Author: Rachelle Moore

7 Fail-Proof Tips To Make Your Real Estate Photos Noteworthy

It’s no secret that Real Estate is a photo-driven industry. According the to the National Association of Realtors, 9 out of 10 home buyers today use the internet as their go-to source when searching for a property, meaning, your listing photos can determine whether or not your property is worth a walk-through. It’s 2018, having a really great photo makes all the difference in the world.

If you’re adamant to take the photos by yourself (instead of hiring a professional real estate photographer), here are 7 fail-proof tips to make your real estate photos noteworthy.

Find the best angle of your property

Surprise! Getting “the best angle” is not only useful when taking selfies, this also applies with real estate photography. With today’s technology, a single photo can reveal almost everything in a single room, it’s best to know at what angle your living room will look stellar. Take a lot of test shots, find the things that are complimentary to your property and accentuate it.

Avoid taking photos of the interior from the corner

This is a common rookie mistake. Sitting tight in one corner while trying to capture the other three corners is just wrong. and boring. You really don’t need to show everything, the viewer’s eyes and brains will fill in the gaps. Get around, and again find the best angle of your property.

Keep the straight lines straight

When taking interior photos, the images will show various objects ie, stairs, wall lines, furniture. If your lens is slightly tilted, the lines will be going diagonally. This is a distraction you don’t want. Make sure to keep those lines straight to keep the viewer’s orientation of the photo simple.

Make use of props

Props will add color and life to any shoot. Add features to a room to create this certain mood or atmosphere. Before you shoot, walk around your room and get a feel for it. Be careful not to overdo it though, a pop of color here and there is enough. Proper styling will make your photos look professional.

Lighting is everything

It cannot be emphasized more how natural light can make all the difference. Find out at what time the lighting falls perfectly in your property, and take advantage of it. You want to make sure that you have the ideal lighting in your photos to keep it crisp and bright. If you think the existing light in your space is not enough,

Get rid of dirt & clutter, old & damaged furniture

This one is a no-brainer. If you want the best results, everything has to be squeaky clean, from the windows & tables, to countertops & floors. Potential aesthetic hazards, such as worn-out furniture or damaged blinds, should be dealt with in advance. Remove anything that can compromise a good-looking photo, and add objects which you think will add charm.

Make friends with post-shoot editing

While it’s important to get good raw photos, it’s rare that those will come out exactly as you like. Colors have to balanced, menacing shadows have to be taken out, lines have to straightened out…the list can go on. There are several tools available that can help you with that; make your research. If the thought of editing makes your shudder, experts are more than willing to help you with that.

July 14, 2018
Top 8 Mobile Cameras for Low-Budget Panoramic Photography

In today’s generation, everybody owns a smartphone. And the camera technology of these smartphones is better than ever. It has improved tremendously. The ability to capture precious moments is quickly and easily done with the use of these gadgets. Alongside with text messaging, taking photos is the most used component of smartphones.

Before the advent of the Internet, you have to carry a separate camera just to take pictures. Now, you only need to bring your smartphones with you and you already have the access to an excellent camera right inside your pockets. Many individuals depend on the built-in cameras of their smartphones primarily to take photos of some of the most important moments of their lives.

Smartphone manufacturers are obviously exploiting how to create an outstanding camera. The quality of the camera is one of the features buyers are looking for. It has been a common knowledge that megapixels of camera determine the quality of the pictures being taken. But in reality, the quality of the photos depends on many factors like the resolution, sensors and aperture that help in preventing picture inaccuracy.

Top Eight Mobile Cameras for Low-Budget Panoramic Photography

1. Honor 7X
At a very low price, Honor 7X offers great performance. For budget-conscious people, this is a smartphone owning a decent camera that is worthy of a consideration. Made by Huawei, the camera is set at 16 megapixels backed by 2 megapixels lens. Although capturing a video using this camera offers only up to 1080p at 30fps, you can dig into its settings to alter the focal point because of its wide aperture mode.

2. OnePlus 6
Since each individual venturing in panoramic photography has different budgets, bargaining a phone could still be the best thing to establish. For a number of reasons, OnePlus 6 can give you everything you need from a cheap phone. At 1,080 pixel resolution, its dual-lens rear camera backed by a second 20-megapixel camera is a complete package in taking a photo in a portrait mode. Its aperture I f/1.7 and is composed of additional bokeh effects.

3. Moto G4 Plus
At 16 megapixels and f/2.0 lens, Moto G4 Plus exhibits detailed color reproduction because of its dual-tone flash using its 5.5-inch Full HD screen. Owning a 5-megapixel front camera, Moto G4 Plus is a better alternative in getting panoramic pictures because of its fairly economical price.

