If you're truly interested in making your properties look as good as possible online, but don't want to spend $100 or more each time you need some great images of a new listing for online presentation, there are a few things you should consider. By far the most important consideration is camera equipment that will do an adequate job shooting Real Estate Interior Shots. An of course, the two most important considerations in an equipment purchase for Real Estate Photography are an adequate wide angle lens and flash equipment.

We recently posted an article on the Panasonic Lumix FX35, a shirt-pocked sized camera with on-board flash. The unique feature this camera offers is a 25mm wide-angle lens. However, it's seriously limited in terms of the tiny on-board flash unit. It does have an "Intelligent Auto" setting that allows the camera to adjust ISO, shutter speed, aperture, etc. automatically. The problem with this setting is that when there is very little ambient light, the shutter will slow to the point that the image will blur when the camera is hand-held for the shot. One fairly inexpensive remedy for this is to buy an inexpensive tripod to hold the camera perfectly still when shutter speeds are slow. When using a tripod in this fashion, we'd recommend using the timer on a 2-5 second setting so you can take your hands off the camera before the shutter opens and closes. Using a tripod should help you achieve an image that is sharp and in-focus. However, one other problem you might encounter when shooting in low-light conditions at a slow shutter speed is that windows may wash-out during daylight hours. The FX35 seems to be a reasonable option for agents that are in a hurry, because it's so compact and easy to carry with you. For an example interior image made with the FX35, click this link http://www.buildatour.com/Home/Foru...fault.aspx

You, as a real estate professional, have to decide what's most important when it comes to marketing your properties effectively with pictures. If you're willing to spend some money on the front end and make a commitment to learning how to use the equipment, you can achieve amazing results that will translate to less time on the market, and less showing properties to people who wind up not buying anything. If this paragraph describes you, we'd recommend you consider purchasing a Digital SLR. It's a fairly significant expense, but when it comes to being effective in real estate sales and service, what isn't? We're pretty sure, if used exclusively to photograph your listings, you can deduct a camera equipment purchase of this nature at tax time. But of course, you'll want to consult with your accountant about this.

If you decide to explore the world of Digital SLR Real Estate Photography, here's a few things that may help you along the way. First and foremost, we'd recommend becoming a reader of the "Photography for Real Estate Blog" by Larry Lohrman.http://photographyforrealestate.net There you'll find a seemingly infinite wealth of knowledge related to every aspect of real estate photography for the Professional as well as the real estate agent.

We've always used Nikon Digital SLR equipment, and would highly recommend it. Having said that, there are thousands of people that would say the exact same thing about Canon or others. you'll have to decide. The Photography for Real Estate Blog has a camera list that your should find helpful in making your choice.
http://photographyforrealestate.net/cameras/

When it comes to lenses, there are several choices. The only thing we'd like to point out is that you shouldn't really consider anything less than a true 25mm lens or wider. The Nikon lens we most recommend is the Nikkor 12-24mm Ultra-Wide. For a review and recommendation for this lens, click this link. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/1224.htm

If online presentation is your focus, and we're assuming it is, Nikon's least expensive option in Digital SLR's is the D40, and it seems to do a great job. You can currently find the D40 online for around $400-$500 with an 18-55mm lens included, or as low as $300 for the camera body only. It works well with the Nikkor 12-24mm lens. The camera is only 6.1 mega-pixel, but that's more than you need for any presentation on the web, including you Buildatour.com Tours. Read all the directions thoroughly, and then start practicing. Most camera shops have after-market manuals that are much easier to understand than the manual that will come with the camera. They're what we'd call a "Photography for Dummies" Manual. If you can find one, we'd highly recommend it.

Now, the most important part of making great pictures is a GREAT LENS. That's why we recommend the Nikkor 12-24mm. You can currently find it online NEW for $800 to $900. There are many other options however. Talk to your local dealer. Most dealers will match or come close to prices you find other places, and it's always good to have face-to-face service after the sale.

So you've got a great camera and lens. Now, it's time to consider an external flash unit. Again, there are a number of options. We simply recommend that you get a powerful unit that has a movable head. If you're shooting with a 12mm wide lens or wider, you'll probably find that shooting a powerful flash unit directly toward the ceiling will produce the best results. If you're shoot your flash straight forward, you'll probably get less than the flash diffusion needed to adequately light the shot. Shooting the flash toward the ceiling also has a tendency to make the image look warmer and more color accurate. Some experts would recommend a couple of stand-mounted strobes, but that's probably not practical for most agents. You can currently buy a Nikon SB600 for around $200 online and an SB800 for around $400.

The last thing we'd recommend a good image editor. Photoshop Elements or Paint Shop Pro should have all the tools you'll need to produce some professional looking property images.

You're a true real estate professional. The property images that you create will greatly enhance the professional image your customers see in you.