Advanced Digital Tricks that CLICK! (10 tips to be photo smart)

By Rolf Anderson, CRS

The digital camera has achieved the same status as the cell phone, laptop computer and the Internet. For the real estate agent doing business today, owning a digital camera, knowing how to use it and dealing with digital photos on the computer is an absolute necessity. Still most agents take average pictures, haven't read the manual for advanced options and struggle with where the pictures go and how to find them after they are on the computer.

To help jumpstart your digital camera skills, I've put together my top 10 tips and tricks for success in using your digital camera more effectively, more productively and more profitably. If you have told yourself, "It's too complicated!" or "I know what I need to know!" or "I don't have the time to learn!" just ..

1.	1-Step or 2-Step . Know Your Shutter. To many, this may seem as simple as the answer to "Who's in Grants tomb?" Yet it still amazes me how many agents don't know this critical user tip. Bad pictures will result if you treat a 2-step shutter camera like a 1-step shutter camera. Some background. One-step shutter cameras, referred to as "point and click" cameras, generally have a fixed focus lens and only require one single continuous movement down and the camera will take the picture. Most digital cameras today are a 2-step shutter. While composing your picture, pushing the shutter down approximately half way and stopping is the first step. The camera will then make any exposure or focus changes. Normally a green light in the viewfinder will signal that it's ok to take the picture. Complete the pressing of the shutter downward until the picture is snapped. Here's where a great picture can turn out be a bad picture. On a 2-step shutter camera, if you press the shutter down in one single movement (like on a point and shoot camera), the camera won't have time to adjust the exposure setting and the focus will probably be off. If you have a 2-step shutter on your camera, learn what that "half way down" point feels like and sounds like (usually makes a clicking or gear movement sound).
2.	Try a New Angle .While composing your pictures, inside and out, look at the prospective picture from standing and then from 3-4 feet off the floor (or ground). When experimenting with this composition angle in my hands-on digital camera seminars, most agents react with a "Wow, this is really neat! I love it!" Now you can't use this angle on all of your shots, but some rooms and exterior shots take on a whole new look and feel from this lower perspective. This is a great way to showcase kids rooms, at their own level. Or, take a complete set of pictures from "adult" standing level and a complete set of pictures just for "kids". If bending down or getting on your knees if difficult, buy a "monopod", a collapsible walking stick with a camera mount on the top (look at www.dcprodirect.com) Try it, you'll like it!
3.	To Flash or Not To Flash, That is The Question! .The internal flash on most digital cameras reach out only 8-12 feet compared to 30-35 feet with traditional 35mm cameras. Pictures taken of longer rooms with the digital flash set to Auto or on (forced) sometimes result in the back part of the room darker than the front. Try turning the flash off. If the picture is more even but still dark, read the next tip. Depending on the time of day, another tip is to "force" the flash, sometimes referred to as "fill" flash. Even though there is enough light without the flash, forcing the flash will produce a "different" look. Does it make for a better picture? I don't know! It's a personal preference. Try it next time you're taking home pictures. It never hurts to take one picture with and one without the flash. When you view them on your computer you'll know which one you like better.
4.	Still Too Dark? Change the ISO Setting. So you turned the flash off, the lighting is in better balance, but it's just too dark. A quick change to a higher ISO may solve the problem. Basically a higher ISO setting gives you a better picture in "low light". If your camera allows for changing the ISO setting, the "automatic" setting will usually do the trick. But when it doesn't, knowing how to change the ISO can result in a picture you don't have to go back to the computer and "fix", saving you some valuable time. Next time you have a "low lighting" setting, change the ISO to 400 (or the highest setting allowed).
5.	Still Difficult Lighting Conditions? Try Changing the White Balance! It's a long, narrow family room with lots of recessed, fluorescent lights. You turn the flash off for more even lighting front to back, but the resulting picture has a "yellow" cast and is not acceptable. A simple menu choice can make an incredible difference. When a flash is used, it corrects for the difference in color produced by different types of lighting. When the flash is not powerful enough to light the entire room and you turn it off, the resulting color balance will depend on the type of lights in the picture. If your camera supports modifying the white balance, common settings include: sun, shade, tungsten, fluorescent and maybe incandescent. Not sure what is the best setting? Try them all. It only takes a few seconds to change the setting and take a picture to see the results. When you need it, this simple setting change will give you an excellent picture.