4. Samsung Galaxy S5
Galaxy S5 has a remarkable six frames-per-second inside a 30-second burst. It picture-taking abilities are noteworthy as it sports a 31-mm, f/2.2 lens for digital image stabilization. Galaxy S5 can capture detailed photos of either near or distant objects at a speed of ISO800. It is also sensitive to noise while color reproduction is short of remarkable and accurate.

5. HTC U Play
Featuring a 16-megapixel camera, its lens has an aperture of f/2.0 which determines its cone angle for better and faster auto focus. It also possesses a dual LED flash and displays 5.2 inches Full HD screen with optical image stabilization. Available at cheaper price, it also has optical image stabilization where sensitivity to light is a major smartphone issue when it comes to picture-taking.

6. Moto G (3rd Generation)
Testing of different smartphones for its excellent panoramic photograph starts from capturing social events to shooting photos for an article. It is very important to have an outstanding camera in your smartphone when you try to snap many shots as possible. Third Generation Moto G features 13 megapixels with 28mm lens. Its aperture is f/2.0 that does not produce distorted images while maintaining perfect sharpness. Its selfie front camera produces good quality image and video production is vibrant and detailed.

7. Moto X Play
X Play has dynamic 21 megapixel sensor and is considered as an average Motorola model. It has an aperture of f/2.0 rear camera combined with 5 megapixel front-facing camera. It can easily detect high contrast environment because of its automatic HDR mode. The colors produced by this cheap camera are vibrant and its difference in intensity effects is noticeable.

8. Huawei P8
The feature proportionality of this smartphone is remarkable. It owns a slim body but with a large 5.2 inches full HD screen. With a bright f/2.0 lens aperture at 13 megapixels, Huawei P8 has a number of significant photographic features which includes a light painting mode. It has a reasonable quality image and is considered a good smartphone for its cheap price. Its Sony sensor makes its camera well suited for any environment and is designed for low light performance.

Conclusion

There are numerous surprising landscapes to be taken around us. Panoramic images, for example, can be a very hard thing to create. But with the use of modern digital cheap smartphones, there are various tricks that can be enjoyed by everyone. Having a definitive picture taken can be a start of providing yourself with excellent examples of startling panoramic photos.

Depending on the environment you are into, light changes play an important factor. The shape scene, light diffusion and other influences may pose certain problems, too. To make a very consistent panoramic photo, always look for a particular effect in the atmosphere of the place, by considering whether you are indoor or outdoor. One also needs to consider positioning and stability, and maximize the use of the different most up-to-date apps in creating a perfect panoramic photo.

Featured photo credit to http://www.easypano.com/panorama-software.html

July 11, 2018
What’s in a Picture?

It’s easy to appreciate a good photo. Scan through the pages of Town & Country magazine, or any real-estate magazine for that matter, and you will find yourself gaping at the beautiful bedrooms, kitchens, or lawns. Everything looks perfect, you imagine yourself living in it.

The Art of Photo Editing

Suffice to say, a good photo evokes emotion(it’ll make you see or feel things!), but what is commonly overlooked is the amount of work that goes behind it一the intricate art of post process photo editing. For starters, it’ll take an average time of five minutes to edit a living room photo in one property, imagine doing 40 of them!

What really goes behind photo editing, you ask? Well, a lot. Here are the basic photo editing processes we apply in every photo we get:

1. White balance

White balance (WB) determines how accurately the colors of your photo will come out, thus playing a vital role in photo editing. It is important to get the right amount of temperature or tint, in say, a bedroom photo to make it look attractive; a too cool or too warm WB can completely affect the interpretation of a photo.

2. Contrast & Exposure

Contrast in photography is the difference between dark and light. High contrast means an extreme difference between dark and light, while low contrast is a gradual or lesser difference between dark and light. Exposure is the overall brightness of an image or the amount of light in the photo. A photo will appear too dark if exposure is set too low, and too bright if it’s set too light.

3. Vibrance & Saturation

These fun color-boosting settings can either make or break a photo. Vibrance tool increases the intensity of a more muted color and leaves the well-saturated ones alone. Think of it like a fill light, but exclusive for colors.

On the other hand, Saturation bumps up the intensity of all colors in an image, regardless of the starting point of the colors. It’s best to be careful and not to go ballistic with these two.

4. Noise reduction

Images can be noisy too. In photography, however, noise refers to the random, irregular, and grainy specks in an image. When it comes to noise reduction, we have two main goals. First is to get rid of any digital noise in the image, but as much as possible preserve the details that comes with it. Noise reduction in an image can be a little tricky and time consuming as increasing noise reduction means losing details on your image.

5. Alignment

To get that perfect photo, it’s best keep all lines in your photo aligned. It never hurts to pay good attention to the image background or scene, make sure no lines appear tilted or curvy. Proper alignment will make your photo look balanced.

