The modern MLS system allows Realtors® to upload digital photographs of listed properties for display on both the consumer and member search sections. While it seems to make good financial sense to save on costs traditionally paid to professional photographers by snapping and uploading your own listing photos, the true benefit will only be realized if you equip yourself with the requisite skills.

If you struggle through the process - incurring fines for not posting photos within the allowed timeframe - and wasting valuable hours before finally being able to upload your images, then attempting to do it yourself may not have been worth it.

This article presents some brief suggestions which may make life a little easier for the Realtor® wishing to start or continue manipulating their own digital photographs.

Invest in your knowledge
If you are intent on taking your own digital listings photographs, you must update your computer skills because gaps in your knowledge will create frustration for you. Consider attending a Windows class focusing on file management. Familiarity with various media types, drive letter designations, folders, files and program associations are all important concepts to know. When you contact the MLS tech support desk for assistance, your knowledge of these concepts will save both you and the support representative lots of time. Remember, any technical support is usually there to help when you encounter difficulties and not to provide personal technology training. A digital imaging or photography class will also be of great benefit to you. Even though it may not necessarily covering the features specific to your camera, the concepts addressed in this type of class will be invaluable to you. Some of these classes are offered at HAR’s local offices free of charge or for a nominal fee.

Protect your tools
Do not place unprotected media cards in your pockets or handbags as it is possible for lint or other foreign objects to enter the pin holes on compact flash cards. Subsequent insertion of this memory card into your camera may permanently lodge the object deep within the memory card with disastrous consequences. Visit your local consumer electronics store and invest in a media wallet to store your memory cards in whenever they are not in use. You can also opt to use the plastic cases which memory cards usually come encased in when purchased new. Never leave your camera or media cards in your vehicle for extended periods of time. The heat buildup on an average Houston day can easily warp or even melt your media cards or camera, rendering them useless.

Get your seller involved
We all know that as soon as you advise your homeowner that their listing is active on the MLS, they will go immediately to HAR.com and attempt to view the images online. They will be especially happy when the listing appears and they see the photos that THEY selected are being displayed. Take multiple photos from different angles, and then reduce your final images down to only the ones with the highest clarity and best lighting in your group. Let the homeowner select the photos that they like from this final group.