6.	Take Personal Pictures of Sellers or Buyers, But Know These Words .. If you have attended a digital camera seminar of mine or read past articles, I advise taking impromptu, personal pictures of your sellers, their kids & dogs or even buyers (during showings). Then print a yearly calendar (various templates available) with that "special" picture in the middle. Try printing on canvas paper and it should guarantee a placement on the hallowed "fridge door" in your customer or clients kitchen. The "heavenly" picture of the kids could end up looking like blurry, little red-eyed "devils" if you don't use the "red eye" flash option and my simple technique. To correct for red-eye, change your flash setting on your camera to the red eye setting. Most cameras have this option and tapping a menu button a few times is all that is needed. When you depress the shutter to take a picture, the flash will pulse several times to condition the retina of the subjects eyes, with the actual picture snapped on the last flash pulse. So here's the tip. Just before you take the picture say, "Now when I take the picture, there will be several flashes, so hold that beautiful smile until I say done.Hold it . Hold it.Grrrrreat". You'll have less movement and no red "devil eye". It works every time. (Try the HP Real Estate Marketing Assistant software for several calendar templates.)
7.	Resize on the Camera or Resize on the Computer? Most agents now understand the relationship between the quality of the digital picture and the resulting size of the digital file. Sending a digital picture by email, putting on a web site or needing high quality 8x10 printouts all require different file sizes. There are times you will change the resolution on the camera for the specific purpose of the picture or you can take all your digital pictures at a high(er) resolution and make lower resolution copies after they are transferred to your computer. Most digital editing software offers the option to resize and rename your image. If you have Windows XP on your computer, a free utility from Microsoft even allows you to resize and rename groups of pictures at one time. If are not sure about what settings your camera offers and the resulting file size, your manual should offer a chart showing different resolution settings and the associated file size.
8.	For Resizing Groups of Pictures, Get PowerToys for XP. By now most computers have current versions of Windows XP. The Windows XP operating system offers many new features for working with digital files, some built-in and some you can add for free. If you have Windows XP, go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/ downloads/powertoys.asp . Download the Image Sizer utility. This PowerToy enables you to resize one or many image files with a right-click. To use this Toy, select any image, or group of images, right-click, and select Resize Pictures. The Resize Pictures dialog will appear, giving you options to resize the images at 640x480 (Small), 800x600 (Medium), 1024x768 (Large) or 240x320 (Handheld PC-sized, for Windows Pocket PC and other handheld devices). When you resize the images, new versions are created with slightly different filenames. For example, if you resize an image called AndersonHouse.jpg to handheld-sized, it will be renamed AndersonHouse (WinCE).jpg. Resized to Medium, this image would be called AndersonHouse (Medium).jpg. There is also an Advanced button you can use to enable more options. This includes a choice to make images smaller during conversion, but not larger (often a good idea), and one that will replace the original rather than make a copy.
9.	You Need a Wide Angle Lens . for inside and outside shots. Check your manual for the specs on your camera. It should list the 35mm equivalency of lens. A moderate wide angle lens is 35mm (35mm equivalency). A true wide-angle lens (with no distortion) is 28mm (35mm equivalency). Most digital cameras manufactured today have a 38mm as the widest lens setting. If your camera zoom lens starts at 38mm, check with www.dcprodirect.com. They offer adapters and wide-angle lenses for many camera models.
10.	You Can't Win the Lottery if You Don't Play .i.e. - if you don't carry your digital camera with you at all times, you can't take pictures. Every time you leave the office, make it a point to carry your camera and extra batteries with you. You never know when you will need to take pictures. If you are looking for a new camera, take into consideration the size that would allow you to slip it into your pocket, briefcase or purse.

Take the time to learn the advanced options available on your digital camera and they will help you take better pictures. Changing a few camera settings can make a world of difference in the quality of your pictures.