6. Masking

The term “mask” is simply a way to apply something to a very specific portion of an image. Layer mask and clipping mask are the two primary types of masks, and are closely related in concept but different application. Sometimes, it is necessary to mask photo to achieve a much-need effect.

7. Resizing and Cropping

These two may be the easiest photo editing process, but it’s still important to note that both require careful consideration or risk compromising image quality.

Obviously, there are only two way to resize a photo: smaller or larger. When reducing a size, image pixels will be reduces as well and discarded, enlarging it makes each pixel appear larger. Cropping is simply removing a part of the image that appears out-of-focus or unnecessary.

Final Stage

After a rigorous photo editing process, the photos will undergo quality assurance from our very keen QA team. We’ll look into every detail to make sure no photo will look flat, foggy, dark, or too bright, destructive editing is to be avoided at all times.

The amount of scrutiny is as thorough as the actual editing itself. Each processes mentioned above has to be done just right, and we take pride in the fact that our photos look naturally & consistently beautiful.

Rest assured every photo will be handled with utmost quality from the beginning up until its final stages, even with our most economical package.

July 7, 2018
How to Edit Basic Real Estate Photos Using Adobe Photoshop CC?

Photo editing can recreate ordinary pictures to look extra amazing. Enjoining your family on a trip to a splendid vacation, attending parties with your friends or possessing great memories of special occasions, taking pictures from these events can eventually make the event more extraordinary.

In these times of digitization and information age, almost everything we think of can be completed at the tip of the fingers. Picture editing is one of the most common tasks to be done when it comes to enhancement of pictures. Old images, photos and videos are the ones which are preferred to be edited. Image restoration of these types of pictures ultimately needs a particular set of skill.

With proper knowledge on photo editing, it can be guaranteed that profits can grow exponentially when used in a correct and professional manner. Photo editing is valuable to portraits for personal representation of pictures. It can be utilized for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and other eventful ceremonies. It is also suitable for commercial projects and businesses, like real estate, in particular.

Photo editing can also help service and advertising firms for real estate companies and brokerage systems. It can increase the aesthetic beauty of properties by the enhancement and enrichment of images. Images are edited by making the color more vibrant and to make the photos look more entertaining to stare at. These modified images may turn out to be used for listing services for other websites.

Some of the things that can be achieved when editing photos include the changing and enhancing the colors. Unwanted background can also be removed by means of cropping. Photo enhancing also includes adjustment of contrast, brightness and sharpness. What is more remarkable is by making a black and white photo turn to a colored photograph.

Photoshop CC Overview

video credit Just Alex Halford

To make photo editing clearer and more detailed using Adobe Photoshop CC, it is important to have this application downloaded to your PC or Mac. Editing and previewing of Canvas should be done first in order for the blank page to show up.

Unlocking the background layer is done by the LOCK symbol. You need to double click this so that a new layer screen will pop out. To add more layers, simply click DUPLICATE LAYER or NEW LAYER. Take note that if you have three new layers, you need to work on a separate layer for circle, colors and always save your work.

There are other special features that are built-in in an Adobe Photoshop CC. The list includes changing color background or foreground by means of editing the stroke pixel, stylizing the gradient background, filtering and more.

Since it is assumed a real estate photos are the ones needed to be edited, it is automatic to identify the tool box on the left part of the screen and familiarize all the feature given in that box. Noticeable at the right side of the screen is a setting for file storage. Make it sure that the storage must be spacious enough as Photoshop files are relatively big.

How to Use Adobe Photoshop CC Effectively

The most popular tool used in real estate photo editing is Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud (CC). This is considered by many as the most advanced digital imaging software. The very basic step to use this is to download Photoshop CC. Adding effects to real estate pictures can be limitless unless your retouching skills are exceptional. This is not to discourage beginners but it is a popular notion that whenever you have competitive background when it comes to technology, you certainly have the edge.

Below are the steps on how to make real estate photos enticing to viewers.

1. Resize photos via Image Processor

Using Image Processor to enhance real estate photos, you need to choose “Select Folder” and select JPEG for resizing. You need to choose “Include ICC Profile” afterwards then click “Run”. Image Processor can basically resize a number of photos that will save you lots of time. This is a significant tool of Photoshop CC.

2. Use “Curves”

More often than not, picture editing largely involves correction of colors. With the use of Photoshop CC’s powerful tool called Curves, correcting the colors to what you desired can take some precious time to master because “Curves” is a complex feature of Photoshop CC.

Since the image is assumed open in Photoshop, go to “Image”, proceed to “Adjustments” and finally select “Curves”. You need to click “Auto” for you to be able to grab the diagonal line located at the center. This line is used to brighten or darken the image.

