I showed a few photos from my newest portfolio. It was inspired after reading Maureen's post I stole Juliet and Beth's portfolio. You should to. She advises her inspiration came from Juliet Johnson and Beth Panode.
If you saw my comments at all you know I was smacking myself on the head with the power of the aha moment. I use kodakgallery all the time to manage my portfolio photos, before and after slideshows, etc. How did I not figure this out.
Last night I posted a blog about how I've started looking at my work from a different perspective, What do your photos show? A new look at a staging portfolio. I posted a couple of photos from my new book, the one inspired by Maureen, Juliet & Beth... I've gotten a lot of quesitons, so I thought it might be helpful to show a few more pages and discuss my thought process and different ideas for the book....
In the set below I wanted to show off how simple changes with paint can create dramatic differences. It seems that I often recommend painting cabinets or paneling and it is easier to convince sellers the difference it will make when I show them past work....
This next set shows a little before and after focusing on MLS. What would this photo have meant to a potential buyer? The full room after staging is on the left and the before and after view on the right...
This last set shows various rooms in the same home. It talks about how we make the home feel larger by keeping continuous color and texture throughout the home.
Notice that the photos show a variety of colors, textures, and furniture styles. The homes radically vary in price point, but they all still look 'classy'. This helps put clients at ease that you will acheive a cohesive look regardless of list price.
My book was primarily about my work. I did not add an about me section, etc. I actually added very few before
and after sets. I primarily focused on the finished look. This works particularly well because I specialize in vacant properties, but even if you specialize in owner occupied consider that it doesn't necessarily matter what the before looked like, in the end you will be judged by the after....
I hope this helps answer some of those questions out there and inspires you to take your portfolio up a notch! I certainly know I owe a HUGE thank you to those 3 wonderful ladies who inspired me!
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocate and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. Selling her successful home staging company in January 2012, Marro is now a full time speaker and instructor for Staging And Resign and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.619.1593 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
You hit the nail right on the head Maureen! My target market is vacant homes, therefor my book consists mostly of showing furniture, props, rooms and overall feeling in various pricepoints. I also do a lot of wallpaper removal, painting, etc.... my portfolio reflects that.
It is important to understand your own market and target audience!
Melissa,
Thank you thank you thank you....from your post I have spent almost an hour linking around and am so impressed that I am ready to steal your portfolio too!
Elaine - Thank you! What a nice compliment!
Gary - You have some great shots too! I bet they look great in the books....
Paula - lol... just remember, you can only steal the idea, not the actual portfolio. That is actually frowned upon.... lol. I know you know that already though!
Terrrylynn - I know my 'to do' list is getting really long. I spent a lot of time today sending photos to my webdesigner to change all of my stock photos off my sites.... that in and of itself is a heck of a job! It may take weeks to get it all done!
Melissa,
Hey this makes me think of all those fresh new stagers wishing for a gorgeous 'Original' portfolio. I remember the days when I was first a stager and disliked very much the predicament not having my own work to show in portfolios and presentations. Though it was encouraged by my accrediting group to use their stock photos, I was probably visibly uncomfortable with images that were not mine on display. But use them I did, for the rights to use them was part of what my accreditation got me. Never actually claiming the work was mine, I kept on talking about staging and meeting and moving ahead, inserting my own work as it came along. At first it was small furniture and accessories I could afford, and I showed a lot of photos that were shot close-up to fill the frame and keep out the empty space around them. So I think what you are suggesting is a great idea for those who may have started with smaller collections. My downfall these days is not having time to take the photos! I am thinking about hiring a professional photographer.