MEET SNAPPY GEORGE
“Excellent Photographer! Delivered as promised!” --- T.B. - Waverly, OH
“Thank you so much. We all love the photos! You did a fantastic job and we are all very pleased.” --- D.P. - Milford, OH
“Mr. G demonstrated exceptional professionalism throughout the entire photography session. ... The overall experience, marked by Mr. G’s photos was worth every penny. Thank you, Mr. G, for your outstanding work.” — T.B. - Delaware, OH
“These pictures are just what I wanted!… (They) are sure to attract the clients I am looking for to rent my property... Thank you so much for such excellent attention to detail and artistry! Your pictures make my furnished rental property look amazing!” --- P.S. - Waynesville, OH
"I finished a long 10 month rehab on a unique, historic building and George captured exactly what I was hoping for. He was available within a couple days to come out and spent the better part of the afternoon and early evening on the shoot. ... My photos look fantastic!" --- E.M. - Columbus, OH
“Thanks so much for the wonderful pics of our home. You did a great job.” --- M.R. - Loveland, OH
Snappy George's interest in photography began as a boyhood hobby. After sundown, he and his father would sometimes convert the family farm’s milkhouse into a make-shift photolab, then develop their film and watch the images magically appear on their contact prints.
Later, when studying design at the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, Snappy George was exposed to photographic art through the legendary instruction of Jerry Stratton, who is as much an artist and technical master as his mentors: Bret Weston, Minor White, and Ansel Adams.
After graduation, while raising a family and pursuing a design career, his in-home darkroom remained active, but this time it was his son learning the craft and eventually developing the skills to become a successful commercial photographer. Now their darkroom is obsolete; digital technology has prevailed. But it still takes the mind of a scientist and the eye of an artist to deliver a well-composed, correctly processed image.
Snappy George focuses on delivering artful, informative photographs to architects, builders, entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, and individuals within one hundred and fifty miles of Cincinnati; including Dayton, Columbus, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Louisville, Lexington, and Huntington, West Virginia. He also accepts assignments farther afield.
Snappy George shoots from a tripod with full-frame Nikon mirrorless cameras mounted with Nikkor professional service lenses that are especially designed for architectural and commercial photography. When available light is not adequate, off-camera supplemental lighting is used. Image files are post-processed in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. In most cases the finished files are uploaded as high-resolution JPEG files to a Dropbox folder within 48 hours of the camera work.
Local, national, and international clients go to Snappy George for exceptional, highly effective photographic imagery. He has provided photography for major home shows in Cincinnati, Toledo, and Northern Kentucky, and his work has been published in Cincinnati Refined, West Chester & Liberty Township Lifestyle, Cincinnati Magazine, Sophisticated Living, Architectural Digest, and various national trade publications. Several clients have won awards or been recognized within their peer organizations with photographs produced by Snappy George.
As an FAA Part 107 certified sUAS drone pilot and a member of the Professional Photographers of America, Snappy George maintains a two million dollar business insurance policy and holds an affiliate membership with the Realtor Alliance of Greater Cincinnati and access to the Sentrilock electronic lock-box system.
PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES OFFERED
Basic HDR (High Dynamic Range) Real Estate Marketing Photographs:
An economical package for marketing single and multi-family residential properties, vacation rental properties, retail plazas, office buildings, care facilities, restaurants, convenience stores, distribution centers, and industrial facilities.
Provides up to twenty interior and exterior views, including High Dynamic Range post-processing, and minor editing. Two sets of digital files are delivered within 48 hours of the camera session; one set as high resolution JPEG files for use with print media and various internet marketing portals and a second set formatted for a specific internet marketing platform, such as the local MLS or a property rental portal. -- Additional photos may be obtained for an additional fee.
Premium Flash-Ambient (Flambient) Real Estate Marketing Photographs:
A premium quality package for marketing single and multi-family residential properties, vacation rental properties, retail plazas, office buildings, care facilities, restaurants, convenience stores, distribution centers, and industrial facilities.
Provides up to twenty interior and exterior photos, including Flash-Ambient compositing, post-processing, and minor editing. Two sets of digital files are delivered within 48 hours of the camera session; one set as high resolution JPEG files for use with print media and various internet marketing portals and a second set formatted for a specific internet marketing platform, such as the local MLS or a property rental portal. -- Additional photos may be obtained for an additional fee.
