SNAP

Digital cameras have revolutionized photography.

When selling your home an important step is to take high quality photos. I'm not talking about megapixels either. You need proper lighting, the right angle, the best lens width for a given room, composition of the shot.

First things first. CLEAN UP! Nothing worse than looking at a home on the internet and seeing kids toys strewn about, unmade beds, "artwork" on the fridge, dirty dishes on the counter etc.

Next you need to consider your equipment.

• Megapixels is really only a concern if you are planning on enlarging pictures. A basic 3.1 megapixel setting on your camera is plenty large enough for web photos.
• Lenses should be a wider angle then your standard 35mm equivalent. This 18-200mm lens would work great as an all around lens. This 18-70mm lens is a great option if you already have a 55-200mm lens.
• The Camera does not have to be a DSLR (Nikon D40, Canon Rebel XTi) but a big advantage to these cameras is their ability to change lenses. A "point and click" camera can work but again consider it's widest angle is usually 35-38mm.
• White Balance is a necessary option on your camera. With more and more lighting options you may need to adjust so your photos are not yellow or blue in colour. Most cameras will have this option. Consult your owner's manual for more info on adjusting for different kinds of light.
• Tri-pods are very usful when talking stills of a home. They allow for a sharper image taking away "hand shake". They are extremely useful in low light conditions like basements where you may need to use "Long Time Exposure" to ensure proper lighting of the shot.
• For lighting no matter the time of day, turn on EVERY light. Light is your friend. I generally do not use a flash. I find they cast shadows and accentuate items closer in frame. The other issue is reflection off windows and shiny objects.
  

When thinking of room angle and composition it is best to use an angle that shows the room in the "best light". Consider time of day, postition of the sun, position of windows to not wash things out with a bright sunny window. As for composition, try a few different angles see which looks best. You will find that for most bedrooms and bathrooms the doorway is your best spot. Kitchens and livingrooms are a little different. Depending on the layout and features you may even want to do two shots or consider virtual tours.

If you are having someone else do the photos (PSP or an agent) make sure you are happy with the photos. It is a service you are paying for so you should be happy with it. Word to the wise, if you see a Blackberry, iPhone or cell come out for photos, send them packing. They sure are not professionals!

Here is a video with great examples of bad photos.



If you come across some bad photos while searching for houses, post a comment with the link or ID/MLS # so we can all have a peek!

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