Busy Busy Busy

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I have been slacking on my blog updates, however this means only one thing...I'm busy! I have tons of cabins and some houses to blog about.

I will start with a beautiful home I photographed a few weeks back in Ojai. One of my favorite agents in Ojai, Vivienne Moody, gave me a call to come out and photograph a property for her. She never disappoints! 821 El Toro Road in Ojai has 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and is on a huge piece of land. I really loved it. The house is on a beautiful tree lined road with a huge backyard. I would have been happy to move into the basement apartment. It's a split level house and the basement apartment opens out to the huge backyard. Enough talking take a look at the photos and virtual tour...








Not as Cool as I Think I am

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Last week up in Big Bear I got to photograph some beautiful cabins. It was a nice cool beautiful day after that heat wave and I was happy. I was photographing the first cabin on my list. I had shot the entire interior and was working on the exterior. My car was parked in the drive and I was trying to decide if moving my car would get me a better shot of the front. I looked up and noticed a gate where I could walk up the hill a little and take a nice shot from above. Perfect because I wasn't feeling it from where I was. So I walked around to the back of my truck and had the shock of my life! Two huge deer standing on the other side of my truck, one with huge antlers! ...then I realized they were plastic. However, it was too late, I had already let out a loud embarrassing scream.



I know they don't look so big and scary but, I swear that big guy was challenging me! And yes I realize they were facing the other direction.

Practice Practice Practice

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I love that we never finish learning new things. However, I think we sometimes forget that we need to practice and relearn some of the things we have already been taught. I decided today will be a quieter day for me(although my phone already seems to be ringing like crazy), so today is a practice day. It's a day to make sure I'm headed in the correct direction with my photography.

There are so many opportunities to learn new things in photography. One of the most important lessons I've learned is, the better you photograph the subject in the first place, the less work you have later. I photograph buildings, houses, businesses, etc. I could very easily use the same technique for all situations, but I would be compromising quality, not utilizing the uniqueness of each situation, and also creating more work in Photoshop. Photoshop can enhance, correct and save photographs, but it's the initial work you put out in place that is going to determine the end result.

Today I'll work on my capturing the image, reminding myself of all that information I learned in school and put that degree to good use!

Big Bear Vacations

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Last time I posted I mentioned going up to Big Bear Lake for a photo shoot. I didn't want to say to much and jinx it but, I was going up for a test shoot for Big Bear Vacations. Big Bear Vacations is one of the top property management companies in Big Bear. Turns out they were very happy with my test shoot. I now have a contract with them to photograph 200-300 of their properties(they are getting new vacation rentals every time I go up there)! Woo-hoo! I love it. I get to drive up to beautiful Big Bear once or twice a week. It will be a project that we'll work on for the next year. I'm very excited to photograph all their vacation rentals and they seem just as excited to have new photos and virtual tours for their rentals.

Anyone looking for a nice place to get out of town, Big Bear is a two hour drive from Los Angeles. Beautiful, relaxing, small town feel and not too far to worry about the amount of money you'll be spending on gas, but lots of blue lake and blue skies! From what I hear it tends to be a big snow ski area and quieter in the summer. I say Big Bear is the place to head this summer! The summer rentals are very reasonable and very cozy...as I photograph the cabins I'm picking out which I intend to rent when I have some time off! Take a look at some of the photos. I'll keep you updated on how this project is going and the best cabins up there to rent! In the mean time give Big Bear Vacations a call! (800)524-6600

This is Cabin 991 "Winding"





This is Cabin 977 "Hillside Hideaway"




Big Bear Photo Shoots

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I drove up to Big Bear today to photograph a Lodge and some cabins. It was a great drive. Traffic was great, I was happy to get out of Los Angeles. All was great and then I hit fog. Then that fog turned to rain. I started to worry about the photo shoots. However, I was curious why I hadn't heard from my client about the rainy weather yet. So, I kept driving. The rain stopped and that was great, but the fog was insane! It was so foggy I could barely see the car in front of me. Tule fog. Then all of a sudden it was clear and I was above the fog bank and it was beautiful. No wonder the client hadn't called about the rain, it was perfect up there! So, I stopped and took a quick photo...