Custom Magazine-Quality Commercial Photographs:
Highly crafted imagery for use in magazines, trade-shows, digital advertisements, websites, brochures, and other media. Camera angles and lighting are carefully established to reflect the client’s vision for the subject, which may be an architectural or interior design project, a model home, an apartment or office complex, a restaurant or retail space, restaurant menu items, consumer products, or other commercial subjects.
Provides up to four hours on-site producing up to ten photos. Includes post-processing, flash-ambient compositing, and a moderate level of editing. Image files are formatted as high resolution JPEG files for use with print media and various internet portals. -- Additional time and photos may be obtained for an additional fee.
Golden Hour Photographs:
Signature imagery of a location, building, or architectural feature captured during twilight at dawn or dusk.
Provides up to three photos, including post-processing and a moderate level of editing. Image files are formatted as high resolution JPEG files for use with print media and various internet portals.
Aerial (Drone) Exterior Photographs and/or Video:
Bird’s eye views of a building, residential property, commercial property, or development site.
Provides a combination of up to ten high-resolution JPEG image files and/or ten-second MP4 video clips of the subject captured from aloft. Post-processing and minor editing are included. Image files are formatted as high resolution JPEG files for use with print media and various internet portals or as MP4 video files. -- Additional photos and/or video clips may be obtained for an additional fee.
Basic 360º Interactive Virtual Tour:
Provides an immersive self-guided virtual tour comprised of up to twenty composite 360º interior and/or exterior views of the property captured with a Ricoh Theta Z1 360º spherical camera. Viewers move among various camera stations within a computer-generated model of the property that is hosted on the tour’s internet page. -- Additional 360º views may be obtained for an additional fee.
Motion Video Tour:
Provides a two-minute motion video tour of a property or building composed of a series of video clips edited into a sequence that leads the viewer through the property in a manner similar to that of the home-improvement shows. This virtual tour is compiled as a video file which may include an optional music or voice-over sound track and delivered as an MP4 movie file. -- Additional footage may be obtained for an additional fee.
Slide-Show Video Tour:
Provides a two-minute slide-show virtual tour of a property or building composed of approximately forty high resolution still photos edited into a walk-through sequence that leads the viewer through the property. This virtual tour is compiled as a video file which may include an optional music or voice-over sound track and delivered as an MP4 movie file. -- Additional footage may be obtained for an additional fee.
Custom 360º Interactive Virtual Tour:
Provides an immersive self-guided virtual tour comprised of up to twenty composite 360º interior and/or exterior views of the property captured with a combination of a Nikon Z7 35mm full-frame digital camera and a Ricoh Theta Z1 360º spherical camera. Viewers move among various camera stations within a computer-generated model of the property that is hosted on the tour’s internet page. Includes a virtual “dollhouse” of the building together with a floor plan schematic. Comments and detail links may be included for an additional editing fee. -- Additional 360º views may be obtained for an additional fee.
Other Available Services:
Custom Editing
Floor Plans
Headshots
Elevated Remote-Controlled Camera Viewpoint
Panoramic Composite Views
Custom Photographic Prints
Custom Mounting and/or Framing of Photographic Prints
Custom Photo Albums
Files on Physical Media
PRICING AND FEES
Client Success Comes First
Great photography imparts a sense of quality and value. Snappy George's fees are determined by a project’s scope, together with its complexity, usage, and timing. Fees are competitively positioned among similar services offered by other professional photographers.
Considerations when booking:
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Depending on workload, bookings are normally scheduled one to three weeks in advance of a camera session.
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Shared project invoicing is available for an additional fee.
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Post-project shared image usage is available for an additional fee.
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“Work-for-Hire” arrangements are available for an additional fee.
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Assistants, backdrops, studio lighting, models, props, special equipment, staging, location fees, rentals, etc. are available and in most cases such costs are included in the quote.
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Project dates are confirmed when the client has approved the Photo Agreement and paid the advance invoice.
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Costs for regional travel are based on distance and drive time and are included in the quote.
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Costs for travel greater than 300 miles round-trip are based on time and actual travel costs and are included in the quote.
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Cancellation fees apply in accordance with the project’s Photo Agreement.
