Easy tip for showing off the media room

Sometimes a huge flat screen TV takes over a real estate photo.  A big black hole in the middle of the room. Pasting in a photo can be a lot of work if you're processing your own photos.  So here's an easy tip for better media room photos.  Have the homeowner freeze frame what's ever on TV.  I like using the Cartoon channel or the Golf channel.  There's so much color on both channels. Sports channels are really good too especially if there's a big green field or a tennis court in the TV frame.

Here's the steps to get a photo like the one below.
1. Ask the homeowner to go to the Cartoon channel or Golf channel.
2. Click 'freeze' on the remote when something is colorful on the TV.  In the below photo, the owners chose Tom and Jerry. (Who doesn't like Tom and Jerry?)
3. Wait for the channel banner to disappear.
4. Take your photo.  Voila'!


This can easily be done with any TV, the remote just has to have a freeze button. There are many ways to get this effect but I've found this the easiest and quickest and renders excellent results.

...and here's another one.  The owner popped in a DVD for this one.

Liz Lopez Photography
Specializing in  Real Estate and Interiors
404-402-8991

Real Estate Photo Express Special - $169

Listing Photo Express Special - $169*

Pricing includes:

•  15-20 finished photos delivered in web quality only 
•  24-48 hour photo delivery 
•  Licensing to original agent for unlimited media use for duration of active listing.
• 1-1.5 hour photo session

*Special is limited to homes priced under 400k and will be photographed 'as is'. No guarantee of views from interior of home (please inquire for details).  Homes outside of 15 mile radius of 30305 will incur a minimum $25 travel fee.  Special does not include HOA amenity photos or off-site areas. Photography services paid the day of scheduled shoot. All Terms of Service apply.

Call and schedule your Listing Photo Express Package today!

404-402-8991

Liz Lopez Photography
Specializing in Real Estate and Interiors
Email: Liz@atlantarealestatephotography.com

A Brookhaven Beauty

What's not to love about this kitchen? It opens to a cozy porch that connected to a large patio. Windows galore and wonderful gardening center towards the back of the kitchen.

Check out this entire Atlanta home here:

 www.AtlantaRealEstateTours.com/29428

Spring Real Estate Photography Special

Spring is here!  Are your listings photo ready? I'm running a real estate photo special to show off your listings. Schedule yours today. 

'Creating Compelling Photos . 

Getting the Showings Your Listings Deserve.'

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Spring Photography Special - $199*

Pricing includes:

·         20-25 finished photos
·         1 set of Low Res photos for web and MLS
·         1 set of Hi Res photos for brochures and flyers
·         Detailed Photo Guide - Sellers love this. Puts them in the mindset to Sell their House!
·         15 minute photo consultation with agent or representative the day of the shoot. 
·         36-48 hour photo delivery - Need the photos sooner? Inquire about our quick turn-     around service.
·         Basic editing - such as straightening of verticals, exposure, and white balance. 
·         Licensing to original agent for unlimited media use for duration of active listing.

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Call today!

404-402-8991 or

Email: LizLopezPhoto@me.com

 www.AtlantaRealEstatePhotography.com

*Special is limited to homes priced under 500k. Homes must be within 20 miles of 30305. Special does not include HOA amenity photos or off-site common areas. All services paid the day of scheduled shoot. Terms of Service apply.

Real Estate Photography Special

Liz Lopez Photography

Dunwoody Real Estate - The 'Wow' factor

7705 North Spalding Drive - Dunwoody, GA

The homeowner did an absolutely beautiful job renovating this home.  She picked out every piece of tile, trim, paint color, and fixture, etc.  My job as an interiors and real estate photographer is to make sure this is seen and given the 'Wow' factor it deserves.

So here are 5 real estate photography tips to get you started on your next listing.

1. Keep the walls straight. The walls should never be leaning in, out or bowed.

2. Get windows properly exposed.   A window that looks like a blast went off outside totally ruins the interior. It's overlooked. It's like a moth to a headlight. Yikes!

3. White is white. Photographs with a yellow, green or a blue tint  means your camera white balance is off.  (A very good blog topic for an upcoming blog.)  Those tints showing up in your photos completely take away from the interiors information and message.

4. Use a tripod. It will reduce camera shake and blur.  Detail work should never be a blob of color. The owner put a lot thought and work into the floors and you can see the detail throughout the home.

