Paul is a very talented Real Estate Photographer with great tips for maximizing photos taken of listings so they look great for the MLS and other marketing.
During my time as a real estate photography expert, I've noticed that when it comes to preparing the homes, I'm always moving around and hiding the same things in every home that I go into.
Let's focus on the living rooms and family rooms.
These things that need to be hidden are all of the things that we as home owners consider to be the very essence of our comfort. They are, to name a few: The remote controls, the coasters on each end table, our favorite magazines and books on the coffee table, our reading glasses by the books, the trash can under the end table by the recliner, and the fan that circulates back and forth by the TV.
All of these things need to be removed to take a real estate photograph that will not be distracting to the viewer. The only things that should be on display in any are of the home are the items that were purchased to be aesthetically pleasing together in the room, and that tissue box that matches the pattern on the sofa is not what I'm talking about. Every item that is in a photograph has the potential to distract the viewer from seeing the room as a whole, or even worse, stop them from envisioning their possessions in the room! The more clutter we can remove from a scene the better our chances are for them to see their stuff in it's place.
A few of the items that I move quite often are the ones that every home owner knows that they should move, but they don't because it's to much work are: video cassettes, Cd's and DVDs from the entertainment center and atop the TV, children's toys (neatly arranged or not), and any decorative seasonal items like pumpkin shaped candles and cornucopia arrangements in the fall and Christmas trees and Santa's for Christmas.
These are all things that I move onto the kitchen table while I photograph the home. It takes me between 5 and 15 minutes to remove the clutter from a room. When we are talking about photographing an entire home, these 15 minutes are better used covering the home rather than playing the "hide the comfort items" game.
What we need to remember as professionals is that the average home owner is so attached to these items, that even the thought of moving them from their place makes the room seem like it isn't theirs anymore. So if we don't give them specific instructions as to what needs to be moved, hidden, and looked out for they will never see these items. They blend into the scenery for the home owner.
To help all of you, as well as myself, I am developing a complete guide to preparing a home for professional real estate photography. It will not only be for professional real estate photographers, but for anyone that photographs homes. If you are interested, please drop me a line, and I'll send you a link where you will be able to download it. All I ask in return is that you don't remove my information from it. We are all part of the same great real estate network. The more we share, the more that will come back.
Paul J Loehlein
Real Estate Photography Professionals
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2010 RESA Professional Stager of the Year
Michelle has staged hundreds of Los Angeles homes, many of which have sold with multiple offers, above listing price.
She works with home sellers, listing agents and asset managers to prepare homes for sale throughout Los Angeles.
Moving Mountains Design provides vacant home staging, occupied home staging, color consultations, corporate and executive relocations, move organization, redesign, and interior design. We also stage model homes, REOs,foreclosures and auction properties for real estate investors and asset managers.
For more information about our Los Angeles home staging services, contact Michelle at (626)385-8852 or by email.
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Paul, Michelle and all - We always remove cords from areas that are being photographed. Sometimes we need the light to be plugged in but will run an extension cord across the room out of view to shoot.
Michelle
Paul sounds like a very talented photographer.
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
Kathleen: Paul offers some great tips in his post. Cords are always an issue. That is why I am happy I have Photoshop and I know how to use it.
Tom: Paul does seem to know what he is talking about. Thanks for commenting.
Hi Michelle, I appreciate this article very much. I tape cords to the back of tables etc. to hide them in the photographs if at all possible. The times I do not do it, the cords stick out in the photos every time and I wish I had taken the time to do it.
Thanks for reminding us how important this is to the end result- a clean, uncluttered photo that shows the room.
Michelle: There is so much to think about when taking an "after" photo. Hiring a professional photographer would definitely help.
Great info Michelle from Paul. I would like to include this in my home staging class if you'll be so kind as to allow me to (I'll email Paul) these are some forgotten things that should really be addressed and taken care of.
If you're taking the time to take professional quality photos for the MLS it's important to focus on all the details.
Karen: Here is the link to the original blog http://activerain.com/blogsview/720752/The-invisible-items-that You should re-blog it from there.
