Over the Top

Okay, maybe not "over the top", but approaching it, compared to the properties I shoot for real estate on a regular basis. The two homes featured this month are spec homes by the same builder; the first is a fairly high-end home in Barton Creek, measuring just shy of 9,000 square feet, and the other is a little more modest at under 6,000 square feet.

This is not a mirrored image, but two 3-car garages...

Yes, That is a fireplace you see to the left...

The smaller house in Steiner Ranch:

Dripping Springs

A double feature this month! I recently had the pleasure of shooting two interesting homes back-to-back in Dripping Springs. Both were fairly large 1-story homes with some unusual features for homes in their price range, but had very different floorplan design philosophies. The first was private and formal, while the second was open and casual.

It's unusual to see barrel ceilings in this price point:
The first house is divided by the entry and formal living, with the entry open only to the formal living (above) and the formal dining (below); the rest of the home was kept fairly private, accessible only by halls on either side.



Of course, potential buyers tend to want to see what the whole front of a house looks like, but sometimes it just isn't practical, so sometimes a real estate photographer has to compromise... The second home is on about 5 acres, with the front elevation blocked by seemingly countless oaks; this made for a mess of a photo, especially for the small images used in listings, so I had to move in for a partial shot, using the walk to guide you to the entry.



A gallery hall passes from the foyer along side the kitchen, with small openings into the kitchen at counter and ceiling heights, on either side of a niche:
A large covered patio... a fire always helps the photo:

Mountain City Secret

Modest in size, but big in luxury, this 2700 square foot home is tucked away in a small community near Buda, Texas. Some of the features and details in this house are high-end, such as transom openings above interior doors, limestone trim throughout (yes, all the white trim is actually machined limestone, not cast faux stone), stained concrete floors and lighting galore.

As with most properties, this home presented some challenges for a real estate photographer. The house was rented and vacated about a day proir to the shoot, and while the carpet was new and the interior paint fresh, the windows were still dirty and a fresh coat of wax on the concrete floors was highly reflective. The views out the windows were of no significance, so I exposed them to bright to to hide the dirty film. The rooms with reflective floors were saved until the sun dropped low enough that it didn't shine directly into the windows.

Delightfully 70's

I recently had fun shooting this small, well preserved 70's contemporary on Lake Austin. Stepping into the 2/2 vacation home took me back, with lots of glass, timber, large, open volumes and the original orange... yes, orange, countertops throughout. Among my favorite features were the open timber and tile staircase, which was separated from the true sunroom by glass. Being situated on the north end of Lake Austin shoreline commands a cool price in the mid $700,000's.

Updates? Why? Who needs'm? The original kitchen and baths are in outstanding condition and have loads of character...

Business is Good

Real estate photography started with a bang for 2010 in Austin, so much so that I totally forgot about my monthly post! Since I missed January altogether, I thought I'd just post a few highlights from the month, and try to get around to picking a home my February post before the month is over, which is only a few days away. Lets hope that this is a sign of things to come, both for my business as a real estate photographer and for the real estate market itself!







I would like to use this last photo to point out that a cloudy, rainy day doesn't mean that it will result in a dreary twilight shot...

Hyde Park Character

Nestled in the desirable neighborhood of Hyde Park in Austin, this remodel and addition oozes character. The original home was built in 1905 and retains the porch and front 3 rooms, as well as reclaimed Long Leaf Pine floors throughout. At a cozy 1937 sq ft, it listed for just shy of $600,000... I say "listed", as I was notified 4 days after I shot it that it was already under contract!