AMLI on the Boulevard

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Last week I photographed an apartment complex for the third time...no it wasn't a reshoot and they weren't unhappy. It was for different different owners or publications over the last 5 years. The apartment complex is called AMLI on the Boulevard. I used to live in the area so I would drive by this complex all the time. It has such a great feel and look, you can't help look at it when you drive by. And every time I have photographed it, I have really enjoyed it. Take a look at the photography...





Bel Air Rd Property

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I got a call from a Argyropoulos Design. The owner had a house he wanted photographs and a virtual tour for. He was also interested in renting the home out for a filming location, so I showed him the property website that I had made for Granada Hills Estate. He loved it and wanted something with a similar feel. I made him a very very simple website with a slideshow that I really like. He was so happy with it and says he plans of bragging about me to some other friends that might be interested in my photography. I say brag away! In the mean time take a look at the photography...it's a beautiful house!






Granada Hills Estate

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I got a call from a home owner looking for photography, a virtual tour, and a property website earlier last month. He had decided to put his house up for a filming location rental and general rentals. He just let me go wild with the photography and I had a great time. I got to experiment with my slideshow software and also make him a nice little website. Take a look at the Photos and Virtual Tour...





Falling Behind again!

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I've been busy again and have fallen behind on my posting again. I apologize! However, I wanted to catch you up on some of my favorite shoots lately.

At the end of April, I got a job from the company that hosts and creates the software for my virtual tours, RealTour Vision. They send me photo shoots from time to time. I got my second Roys Hawaiian Fusion photo shoot. So far I have photographed the banquet rooms for the Anaheim and Los Angeles Roys. They are very enjoyable to photograph for. They managers and waiters are so nice and helpful! Take a look at some of the still photos and when you get a chance definitely have dinner there. Wonderful!



Sienna Residential

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I was contacted back in April by David McKinzie of Sienna Residential to photograph some of their model homes in Oxnard. The homes were only blocks from the beach...who wouldn't love that! I love photographing model homes. Model homes by the beach are even better. Take a look at the photographs. I love the landing on the roof of the homes with a straight view to the water...Take a look at the virtual tour.










Another Pamela Rich Condo

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I was called again to photograph some real estate photos for Pamela Rich at CondosLA.com. This time is was for a unique condo on Curson Ave. The architect who designed the condo was currently living there but he and his wife had decided to move. Let me tell you, I love photographing for architects, designers, and stagers! They all think about the lighting as a part of the design. There is extra detail put in the lighting lighting. You'd think as a photographer and knowing how lighting can change space, that I'd have an incredibly lit apartment. Me, I think about utility. The great lighting in my office and living room was all designed out by my handy and thoughtful boyfriend. Anyway, this condo was great to photograph. Lots of angles and odd shaped rooms. It was a little challenging and I definitely felt a little more pressure on me. The architect also being an artist, I wanted to make sure he was happy with my representation of his design. However, don't worry, I try my hardest to do my best with any and every building and home I photograph! Well, take a look at the photos!









1968 House in Pasadena

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I love this house! I realize that if I were to move into this home that I would totally have to change my decor to 60s chic. Hoever, If I lived in this house would totally be alright with that! I was hired to photograph some real estate photos and virtual tours for this house in Pasadena back in April (I'm very behind on my posts!) The exterior of the house was normal if not a little plain and hidden behind big shrubs and hedges. However, the minute the owner opened the front door, I was sold! Right inside the door is the coolest fireplace. Not only that but the dining room has the same dark wood paneling that I grew up with in our 1960s house, and the most perfect dining room table and light fixture that room could have. This house was amazingly preserved! Chuck(the homeowner)took great pride in his hilltop house in Pasadena. The house was built in 1968 and he bought the home from the builder in 1969. I wish him lots of luck selling his house. I hope it's someone who can really appreciate some of it's 60s charm. Take a look at the virtual tour here and that view!