Hi, Michelle:
What a great post, and what a good friend Paul is to provide the information. When I photograph a listing, I inevitably have to go back after taking a photo and remove one more thing that I didn't notice the first time! It's amazing how invisible clutter only appears in photos. I spend a lot of time Photoshopping out the stuff I still missed (like those pesky cords Kathleen mentioned).
Cheers,
Robin
I often wonder why more photographers don't take the time to do this! Thanks for the great info!
Robin: I thought Paul's post had a lot of merit and wanted others to see it. He obviously spend a lot of time and effort compiling that information.
Kathi: Maybe after seeing Paul's post other photographers will follow suit.
Once again, you can see the original post at http://activerain.com/blogsview/720752/The-invisible-items-that
helpful post for a leave behind to clients -- can't wait to download!
Then there are those ceiling fans to turn off and telephones to hide. Oh, and alarm clocks in the bedroom. Thanks for this post, and for the download. It'll be a real help!
Karen: I thought it would be very useful for all of us.
Laurie: There are so many things to think about. It takes a village to get a home ready for the market!
I am going to share this with my favorite Realtors. Thank you!
Michelle- Once again thanks for the info! I love you SIF attitude :)
Hi Michelle: Very timely article! I had just gotten an email from my partner photographer Jenny about the very same things. She sends an email with instructions ahead of the photo shoot but still finds herself taking 15-20 min. removing items. It can be frustrating. These are on the homes where I have not consulted. Jenny loves it when she is shooting a house that I've already been to because she knows everything will be as it needs to be. I'm going to forward a link to her. Great information....thank you!!
How generous of Paul to share this valuable information and how thoughtful of you, Michelle, to post it in SIF where the home stagers can read and learn.
Paul provides an accurate definition of these items (remote control, coasters, etc...) as "comfort items." They very well could distract the buyer when viewing the picture. At the same time, I've actually used reading glasses with a book as part of my staging. The reason I do so is to allow the buyer to view themselves reading a book.
Again, great post and I so appreciate you sharing.
Kathy
Michelle, Thanks for posting! This is great advice. So many of things I know I have forgotten to move until I look at the pictures and then I go back and correct it.
Cathy: Make sure you give the credit to Paul.
Wendy: Paul deserves all the credit. I just re-blogged it.
Teresa: I'm glad you found the info helpful.
Kathy: I too have used books and glasses. Artfully done, they are an asset. Laying out any old way, they need to be put away.
Tanya: As I told Wendy, Paul deserves all the credit. I just thought it contained some really useful information.
The original post can be seen at http://activerain.com/blogsview/720752/The-invisible-items-
Great article, a Home Stager has got to be a Real Estate photographers best friend, we could save them so much time - Home Stagers are experts at "hide the comfort items" game!
Gina: Stagers can act as a "photo stylist" for the real estate photographer. Thanks for commenting.
So true, I usually take a picture, and then look at it to see what I missed and usually sure enough, a cord will be reaping it's ugly head!
Hi Michelle,
Great post!
How about people and animals. I don't know how many times I've seen a photo with Grandpa sitting in his chair or the seller walking through the shot.
Come on people, either hire a professional or take the time to learn how to take professional photos.
Michelle, this is great advice. I've been guilty sometimes when I take my photos of forgetting to remove things. It's a good thing that I take so many photos and check them while I'm still at the property to see if I missed something. Your photos are always stunning. Do you hire a photographer or do you take them yourself? If you take them yourself, all I can say is wow!
Susan: I agree. Great photos are so important to helping sell a home. If your photos of the home aren't "picture perfect" REAs should retake them until they are right, or hire a pro. Pro Photographers are (mostly) very reasonably priced and well worth the money.
Charlene: Yes, Paul did give great advice. I take my own photos. I worked as a Photo Stylist for many years and as a Production Designer for commercials, films and TV for many more years. Because of those years 'behind the camera', I have a pretty good idea what a camera is going to do with colors, light and certain angles. Having a good quality camera and lens really helps. But there is nothing like a trained, experienced professional photographer to get the best photos possible. It is worth the investment of money. Thank you for the compliment.
Paul's original post can be seen at http://activerain.com/blogsview/720752/The-invisible-items-
OK Paul, you are the Pro...
and Michelle for being the messenger. Have a great weekend.