A common complaint from buyers when they are searching for a home online is that there are not enough pictures. Another complaint is that what pictures there are don't really show anything. Obviously, any pictures you have in the MLS should address these issues.

I shoot wide angle, architectural style photos. I can do it fast and cheap because of several factors. Firstly, I have been in real estate starting in 1984, and have shown homes to numerous buyers. I can walk into a house and immediately see what aspects of the property will catch a buyer's eye based on those experiences. So, if the kitchen has just been upgraded, I'll do shots of that. If the back yard is beautifully landscaped, I'll do shots of that. And if the next door neighbor is rebuilding his car's engine in the front driveway, I WON'T do shots of that. And so on.

My wide angle views convey a sense of spaciousness, and give buyers a much more realistic idea of the feel of the property. Secondly, I work with available light, so my setup time is minimal. Thirdly, I'm fast, especially when shooting digital. Fourthly, to put it plainly, it's experience. I shot, developed, and printed my first film more than thirty years ago. I bought my first digital camera in the early 1990s.

I use both digital and film cameras when doing real estate photography. The advantages and disadvantages are as follows. Digital give the best quality imagery, hands down. I shoot in an uncompressed data format that is far superior to the JPEG images output by most cameras. But, the electronic sensor in a Digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera is smaller than the film plane in a 35mm SLR. And this means that the full wide angle view available to the Ultra Wide Angle lens is not as wide as with film. Usually, though, it is wide enough. Also, the image sensor in a Digital SLR is much more sensitive to existing light than film, resulting in a superior picture. When using a film camera, each step in the conversion from film to electronic data produces what is known as a Generational Loss. Film, once developed and printed, needs to be scanned. So, there is a loss in original quality when the film goes from negatives to prints, then another loss when it goes from scanned print to digital format. Plus there are color shift problems with film.

Usually, for display on the web, these problems are minimal and even unnoticeable. It is when your output is for print that problems can arise. Which camera I choose to use actually depends on the shot, however, and if I need the full width available to the lens I can switch cameras in seconds.

Below you'll find several examples of my wide angle photography, and below that you'll find a FAQ section. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

(1) How many photos does the basic package include?
If the property is a one bedroom condo, then perhaps eight or nine images tops. If it's a three bedroom house, then twelve to fifteen images can be expected.

(2) Does the photo package include indoor and outside images?
Yes, including the front and back yards.

(3) What does "available light" mean?
That means no flash or secondary lighting will be used, other than the lamps that are in the room. Flash lighting does not work with ultra wide angle lenses. Usually, wide open curtains and blinds letting in bright sunlight gives the best images.

(4) How do you decide what pictures to take?
I use my experiences from showing property when I was active in real estate. I shoot areas that show obvious buyer interest, like garage storage, pool areas, newly remodeled rooms, etc. I do not shoot damaged areas, pool algae, ongoing automotive projects, etc.

(5) How long does a session last?
Usually about an hour and a half for photography alone. Up to three hours if you're getting a floor plan done also.

(6) What preparatory work needs to be done by the agent/seller?
Someone must be at the property, or a key must be available for the duration of the shoot. For agents, when the property is being held Open is an ideal time for a shoot. I do not have a Supra Key (yet). Pets and children must be restrained and not allowed near my equipment. I need to be able to move freely and quickly around the property. If there are rooms that the agent or seller does not want photographed, please let me know ahead of time.

(7) What formats will the finished pictures be in, and what is the turn around time?
I can give you your pictures at a resolution you specify. For flyers, you'll want the maximum size. I am not sure what size is ideal for the new Flex MLS. For the old MLS a 4x3 aspect ratio (like 640x480) was recommended. If you don't know, then I would guess that 1024x768 (SVGA) will probably work for both Flex and your personal or company website. Note that I process the pictures in Photoshop in a couple of ways. For starters, wide view photos are not 4x3, but are 3x2. This means I have to 'matte' the pictures on a black background so they will not be distorted. Also, I optimize them for minimal load times. Turn around time is from two days to a week, depending on my workload. I'll contact you when they are ready and will drop a CD by your office (payment is due upon receipt), or we can make other arrangements.