Which thumbnail is best?

[Giddy Goat]

What a lovely view to have!

[Guest3]

Helen, both your pictures look lovely! It must be a breataking view when new snow has just fallen, untouched. I almost wished I was there! Can't skii...but would love to go for the aprés skii!!

[Jimbo]

with digi cams you can take loads of piccies and just choose the one that does it for you!

Sometimes the fault isn't with you but with your equipment. A good example are small rooms indoors - try as you may, you simply can't get enough in the shot to make the room look spacious and welcoming. What you want, you really, really want is the bed with its pretty cover, the dressing table with the fancy lamp and the window with those lovely sunflowers in a vase - but try as you may, you simply can't fit them all into a single shot. And the picture doesn't do justice to your creative efforts in that room.

A professional photographer will have extra-wide lenses or shoot a matrix of shots which s/he can patch together later using special software - all specialised and expensive stuff. The results can be startlingly better than yours.

Being happy with your own pix shouldn't blind you to the fact that a seasoned professional will probably do a better job. Whether you want, need or can afford the service is your choice. But great pictures do stop potential renters in their tracks when they're flicking through dozens of websites.

Jim

[Giddy Goat]

I agree that a professional photograph, taken with all the latest gismos is going to give a better result. Sharper, gets more in, but often with that curious curving effect which maes it look a bit surreal perhaps. Whether it tips the scales when a holiday maker looks at these photos alongside some extremely well taken amateur shots of another attractive property ....no, can't be convinced. Unless the properties had equally beautiful grounds and interiors and equally fabulous websites, and a slightly better quality of the images was the only differentiator!

But I guess not all amateurs have the natural ability to stage a photo and compose it to best effect - even following tips, so in that case, perhaps a pro is the way to go.

Are you that pro, Jimbo?

[Mountain Goat]

So (you're heading the right way GG), let's cut to the chase.

What's a reasonable rate for a pro, say for a 4 bedroom property, and does one get a virtual tour and a few 360s chucked in for good measure?

Cuisine's good out here by the way....weather's still fabulous...and GVA's easy to get to...

MG

[Jimbo]

Aware that the quality of pictures sell your home. Trying to decide which one will interest browsers to look further than the thumbnail.

You goats are obviously a lot smarter than your pictures might suggest. I'll have to remember that!

My suggestions have been addressing the original posting by Johnel. I hope they might have given a different perspective.

Jim

[Mountain Goat]

Ho, ho

Ducking and weaving I see; we'll weedle it out of you yet, never fear.

MGoat

[Giddy Goat]

[Alan Knighting]

Jimbo,

You goats are obviously a lot smarter than your pictures might suggest.

Why don't you give us a link to your Web Site and let goats decide who has the "smart" pictures?

Mine aren't "smart" but they don’t preclude bookings.

Fluffy

[gh]

Aware that the quality of pictures sell your home. Trying to decide which one will interest browsers to look further than the thumbnail.

You goats are obviously a lot smarter than your pictures might suggest. I'll have to remember that!

My suggestions have been addressing the original posting by Johnel. I hope they might have given a different perspective.

Jim

Thanks all for the useful feedback plenty to mull over.

Jim do you have a www? interested in seeing what pictures you have on show; given the advise that you have freely offered us.

HelenB twas your picture I was referring to.. first for a 'snow angels' fab, love it.

[la vache!]

I've only just caught up with this thread, but with the photos on my site, I have updated them every year as I have continued to improve the site, if I had to pay a professional to do this it would cost a fortune! This year, for example, our very kind farmer neighbour uprooted 2 massive laurel hedges from the front of the house which have always prevented me taking a nice photo of the gites facade, so I may get some decent thumbnails this year!
The time of day and the weather are very important when taking photos, as is having no guests on site, so quite often on a sunny Saturday between changeovers I frantically try and get some outdoor shots.My photos aren't great, but they do give an accurate portrayal of what my place is like and I've now got 30 weeks booked next year, so they must be doing something right.

[Jimbo]

Why don't you give us a link to your Web Site and let goats decide who has the "smart" pictures?

Alan, sorry but I think you might have misunderstood my comment and thought that I was being offensive. I was only referring to the amusing 'goat' pictures that accompany postings, not to the website pictures of the goats' rental properties which I think are very good. I'm getting the drift that some people are becoming a bit annoyed by me banging on about this topic, so I'll stop.

Ducking and weaving I see; we'll weedle it out of you yet, never fear.

I'd better confess that I've been a professional photographer for 30 years, polishing the corporate image of construction companies around the world. All of my clients have local photographers and engineers with digital cameras but they spend money flying me in to picture their muddy holes for their websites and shareholders brochures. Why? Because I'm a specialist who understands their industry inside out and I know what makes an effective publicity picture. Just as I would call in an expert when the central heating goes down.

But I'm not touting for business - honest - just trying to help others as I'm being helped by the thoughtful comments of professional gite owners on this forum with far more experience than me.

Jim

[Alan Knighting]

Jim,

Alan, sorry but I think you might have misunderstood my comment and thought that I was being offensive.

Not at all, I was just teasing.

I use both film and digital cameras. They are both very good at some things and not so good at others. I think, what makes a "good" picture is the user not the equipment.

Fluffy

[Jimbo]

I think, what makes a "good" picture is the user not the equipment.

Alan, suppose we both go to the Grand National next year. You've got a 'point and shoot' whilst me (being a smartarse) has hired a motordriven camera with fisheye lens, flash and remote trigger which I set up at the base of Beecher's Brook fence. You take the standard shots of the horses galloping past and the winning jockey with his cup. I've got a unusual set of pictures full of action, danger and blur of the horses and jockeys jumping overhead with dirt flying, whips waving etc.

Which is 'best' only the viewer can say. Which is the more 'commercial' image depends on the requirements of the eventual user. But if mine sells, I'd have the equipment to thank.

Of course, a good photographer can take fine pictures with a box brownie. But not many Ford Escorts win a Grand Prix. Equipment is just a tool to help you release your creativity.

Jim

[Giddy Goat]

Hi Jimbo - glad you've 'come out' - and of course we can understand where you're coming from. However Susan's made two very practical points - apart from the expense of getting a pro photographer on the job for a one-off visit...

I have updated them every year as I have continued to improve the site, if I had to pay a professional to do this it would cost a fortune!

The time of day and the weather are very important when taking photos, as is having no guests on site.

...there is the risk of the weather turning foul on the appointed day!