A lake view from "The Reserve" out the east facing windows of the "Summit Cabin".
An interior sitting room shot from inside one of the other cabins...
I recently attended the 2008 Bear Lake Parade of Homes. I was impressed with the level of quality of all the homes shown and with the way they were furnished. Several of the homes were selling for over a million dollars and were multiple thousands square feet in size. The rather startling revelation was of how low quality many of the brochures and portfolios photos were, many look like the work of a point and shoot novice. I just can’t figure how people involved in selling homes in the 300,000 to 2 million dollar range don’t invest in more professional caliber photography to help them sell these properties and their construction and design services. I am wonder if they just don’t have anyone in their Rolodex to call in this area, as good quality real estate photographers are rare in the region if that is the problem here is my number (435) 764-6367 ask for Bracken or see my website http://www.brackenberger.com/. The other option might be that the investment in a professional may seem like a luxury rather than a necessity, but I am guessing people buying cabins and vacation homes in Bear Lake aren’t usually locals, and thus will at some point will be shopping and contemplating a purchase while viewing photography in a brochure, on computer or online… what does the quality or lack of quality of your photography say about your personal professionalism and the quality of your company’s products and services? Investing in quality photography is money very well spent.
I have close connections with a regional furniture store and thus have the capability to "stage" an empty home with new furniture for a photography shoot and/or stage it longer term to help sell the property. I work closely with interior designers as need to assure the best possible look and widest customer appeal.
As a real world example I did a shoot for Whisper Creek Log Homes http://www.wclh.com/ that resulted in one of their most used advertising photographs of all time, it is used on their main web page top left first slide, on their main brochure front and center, on their mail out CD, on their company vehicles photo wraps, and on many a banner. This image is hanging poster size on the wall in the CEOs office as well as hanging in the cabin owner’s main home. I hear from the staff that my photograph has directly resulted in several new clients flying in to tour the exact cabin I photographed and my photo has thus resulted in five cabins (million dollar cabins) ordered and counting! How much would a similar photography investment be worth to your business?
Above is my photo which is heavily used by Whisper Creek Log Homes due to its warm home like feeling and perfect composition...
Below is a winter version of the same cabin...
A short review of the Bear Lake Parade of Homes 2008 follows:
As I toured the homes, I noticed the wood and faux wood floors where wonderful as was the stone work inside and out. Granite or its’ look a likes seem to be the major counter top of choice, with a few marble and concrete examples sprinkled in. The oil rubbed bronzed metal finish seemed to dominate the plumbing and electrical fixtures. The wood stairs with no toe kick (that you can see through the back of) is the stair of choice. Paint colors where mostly earthy and inspired by nature, sands, tans, browns, sage greens, rusts, burgundy, and Bear Lake blues. The darker wood stains are gaining ground in the show, although the true standouts where the multicolored woods like hickory, alder and Brazilian cherry with natural color variations showing through a clear coat. The light stains with a darker glaze rubbed over seemed to be found in many homes, I call it the “dirty stain” as it looks a bit like a child rubbed a muddy wet rag over a lightly stained wood and what was left over looks like a dirty “rustic” cabinet door. Metal wall art was to be found a plenty, very much different that the 2007 Bear Lake Home Show where only one standout interior designer “Barbara Hoffman” made full use of metal wall art in cabin #11, it seems she may have started a beautiful trend. As a photographer I was excited to see upscale family beach themed and vacation fun photos on the walls as well as nice children’s portraits in several of the cabins. The upholstery was varied and exciting, much of it was darker earth tones and many pieces incorporated both rustic leather and patterned fabric on the same frame ranging from upscale occasional chairs to more relaxed but quality fancy sectionals. Many homes included home offices, exercise rooms, and the ever popular home theatre rooms. The homes where well worth seeing and relatively easy to find. The staff and builders were eager to show their work and receive feedback. I am excited to see how they try and top themselves next year!
Comments and emails greatly appreciated!
http://www.brackenberger.com/
Rusty Johnson
Nate Zollinger
Dolan Phelps
Travis Zollinger
Sid Archibald
Erin Beukleman
Kyle Tapio