Another feature of the “Curves” is the presence of eyedropper. Eyedropper is used to select the black and white qualities of a photo. It can locate and optimize even the slightest color difference. This is a small process that a photo needs to undergo during enhancement.

3. Try “Hue and Saturation”

Mimicking the functions of “Curves”, “Hue and Saturation” is another feature that is very significant in the augmentation of color correction. Although this feature seems common to use, it will take to perfect this feature. “Hue and Saturation” has a variety of options. This feature is very relevant and important to real estate photos because the enhancement of greens and grass is a challenge for all users.

After getting your image opened, go to “Select”, followed by “Adjustments” and then click “Hue and Saturation”. You can easily adjust the hue to +15, and saturation/lightness to -5. Once these adjustments are made, simply click OK. This feature should make the tone of the photo more vibrant.

July 6, 2018
5 Basic Color Correction Techniques Using Photoshop CC

There are many features, new and old ones that make Photoshop standout from the rest of popular photo editing tools. Photographers, web designers and graphic artist, to name a few, benefit from using the Creative Cloud version of Photoshop.

This graphics designing software will help every user edit pictures depending on the purpose, its demand and supply analysis for career and business. One of the best ways to earn income is to begin using your technical skills in photo editing. It can be done either in an offline or online operation.

Because it is important to promote products online, you can also consider designing your own website. When you fully developed the skills necessary to master photo editing, you can also apply for online jobs for related projects. These projects can also be done either in an online or offline basis but most web design companies prefer offline work because of then use of the printing press, photo studio and related offline design works.

From the advantages mentioned, everything boils down to color grading, adjustment and manipulation in photo design and editing. When using Photoshop CC, it is a requirement to know the basic skills and techniques in white balance and color correction. It is for a fact that in order to make a correct balance, it is very important to know the different aspects of setting and familiarize white balance using a camera.

Five Color Correction Techniques Using Photoshop CC

Our eyes are very similar and in a way, comparable to a camera. Our eyes are excellent when it comes to making an automatic white balance. But cameras are not as good as our eyes in doing this. Below are five color correction techniques using Photoshop CC.

1. Add the Threshold Adjustment and Curves for color correction

When creating a new layer, go to Edit and Fill then select the layer with 50% gray. The layer blend mode must be set to Difference. It is important to set the Threshold level to 10 and grab the Eyedropper tool while holding down the Shift button. You need to click to drop the color over the black spots.What follows next is to delete Threshold and add Curves Adjustment Layer. While zooming in the eyedropper to the area of interest, click once to have a color balance.

video credit 2 Minute Photoshop
video credit PiXimperfect

video credit Learn Color Grading 2. Skin Color adjustment

To set skin color to perfect, you will be shown with the skin color breakdown of White, Black, Latin, and Asian while balancing a fair amount of magenta, yellow, black and cyan for a perfect skin. The real technique in this tool is to choose a great area from which colors are adjusted and measured.
video credit Learn Color Grading

video credit Prince Meyson3. Adjust the White Balance tool in Camera RAW editor

In using this tool, you need to open the image in the Camera RAW editor to change the image to a smart object and go to Filter then Camera Raw Filter. While choosing the White Balance tool the neutral point in the photo to automatically make the white balance corrected.

video credit Pink Flower Photography4. Adjustment for Hue and Saturation Layer

This is the fourth method of color correction with the use of Photoshop CC. It basically needs a /hue and Saturation adjustment layer. You need to utilize the channel drop down to point any color that is overwhelmingly seen in the photo. Shifting the hue to reduce the saturation will make a big difference. But there is a limitation in using this tool. This method works amazingly when there is a color that is obviously affecting uniformity of the whole image.

video credit tutvid
5. Free Hand adjustment

Using the ‘finger’ icon, this will take a Curves adjustment layer while the channels can be Red, Green and Blue. You have to drag either up and down on any part of the photo to introduce Red/Cyan, Green/Magenta or Blue/Yellow whenever there is a need to do so. In a photo whose orientation is landscape, this technique is really effective.

Conclusion

Understanding the basic color adjustment manipulation in Photoshop CC is very common in numerous photo editing techniques. There are times that removing a tint can be a good choice. There are also instances where the background layer of the original photo needs to be corrected. Whatever the adjustment may be, it boils down as to how skillful and artistic the editor is.

Every design that needs to be added or removed, every color and curves that needed adjustment or every contrast that needed to be brighten of darken, images are ‘photopshopped’ for perfection. It is this tool that really determines the needs of a particular image. Using Photoshop CC as your tool commands various options for color correction.

July 2, 2018
15 of Seattle’s Best Real Estate Photographers

Technology continues to amaze us because of the creative visual options it offers. Aside from this, life becomes easier because it responses to the changes and challenges of the modern world through the help of the different technological innovations these days.

