Dear AdMan:
I’m thinking about investing in a digital camera for my real estate business. Any advice?
— Will
Dear Will:
Isn’t technology great? Just when you think you have enough toys and gadgets to keep you happy, something else comes along. But, as usual, there are two sides to every story and the digital camera in the real estate profession is no different from all the other bells and whistles.
On the plus side is that with a digital camera and some simple “techniques for dummies” software, you can take pictures of your listings and incorporate them easily into flyers. You can insert them yourself onto your web site. And you can send photos of a particular property to prospective buyers via the Internet.
But the down side comes when you want to use that digital photograph in a color ad for an area publication. It may be unacceptable if it doesn’t fit the specifications required by the magazine. If you often use color photos in publications, you may have to take pictures with both your digital camera and your old 35mm workhorse.
Perhaps more important than the kind of camera you use is how you use it to your best advantage. Keep these tips in mind the next time you shoot a roll of film for your latest listing:
• Buyers aren’t usually purchasing the drop-dead bed linens in the master bedroom or the fabulous furniture arrangement in the family room. Be sure your photographs draw attention to the architectural details that you are selling and not the things that will go out the door when the sellers move.
• Get in the habit of checking out any room clutter in your viewfinder before snapping the photo. Some items can be moved temporarily or you can shift your framing slightly to avoid the things that will detract from the actual picture.
• Exterior views are great selling points, but they can be difficult to capture on film. Try to frame your shot so there is a tree or some other object on one side to anchor the picture.
• Finally, be a critical observer of the front of the house and the swimming pool. Photos of the former that result in a huge, white slab of concrete (otherwise known as the driveway) playing a prominent role can be a big turn-off to prospective buyers. Also, a photograph that depicts a wall-to-wall body of water (a.k.a. the pool) makes no sense. Position yourself or your camera lens so that only a small portion of the driveway will show in your picture, and the landscaping or outdoor furniture are included with the pool.