A thread for real estate, architectural, and interior design photography

mchong75 wrote in post #13955307
giCe, what HDR software are you using?

-2, 0, +2 stacked in photomatrix, just one of the presets, I'm still relatively new with these software so I didn't dare to tinker with it too much.

what would you guys say is the easiest way to edit the lights without dimming the shot?

giCe wrote in post #13955479
-2, 0, +2 stacked in photomatrix, just one of the presets, I'm still relatively new with these software so I didn't dare to tinker with it too much.

what would you guys say is the easiest way to edit the lights without dimming the shot?

Man, you don't need my advice. Your first try looks 10 times better than mine.

I also use Photomatix and I can't quite tweak it to look natural.

Care to share your adjustment setting on one of the pic?

Joe.Recon wrote in post #13954743
Nice set. Was that just for personal use or are you using those to sell his house ?

My mother-in-law to-be in very proud of her house, so I took some photos for her, which she really loves.

Joe Recon, are above photos all with flash?

Did you use ETTL or manual?

Yes they are all with flash and the flashes were set on manual. I also had a set of Gary Fong diffusers on them. I am planning on buying some 40" umbrellas for larger rooms.

I've recently started using flash and found that the agents I work for seem to be getting positive feedback from their clients, saying "your photographer's images look more realistic then some others, and we like that. It gives the buyer a better view of what the property actually looks like."

I never used Tone Mapping for any of the houses I've done in the past, only Exposure Fusion. But I've noticed that even the exposure fusion tends to modify some colors. Maybe it's just me lacking the post processing knowledge to bring back the right colors but I find that using flashes brings out more realistic colors.

What,s your take on Flash versus HDR/Exposure Fusion ?

mchong75 wrote in post #13957473
Joe Recon, are above photos all with flash?

Did you use ETTL or manual?

Joe.Recon wrote in post #13959852
What,s your take on Flash versus HDR/Exposure Fusion ?

It all depends on the software. I like Enfuse exposure blending better than Photomatix, but I like SNS-HDR better than any other HDR software I have tried.

I can get natural looking results from both Enfuse and SNS, but I can get better window data from SNS, and here in Colorado I have clients that want that window view because they know it will sell the house. That is the one area where Enfuse just never could really get the job done. Now, if there are no mountains or lakes or any of that, then Enfuse is great for blending and getting natural results.

Joe.Recon wrote in post #13959852
Yes they are all with flash and the flashes were set on manual. I also had a set of Gary Fong diffusers on them. I am planning on buying some 40" umbrellas for larger rooms.

I've recently started using flash and found that the agents I work for seem to be getting positive feedback from their clients, saying "your photographer's images look more realistic then some others, and we like that. It gives the buyer a better view of what the property actually looks like."

I never used Tone Mapping for any of the houses I've done in the past, only Exposure Fusion. But I've noticed that even the exposure fusion tends to modify some colors. Maybe it's just me lacking the post processing knowledge to bring back the right colors but I find that using flashes brings out more realistic colors.

What,s your take on Flash versus HDR/Exposure Fusion ?

How are you supporting the flashes? I've been pondering building a bracket that will position the two flashes just outside horizontal of the lens that can be held with one hand.

Fixer upper!

TheReal7 wrote in post #13962718
Fixer upper!

I LOVE the decor!! It's so.... Easter-ish.

TGrundvig wrote in post #13961030
It all depends on the software. I like Enfuse exposure blending better than Photomatix, but I like SNS-HDR better than any other HDR software I have tried.

I can get natural looking results from both Enfuse and SNS, but I can get better window data from SNS, and here in Colorado I have clients that want that window view because they know it will sell the house. That is the one area where Enfuse just never could really get the job done. Now, if there are no mountains or lakes or any of that, then Enfuse is great for blending and getting natural results.

I did some reading on that SNS HDR. Which version did you get, PRO or HOME ? I agree with you that LR Enfuse does not always render best results for windows.

