Brainstorming the Detail Shots

One of the reasons I like real estate photography so much is due to the nature of the work - it's a fine line between documenting and story-telling. After the location has been documented with creativity, it's time to start telling the story. 

Everybody brainstorms a little bit differently, but I have to say, there's nothing like old-fashioned pencil and paper. By first writing down a list of special locations in the property, then writing down things people do, and finally combining places with activities, you have yourself a shot-list. The image coupled with this post is exactly what I'm talking about. 

The brainstorm is this: the pool has these little tables and stools built-in, but nobody seems to know what they are when they first see them. People like to relax and drink wine by the pool. Well, combine those two ideas and now I'm ready to tell a story. We head on down to the store, pick up a bottle of wine, pour it into some glasses, wait for the sun to start going down, then take a few minutes to make the shot right. After that, onto the next shot on the list.

So make a list, piece things together, tell a story.