peterleonbroker Loc: Parkland, Florida

As a real estate Broker in So. Florida, I still see so many bad M.L.S. photos so I recently got a Canon T4i w/ 18-135 & 10-22mm Canon wide angle and going to try to make a impression on how it should be.( maybe some HDR too) It may lead to a side job(LOL).
I have been reading most of the post and you guy's are great and because of the U.H.H. I am making the move to shoot Real Estate, any comments are welcomed. Thank you,

EstherP

As a potential customer, I must say that I am not impressed with interior photos taken with wide angle lenses: they always leave me with the impression that the rooms are at least double the size of what they really are.

Not to insult you, so please don't take this the wrong way, but why is your way "how it should be"? And using HDR?
What is happening to truth in advertising? Or in this case, truth in photography?

Just my opinion!
EstherP

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

EstherP: Advertising photographs have always made things look bigger, sexier, jucier, meatier,more powerful and more colorful than reality. Why should Real Estate be any different?

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Good Luck. Real Estate photography only makes sense with high end homes. Most Agents don't make enough to afford a professional photographer hence the typical point and shoot snapshots.

peterleonbroker Loc: Parkland, Florida

I appreciate your thoughts, but I was only going to make it better than a point and shoot feel not anything too extream. As for HDR, Thats only for the upper end homes($400K and up) on the exteriors. Just a little HDR , I have seen some here in So, Florida and all the photos( int & ext) are HDR and to the extream. I guess they are trying to creat attention to thier photos. I guess I will show them the right way...(lol)

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Boy, you guys ain't kidding. Got my wife on the Internet, and turns out she just isn't as good looking, as sexy, as thin, as blond, as tall, as busty, as smart, as rich, as colorful, and certainly less juicy than she appeared in the photos, but she SURE CAN COOK!

Seriously, a friend of mine just sold her house for $750k. She spent $25k to get it ready, the realtor spent $1k on props, then took the photos with a P&S ! Took six months to sell it. Probably coulda sold it in 24 hours with real interior shots using strobes, reflectors, some cheap barn doors and snoots and balancing the exterior light. Well, anyway, that's JMO.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

I definitely agree with you on the crappy photos that most real estate companies use. We looked for another house up in our area...not 1 single good photo on ANY house.

When I shoot realestate interiors....I use up to 4 off camera speedlights. the biggest problem with the crappy photos out there is light. I make sure the room are lit up when i photograph them.

You are on the right track....and you'll probably sell more if you make the task of looking at good photos pleasant. you need light!! that's the secret.

I think a lot of houses would sell if the photos that potential buyers are looking at were great photos.

Everything should not look dark and dingy...makes you feel like they are hiding someting. you want bright and cheery so the photo speaks and says "come and look at me and buy me"

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Of course, nobody buys a house from the foto, but they want to have to go LOOK at it first. And as the saying goes, you only get 1 chance to make a good impression. I think the photo would certainly give them a preconceived mindset. Better to come out eager to look and all smiles than with long faces just to be polite.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Off camera lighting is more important than a super wide angle lens. You can always merge photos together to get a wider view.

I'm not saying that these are perfect, but they are 100 times better because of the off camera flashes hidden throughout the rooms

Mls #1734658

And yes this is a shameless plug since this is my house for sale (and I took the photos).

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I assusme these are for posting on a web site...
Take a look at using panoramic views of the property, then moving in to detail specific areas. Depending upon how far you want to go, take a look at shooting interiors using 360 panoramas - as Google's Trusted Photogs sell to businesses.

RonH Loc: Shoreview MN

Peter,
Please don't let any comments on using HDR affect your decision. I personally think it's a bit narrow minded and somewhat unfair to say that using HDR is not real photography. These same people will bracket, use filters etc. Maybe because it's outside their comfort zone they don't like it. agree with you that a lot, if not the majority, of interior shots of homes are poorly done. I also don't think that using a wide angle lens is wrong. The real issue is using a regular, what ever that is, lens may be wrong. If you have been on this form for a while you will do one of two things, quite or get some thick skin. Everyone has a opinion, and usually a strong one, and they are quick to imply their way is the best way. Personally I'm open and do accept the opinions of others when they are stated as options not absolutes.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

I suppose you are opposed to using flash as well. The human eye sees pretty close to a 50mm lens on a full frame camera.....but there is little hope in getting a room in a frame at this focal distance without doing a PANO and I know you would poo poo that as well. So my question to you,

How would you get the shot? Especially Kitchens, Bathrooms, bedrooms.......

Wide angle, to encompass the room and HDR or artificlal light or modifiers, to get all of the information is a must.

Just my opinion!

Rdhog89

To get the whole shot, try using a ladder. Of course it won't work in all rooms but may help some

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

How would the perspective from a ladder add to the limits of a NON wide angle lens? Generally, when I have a house where, either from a balcony or steps, I can shoot down, that can be a really nice perspective but with a lens that is wide enough to feature the entire visible space.

We do have several real estate agents that use us. The situation is always the boss, if the house is unoccupied.....I bring lights and reflectors and take my time. If the house is occupied, I clip off 5 bracketed shots - those that need it are tonemapped - HDR. When possible, I like to take the outside images right after the sun has set. With all of the lights in the house turned on, curtains pulled back, and the use of off camera flashes where needed. For two or three story houses a tilt shift is helpful......however, with CS6 content aware - you can straighten anything now. For ranch style homes, panos are often used with 50 mm lens - always shooting vertically.

Unfortunately MLS is currently using software that is NOT designed for flattering displayed photos - flash. By the time they have been sized for MLS, they are small and often pixelated.

We have encouraged our clients that do not have their own website, to hire us to build theirs.....for those who have a site, it is always best to feature their images on their site with a link back to MLS and a link from MLS to their site - which is generally there if they have a site.

Trust me, when an agent gets a listing - they hope to get flattering photos - they are not too concerned about how the photo purists are going to feel.

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

Good luck for sure, if you have any questions someone here will be able to help you.