P12 wrote in post #13962100
How are you supporting the flashes? I've been pondering building a bracket that will position the two flashes just outside horizontal of the lens that can be held with one hand.

I use one of my extra camera tripods, one Manfrotto support that came with my backdrop support and I also use the plastic shoes that come with the flashes. The one thing I find hard with flashes is not getting any reflections from them in either mirrors and stainless steel appliances.

Joe.Recon wrote in post #13963328
I did some reading on that SNS HDR. Which version did you get, PRO or HOME ? I agree with you that LR Enfuse does not always render best results for windows.

I use one of my extra camera tripods, one Manfrotto support that came with my backdrop support and I also use the plastic shoes that come with the flashes. The one thing I find hard with flashes is not getting any reflections from them in either mirrors and stainless steel appliances.

I got the Pro. The software creator, Sebastian, is second to none. I had a set of images come back once with this strange line in the sky that was not in any of the frames. I sent him an email and he asked me to send the images, so I did. Two days later he releases an update and the line was gone.

He also did some recent updates to improve highlights but it started causing halos, the next thing you know there is a new release that fixed the halos. The guy is on top of it. I'm seriously thinking about donating more money just to say 'thanks' for caring so much about the software. It's not like any of the big boys, where you have to wait for a new version to get a lot of new features. He has added a curves feature that you can use with a layer mask, or with the entire image, and many more features. If he had the ability to market like Photomatix and the others, he would take over the HDR software market.

I have probably emailed him 4 or 5 times with questions and he always gets back to me within a day or two. Try that with one of the big boys. LOL

You can always try before you buy, so I recommend you get the trial and see what you think. If you don't like the results, get in touch with me and I'll see if I can walk you through some of the steps I have figured out to improve the output image.

TheReal7 wrote in post #13962718
Fixer upper!

Shoot, that home just fine! Add a large front porch and a rockin' chair and call it done.

Great job on the photos!

Can someone recommend a RE photographer (maybe yourself), local to Orange County, CA region, who would be open to spending some 1:1 time with a dSLR amateur/enthusiast (myself) who is very interested in taking photos of his own own home as I plan to list for sale this summer.

Thanks!

ChillOne wrote in post #13964889
Can someone recommend a RE photographer (maybe yourself), local to Orange County, CA region, who would be open to spending some 1:1 time with a dSLR amateur/enthusiast (myself) who is very interested in taking photos of his own own home as I plan to list for sale this summer.

Thanks!

I don't know of anyone, but I can only imagine that you will hard pressed to find someone to give you 1:1 time to teach you how to do THEIR job without compensation. That would be like asking a RE agent to teach you how to sell your own home, why would anyone do that?

I think it would cost you less $$ to hire a professional than it would cost you to get a professional to train you how to take good photos. The time alone to learn what it takes to know what we know would outweigh the $$ spent to just hire an expert in that field. If you want it DONE right, then you need to DO it right.

Besides, you can't learn how to shoot RE in a few hours. If you could, everyone would be doing it and all the MLS photos would be of much higher quality. It takes months, years even, to fine tune your skills.

TGrundvig wrote in post #13965084
I don't know of anyone, but I can only imagine that you will hard pressed to find someone to give you 1:1 time to teach you how to do THEIR job without compensation. That would be like asking a RE agent to teach you how to sell your own home, why would anyone do that?

I think it would cost you less $$ to hire a professional than it would cost you to get a professional to train you how to take good photos. The time alone to learn what it takes to know what we know would outweigh the $$ spent to just hire an expert in that field. If you want it DONE right, then you need to DO it right.

Besides, you can't learn how to shoot RE in a few hours. If you could, everyone would be doing it and all the MLS photos would be of much higher quality. It takes months, years even, to fine tune your skills.

You're probably right. But still willing to potentially pay someone for some 1:1 time in an attempt to do my own photos. Can always hire someone if it does not work out.