5. Use a Photographer who specializes in Real Estate and Interiors.  In the long run it will save you time and money.

 

Liz Lopez Photography
Specialzing in Real Estate and Interiors
404-402-8991
www.AtlantaRealEstatePhotography.com

Atlanta Real Estate Investor Special $129

Real Estate Investor Photography Special

$129

Package includes up to 12 high quality photos (electronically delivered), 1 set of web quality photos, 1 set of print quality photos, and a 24 hour turn-around.

For an investment property to qualify for this exceptional package, the property must be a single family home, vacant, under 1800 square feet, under $200,000 and within 20 miles of 30305. (Terms of Service apply.)

Call today. Special pricing ends July 31.

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Liz Lopez Photography

Specializing in Real Estate and Interiors

404-402-8991

LizLopezPhoto@me.com

www.AtlantaRealEstatePhotography.com

Bending the rules to get the shot.

There's a few rules I follow when taking the 'money shot' photo, the lead photo.  It's the photo that will compel the buyer to keep looking at the listing. I try to make the front door and main window visible, downplay the garage and driveway, show off landscaping, front yard, etc. Usually, it's a straight on photo.

The agent informed me the house was going to be a challenge to photograph and to get it viewed by potential buyers. The home has a lot of shade, long driveway and just a few other factors that can make it look unappealing with online photos.  This home also had a beautiful interior but if you can't get the buyer interested, it's going to be a long difficult sale.

Photo 2 was the  photo I thought  could be the lead photo.  It's a good shot, but I knew there was more there.  It's just a little blah.  Nothing that says,' hey, look at me.' I walked around the property with my trusty ladder for about 10 minutes and then I patiently composed photo 1.  Yup, I bent my own rules to get this shot.  There's a lot garage, big huge blank wall, the front door is hidden and there's a dormant tree hiding the picture window and no front yard..   But wow, this photo tells a much better story.  It's composed to feature and flatter the home.  You can see the steps leading to the front door, the right foreground tree framing the house, a well maintained landscaping, a side yard has some lush green grass, the circular deck that peeks out from the back of house - the whole photo displays just enough information to pull you in.  It's so much more interesting in photo 1 than in photo 2.  Yes, photo 1 is going to get those all important clicks and it did.  I'm happy to report the home went under contract in less than week and the seller was ecstatic.

So the next time you have to photograph a not so photogenic home, bend the rules and get the photo that tells the best story!

Photo 1

Photo 2

For the Summer months I will be offering Specials on my real estate photography packages. Visit here for more details.

Thank you in advance for sharing my Summer Specials with your fellow agents.

Summer Special

$165 – Small Home Photo Package

$185 -  Standard Home Photo Package

$225– Large Home Photo Package

Call today to schedule your next

listing shoot 

Liz Lopez Photography

Specializing in Atlanta Real Estate and Interiors

404-402-8991

www.AtlantaRealEstatePhotography.com

Summer Real Estate Photography Specials

For the Summer months I will be offering Specials on my real estate photography packages. Visit here for more details.

Thank you in advance for sharing my SummerSpecials with your fellow agents.

Summer Special

$165 – Small Home Photo Package

$185 -  Standard Home Photo Package

$225– Large Home Photo Package

Call today to schedule your next listing shoot - 404-402-8991

Liz Lopez Photography
www.AtlantaRealEstatePhotography.com

Why go with a Professional Real Estate Photographer?

First off, thank you Ruxta Realty of Wilmington, NC, for being so generous with this valuable information. They have put together a beautiful infograph that easily illustrates the importance of professional real estate photography in your marketing efforts.  As Realtors who know the challenges of marketing a home, they  show and say it much better than I ever could.

'Professional photographs are key to selling your house.  The following infographic was created to highlight data from the National Association of Realtors and REDFIN proving you can sell your house for more with professional photographs. The data is compiled from 2010 surveys that analyzed how real estate listings that included professional photos compared with those listings that included lesser quality photos.   The data clearly indicates that real estate listings which include professional pictures will sell for more than comparable properties.' 

