If I was teaching a class in Real Estate Photography 101, this Gastown home would be on the final exam. Bright, sunny skies and glass walls everywhere seem like a good idea, but the camera sees things much differently than the eye. You have to use more flash on days like today, although you might think the opposite. On the plus side, the pictures that do turn out have a real sparkle to them, and shooting a great space like this that has been staged to perfection always helps.
If you want more info, contact Sebastian Albrecht.

I recently had a chance to do a daytime and twilight shoot of the same property, at the request of realtor Juliana Jiao. This 3-bedroom condo is on the 30th floor of the Callisto in Coal Harbour, and offers floor to ceiling windows with unobstructed views of Stanley Park, the North Shore, and downtown Vancouver. These images demonstrate how the look of a home can change dramatically, depending on the type of light being used to illuminate the room. In the daytime images below, indirect sunlight filtered through some thin clouds is the main source, which gives the rooms soft shadows and fairly even light. In the evening shots, recessed lights in the ceiling flood the rooms, with a little help from my flashes. Outside, the night sky still has a trace of daylight in it, and the buildings add some twinkle.

That magic hour, when it is just as bright indoors as it is outdoors, arrives in the late afternoon these days. Back in June, photos like this would be taken at about 9:45 pm. I shot this West Vancouver beauty at 4 o’clock the other day. This is a brand new home listed by new clients DJ Denner and Nick Neacsu. It’s impeccably staged, but even more importantly, the main lights have DIMMERS, that make my job infinitely easier. Enjoy the pictures, as well as a pretty cool video that we made for this property.

When Jen Eden of Occupy Design calls to have one of her projects photographed, I never quite know what to expect. She has become the ‘go-to’ designer of display suites for many of Vancouver’s top builders, thanks to her imaginative use of colour and props. No lines of Perrier bottles or giant pine cones in the bathroom. The images below are for a couple of developments in Surrey by Dawson + Sawyer.

This stunning property didn`t last very long on the market. I shot it abut a month ago and it recently sold at the bargain price of $7,880,000. The property itself has a direct connection to members of the Guinness family, who lived there while they built the British Properties. The new home boasts over 5,000 square feet of living space, a lagoon and pool, and soaring windows that bring the giant cedars right into the living room. Plus a guest house. So have a nice drool at the pictures below, and start saving your money for the next time this beauty hits the market.

Hidden behind some strategically placed trees is this beautiful West Side home, on one of the best view streets in the city. Its floor to ceiling windows give you an unobstructed panorama of the North Shore mountains, downtown Vancouver, and Jericho Beach just down the hill. Sue and Sarah can fill you in with the details of this unique property.

I have shot several properties in horse country over the years, and each one is a class by itself. Southlands is where you can build the home of your dreams, and not be confined by neighbours squeezing you from all sides. Throw in some waterfront, and the fact that you can be downtown or at the airport within 15 minutes, and you can understand the appeal.

This particular property includes a large carriage house, stable, swimming pool and an unobstructed view of the busy Fraser River. And an eight-figure price tag. Ask Judith Matheson for a tour of this unique property.

I recently spent the day shooting photos and videos for this 1-acre private island just two hours from Vancouver. It includes power, water, septic, and a boat to get you there and back. This is a perfect example of the value of aerial photography and videography (done by Rick at AirFrame Productions. Check out the video). You just can’t get a better feel for this place than from the air.

See Jay McInnes for the full marketing spiel.

On a photo shoot the other day in Kerrisdale, I noticed two familiar-looking houses perched on blocks across the street. I remember shooting one of them a couple of years ago when it was in its original location. They were hard to forget, as they were mirror-image houses built beside each other, sharing one driveway.

The two homes in their new location on West 41st.

They had recently been purchased by a developer, who was going to tear them down, until a number of heritage-minded residents managed to save them. There’s an interesting story behind them which you can read here. They were definitely worth saving as you can see from the images below, taken in their original setting.

So, let’s see. Multimillion dollar condo? Check. Giant, floor to ceiling windows? Check. Southern exposure on a bright, sunny afternoon? Check. Another day at the office. This time for Harvey Kardos.