Welcome back to The Weekly Update! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July and that you’re staying cool. We have a lot to go over, so here’s what we’re covering this week!
How to Take Good Photos in Your Home
Easy Kitchen Upgrades
Listing of The Week
How to Take Good Photos in Your Home
So as some of you may or may not know, before I got into real estate I did photography, and I still do! I’ve held a camera in my hand since I was about 13, and even ended up being able to go to college and get a scholarship with it, and worked at a studio for 2 years. And honestly, when I was 13, I didn’t really have any of the ‘fancy’ stuff that I saw the pros have; setups, lights, etc. I had my black desk, a lamp, lots of sticky notes and papers, and a camera. And I spent HOURS upon DAYS in my room playing with it, and whatever my subject was at the time; to the point where when I was showing my parents my portfolio that I was going to use to apply to college, one of them said “so THAT’S what you’ve been doing up there all this time?” Yes! It is!
And because of this, I’d like to think that I might know a thing or two about photography! So why talk about it here? Because with everything going on right now, the world doesn’t stop turning. Quarantine is still in effect, and quite frankly I do not feel like learning a new language or how to make a sourdough starter. But that’s just me. So, with that said, here’s a few tips to help get you started!
To quote a great photographer, Chase Jarvis:
“ The best camera is the one you have on you.”
So don’t think you need the uber expensive $2,000 camera! Start with what you have, and as you realize that you might be outgrowing it, look into other products. I’m going to try to keep this as basic as I can so it shouldn’t matter what kind of camera you have; smart phone to DSLR!
1. Know your time of day and light.
There’s a reason photos you take at 10:00 am of your dog in the kitchen sleeping peacefully at the backdoor just somehow look better than the ones you take in the middle of the day outside. Light can be controlled (to an extent) but it can also depend on your settings.
Usually, ‘soft’ lighting is considered the best. Soft lighting is classified as lighting that’s not as strong (as in, the sun isn’t overhead like it is at noon.) or its being diffused by something, creating a “softer” light source, instead of something harsh. (Cloudy days are a great example! If you’re in the studio, it’s those big light boxes)
Soft light is great because it helps give the light needed to show the subject without being too harsh, and gives you more control. If there’s not enough light you can artificially add some in or use a reflector, and if there’s too much you can diffuse it. Other times of day like noon will give you the most sunlight possible, but can off as very harsh lighting and almost “too bright” if you’re not careful.
‘Golden Hour’ (around sunset) is another popular time for photos; the light is soft, but you’ve got all these beautiful colors in the background, as well as a soft, warm light for your subjects. Usually for me, I’ve found that between 8-10:00 am are great times for soft light naturally because I don’t do a lot of ‘golden hour’ photos, but it could be different for you.
So, how does this correlate to taking pictures in your house? Well, think of your home. Where do you get the most light? Do you have a huge bay window? Or maybe you have beautiful French doors that lead into another room or outside? Maybe your kitchen is bombarded with windows and light and it’s the best thing ever. Think about this! You don’t have to shoot ALL your photos in that spot, but find a few places in your home where the light is the best for you-this way you’ll already know where to shoot and when.
2. Consider placement of your subject.
This seems very simple, but it’s important. The way you place your subject in frame can take a good photo to a great photo! One of the most common thing’s you’ll hear about might be the Rule of Thirds; which is a composition type where the image is divided evenly into thirds, and the subject is at the point where all the lines intersect. This one tends to be easier to see than explain, so I highly recommend googling it.
But! Back to placement. Where you place your subject matters. If you’re taking a photo of a super cool muffin you just made, you might want to consider how you want to show it off. Do you want to place it against your table cloth and make the muffin the center of attention? Do you want it off to the side on a plate with fruit? Consider this and play with the way you move and place your subjects, people included!
3. Take more than one shot.
If I have learned ANYTHING over all my time of photography, it would be to take more than one shot. I cannot tell you the amount of times I’ve photographed a band, or my dogs, and thought “yes! This is THE SHOT, it’s the ONE the BEST.”
… And I look, and the photo is slightly out of focus, blurry, didn’t focus on the right subject. And because I didn’t take another photo, that’s the only one! No other ones to edit instead. Ugh.
I personally at a minimum try to take about 3 photos for each pose or framing of your subject. This way you’ve got a few takes of the same shot-so if you’re photographing people or pets and they move you’ll have a few extra shots that you can go through to figure out what’s best and delete the others later. If you have a subject that doesn’t move, it gives you the chance to really inspect to make sure everything is how you want it to be.
4. Have Fun!
Seriously! Photography can be a fun hobby or career if you so choose. The ability to choose what to capture, how to capture it and how you want to present it to the world is a powerful thing, especially during a time like now. So go ahead and explore around your house! Take some pictures of your friends, family, pets, food, whatever sparks your interest.
Easy Ways to Update Your Kitchen
So, maybe you’re thinking that you want to update your house, but you’re not sure where to start? Aside from painting every room, maybe putting in a new faucet in your bathroom, there’s a lot you can do in your home! But did you know that kitchen renovations are one of the biggest ROI’s? While you might not get back everything you put into it, a kitchen renovation or even small updates can make all the difference. Here’s a few easy ways to update your kitchen!
1. Add or Change Your Backsplash
An easy update that can really tie a room together is adding (or changing if you feel it’s out of date) is backsplash! By adding backsplash it can create a wonderful accent that plays off your countertops and cabinets which can create a really finished look. If you have backsplash you don’t like, consider swapping it for something that might fit the current vibe of your home now.
2. Change Your Lights
One thing that you can never have enough of in the kitchen is more lights! If you have one light fixture in the center of your kitchen, consider a few rows of can lighting in your ceiling which can give a more modern look to your kitchen. If you really want to go the extra step, add under cabinet lighting. It doesn’t seem like a huge thing, but when it’s 3:00 am and you can’t sleep and really want a snack, it’ll come in handy instead of turning on all the lights in the kitchen!
3. Upgrade Your Appliances
If you bought your home and inherited your kitchen appliances and you’ve been there for a bit, consider swapping out some of your appliances; fridge, dishwasher, stove, etc. If the items are mix-matched, where some are stainless steel and some aren’t, consider making the switch to all stainless steel. It’s an easy way to pamper yourself a bit with something new without having to spend the time on kitchen upgrades like the above.
4. Put in some island-like furniture.
If you want a change, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of picking out new appliances or backsplash or upgrades, perhaps just put in a simple fake island. Many furniture websites offer pieces of furniture, some even on wheels for easy movability around your kitchen and give you an extra workspace!
1410 Willmor St, Racine, WI 53402
Price: $129,900
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
Sq Ft: 952 sqft
Taxes: $2,784.00
Description: Super clean, move in ready large 2 bedroom (just under 1000 sq feet) all brick ranch on north side. Primary bedroom has dual closets! Check out the gleaming refinished hardwood floors, brand new bathroom, and freshly painted and sealed lower level waiting for your rec room ideas. Close to all your amenities and public transit, this home checks all the boxes! One year home warranty provided by seller ($489 value)
Learn more about this property here.