In real estate business, many clients are likely to favor virtual tour as their guide to property search instead of traveling to its exact location. Virtual tour, as many agents fondly call it, exposes a vast range of possible client listing because it is an important visual tool to complement the listings especially in the social media.

The orientation and the quality of the image can be everyone’s weapon in presenting to clients the different properties that are for sale in a very astonishing 3D style. When it comes to houses and condominiums, a decent shoot for each room can be one of the biggest breaks of an agent. This is one of the very important aspects of giving virtual tours to clients as photographers must prepare every room they plan to shoot.

In Seattle, WA, photographers always emphasize the best feature each room possesses. They think that a great photo of every room can be the best selling point in every transaction. They always come up to the idea of capturing photos of rooms exposed in natural light, aside from considering the space availability of which the buyers may be curious to see.
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List of Seattle’s Finest Real Estate Photographers

Below is a list of some of the best real estate photographers located in Seattle. They are as follows (random order):

1. NAME: Andrew Buchanan

WEBSITE: www.subtlelightphoto.com/
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/subtlelightphoto

Andrew Buchanan’s architectural expertise made him popular in the surrounding areas of Seattle. His photography includes a wide array of architectural and interior services. He is also familiar with land and aerial photography. His being popular earned him to be one of the best persons for design, marketing and advertising projects.

2. NAME: Chuck Sires

WEBSITE: http://cjphotonw.com/
Gallery: http://cjphoto.zenfolio.com/residential

CJ Photos is a photography service firm owned by Chuck Sires that focuses on action photography, professional headshots, event photography, aside from real estate photography. He is sometimes called Jack of all trades because he knows how to mingle to whoever he is with. His photoswere featured in Seattle Magazine and Ibuki.

3. NAME: Matt Edington

WEBSITE: claritynw.com/
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.facebook.com/ClarityNorthwest/

Clarity Northwest Photography is a leading architectural and aerial photography in Bellevue. He has served all kinds of clients from local to nationwide. Having specialized in architectural and real estate photography, Clarity Northwest aids their clients of intriguing but compelling images

4. NAME: Ilya’sMoshenskiy

WEBSITE: ilyaphoto.com/
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.facebook.com/ilyaphoto/

Owned by IlyaMosheskiy, Ilya’s Photography is a full-time photography servicing firm that also specializes in architectural, commercial and even in event photography. For at least 35 years serving the surrounding areas of Redmond, WA, the Ilya has traveled nationwide, making it one of the foremost names in real estate photography business.

5. NAME: Jesse L. Young

WEBSITE: http://www.realestatephotographerseattle.com/
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.facebook.com/jesseyoungphotos/

Jesse L. Young is involved in residential as well as real estate photography. His company is located at Kirkland, WA, where its service is also felt in the nearby areas. Jesse L. Young likewise gives package of having photo tour websites, same day photo delivery and virtual home tours. The firm’s effective services have made it a perfect choice for real estate photography.

6. NAME: Joel Dames

WEBSITE: www.joeldamesphotography.com
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.facebook.com/Joel-Dames-Photography-196331813745407/

Located in Shoreline, WA, the he is expert in portraits, real estate and commercial camerawork. He is also involved in servicing special occasions like weddings, events and photo albums. The quality of work is high and Joel Dames owns high-end photography equipment.

7. NAME: John Wilbanks

WEBSITE: jwphoto.com/
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.facebook.com/jwphotoinc/

This particular photographer is a household name in the area of Bellevue, WA. Aside from providing 3D photography guiding materials, its services also include aerial, residential and stock photography. John D. Wilbanks is also involved in giving professional services in terms of creativity, reliability and high-quality services.

8. NAME: Katherine Gooding

WEBSITE: www.katherinegooding.com/
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.facebook.com/KatherineGoodingPhotography

An expert photographer by profession, Kathering Gooding serves clients in Seattle, WA and takes pride in shooting images of restaurants, commercial businesses, architectural designs, and real estate properties. She also works as a creative photographer to her customers and she knows the basic needs of her clients in terms marketing materials.

9. NAME: Robert Wachtendonk

WEBSITE: www.rwphotography.biz/
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robert-Wachtendonk-Photography/394280597249218

The proprietor, Robert Wachtendonk is a professional photographer who specializes in product and real estate photography. He also includes sports photography as one of the services his company offers. He uses great communication and involves in shooting efficient photos.

10. NAME: Jules Frazier

WEBSITE: julesfrazier.com/
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julesfrazier

Jules Frazier is a photographer whose services include real estate photos, small business images and marketing and advertising products. Because of the craftsmanship Frazier possesses, his photography business results in profitable sales and excellent marketing endeavors.