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Turn-around varies depending on the size and complexity of the project. For routine photo projects, finished files are usually available within 48 hours of the camera session. Custom architectural and commercial photo projects may require more time.
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Rush Service is available for an additional fee.
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Unless otherwise specified, still image files are delivered as 300 pixel-per-inch high-resolution Adobe RGB JPEG files in horizontal (landscape) orientation at a 4 x 6 aspect ratio. Video footage is delivered as 30 frames-per- second 1080p MP4 files in landscape orientation at a 9 x 16 aspect ratio.
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Post-Processing involves adjusting the photographic properties of an image file. This includes color balance, tonal values, fine-tuning of verticals, cropping, and HDR (high dynamic range) or flash-ambient artistry to bring out highlight and shadow detail.
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Editing goes beyond post-processing by altering the physical content of an image, such as eliminating debris, signage, utility poles, automobiles, people, animals, shadows, reflections, lens flare, electrical cables, electrical outlets and switches, wall or floor vents, etc. It may also include adding elements not in the original view, such as correcting landscaping flaws and other faults, adding flames to fireplaces, replacing skies, or making other creative changes to the image.
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Except for aerial footage and interactive virtual tours, all work is performed with Nikon full-frame 35mm digital cameras of 45 megapixel sensor resolution mounted with professional grade Nikkor lenses.
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Lighting solutions include: ambient, on-camera speed-lights, radio-controlled off-camera speed-lights, and radio-controlled portable studio strobes with appropriate modifiers such as soft-boxes and umbrellas.
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Snappy George is a certified FAA Part 107 sUAS (drone) pilot and an affiliate of the Realtor Alliance of Greater Cincinnati with a subscription to the Sentrilock electronic lockbox system. Snappy George is also a member of the Professional Photographers Association and maintains a two million dollar business liability insurance policy.
SNAPPY GEORGE WORKFLOW
Client contacts Snappy George and describes project.
Snappy George prepares Quote/Photo Project Agreement containing:
- Subject & Location,
- Shot List & Style Guide,
- Project Scope,
- Usage,
- Timing,
- Deliverables,
- Fee.
Client reviews & approves Photo Project Agreement.
Snappy George:
- Arrives at location at appointed time,
- Sets up photo equipment,
- Conducts camera session.
Snappy George:
- Post-processes image files,
- Uploads image files to Dropbox or FTP server,
- Sends client invoice with link to image files.
Client:
- Receives and reviews image files,
- Pays invoice via link on invoice, or by check, credit card, or ACH transfer,
- Notifies Snappy George of any additional editing requirements.
Snappy George:
- Edits client-selected images,
- Uploads edited images to Dropbox or FTP server,
- Sends Client invoice with link to edited images.
Client pays invoice via link on invoice, or by check, credit card, or ACH transfer.
PREPARING FOR THE PHOTO SESSION
Snappy George loves it when he arrives at a job location and everything is shipshape and looking good. It makes the job a real pleasure and inspires great shots.
Please note that Snappy George's job is to perform only the tasks of establishing views, camera angles, lighting arrangements, and operating the camera and other photographic equipment. One should not expect the photographer to stage, prep, clean, arrange, repair, or move objects or alter spaces or surroundings being photographed.
To help ensure your location is ready, here are some things to consider:
1- If the location needs repair, cleaning, painting, or staging, please have the work completed before the photo session.
2- Check the weather forecast a day or two in advance, and determine whether the photo session might need to be rescheduled. Exterior views are best captured on "bluebird" days when the sun is shining and the sky is partly clouded with puffy, cotton ball clouds. Interior views, on the other hand, are usually best taken on overcast days when window light is diffused.
3- Consider the time of day for the photo session. Let Snappy George know which compass direction the property faces, and whether you are looking for “golden hour” photos, which are done during either the sunrise or sunset hour, or if a mid-day session, which often provides the best lighting conditions for many properties, is more to your liking.
4- Plan to allow adequate time for the photo session. Snappy George will need to know the size of the property, its major features, how many rooms it contains, and whether it is furnished, staged, or vacant. Depending on these factors, the camera session may take anywhere from an hour to several hours to complete. In some cases there may be a need to arrange a pre-session visit in order to be fully prepared on the day of the shoot.
