We all know how poor some family, fun and business photos are that individuals and firms take themselves.
But it doesn't have to be that way because with a few modern photo tools and a few minutes of reading, ANYONE can produce great photos for family, friends, or business.
Here are some great tips from my friend, Wendy Forsythe. who is Executive Vice President/Head of Global Operations at Carrington Real Estate Services. She says---
I feel bad for professional photographers who have to stand by and watch as we amateurs get access to apps that provide a whole assortment of photo editing tools that, until recently, were only found in darkrooms.
Suddenly, everyone is a photographer with the ability to take fantastic pictures, in many cases using nothing more than the phones in their pockets!
The rise and ease of digital photography has added to the list of things that today’s sellers think they can do just as well as real estate professionals.
And by the looks of some of the property photos online, they might be right.
The days of point and click are over. If you really want to stand out from the crowd in today’s image-driven online world, you’re going to need to up your photography game.
Here are four steps to taking more interesting photos.
Step 1: A Smartphone Camera is All You’ll Need
Today’s smartphone cameras take a high-quality digital photo that will lay the foundation for a great image. Digital film is free, so take lots of shots and choose the best ones later.
Use interesting angles and be sure to take close ups and panoramic shots. Be creative. Once you have a full inventory of images, you can move on to step two.
Step 2: Find a Great Photo Editing App
One of my favorites is Snapseed. Just open the app, select an image and let the technology do its magic. You’ll have access to a wide variety of filters to make the image really pop.
If that perfect photo is a little dark, don’t worry. You can change the brightness, contrast, saturation and more.
Within a couple of minutes, you’ll have taken a “six-out-of-10” photo to at least a nine, maybe even a 10.
Step 3: Combine Images and Text
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. With the Over app, you can add a few words by overlapping text onto your images.
You can add the property address, price, your name or whatever other branding components you think make sense. The result is a more interesting image.
Step 4: Combine Multiple Images
Do you have too many great photos to choose from? With the Diptic app, you can combine multiple photos into one image.
With numerous layouts to choose from, you can, for example, when shooting your home, surround the exterior photo with the master bedroom, dining room, kitchen and backyard.
If you are a Realtor, like San Clemente's Debbie Ferrari, all together, this makes a pretty spectacular impression of not only your listing, but your skills.
Showcasing your offerings, your market area and your brand through photography has never been easier. It takes just a couple of minutes to transform an ordinary photo into an amazing one.
So, my advice to not only Realtors, but to everyone, is to take out your smartphone, download these apps and start having fun with photography! Your clients, prospects and your family will thank you.
Need more info on photos or house-hunting during or after the holidays? Just email me at Debbie@DebbieFerrari.com and search the MLS from my site at www.DebbieFerrari.com. 949-463-4111