11. NAME: Megan Swann

WEBSITE: www.meganswann.com

Megan Swann is a real estate photographer who owns her photography business – Megan Swann Photography. Aside from real estate, she is also involved in a wide array of photography landscape like corporate and culinary event photography.She has also served as photographer and photo editor of a famous magazine.

12. NAME: Shawn Nichols

WEBSITE: shawnhnichols.com

A Pacific Northwest native, Shawn has captivated people’s attention. She offers a host of photographic services like real estate photography, portraits, corporate, products and events. She is a member of the North Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

13. NAME: Megan Ingram

WEBSITE: https://meganingramphotography.weebly.com
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.facebook.com/megan.ingram.169

A professional real estate photographer, she creates sales using the realtors to make the buyers enjoy their potential dream home. She likes to bring out the character in every shoot she makes. Her real estate photos are all fulfilling that becomes part of any buyer’s future possibilities.

14. NAME: Ryan Castoldi

WEBSITE: https://www.ryancastoldi.com/
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.instagram.com/rcastphoto/

Ryan is one of the photographers who seemed to have possessed a natural skill in camerawork. He understands how to use contrast and brightness of light properly. He has all the equipment and having been in the photography industry for 20 years, he has known everything – from the minute details of the business to all other possibilities the industry can throw at him.

15. NAME: Emily Kistler

WEBSITE: emilykistlerphoto.com/
SOCIAL SITE: https://www.facebook.com/public/Emily-Kistler

Emily is a talented real estate photographer whose goal is to create portraits that will be cherished by generations to come. She is involved in photography including commercial and products, events, and sales and promotions.

June 26, 2018
A Guide to Market Your Photographs Using Top 5 Social Media Platforms

Presently, social media is the most powerful tool in the business world. It is also considered as the backbone of digital marketing. Once you use it perfectly, you can build a substantial number of potential customers for your business. The use of it however can be a big waste of time and money if marketers leap directly into its complex framework without even having a concrete plan to follow. This practice will definitely result in total disaster of your personal and business reputation.

Social media sites are perhaps the most effective web platforms that can perhaps boost any businesses. There are different studies that had been made to rank all the social media people are using either for personal or business use. Social media era has been dominated by Facebook which more than a billion users login daily.

Because of the assortment of features of this particular site, Facebook and Facebook Messenger fill the first two spots. You Tube, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest, make up the top five social media which people visit daily. It is important to learn how to market using these sites for additional advertising exposure.

How to Market Photographs Using Social Media

There are countless ways to market photographs using the different social media platforms. Boosting a photography business involves various marketing strategies depending on the kind of social media you are using. To boost online visibility, business-minded photographers must always consider the type of photos they are into.

Maintaining a portfolio of the genre of photographs is perhaps a simple yet the best and effective way not to make clients confused of the kind of expertise you have. It is always recommended that photo collections must be updated all the time. Older ones must be replaced by newer ones.

A photographer’s initial assignment is to start the business small but it is important to start it right. Assuming you are a professional photographer, what clients really want is simplicity and commitment. Giving your business a simple name and sharing the best shots on your web page, not mentioning the inclusion of your contact information are keys to boosting your photograph business.

Since it is social media that are being used as channels to the outside world, it is beneficial for you to share the page with your relatives and close friends. Sharing does not end here but rather it is the initial job for every business owner. To gather more followers, tell your friends to invite others.

If a picture can paint a thousand words, then social media writing is also necessary. This is what a photography business needs. When uploading photos to be shared by others for you online presence, consider blogging as an alternative way to make great sales.

How Does Social Media Market Your Photos

Below are the list of top five social media platforms and their unique ways to market your photos.

1. Facebook

Small businesses like photography business cannot really afford the power of Facebook. Almost all consumers use Facebook to search for their favorite local photography business. To market your photograph using Facebook, it is mandatory to create your Facebook page.

Take note that this page is not the same as a regular Facebook profile page. This is intended specifically for businesses. This is used to interact to other users which is why perfecting your business page is what you need.

You also need to share to make connections. You need to check “Build Audience” found in the Admin’s Page. It is also advisable to engage and make connections with your followers using Facebook Offers and Promoted Posts.

2. YouTube

To monetize photographs using YouTube, learning how to create a channel to attract subscribers will be the focal point of the marketing strategy. It is required to brand the page and customize the content to gain viewers. Learning SEO techniques in optimizing videos are what search engines needed.

3. Instagram

Instagram is one of the easiest platforms to market photographs. All you need to do is post a square photo or video and tag, add caption or both. When using hashtags, it increases exposure but everything boils down to the kind of photo added.

When marketing photos using Instagram, list the particular city where the photo was taken. Indicate also the type of photography, equipment used, brand and other important details like the aspect of photo using broad terms, its ratio and the likes.

