I am a professional photographer... ask me anything

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by TheGrimm

I think the goal with real estate is to present the space as being large and open? I would consider sticking to the lower end of the mm spectrum, for instance, the 10-22 EF-S lens can be quite fun, in-fact, it's the only reason my wife keeps a non full-frame camera onhand, she pretty much leaves the 10-22 on it. The only caveat with this type of lens is the edge distortion. Don't have anything on the edge of the frame that looks bad when stretched (e.g. women tend not to like this!)

I'm going more for "accurately displays the space" than "makes it look as large as possible." It seems like wide angle lens is probably where I need to go with this, and Olympus (Zuiko) makes a well-reviewed 9-18mm and 11-22mm. Realistically, I'm not paying up for a full frame camera, and since there probably isn't much sense switching from a 4/3 DSLR to an APS DSLR, I'll probably just keep the body I have.

Regulator also came up with a 7-14 they make, but it's out of my price range for this.

[MoneyGuy]

Neeper, what do you think when you look at people's shapshots? What do you think when you see telephone poles growing out of people's heads or a pic where the subject comprises 20% of the frame in the photo and the rest is walls and ceiling? What is the one best piece of advice you'd give an amateur? Get closer to your subject perhaps? Do you ever offer unsolicited advice, or keep it to yourself?

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by darklord700

What PS actions, if any, or plugin do you use?

For my portrait stuff, I use totally rad actions and their lightroom presets. I will usually tweak those a bit still to make it my own.

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Is renting something they (or other places in Calgary) do? I'd love to rent one of those for a day, since I'm not thrilled about spending $1900 on something I'm likely to use ~1 per year.

The Camera Store rents out as well. You can rent pretty much anything.

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by chemgear

I am waiting for this tread to turn into a Nikon vs. Canon gongshow like the Android vs. iOs thread.

Honestly, what's the point? Both are amazing tools. It comes down to who's controlling it that will make the better picture.

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Neeper, what do you think when you look at people's shapshots? What do you think when you see telephone poles growing out of people's heads or a pic where the subject comprises 20% of the frame in the photo and the rest is walls and ceiling? What is the one best piece of advice you'd give an amateur? Get closer to your subject perhaps? Do you ever offer unsolicited advice, or keep it to yourself?

It depends who's photos I am looking at. If you claim to be a pro and are charging people money for your work, then I will judge harsher than an amateur. Things sticking out of people's head is obviously something everyone should avoid. The best advice I can give an amateur is to learn how to see the light. Learn how to use it, mould it, reflect it, soften it, feather it..... If you can do that, you will see things in a different light! After that, I think composition is just as important.

Sure I can offer some basic advice here and there to people. But if people want to learn techniques or the business, then they have to pay me.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Neeper

Honestly, what's the point? Both are amazing tools. It comes down to who's controlling it that will make the better picture.

I shoot with an entry level Sony system. They're making some good things in the dslr world.

The only reason I'd switch to canon or, nikon when I make the switch to a semi pro Camera is because It's a bit of a pain of find Sony accessories. Good quality stuff from Sony though.

[Tiger]

Here's a question I want advice on. There isn't going to be a right answer, but I want to see if there are other pros and cons I haven't thought of.

I'm ready to by my second SLR, but I'm debating going to a full frame sensor or a cropped sensor (1.6 in canon's). Now the crop factor in the sensor gives basically more zoom to your lens, but less wide angle. So I'm wondering what are your thoughts between a full frame sensor and a cropped sensor?

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I shoot with an entry level Sony system. They're making some good things in the dslr world.

The only reason I'd switch to canon or, nikon when I make the switch to a semi pro Camera is because It's a bit of a pain of find Sony accessories. Good quality stuff from Sony though.

Sony does make some interesting and great stuff. I have always wondered why they couldn't tap the pro market. Maybe its impossible now to compete with the big 2? Unless they want to go really high end and compete with Phase One: http://vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoDigit...yr-warrty.aspx

[sun]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Thanks! I'm mainly interested in getting shots that show the full space in rental properties. Any tips on where to shoot from in a (usually vacant) room to show what size it is?

