No, the title is not a typo. I might've gotten myself into a bit of a pickle. My friend from high school, a local realtor, saw some of my photos recently. She got so excited about my photography that she has asked me to shoot a condo that she is about to list. If the photos pass muster with her, then she is going to give my name to the top realtors in the area.
Just like junior high I got caught up in her enthusiasm. Knowing how much I love photography and how much I hate returning to work in a corporate setting, I thought this might be an answer to prayer...a way to earn some money doing something I actually enjoy.
After googling what sort of lens I'd need, I settled on a Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 lens because I didn't want to shell out $1500 for Canon's version. Oh. My. Gosh. The width on this thing is unbelievable. Amazingly, I can stand in a corner of a room and get the all the contents in the frame. The problem is, at its widest, it almost reminds me of a fisheye lens.
These are practice shots of my house. I can't say I'm too impressed with this lens, but it might be operator error. If anyone has any tips on real estate photography, or how to use a wide angle lens, I am ALL EARS. I'm feeling like this may not be a good fit for me, but perhaps it's because I'm so used to filling my frame with the subject. I'm so afraid I'm going to fail my friend and she's going to wonder why she even bothered asking me in the first place. I've really gotten my drawers in a bunch over this. :/
I didn't think this lens was that sharp, but I took it outside and got close to this skipper. At f/8 it is pretty sharp, but I can't shoot f/8 indoors.
This may be the shortest career in photography ever.
Just like junior high I got caught up in her enthusiasm. Knowing how much I love photography and how much I hate returning to work in a corporate setting, I thought this might be an answer to prayer...a way to earn some money doing something I actually enjoy.
After googling what sort of lens I'd need, I settled on a Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 lens because I didn't want to shell out $1500 for Canon's version. Oh. My. Gosh. The width on this thing is unbelievable. Amazingly, I can stand in a corner of a room and get the all the contents in the frame. The problem is, at its widest, it almost reminds me of a fisheye lens.
These are practice shots of my house. I can't say I'm too impressed with this lens, but it might be operator error. If anyone has any tips on real estate photography, or how to use a wide angle lens, I am ALL EARS. I'm feeling like this may not be a good fit for me, but perhaps it's because I'm so used to filling my frame with the subject. I'm so afraid I'm going to fail my friend and she's going to wonder why she even bothered asking me in the first place. I've really gotten my drawers in a bunch over this. :/
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| At 24mm |
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| At 10mm |
I didn't think this lens was that sharp, but I took it outside and got close to this skipper. At f/8 it is pretty sharp, but I can't shoot f/8 indoors.
This may be the shortest career in photography ever.
31 comments:
well, i can't offer any advice on the lens or shooting indoors, but i think your shots look fine! (and your home is beautiful, too!)
wouldn't that be a nice gig to have! :)
Good luck with that! It sounds like a great job! I don't know anything about real estate, but they look fine to me. I would be interested in the house from those shots. The rooms look very spacious. They say lenses are sharpest a couple stops up from the widest aperture. Just my two cents and I'm sure you will do a great job!
Hell's Bells, girl! I can't believe how shiny your floors are! Beautiful house! As for real-estate photography, I don't know a thing about it; I certainly hadn't thought about wide-angle lenses. I'll bet you'd do a wonderful job, once you get your feet wet. Crossing my fingers for you.
Looks pretty darn good to me...and what a beautiful home you have, both in and outside. And what a fun, fun way to pick up some extra money. This should be easy peasy for you, just think, nothing moves so you don't have to worry about eyes blinking or winds blowing, except your outdoor shots, but you are far away so you can't tell if anything is moving or not. Certainly not like shooting flowers or birds!! Go for it!
I am by no means an expert...however, looking at your photos objectively...or as a potential homeowner would....I found that your photos were perfect (not to mention your home) ;).... They were clear, encompassed all critical areas...they represented the home in the very best light...from the very best angle...I would check to see how they 'enlarge' when clients will click on them online to see how they transition. I often thought of this option as a photographer. Breathe deep and know that if it is part of God's plan nothing will stop you moving forward with it...not even a camera lens.
I'd buy that house! The pictures look good to me. I don't think your friend would have asked you if she/he didn't think you could do it. Go for it. You can!!!!!
Just want to add my two cents of support...don't have any practical experience with real estate photography alas. I'm sure you'll do fine! Might want to send the photos above to your friend for some feedback?
Gail,
I think your shots are wonderful and your home is just beautiful. I would buy it if I were in the market. Stop worrying about your friend's perception. She is not the photographer. you are a perfectionist as I think a lot of us are out here. But a lot of people really don't appreciate the difference.
Peace,
Charlotte
Your photos look wonderful to me. You could find a real estate Web site and browse some of their pictures for ideas. But I think your Tamron lens is going to be fine...at least until you find out whether the job is a good fit for you. If it begins paying well enough, you could go for the Canon. Beautiful house, I might add. :)
The only thing wrong with your photos is that they might be too sharp -- don't come around my house with that Tamron. At least not until after I've shoveled the living room. :)
Sounds like a great job to me -- you are going to do fine.
The pictures tell the house so nicely.
You should have confidence. That's no problem.
OK. First off, you need to unbunch those panties girl!
Those photos are fantastic and so much better than what I've seen in real estate photos as of late.
I think the quality of the photos are fine seeing as they'll probably be primarily viewed online. You also showed the entire room and even some doorways and sneak peaks into other rooms so that the potential buyer could get an idea of the layout of the house.
I really, really hope that you'll give this opportunity a shot because I think you'll enjoy it once you're comfortable with it. I, personally, think you're a natural at real estate photography.
Oh, and beautiful house by the way!