Source by Ruxta Realty

Here are the sources for the infographic: Redfin, WSJ, NAR

Liz Lopez Photography
Specializing in Atlanta Real Estate and Interiors
404-402-8991

Real Estate Photography Prep Guide

Days before I photograph any home, I send off to the Agent or homeowner the Liz Lopez Real Estate Photography Prep Guide.  Homeowners really appreciate having a step-by-step guide to assist them in getting their home ready for a real estate shoot.  Sellers are often confused by the requested 'decluttering', or 'what's going to be photographed' or they make the assumption that the buyer will look over or understand their personal effects (buyers don't).   The guide is filled with suggestions and tips that can make a big impact on a listing photo presentation.

Shoot me an email if you would like a copy of my Liz Lopez Real Estate Photography Prep Guide. Even if you do your own photography, your seller will appreciate your assistance in getting their home 'click worthy'.

Liz Lopez Photography
Specializing in Atlanta Real Estate and Interiors

Photographing Atlanta Rentals

The savvy owners of this gorgeous midtown condo wanted photographs of their home before it became a rental.  They had lovingly cared for the home and were unsure about when they were going to actually put it up for sale.   It looked its best right now and photographs needed to be taken today.

Enjoy the photos, it's already rented!

Liz Lopez Photography

3 weeks to sell Brookwood Hills home in Buckhead

I received an email from home owner, Leo Welf in mid October.  He had been searching  for an Atlanta based real estate photographer to photograph his home.

He owned a beautiful updated Brookwood Hills home and wanted it to show that way in listing photos.  He knew the impact listing  photos can make. He also knew that the buyer's first impression (photographs) was vitally important to getting the home viewed (clicks) and shown.  Almost 90% of home buyers start their search on the internet and it's there where the buyers are shopping.  

I photographed his home in late-mid October and the home was sold by Nov. 12th.  So what did he do to get it sold? Keep reading!

Here's a quick run-down.

1. Hired a Real Estate Photographer - Leo hired a photographer who specializes in 

Real Estate Photography - Me.  He saw my website and really liked my work and the services I offered. His house had some customized and updated features and he wanted to make sure he had the best photos possible.

2. The Virtual Tour was a big part of his marketing plan - A virtual tour needs to be more than a slideshow.  Buyers want info about schools, shopping, local hangouts, etc.  My virtual tours include this info,  are mobile ready, have extra large photos, captions, floor plans, agent info, email, and is easily accessed in one place. Buyers could even email him from the tour.  Check out Leo's virtual tour here.  The virtual tour that I use have their own web address.  

                                 Flyer 1

3.Created a flyer with impact - Keep it simple.  One borderless page, with 1 to 3 photos should do the job.  The flyer I designed has lots of impact and directs them to the virtual tour.  I designed two flyers but Flyer 1 made the cut.

                            Flyer 2

4. Attached the virtual tours URL to the For Sale sign - An easy to remember virtual tour link was hung on the for sale sign. Leo used 46montclair.com and simply redirected the original www.AtlantaRealEstateTours.com/9161 link. When someone drives by they can easily view the photographs and access the home's info just by entering the web address.  I checked the virtual tour stats and Leo's tour was viewed almost 400 times in the first 3 weeks. 

46Montclair.com

Hope I've given you some real estate marketing ideas for 2013.  Shoot me an email with any questions, I'd love to help you.

Liz Lopez Photography
Liz@atlantarealestatephotography.com
404-402-8991

A Gem of a Mid Century Home

One of the things I love about photographing Atlanta real estate is discovering these pockets of homes with timeless architecture.  Ken Hedrick of Prentiss Park Staging staged this home to fit the design but also gave it a highly sought after updated look.  It's ready to move in but the only question is, 'Shaken or stirred?'

3535 Regalwood, Atlanta - GA

Liz Lopez Photography
404-402-8991

Why does my home look like a teepee?

I'm sure you have seen photos of listed homes where the sides are falling inwards and looking like the beginnings of a teepee.  Houses have vertically straight up walls so why are they falling in as seen in the photo A ?

Photo A

This is usually caused by photographing the house at street level and tilting the camera and/or leaning back to capture the entire house thus causing the sides to lean inwards.  This home in particular sat about 10 feet higher than the street. The exterior shot is your most important photo, the 'money shot' and it needs to look its most attractive to get those initial clicks and stand out. 
The e-curb appeal. Remember, over 90% of buyers begin their home shopping on-line and have expressed that photos are the most important tool when looking for their potential home. In photo A the sides would have been leaning in much more but it's reflexive for me to use a ladder when I am photographing an exterior (more on this later).