Tagging your clients, sharing blog posts, consistent posting and updating profiles are other things to be considered when using Instagram.

4. Twitter

In marketing your photos using Twitter, use Twitter Chats. This is to gain followers and awaken the untapped market. Twitter Chats allows you to see how marketers participate in engaging on the social network. All you need to do is reply to other chatters consistently and politely. Always use @ and mention them so that notifications will be received.You also need to plan ahead instead of waiting for days to start campaigning. Follow any photograph trending and send out content like events and make people broadcast these events.

5. Pinterest

Very common to all social media sites is the creation of a business account. After which, add the Pinterest browser button to the browser you are using. In using this platform, you need to have a Pinterest Board. Optimize each pin created using keywords, links, hashtags and categories.

These images and photos must be watermarked to protect them. Using storyboards and client testimonial will even work wonders in the marketing of your photos. Encouragement is also important by letting other people pin your images.

June 23, 2018
Top 7 Video Editing Software for Real Estate

For an individual to become a good real estate agent, he needs to own excellent real estate software. Moreover, in order to become top sellers, agents really need the best real estate software available. Many of our realtors, real estate agents, and brokers usually avoid online marketing because of the time constraints, costs, and the belief that it is better to talk face-to-face to prospective clients.

In today’s generation, it is very tough to market real estate properties. In addition to depreciating values, tight advertising budget is another reason why some of these agents easily give up. Because of the advent of the Internet and the new waves of social media, real estate videos become popular. Studies claim that now is the perfect time to own real estate videos because people of today are just plugged in to their gadgets and surf the net.

There is really a valid reason to have a real estate video, either to be presented to prospective clients or upload it to a website or to the social media. These are the reasons why people engaged in selling real estate properties for self-realization. Real estate is generally a gamble on the part of the agents. It is a market that exists but the business is either boom or bust.

Because of the surging popularity of online climate, today is the perfect time for a videographer to establish his name online by making a video marketing for real estate niche. Real estate marketing may include video promotion or video advertising to gain audience not only with fellow agents but more importantly, gain the trust of big real estate companies.

Before making videos for promotional purposes, it is necessary to assess the area of local companies and have their representatives interviewed. During the interview process, better ask them about the things that are working for them to gain profit from different properties they sell. Because profit-gaining is always based on price, you may even suggest some ideas to make their strategies better.

The best opportunity why a video for promotion and advertising is made is to gain audience. But there are instances where the videos made just discuss the experiences they have with such videos. Always get the ideas of what the realtors really wanted and find out the bad practices they made before so that you can pinpoint what these people wished for.

By focusing on the needs of these realtors, they will suggest what to share and what to shoot. An agent has no disposition to decide what components of the property are included in the real estate video. But as agent and videographer at the same time, you are the ones to determine the best angles and best views for your video.

In addition to this, it is your responsibility to provide for the materials needed like the tripod, monopod, stabilizer, and slider. Although the client is the boss of the transaction, you are still considered as the expert on the field. Your sole job is to make an enticing and captivating video to attract clients.
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Top Seven Video Editing Software for Real Estate

Since you are the real estate agent and videographer at the same time, the equipment must all be simple as possible. All you need to have is a camcorder or a high-end smartphone, a tripod, and the lighting needs. It is also important to have a microphone for editing requirements in handling the audio part of the video.

TL;DR: Below is a list of seven of the top video editing real estate software for video production:

1. Contactually

Contactually is a Customer Relation Management (CRM) type of video editing real estate software.This software is a rare breed of CRM for realtors which does not only manages your contacts and leads but more importantly helps you in your relationship with your clients. It creates automated reminders to your clients as well as advanced automation management for proper follow-up.

2. Matterport

Matterport is real estate software intended to make those 3D designs as clear as possible. Many clients are fond of seeing and touring using 3D videos in the particular area you are dealing with them. Instead of physically visiting the property for sale, walking through in that property is simply with the use of Matterport. This is one way of making and dealing a lucrative business that is very hard to slip by the hands.

3. Zillow Premier Agent (Lead Generation)

It is a very powerful software and is listed as the largest real estate website in the US. Zillow Premier Agent is sale listings software that a free user can submit new rental to Zillow itself. When your listings are uploaded to Zillow, your contact information will then be placed in the upper right corner of the listings page.

On the other hand, if you are a Zillow Premier Agent, your contact information will be shown exclusively on your listings. In this way, you are gin a greater chance of receiving inquiry from a buyer.

4. Placester (Website Builder)

The main job of this software is to generate and nurture leads. It provides a website solution with IDX integration and built-in CRM including email campaigns.