I think the photos are lovely
(so is the house and yard).
Give it a test run...you'll be great!
Wow Gail, that is exciting. I think the wide take on the room is something a potential buyer would appreciate. You are just trying to show as much as you can, as much information in the most flattering way. It's different than art, where you focus on something more specific. What would be cool would be to do both. Take information shots, and art shots of the same space, maybe? I've never seen that in real estate photography.
I think those are perfectly usable photos and your house is beautiful! Having the extreme wide angle capability definitely helps get entire rooms in the shot.
I have no experience in this kind of photography and don't pretend to know anything about it specifically. Like any photography, though, having good lighting is going to be important. After that, getting the right angles would be an important element. You want to show off the best attributes of the house. I guess I would pretend I was the buyer and try to think of the things I would want to see.
I say go for it! You'll never know unless you do it and if you don't, you might always wonder what might have come from it had you tried it.
Manufacturers lenses can be very expensive. I think your choice will work just fine. There's no reason to go in the hole for something you don't know you're going to be doing on a regular basis yet. I highly doubt the home buyers are going to be photo critics. Many of the photos I see are snapshots taken by realtors. You'd do a fine job.
Hang in there Gail and give yourself more credit! You can do this! First of all you knew that you needed a wide angle lens and what to do with it! The photos are great and clear to me. Just know you can!
Yes you can! These are great! I googled how to shoot real estate pics and got a gold mine...even youtube videos.
Here's one...and I think you aced his recommendations!
http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/07/30/basic-real-estate-photography-shooting-and-workflow/
Yes you can! These are great! I googled how to shoot real estate pics and got a gold mine...even youtube videos.
Here's one...and I think you aced his recommendations!
http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/07/30/basic-real-estate-photography-shooting-and-workflow/
I think these are lovely photos of your beautiful home Gail, do not under estimate your abilities and give it a go. :)
Wow. I am loving seeing the inside of a home that's all sparkling and doesn't have toys scattered in every room....
I think your pictures look beautiful!
Well Gail I don't know if you negotiated a price for this work but here's my advice and I would like 10%. Good pictures that are pretty sharp and bright, but 10mm looks too wide - go for 20 or 25mm and if still too much width, use Photoshop - another $4/500 - you just can't win.
What a beautiful home.. And your photos look amazing. I know when I go to look at photos of homes here in Las Vegas they are so BAD.. I swear my grandson could take better photos than the ones I see.. I think any Realtor would be thrilled with photos like these.
Best of luck to you my friend.
Hugs~
Gail, I think these are fine photographs.
If you did not us a tripod on the indoor shots, I would give that a try, especially since you have the luxury of not having to quickly focus, set up, etc.
I have a feeling your friend is going to be very pleased.
For a first attempt at real estate shots these are great- and your house looks amazing. I think your friend will be delighted, especially as you will only improve with experience. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have this become a money earner.
I'm wondering if you may need some supplementary lighting, would be great to spend a day "assisting" an expert in the field to learn some extra tricks.
My computer has been in the shop so I am trying to catch up. I see you have a new job should this be the avenue you want to go down. I LOVE your home, so easy on the eye. As for the wide lens. I did read once on dpreview.com that you have to hold the camera straight and not at any angles or you can get a fisheye effect or where the picture will be warped on the sides, bottom or top. But that can be corrected in Photoshop. Looks to me you are on the right path and all looks good.
So how has it been going, do you like the lens?
You need to quit selling yourself short, Gail. Your camera skills are top-notch and if this is something you'd like to do, I think you can excel at it.
I believe your lens is plenty sharp for this kind of photography but I do see what you mean about the fish-eye effect.. ish. (fish ish?) ;)
I'm thinking that you might be just a tiny bit off kilter with the first shot, for example and that might accentuate that effect. The image appears to lean toward the right (look at the floor). If you adjusted that in Photoshop (or similar) you would probably be happier with the outcome.
Since 10mm gives such a wide view, it's easy for that to happen. Check for those lines in your viewfinder before snapping the shot and you might be able to avoid that. And of course, bracket, bracket, bracket.
You're doing fine, Gail... and I hope this works out for you. Please keep us posted.
Oh.. and your home is just lovely.
I think the pics are great. To shoot using F/8, try using a tripod.
I'm no indoor photographer, Lord knows I've tried shooting indoors plenty, but just can't figure out the lighting & all... your pics inside look great to me, everything is visible & plenty bright, not dark, like mine! LoL!
Now, LOVE the window over the sink in your kitchen & I'm lovin' that backsplash, & great flooring, too! BeeUTeeFul home! =)
I sure like your sense of humor! The short career comment made me laugh, and can totally related to getting paid for something you really like (vs. corporate america, which is where I work as well).
A couple comments on your GREAT photos (you are way ahead of the real estate photos I see)...
-Don't go too wide with the lens if you can help it. The wider you go, the more distorted it gets (as you approach fisheye), and walls won't go straight up and down, etc.
-Consider a flash fill to reduce shadows and get greater detail.
-Avoid shooting with the lens wide open to get sharper shots. You can push the ISO to get the f stop you want.
-You can rely heavily on cropping to give you just the right view.
-Wow, you have a beautiful home!!
I don't have any experience in real estate photography, but I have looked at quite a few real estate magazines and your photos are tons better than most. I think you'll do great and I'm thinking I might need that lens! P.S. Love your house!!
Oh, I am thrilled for you about this new venture...and your house looks so comfy and inviting. Judging by these, you've already knocked it out of the park (the real estate photos in our area have a lot to be desired).
One thing I know from flipping homes is light sells houses. As long as you keep including the windows like you did...you'll do great. Go for it!!! Crossing my fingers for you, Gail.
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