5- Have a critical look outside. Is the landscaping fresh and clean, with no weeds or dead growth? Ideally the grass will have been trimmed two or three days before the photo session in order to allow it to recover, but still not be overgrown. Have autumn leaves been cleared? Winter snow removed from walks and driveway? Spring branches and debris picked up?
6- Please remove all outside clutter, such as garden hoses, trash cans, yard tools, garden ornaments, and statuary. Signs, banners, and flags may be appropriate for commercial properties, but are not recommended for residential photos.
7- For commercial real estate, it may be best to schedule the camera work during off-hours, however, for retail properties, sometimes high-traffic times may more effectively communicate the level of activity at the site. For residential photo projects, vehicles need to be moved from the driveway to an inconspicuous location.
8- Outdoor furniture should be well-positioned, clean, and in good repair.
9- Take a critical look at the property's interior. Employing a professional stager or cleaning crew is often a good investment in preparing for market. The photo session should be scheduled as soon as the stager or cleaners have completed preparations.
10- Removing clutter and personal effects from a home or office area enables the photographer to compose more attractive views of the property’s features.
11- Make sure the floors and windows are clean, carpets vacuumed, furniture dusted, countertops clear, and desks and work areas are well-organized.
12- Then, before the camera session begins, make sure that:
- Lights are ON, and all bulbs are working,
- Ceiling fans are OFF,
- Televisions and computer monitors are OFF,
- Toilet lids are CLOSED,
- Curtains, drapes, and blinds are in good working condition,
- Incidental products (hand cleaner, detergents, air fresheners, etc.) are put away.
PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES -- STANDARD vs HDR vs FLASH-AMBIENT
Photographers may use a variety of techniques in capturing an image, with each approach having its inherent advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few of those differences so that you may choose the approach best suited to your purposes.
STANDARD
STANDARD with FLASH
The STANDARD approach is the simplest and quickest way to capture a subject’s image by letting the camera’s on-board technology automatically determine the exposure settings and internally produce a post-processed JPEG image file that is ready for use. This photograph illustrates the type of image that may be obtained in this manner. Snappy George rarely uses the STANDARD approach with real estate and interior design photos.
The STANDARD with FLASH method uses supplemental lighting in the form of an on-camera strobe to overcome imbalances in the level of lighting in scenes with a dark foreground and a bright background. In these cases, the camera may be set to do all the thinking and post-processing of the image, and save the digital image to the memory card as a JPEG file. Snappy George rarely uses the STANDARD with FLASH approach with real estate and interior design photos
HDR / High Dynamic Range
FLASH-AMBIENT
HDR, or “High Dynamic Range,” is a third method often used by real estate photographers. Here the camera is set to capture three or more simultaneous exposures. One exposure is taken at the normal level, the second is set to underexpose the scene to capture the scene's brightest details, while the third overexposes the scene to capture shadow details. The files are then merged into one which contains a wider range of exposure values. Most of today’s digital cameras are capable of processing and saving HDR files. However, in the interest of quality, many professional photographers prefer to transfer the camera’s RAW image data into Photoshop, or other software, to produce HDR images. HDR images require more time and effort, but the results tend to be superior to the STANDARD approaches.
FLASH-AMBIENT is a premium photographic method capable of producing more natural-looking, almost glowing, representations of the spaces being photographed. This process, also known as “Flambient,” enables the photographer to better manage the effects of different color temperatures from artificial lighting sources. Multiple exposures are captured under various lighting and exposure conditions, then post-processed and merged into one image file. These procedures are performed in the photographer's digital darkroom. For the finest renditions, choose FLASH-AMBIENT.
PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES -- LIGHTS ON - LIGHTS OFF
There are two schools of thought when it comes to the use of interior artificial lighting in interior design photos.
LIGHTS ON — Architects, real estate professionals, and hospitality providers usually like to see views with artificial lighting sources turned on. This provides their clients with information needed in forming an impression of the property’s features and value. The LIGHTS ON approach provides the warm and homey feel preferred by hospitality providers.
LIGHTS OFF — Interior designers are quite sensitive to color, texture, and the sense of openness and spacial relationships among the furnishings being photographed. Interior design publications, websites, and advertisements are replete with photographs using only actual or simulated ambient window light. The LIGHTS OFF approach treats the interplay among colors and textures more honestly.