Also, could you explain what you mean by "shoot as tight as possible?"

Finally, I've never been satisfied with the photos I have of galley style kitchens in condos, basically either the perspective seems wrong or I can only shoot one side. Any tips?

Try to make it look as close as possible in the photo as it does in real life. Sometimes it's hard to tell where things should be when the room is vacant, so look at the outlets, windows, doors, etc as a guide. If you stuff yourself into a corner and shoot slammed at 10mm, the room will look HUGE. This might sound good, but it isn't. People will just be disappointed in the misrepresentation. Plus, the composition will be 90% ceiling and floor at that point (depending on room size), which isn't ideal.

Shooting tight just means as "zoomed" as possible, ie at 16mm instead of 11mm on a 11-16mm lens. None of this is going to be a problem if you don't have an ultrawide angle.

Galley kitchens can be tough if space is at a premium. I wouldn't recommend one-point-perspective (straight on), because it has to be perfect, and if it's not, it looks like a lonnnng tunnel. What I usually do is take two shots - one pointing each direction. With a wide-angle, you should be able to catch the edge of the counter (and maybe a sliver of the sink or whatever) that you are shooting away from. This helps provide context. Not the best explanation, but I can probably dig up some examples if you like. Or throw one of your images up and I can tell you what I think.

Use a tripod, keep it level, and shoot at twilight or on overcast days.

Originally Posted by TheGrimm

I think the goal with real estate is to present the space as being large and open? I would consider sticking to the lower end of the mm spectrum, for instance, the 10-22 EF-S lens can be quite fun, in-fact, it's the only reason my wife keeps a non full-frame camera onhand, she pretty much leaves the 10-22 on it. The only caveat with this type of lens is the edge distortion. Don't have anything on the edge of the frame that looks bad when stretched (e.g. women tend not to like this!)

The goal with real estate is to present the space as close as possible to reality. This isn't possible in a powder room, for example, but a large room shot at 10mm isn't going to look right. Just bringing it in to 13 makes a huge difference, and you don't lose that much of the space.

You definitely have to be careful about what is at the edges of your frames. The oblong end-tables and six-foot wide fridges make me cringe when I see them on the MLS.

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I'm going more for "accurately displays the space" than "makes it look as large as possible." It seems like wide angle lens is probably where I need to go with this, and Olympus (Zuiko) makes a well-reviewed 9-18mm and 11-22mm. Realistically, I'm not paying up for a full frame camera, and since there probably isn't much sense switching from a 4/3 DSLR to an APS DSLR, I'll probably just keep the body I have.

Regulator also came up with a 7-14 they make, but it's out of my price range for this.

If you're only shooting a couple places a year, then pick something up a used lens or something. I wouldn't drop 5 grand on a fullframe kit just for that. Unless you need an excuse to that is!

[bizaro86]

Thanks!

I would love to see some examples of a galley kitchen, that's the biggest weak spot of my current photos.

I definitely agree on not wanting to make everything look huge. I want it to look like what it is. If people are disappointed when they arrive, they won't take the place. I want it to look accurate, since they're pretty nice on average.

I found a link to one of my galley shots.

http://db.tt/lA5ENDwk

[badradio]

About 3 or 4 years ago I talked to Neeper and he was kind enough to answer a bunch of questions I had about the business of photography... A couple years later (after more extensive training and business training) I started my business... Things have been really good, but if you break it down into an hourly wage it really isn't much... You have to really love what you do... The over-saturation of the market is frightening, and to stay afloat you need to create some amazing imagery... Neeper does this, and it's my business model as well... I'm in a small market, and my prices reflect that... though I'm still losing business to "photographers" undercutting my prices... Annoying, but that's part of the game... Just wanted to say thanks to Neeper for answering my questions way back when, and I hope we meet someday and you can make fun of my Canon

[Neeper]

Hey badradio! How are you? Share your website if you wish so I can see your work.

