Recently I was hired to photograph an Oklahoma City hotel for an international hotel chain. Instead of my usual post production work to complete the photographs, I was told to submit the unedited camera files and they would complete the editing at their facility. Because my editing is an important part of my work and I know what the overseas photo editing mills produce, I was hesitant but gave them what they asked.
The final work was what I expected – batch processed automatic HDR interiors with unrealistic colors, blown out windows, and glaring light sources. And I would like to show you the difference. These sets are processed from the same image files – the first image is the way it would have looked if I had hand edited it. The second is similar to the automated work this company produced. The second one is, sadly, also typical of the type of work that too often is used in real estate photography. Here’s another set from the same job:
Although I usually spend less than 2 hours in the home, final production often takes 3 or more additional hours. I make this extra effort so your property looks its best and buyers are eager to see the home.
If the photographs you are currently getting look more like the second image, you are probably getting fast, automated work instead of carefully hand made images. They may even be coming from some overseas processing mill (I turn down offers from them every week). But if you like the first image – or think your buyers will react more positively to it, let me photograph your next listing. If the first thing a buyer see is the photographs, it really pays to get the best photography you can.
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