Best way to post process real estate?

I've taking on a job where I'll be taking photos of homes and property represented from a local broker.  I've seen plenty of realtors bumping up their whites and blacks and creating a HDR like look.  I have told the client I could do this, however I just need to figure out the best way to quickly get these results.  

Thoughts?  

H Rocky wrote: I have told the client I could do this, 

And there goes an amateur taking a pro jobs and damaging the trade…
DO YOUR HOMEWORK PRIOR TO TAKING JOBS!
Sorry body but no sympathy nor help from me.

H Rocky wrote: I've taking on a job where I'll be taking photos of homes and property represented from a local broker.  I've seen plenty of realtors bumping up their whites and blacks and creating a HDR like look.  I have told the client I could do this, however I just need to figure out the best way to quickly get these results.  

Thoughts?  

While I agree that you should have some skills in place before taking a job, I know you've been hanging out here a while.

But without representative images it's hard to understand what you mean/want.

"Bump up whites and blacks"? What does that mean? Do you refer to contrast?

The hardest part about real estate is the lighting.

Honestly, I think accurate, well-lit images would be ideal. But that's just me. There's lots of info out there on post processing for interiors and architecture. But aside from exposure blending, I can't imagine you'd want something very extreme.

Nikon Shooter wrote:

H Rocky wrote: I have told the client I could do this, 

And there goes an amateur taking a pro jobs and damaging the trade…
DO YOUR HOMEWORK PRIOR TO TAKING JOBS!
Sorry body but no sympathy nor help from me.

Actually you should have asked what expectations I set before making a comment as you did.  I set VERY REALISTIC expectations to this job that pursued me.  This job was a referral that liked the work I did for a friend of theirs that wasn't even real estate related like this.  We not 100%.  I covered a corporate event for a brokerage firm.  I was photographing people.  My new client was a guest at this event, liked the photos I took.  I told him I didn't have experience photographing real estate, he stated he was OK with that if I was.  He liked my work ethic and how I over delivered.  That those attributes were more important than experience, as long as I was willing to learn.   

AFTER he hired me for this gig, he asked how were my post processing skills, and again, I set the stage with realistic expectations.  I told him I can post process people all day long and have a certain degree of comfort there.  He mentioned he would like to see all my photos to "POP" like an example he showed me, which looked like HDR to me.  I told him that I'm sure I could get that figured out.   

So just to sum this up, this amateur was pursued by a pro job, even after I set expectations on my real estate experience.  

As far as I'm concerned, I have a clear conscience, and so does my new client.  I'm excited, I think it will be fun photographing homes.  

garyrhook wrote:

H Rocky wrote: I've taking on a job where I'll be taking photos of homes and property represented from a local broker.  I've seen plenty of realtors bumping up their whites and blacks and creating a HDR like look.  I have told the client I could do this, however I just need to figure out the best way to quickly get these results.  

Thoughts?  

While I agree that you should have some skills in place before taking a job, I know you've been hanging out here a while.

But without representative images it's hard to understand what you mean/want.

"Bump up whites and blacks"? What does that mean? Do you refer to contrast?

The hardest part about real estate is the lighting.

Honestly, I think accurate, well-lit images would be ideal. But that's just me. There's lots of info out there on post processing for interiors and architecture. But aside from exposure blending, I can't imagine you'd want something very extreme.

Sorry I was referring to the sliders on the right in Lightroom.  

Good for you.  You did the right thing.  Personally after reading what lead up to you getting the job, I saw double good for you!  

You know there are programs that will take the post processing heavy work and make that a breeze for you.  

You have some options:

hdrsoft.com
skylum.com/aurorahdr
easyhdr.com 

Good clip for you

Here's a good one on Photomatix and Lightroom

H Rocky wrote: Sorry I was referring to the sliders on the right in Lightroom.

No, no, I get that. What I don't get is the intent meant by the phrase. I would guess it means lots of contrast, but I wouldn't just rely on the big stick provided by those sliders. I'd go for micro-contrast (i.e. clarity) that helps enhance details. But that's just a guess.

CaptNemo wrote: Good for you.  You did the right thing.  Personally after reading what lead up to you getting the job, I saw double good for you!  

You know there are programs that will take the post processing heavy work and make that a breeze for you.  

You have some options:

hdrsoft.com
skylum.com/aurorahdr
easyhdr.com 

   those are a good place to start with all of these allowing 1 photo upload to convert to HDR

Awesome sauce! 

Thanks for the tips everyone!  

Don't forget to go wide, use a lens around 12 to 14mm.  Get your lighting nailed down in the interiors.  It will make your post processing night and day easier.