LIGHTS ON
LIGHTS OFF
LIGHTS ON
LIGHTS OFF
POST-PROCESSING and EDITING
Confused by photographer jargon such as: RAW, JPEG, Developing, Post-Processing, Retouching, Touch-Ups, Photoshopping, Editing? -- Let's make it simple:
1- RAW vs JPEG -- Most professional digital cameras can produce both RAW and JPEG digital files. RAW files contain all the digital information captured by the camera, whereas JPEG files may be post-processed right in the camera using the camera manufacturer's algorithms for producing an acceptable image. JPEG files are compressed and stripped of much of the data that a RAW file holds, and use much less space on a memory card.
2- Post-Processing vs Developing -- Post-processing is the digital equivalent to Developing, which is what photographers once did to the film that came out of the camera. Except for slides, the developing of film resulted in film negatives which were then used to make photographic prints, which required a second round of developing, sometimes with darkroom manipulations to make the print more attractive. In most cases digital post-processing results in a JPEG file that can be used on the internet and in other digital media, or to produce a photographic print or for printing and publishing.
3- Retouching vs Touch-Ups vs Photoshopping vs Editing -- Retouching and Touch-Ups are synonymous terms left over from film days when photo studios relied on airbrush artists to remove blemishes and distractions, or to add highlights and other enhancements to photographic prints. Photoshopping and Editing are essentially the same function and are similar to Retouching in that they address the physical content of an image by removing unwanted distractions, or by enhancing or adding content to the image to make the image more attractive.
In order to have all digital information available when post-processing and editing image files, Snappy George captures all images in RAW format and post-processes the image files in Adobe Lightroom and in Adobe Photoshop. Editing is performed in Adobe Photoshop and occasionally through other photographic software. Unless a client specifies other requirements, finished files are converted to high-resolution JPEG format for delivery.
Snappy George no longer uses the terms: Developing, Retouching, or Touch-Ups, and prefers to use the term Editing instead of Photoshopping.
Here are two examples showing the differences between post-processing and editing, and the differences these actions can make to a RAW image file:
FIRST EXAMPLE:
This shot was made with the camera mounted atop a 25 foot mast (shadow in the foreground) in late afternoon in order to benefit from direct sunlight on the building facade. However, the shadows of utility lines and poles, as well as power lines above the distant horizon, a wind-induced tilt to the camera, and the sour color tones typical of a fresh RAW image make this image unacceptable.
RAW
POST-PROCESSED
The post-processed version of the above RAW image was adjusted for white-balance, exposure value, highlight and shadow detail, tonal values, and sharpness. The horizon and verticals were corrected, and the image was slightly cropped. Many times post-processed images are ready for use without additional editing. At other times, such as with this image, when editing is anticipated or required, post-processed images may be delivered as proofs.
The final edited version of this image has had the shadows of the utility cables and poles removed, the asphalt cleaned and darkened, parking lines and curbs enhanced, sidewalks cleared of debris, power lines in the distance eliminated, and the image further cropped. Such changes have resulted in a nicely balanced image suitable for the client's portfolio. To save the time and expense of editing all post-processed images delivered to a client, Snappy George will edit only those images chosen by the client for final editing.
EDITED
SECOND EXAMPLE:
RAW
RAW
This project turned out to be one of the most challenging assignments Snappy George has undertaken. The client requested a twilight portrait of this fraternity house which had to be photographed during the school’s winter break. Construction was still underway in the vicinity with tree limbs and remaining utility poles, power lines, and safety flags obstructing the front of the building. For this view, a tripod-mounted camera had to be positioned right up against the side of a construction trailer directly across the street. Two series of bracketed exposures were taken using the shift capability of a Nikkor 19mm f4 PCE lens. Then the above RAW images were stitched together and initial post-processing was performed to create a composite image.
POST-PROCESSED
The above post-processed image was then extensively edited to remove the cables draped across the front of the building. The utility poles, guy wires, street lamp, overhead construction safety flags, tree limb, and the quarter moon in the upper right corner were also eliminated. The roof and dormers were lightened, the second and third floor windows were illuminated, the shaded and grassy areas were brightened, and the broken curb was repaired. Finally, additional material was added to the vertical edges of the image in order to place the outer corners of the roof farther inside the image, then a more interesting sky was inserted and a final round of post-processing was done to complete the edited image.