How do you correct your verticals so your exterior shots look their magnificent best?

Photo B

There are many different methods to correcting verticals and I've only listed just a few that I've used or experimented with.

Solutions

1. Shoot from a ladder to give yourself the height and perspective that's needed but be careful and make sure the ladder is on level ground. I use a 4 foot ladder because it's light enough for me to carry with one arm and I feel safe at that height. The 6 foot was heavier and I was just too uncomfortable balancing and trying to hold a camera.

2. Use the PAP method - Pole Aerial Photography.  Special equipment will need to be purchased and it will take some practice on use. Your camera is connected to an extension pole and you can shoot as high as 15 feet up. I'll be writing  a blog about this method in later posts so stay tuned.

3. Straighten the verticals in your post production work.  Specialized software can be purchased or if you're adept with Photoshop, verticals can be corrected there.  Make sure you have enough room around your photo to work with because when you do all your vertical straightening in post, sometimes quite a bit of the photograph is cropped out.

 ...  and my favorite

4. Hire a Real Estate Photographer. They have invested in tools, training and software to get the job done. 

What did I do for photo B?  I used a hybrid method from the solutions listed above.  As mentioned earlier, I immediately pulled out my ladder for the shot so no photos were taken from street level. I would have liked to use a pole but bad weather was threatening and I needed to shoot before the rain hit.

I use a 4-foot ladder. It's light in weight and it gives me the extra height I need in almost all exterior shots. I got three extra feet from the ladder so now my camera is about eight feet from ground level.  I was still  two feet short and I do want to fix or correct as much as possible in the field.  Like most photographers I would rather be shooting your beautiful listings than sitting in front of computer editing photos ... but I still needed a couple more feet.  I raised the camera above my head making sure to keep it level, set my camera in live view, centered the house, and hit the shutter release and ended up with photo B.  I then performed some minor edits and voila, photo B. I did have to straighten the verticals slightly in the post work but nothing compared to if I had not used my hybrid method. 

Want to see a virtual tour of this beautiful home, click here?

Feel free to call or email with any questions you may have about your photos.



Liz Lopez- lizlopezphoto@medotcom
404-402-8991

Selling a Home in 3 days

Selling a home in 3 days!  ... And for a $105,000 over ask. ... And it was the Broker's home.

What real estate agent wouldn't love to have a listing perform like that?  I photographed Ben Hirsh's home of Hirsh Real Estate and as he says in his blog, he was determined to follow the advice he gives to his sellers. Ben wrote 4 Ways to Sell Your Home in 3 Days and it includes some very savvy marketing rules. Of course, I love rule number 3 - 'use a pro photographer who specializes in real estate'.  Thank you Ben!    



Still not convinced?  Here's a couple more articles written in national newspapers about the importance of Professional Real Estate Photography and what it can do to get your listings viewed and sold.   

Get a Picture Perfect-Home Sale 

"Photography is at the center of all your marketing," says Brian Balduf, chairman of VHT, a provider of photography services to agents and brokers in the Chicago area. "It's not just documenting that there is a house for sale. You want people to say, 'What a house,' " and be motivated enough to take action, he says."

Quality Photos Make All the Difference in Marketing Your Home   


  

  


Liz Lopez Photography
404-402-8991

Atlanta Multifamily Photo Postcards

Atlanta has some beautiful multifamily properties and I've been lucky enough to photograph some of them.  Right now is a perfect time to shoot apartment communites because of everything that's in bloom and the skies that can be so heavenly looking. A perfect frame for your properties.

Liz Lopez Photography
Specializing in Real Estate and Mulitfamily Photography
www.AtlantaRealEstatePhotography.com

760 Southfield Lane, Alpharetta 30004 - Create Buzz with Great Real Estate Photography

I could go on and on about this home but ... it's already under contract. Yup, Ben Hirsh of Hirsh Real Estate wanted great photography to help with generating some buzz for this home. It worked.  The home was under contract the same weekend it was put on the market.  Marketing at its finest! 

Here's a few photos I took but don't fall in love with the home, it's going to have a new owner soon!

Liz Lopez Photography
Specializing in Atlanta Real Estate and Interiors
www.AtlantaRealEstatePhotography.com
404-402-8991