid using your equipment during windy, rainy or snowy weather. Although there are drones that are specifically made for rough conditions, it is still recommended to take shoots when the sun shines brightly.

• Maximize flight time

The last thing you really wanted is to damage or crash your drone. Once you are familiar with your equipment, it is important to know how long the drone can fly. It is essential to make test runs first before taking a serious flight for shoot.

• Learn the concepts of aerial photography

Even if you master the settings and manipulation of your drone, it is deemed useless if you do not know the basics of aerial photography. These concepts may include the focal length and scale, fiducial marks, overlapping and stereoscopic coverage, and many more. According to http://www.droneybee.com/drone-aerial-photography/, this is one of the requirements in developing the skills with drone aerial photography.

Aside from the equipment that you own, you can also learn to master the concepts of aerial photography by watching and learning aerial photography and videos. Getting inspiration is one way to improve the art of aerial real estate photography. Learn how to get the piloting done and how the equipment is maneuvered around the area to constantly improve your craft.

Author:
Claire Wright, a savvy tech nerd and self-taught photographer who lives in Seattle and working at one of the best real estate photography companies called HD Estates.

March 8, 2019
HDR Your Real Estate Photography the Quickest Way

The landscape of real estate photography has gone a long way since the turn of the century. Real estate photography involves both residential interiors and exteriors that are taken at different angles. It is known that clients may have different tastes in terms of property characteristics and a perfect shoot may all spell the difference.

Time is gold in this advocacy as you also need to consider the time you spend with those you are working with and for those who own the property as well. And when we ponder on what time is the best for photo shooting, not all hours of the day are the same. The so-called golden hours for photo shooting are the hours before sunrise and before sunset.

Efficient shooting and perfect processing workflow are the ones a real estate photographer must consider most. The reproduction of space in a realistic manner will help you sell the properties because of the photos you shoot. This is what clients really appreciate and accept. As we all know, houses and similar real estate properties contain challenging things when photography is concerned.

HDR Photography: What is it?

HDR or High Dynamic Range Photography is a trick in photography wherein a photographer can reproduce an efficient range of luminosity. This technique is a far better than what a standard photography can offer. Taking photographs of the same area but in different exposures then blending them altogether is the main concept of HDR Photography.

In the case of real estates, HDR makes the work of the photographer easier. When he shoots photos from the inside, all the details of the room are obviously visible. What is remarkable is that the view outside the window does not look overexposed.

The use of light is the primary idea when it comes to photography. Yet many of the photographers nowadays are making use of HDR as a solution and emerging alternate to flash guns and the use of multiple lights. In using HDR Photography, the delivery of a fresh and great looking image is exemplary but has a natural feel to it.

Things Needed for a Good HDR Photography

Since every photographer is assumed to have media cards, DSLR and lenses, there are still few requirements that needed to be prepared. These are as follows.

1. Remote Trigger

A remote trigger for the camera is important. This is required to minimize any unacceptable camera movement. This is also the best way to get a good picture without even touching the camera.

2. Tripod

It is mandatory for every real estate photographer to have a tripod. This is important if you have to create a bracketed exposure of the room. Moving the camera just an inch will ruin everything. Aside from the camera, this is the second most important necessity if you want an assurance that your photos are all free from fuzziness.

3. Flash

It is widely recommended that a real estate photographer must use a ‘fill flash’. Fill flash means turning the flash to the lowermost setting as possible. There are photographers who oppose the idea of using a flash. But when it comes to working and shooting photos indoor, basic lighting plan with the use of fill flash is required.

4. Software

Using the best possible software for your HDR is a discussion among professional real estate photographers. The list of HDR software that is preferred most by photographers includes Adobe’s Photoshop which basically produce HDR images. Some would say that Photomatrix Pro 5.0 is better than Adobe’s version. What these HDR software do is that after capturing the images and once merged, the product is a new image having the dynamism of the original photos.

Using HDR: A Step-by-Step Guide

The procedure in using HDR to real estate photography is mentioned as follows:

1. Measure the Dynamic Range

After considering the space for your picture, it is a basic idea to first set the camera to Manual Mode. This allows you to adjust the white balance before you use the camera further. It also permits you to change the shutter speed. Afterwards, you need to set the aperture to either f/8 or f/11 but these are optional settings. It is required to measure the brightest bright and the darkest dark of the area. Everything still depends on what aperture setting the photographer personally likes.

2. Use HDR Bracketing

Some practices that are included in HDR bracketing involve overlapping photos during the blending procedure. It is advisable to preserve the focus during the entire process. This is done in order to get the same image results. Bracketed exposures may involve interior shots like balance difficulty, and single frame standard range.

3. Presets as Starting Points

There are assortments of presets involving the key areas of color blending. These are the white balance and color fidelity. Based on HDR bracketing, colors that are often found when the bright rays of the sun comes through the window are totally imbalanced. Once extreme highlighting is done, the tonal range and white balance blend each other.

Using the 5 Stop Natural and 5 Stop Mixed Light presets, balancing of sunlight and warmer fluorescent illumination are made easily. The Single Exposure preset of the HDR technique requires several exposures to blend with the dynamic range. This trick can process several files down to single file only. The procedure mentioned can be several approaches of integrating HDR processing to real estate photography.

Author:
Claire Wright, a savvy tech nerd and self-taught photographer who lives in Seattle and working at one of the best real estate photography companies called HD Estates.

March 8, 2019