Another Beautiful Sunset In Mosier
RC PHOTOWORKS Professional Real Estate Photography by Hal Johnston
My Story
I have been a photographer since 1972 when I bought my first 35mm Single Lens Reflex camera and took a photography class at Portland State University.
When I tried to sign up for the class, the professor told me I wasn't allowed in his class because it was an upper level class only, which required me to take his beginner & intermediate classes beforehand (which weren't available this term), as well as a sophomore level chemistry class. I was just beginning my sophomore year as a student, so I hadn't done any of those things. After being turned away I circled around the auditorium (that's how classes were picked and registration was done in those days) looking for some other elective class to take and after a while I saw that the professor was gone and someone else was in his chair at his table. I went over, sighed up, and was in.
On the way home from registration that day I stopped into a pro photo store in Portland and bought a camera, and the man who helped me told me I needed some Tri-X film to go with it, so I bought 2 rolls. I knew nothing.
The first day of class we met in a large lecture hall. The professor introduced himself, then announced that if any underclassmen, freshmen or sophomores, were in the room, now was the time to leave because they would automatically receive a failing grade in this class, and that it was for only those in upper grades who had taken previous classes. About 15 people got up and left. I stayed. We then got our first assignment, which was to shoot a roll of film and develop it, then print a contact sheet and two of the best photos. That was it for the first class. No instructions other than that.
I had to ask another student what a contact sheet is. I asked about the darkroom. I then took photos in the city before going home. The next day in the school darkroom, I asked other students what to do/how to do it and one of them showed me how to develop the film. The next lab day I asked other students how to make prints and use an enlarger. I had been reading all I could find about it but in those days it was difficult.
Next class day, back in the lecture hall, we turned in our work and were told that our assignment for our final grade in the class was to shoot, develop, print and mount a group of photographs along a theme of our choice. No other information was given other than that we wouldn't meet again until the final scheduled class day.
I did the work, turned it in on time, and then we had our third and last class of the semester. As we walked into the lecture hall, along the front of the stage were all my photographs, and no others, sitting in little easels for everyone to see. All I could think of is that the professor had found out I didn't take the prerequisites and I was going to be busted in front of everyone.
He started out by saying he was elated by a few of the projects, and disappointed by many others. He then asked everyone to look at the photos on the stage. He then stated that these photographs and this project was exactly what he had expected from everyone, and that the photographer had done an exceptional job of it...
I was elated. I was a photographer.
When I tried to sign up for the class, the professor told me I wasn't allowed in his class because it was an upper level class only, which required me to take his beginner & intermediate classes beforehand (which weren't available this term), as well as a sophomore level chemistry class. I was just beginning my sophomore year as a student, so I hadn't done any of those things. After being turned away I circled around the auditorium (that's how classes were picked and registration was done in those days) looking for some other elective class to take and after a while I saw that the professor was gone and someone else was in his chair at his table. I went over, sighed up, and was in.
On the way home from registration that day I stopped into a pro photo store in Portland and bought a camera, and the man who helped me told me I needed some Tri-X film to go with it, so I bought 2 rolls. I knew nothing.
The first day of class we met in a large lecture hall. The professor introduced himself, then announced that if any underclassmen, freshmen or sophomores, were in the room, now was the time to leave because they would automatically receive a failing grade in this class, and that it was for only those in upper grades who had taken previous classes. About 15 people got up and left. I stayed. We then got our first assignment, which was to shoot a roll of film and develop it, then print a contact sheet and two of the best photos. That was it for the first class. No instructions other than that.
I had to ask another student what a contact sheet is. I asked about the darkroom. I then took photos in the city before going home. The next day in the school darkroom, I asked other students what to do/how to do it and one of them showed me how to develop the film. The next lab day I asked other students how to make prints and use an enlarger. I had been reading all I could find about it but in those days it was difficult.
Next class day, back in the lecture hall, we turned in our work and were told that our assignment for our final grade in the class was to shoot, develop, print and mount a group of photographs along a theme of our choice. No other information was given other than that we wouldn't meet again until the final scheduled class day.
I did the work, turned it in on time, and then we had our third and last class of the semester. As we walked into the lecture hall, along the front of the stage were all my photographs, and no others, sitting in little easels for everyone to see. All I could think of is that the professor had found out I didn't take the prerequisites and I was going to be busted in front of everyone.
He started out by saying he was elated by a few of the projects, and disappointed by many others. He then asked everyone to look at the photos on the stage. He then stated that these photographs and this project was exactly what he had expected from everyone, and that the photographer had done an exceptional job of it...
I was elated. I was a photographer.
Goals:
My purpose is to make your job as a real estate professional easier for you.
You don't need to worry about taking photographs of the properties you want to list. Instead, you simply call me, text or email, and I will go to the property to take photographs for you. Afterward, I head back to my desk to do the necessary editing, and you will receive the photographs in a day or two.
Keep the costs low.
I know that listing a property for sale is an big investment in time and money, so any savings in costs is welcome.
Bring realtors to see your property in person.
Real estate sales work best if you can get every realtor in the area trying to sell your property.
To get the realtors there you need good photographs. If your property looks good in the listing photos, realtors will bring their clients.
To get the clients there you need good photographs. Many buyers look for at property themselves online now, so you can't afford to have your property be the one that they will come to see if they don't like anything else. Even worse is the possibility they may not come to see it at all, based only on the photos. I'm always surprised at the realtors who take their own photos to save a little money upfront, while in reality they are not doing the professional job they have been hired to do.
I also know that most buyers go home again and look at the photos of the homes they have toured so they can remember what they saw and liked. Good photographs remind them of the good aspects of a home or property.
I hope to provide better photographs than you can get elsewhere.
No realtor wants to have photographs that are warped and weird looking, yet it is surprising how many listing photographs are this way.
We have all seen photos like this on home listings with crooked walls and harsh lighting.
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The same room can look so much better with straight, vertical walls, and more natural colors. It also is a better image of what the room actually looks like.
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There is no reason to have photos that make rooms look warped and crooked, like these.
(Actual photographs used in listing by realtors. I'm not making this up!)
Every listing is precious.
A lot of time, effort and money goes into marketing each and every property. The seller of a lower price home today is often a seller or buyer of a higher priced home in the future. If you do a great job now, they will be back again some day, and will likely recommend you to their family, friends and cohorts.
Make you look more professional.
Your clients will look at the listing of the home you have listed for them. So will everyone else in the
market for a home, as well as every realtor in the area. Be professional and look professional. This is what I provide for you.
This seems simple. It is simple.