Busy Week!

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So I have had a nice, busy week with lots of little shoots. I was in Los Angeles, Sierra Madre, Oxnard, Camarillo,and Pasadena shooting real estate photography and virtual tours. All my shoots this week were great, but I think out of all the shoots this week the Sierra Madre shoot was my favorite. It was just a nice simple virtual tour shoot in beautiful Sierra Madre. If you haven't been, you really should. Manicured lawns, beautiful houses, an old town square. It really is a lovely town.

This photo shoot was for Reni Rose at Prudential California Realty. It was really great to work with Reni and her wonderful assistant Joyce. She was really great to speak with. And making my week even better they gave me a great recommendation...

"It was very nice to meet you today and thank you so much for your every efficient service. You showed up on time, were very business like as well as personable and pleasant...and you got the job done very quickly. We are very happy with what you produced for us. The results are just what we wanted. Thank you, again, it was a pleasure and we will certainly call again when we have a need for another virtual tour."

Click here to take a look at their Virtual Tour!

Los Feliz

I got a call earlier this week to photograph a condo for a Realtor that I had worked for a month back. Pamela Rich's marketing manager, Vince, gave me a call to photograph a great condo in Los Feliz. First I have to say, I think it's brilliant of her to have hired someone to do her marketing and creative. I know, we can't all hire someone to work all our marketing for us, but it is really top notch and just great looking! Take a look at their website CondosLA.com.

Now I tend to like the manicured look of Los Feliz Blvd. but this was a great apartment. Nice space, hardwood floors, and lots of light! I liked it and was told I should purchase it. I would love to, but it's up to all of you realtors out there to hire me...lots and lots of work! Anyway, this is a one bedroom, one bathroom, with a nice nook area that would make us a nice office. Take a look at some of the photos...













Real Estate Websites

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Over the last year that there has been more and more interest in showcase websites of homes for sale. Using the address as the domain name, when a buyer drives by a home that is for sale, when they get home they can type in the address www.8262WoodshillTrail.com. There they can find out any in contact information, photographs, virtual tours, and all those other details of the home.

During the last year I have been toying with the idea of providing websites for real estate. I think they are a clever idea. Most buyers will look for the home on Realtor.com first, but if it's not listed on Realtor.com where do buyers look next? The Multiple Listing Service(MLS) can be a bit confusing, which area MLS is it listed on? However, using the address as a domain name, when you have the address of the home for sale, you have the website name. Once I realized how smart this really was, I decided that I had to start offering the real estate websites in my packages.

So, I have spent the last week figuring out how to make these websites myself. I'm actually finding it very fun and different for me. My goal is to keep them simple, clean, and keep information available and easy to find. Here is my first version. click the image or the URL above to get a full view. So let me know what you think. You'll be able to see real estate websites added into my packages in the next week or so. I'm pretty excited!

Insight Virtual Tours!

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I wanted to introduce another virtual tour photographer friend. Through RealTour Vision, the company that produces the virtual tour technology that I use, I met Lori Nunes from "Insite Virtual Tours". Insite Virtual Tours is located in the coastal area of central California. You can find her running around San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Cayucos, and everywhere in between. Lori is new to the business in the last year but Insite Virtual Tours has absolutely taken off! Let me tell you I have been learning a lot from her. Lori is a networking wiz! If you are located in the San Luis Obispo area and are looking for a great photographer to photograph your business or real estate, give Insite Virtual Tours a call!

All About Virtual Tours!

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Besides the fact that I absolutely love my job, I can really be thankful for the friends that I have made while being a virtual tour photographer. One of the first people I met was Dawn Schaffer, Owner of All About Virtual Tours in South Western Washington. She's a wonderful person to talk with. We seem to end up on the phone longer than we ever intend to bouncing tons of ideas back and forth. Not only has she been a great friend and supporter, but she's a fantastic photographer! If you are located in Southern Washington and need virtual tours or photography give her a call. She's a wealth of information and has lots of ideas! Thank you Dawn!