If anyone wants to show me some photo for critiques, feel free. I like critiquing, but you better have thick skin!

[sun]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Thanks!

I would love to see some examples of a galley kitchen, that's the biggest weak spot of my current photos.

I definitely agree on not wanting to make everything look huge. I want it to look like what it is. If people are disappointed when they arrive, they won't take the place. I want it to look accurate, since they're pretty nice on average.

I found a link to one of my galley shots.

http://db.tt/lA5ENDwk

Not a bad start. First step would be to use a tripod. Just pick up a cheap one for 20 bucks. Keep it level when you use it. See the walls in your image? How they are all leaning towards the left? Any vertical lines in your photo should remain vertical. This is the "low hanging fruit" of real estate photography.

For kitchens, I like to to keep the camera level with the bottom of the upper cabinets. Any lower, you start to see the bottoms of the uppers - not usually ideal. Yours doesn't really have issues here, so don't worry too much about it.

Your image is leaning to left and skewed down. I've fixed it in photoshop (hope that's alright) and posted below:



Already looks a lot better to my eye. I also shoot landscape oriented whenever possible. Just looks a lot better on the MLS where the images are like 480px or some nonsense.

This isn't the best photo, but it's the first galley style kitchen I could think of:



Kind of a run-and-gun shot. Very tight space, but this is how I usually like to shoot these kinds of kitchens. The only thing missing from the shot is the dishwasher. I would take an additional shot from the other side of the kitchen looking towards the sink. Were I to take this shot again today, I would step to the right a bit (to show more floor) and raise my POV a bit as well (underside of left cabinet upper). Looks like some weird colour balance issues too, but not too bad.

Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.

[badradio]

Originally Posted by Neeper

Hey badradio! How are you? Share your website if you wish so I can see your work.

If anyone wants to show me some photo for critiques, feel free. I like critiquing, but you better have thick skin!

I'm good! My website is http://www.10-03.ca I'm no Neeper but I try...

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by badradio

I'm good! My website is http://www.10-03.ca I'm no Neeper but I try...

Your work is good! Keep up the good work.

[SebC]

Oh here's one... how big a deal is channel clipping? Like on skin tones and whatnot? Is it better to allow channel clipping, or to underexpose and bring everything up in post?

[HerbalTesla]

Can you explain why this lens: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX12573
cost more than this one? http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX23533

What are your thoughts on Picasa vs LR for simple edits such as cropping and highlights? I have LR but found it intimidating so I rely on Picasa a lot.

Thanks in advance.

[Hans Landa]

Originally Posted by HerbalTesla

Can you explain why this lens: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX12573
cost more than this one? http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX23533

What are your thoughts on Picasa vs LR for simple edits such as cropping and highlights? I have LR but found it intimidating so I rely on Picasa a lot.

Thanks in advance.

The f2D is an FX lens

The 1.8G is a DX lens

The f2D may or may not be made in Japan.
The 1.8G is likely made in Thailand or China.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by HerbalTesla

What are your thoughts on Picasa vs LR for simple edits such as cropping and highlights? I have LR but found it intimidating so I rely on Picasa a lot.

I use both. I find for simple things like cropping, straightening, levels and such Picasa does a good job. It's pretty fast for things like this and has a simple interface. If you shoot in RAW format I've read Picasa treats these differently and gives you limited control. For the amateur who is tossing photos up on a site or printing stuff on your own I don't think this would be a massive concern. I would use the analogy of mp3 decoding. I have a friend who will not listen to mp3s in 128 and insists on at least 256 if not 340 as he hears hisses and pops in 128s. I on the other hand can't really tell a difference.

Picasa makes the overall process of taking a basic photo image in whatever format and doing the basic editing features to "develop" a better image simple for anyone to pick up. Lightroom isn't that hard but even it is overkill for a lot of people. I wouldn't expect it's something a pro would use but for us plebes it would do most of what we need.