5. CityBlast (Social Media Nurturing)

It is widely known that social media enables anybody to get in touch with anyone. But sharing the content with thousands of people is not the only advantage you can get from them. Businesses worldwide have recognized the potential of advertising in the Internet and many had found out some details on how to be successful and make your business profitable.

When using CityBlast, it automatically find and post local housing market and target real estate content to your different social media accounts using a schedule that best suits you.

6. DocuSign (ElectronicsSignature/ Transaction Management)

DocuSign is the most popular real estate software when it comes to electronic signature. It offers the best in-class management for realtors to get their documents signed and deals materialize. With the use of DocuSign, agents can keep track of all the documents for a transaction. Brokers can even set up an approval processes of any transaction.

7. Showing Suite (Showing Software)

This software lets you integrate and automate schedules, buyer and agent feedback, pictures, notes and even videos that you want to store in your listing.

June 19, 2018
A Photography Marketing for Real Estate Guide You Must Read
When it comes to real estate photography, providing a good quality photo in real estate catalogs can make a big impression. Photos with a good quality can be a factor to discern property listing successful or a failure. Your full leasing experience may possibly effective by producing high-quality photos. Keep in mind that, there is a power in the first impression.

Homebuyers, especially nowadays, are preferred to go online and do some home searches. And this only means that a great opportunity is on your way. With the exceptional product listing photos, you will enough click on the surprising outcome. Quality photos are essential because consumers would like to imagine themselves, living in a home which you provide from your listing. The included description will more alive if good quality photos are present. By only looking at the given photographs, they will feel at home and may perhaps see their future with it. This discernment, with the help of your photography marketing, will determine a good business transaction. To get that, here are some effective tips on photography marketing for real estate.

What is the equipment needed?

There are four important tools in getting quality photos.
- Camera. A good ISO performance is just what you must have in a camera.
- Lenses. Wide angle lenses are better than any lenses for it creates bigger dimension, and also help accentuate the depth feature.
- Tripod. This gives crisp images in low light conditions. Long exposure is conceivable with this. It’s a must-buy to help you in many ways.
- Flash. This is not necessary, but you can consider in buying this one in case you want to apply dramatic aspect on your photos.
If you want to get the best angles, try using camera drone. This is an option to make your real estate photography marketing incredible.

What are the best locations for a home?

By sharing the photos displaying different section of a house, it will give your potential tenants a satisfaction without even bombarding you a series of questions concerning about it.
- - Living room. It is essential to capture this part of a home. When you take a photo of it, make sure to find the best angle, set a little bit of inspiration to produce comfort and kindly warmth factors on your photographs.
- - Bedroom. Shot this space with natural light through its window. It is easier to use normal brightness in this area to have it cozy feeling.
- - Kitchen and dining area. Basically, clean and well-ordered is your theme here. Make it always tidy. Other element, such cleaning products, should at least not visible when you take a photos.
- - Bathroom. The challenge here is to find the right corner. That’s it. Just ensure it’s hygienic and arranged.
- - Exterior. For outdoors, take advantage of sunlight. This creates your photos welcoming and likable.
What are the settings to modify?

There are many settings you must learn in real estate photography.
- Shutter speed – between 1/60 and ½ a second
- Aperture – between F8 and F11
- ISO – no higher than 400
Should consider retouching?

Yes, there’s nothing wrong in improving your photographs. There are some enhancements you must do to produce great photos.
- Alignment
- HDR adjustment
- Cropping
- White balance
What to avoid?

Everything is in the details, so you must never take too lightly the significance of petty concerns.
- Stay away from an odd reflection of a flash. This cries unqualified and must be avoided whatever happens.
- Lenses must be cleaned.
- Sort out clutter. Messy photos do not vend, therefore make sure to get rid of needless things afore beginning to shoot.
- Don’t go full on touch up. Recall that less is more. Not a single person be fond of it when photos appear strange.
- No kids or animals. They are cute for Christmas commercials only, but when it comes to real estate photography, this is a completely different case.
- Go take a shot of the entire room rather than concentrating on definite things located in this room.
Moreover, one good advice is here to capture many photos. So that you can choose the photographs which are positively the best. This one benefit of current’s digital cameras: Photographs are one-use and evidently there are no printing expenses involved. Let your probable tenants click as much as they want.

Marketing real estate photography is, in fact, easier when you get yourself a little creative. Allow yourself to learn new skills in marketing photography and be open to act on it. There are many videos online about this matter. Lots of tips and recommendations are given free all over the net.

If you are really clueless about real estate photography marketing, you can ask for people you know how to do it or hire professional ones that are within your means. You can even ask these experts to give you helpful guidelines that will boost your skills and abilities in marketing photography.

For now, this information will possibly encourage you to get started and work progressively in this field. If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to drop a message on comment box on this site.
June 16, 2018