Field Guide to Digital Cameras & Photography
(Updated February 2009)
Give 'em your best shots! 98% of homebuyers who searched for a home on the Internet found photos to be among the most useful features of REALTOR® websites, according to the 2008 NAR Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers. Digital photography and virtual tours allow REALTORS® the ability to serve their clients like never before. Digital images can be used to quickly and professionally showcase a listing, and today's technologically savvy clients are sure to appreciate the convenience of a virtual tour for both long distance and local moves. The following articles will guide you from the beginning to the advanced stages of how to chose and use one of real estate's hottest tools. (C. Dodge, Information Specialist)
REALTORS®' Use of Digital Cameras
96% of all REALTORS® use a digital camera.
Frequency of use of digital cameras:
Daily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27%
A few times per week . . . . 29%
A few times per month . . . 32%
A few times per year . . . . . 8%
Rarely or never . . . . . . . . . 4%
Source: 2008 NAR Member Profile, (National Association of REALTORS®, 2008).
56% of REALTORS® Web sites feature virtual tours.
92% of homebuyers find virtual tours to be very or somewhat useful.
Sources: 2008 NAR Member Profile, (National Association of REALTORS®, 2008). & 2008 NAR Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, (National Association of REALTORS®, 2008).
Choosing a Camera
Best wide angle and small cameras for real estate, (Real Estate Monk, 2008).
Best digital cameras, (Consumer Reports, July 2008). Q
Point & shoots, (Consumer Reports, July 2008). Q
Q&A, (Consumer Reports, July 2008). Q
Buyer's guide: Digital cameras, (REALTOR® Magazine Online, May 2006).
Fabulous photos in a snap: For $450 or less, you can get high resolution in a small package, (Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Apr. 2006). Q
Snap! Uploading photos is that easy, (California Real Estate Magazine, Jan./Feb. 2009).
Powerful Pictures Made Easy, (Florida REALTORS®, June 2007).
Better property photos in a snap, (REALTOR® Magazine Online, Apr. 2007).
Printers: Darkroom on a desktop, (Consumer Reports, Feb. 2007). Q
MCentral technology tip: Google's Picasa digital photo software, (Houston REALTOR®, July 2006).
Tips to improve website photos, (Realty Times, Mar. 7, 2006).
Camera Phones
10 tips for taking better camera phone pictures worth sharing, (RISMedia, Nov. 1, 2008).
Smart phones, (Consumer Reports, Nov. 2007). Q
Finally, cellphone photos worth sharing; Higher-resolution cameras appear in many handsets, (Wall Street Journal, Feb. 8, 2007). Q
Camera-phone photos improve, (Wall Street Journal, Jan. 11, 2006). Q
Show 'em what you got: Use online video to market yourself, (Texas REALTOR®, Sept./Oct. 2008).
Rich listings, rich agents - Study confirms how to yield big results with home buyers, (RISMedia, July 11, 2008).
Snappy uses for your digital camera, (Florida REALTOR®, Oct. 2007).
Things to shoot, (Florida REALTOR®, Apr. 2007).
Point & prosper, (Florida REALTOR®, Apr. 2007).
REALTORS® strive to make web sites 'picture perfect', (Naples Daily News, Aug. 13, 2006).
11 ways you've never thought of using your digital camera: Taking pictures of homes is just the beginning, (Texas REALTOR®, June 2005).
Make full use of internet marketing with listing photos and virtual tours, (Realty Times, Feb. 17, 2005).
Are you digital camera-shy?, (Realty Times, Jan. 13, 2005).
Picture perfect: Understanding digital image files is the key to producing high-quality photos, (Commercial Investment Real Estate, May/June 2004).
Put your listings in motion: Online video gives buyers a virtual tour unlike any other, (Texas REALTOR®, Sept./Oct. 2008).
Virtual real estate: Room for improvement?, (Realty Times, Apr. 22, 2008).
Give them the grand tour, (Florida REALTOR®, Apr. 2007).
Virtual tours: The next best thing to being there, (Florida REALTOR®, Apr. 2007).
Virtual reality, (Journal of Property Management, May/June, 2006). Q
Stand out: Virtual tour options that add pizzazz, (REALTOR® Magazine Online, May 2006).
Buyer's guide: Virtual tours, (REALTOR® Magazine Online, Aug. 2005).
Do you undersell your own virtual tours?, (Realty Times, June 10, 2005).
Imaging Resource - This comprehensive site features product reviews, comparison charts, news, and other key information about all aspects of digital cameras & photography. Find some excellent tutorials and tips under the menu options for "How To", "Better Pictures", and "Getting Started" at the top of the main page.
CNET Digital Photography & Video - Product reviews & recommendations, comparisons, buyer's guides, how-to articles, and more from the electronics experts at CNET.
Digital Photography Review - Product reviews, discussion forums, sample images, glossaries, buyer's guides, comparison charts, tutorials, news, etc. The site even includes a fully linked timeline to digital cameras released since 1995.
Digital Web Magazine - Online magazine for graphics professionals. Includes tutorials on digital photography & using digital images (especially for advanced users, but some may be useful for beginners), product reviews, etc.
Shortcourses - Online tutorials on various digital camera topics, with a glossary of terms and links to other digital camera websites. A valuable feature of the Shortcourses site is the collection of printable, portable guides to using specific Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Olympus digital camera models.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
How to Do Everything: Digital Camera (Adobe eReader)
Digital Video Essentials (Adobe eReader)
Digital Video for Dummies® (Adobe eReader)
Digital Photography for Dummies® (Adobe eReader)
How to Do Everything with Your Digital Camera (Adobe eReader)
Books, Videos, Research Reports and More
Take better pictures with your camera phone, (Texas REALTOR®, July 2006).
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Effective Online Marketing
Field Guide to Marketing Tips for REALTORS®
Field Guide to Preparing & Staging a House for Sale
Field Guide to Choosing & Using a Smartphone
Field Guide to Using Digital Video as a Marketing Tool
The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
E-mail 
