From the category archives:
Autumn at Hidden Falls
I headed down to Nerstrand State Park, near Northfield, two weeks ago to see if any of the fall colors were still around. Most of it was gone, but down by the waterfall, there were a few trees hanging onto their leaves, almost just for me.
For the last two years I have been working on my perennial garden, adding plants that will attract butterflies. Joe Pye Weed was the first plant I bought, and now after two years, they are nearly 7 feet tall. You can imagine how excited I was a few weeks ago when I noticed they were covered with Monarch Butterflies, plus a few Viceroy Butterflies as well.
Hope everyone has a happy 4th! Hopefully I can catch some great photos this year.
Fireworks over Downtown Minneapolis, Copyright 2009 Jennifer Kirby
It continually amazes me how home owners don’t realize the poor quality of photos that their real estate agent is using to market their Million dollar homes here in the Twin Cities. Just today, I have been going through luxury homes stretching from Stillwater to Lake Minnetonka, and probably 90% of the homes priced over $800,000 have agent taken photos that are out of focus, tilted, angled, poor lighting….you name it, these photos stink!
Or how about this home below that started out at $2.4 Million in Eden Prairie? It is has been on the market for a while, and now is reduced $500,000. Could it be that the really poor photos, and there are more, are killing any potential sale for this home? I certainly think so. 
As a home owner looking to sell, you really need to question the agent you use and how they are going to professionally market your luxury home. Luxury home specialists know that money has to be spent on quality photography and marketing pieces to attract buyers. Ask your agent for marketing examples and past experience in the luxury home market before you sign a year long listing because if you don’t, the quality you could be getting could resemble the photos above.
Why does this matter? Because photos sell a home. Let me tell you something…agents have NO excuse for not paying for a professionally photographer to come into your luxury home. If you are letting them get away with walking into your home with their point and shoot camera, then there is probably a really good reason your home is not selling. Your photographs stink! 
So hopefully, you can now see my points. Professional photography MUST be used when listing an expensive home. I see well known agents in the Twin Cities shooting million dollar homes themselves, and I am amazed that they keep getting hired. Sellers really need to understand that to attract buyers who can afford luxury real estate, you need to present the home as a luxury property. If your home photos stink, then maybe you should think about hiring another agent, one that specializes in selling luxury homes.
I was up late last night photographing the Minneapolis skyline with my new camera. This was taken on the banks of the Mississippi River at the base of Stone Arch Bridge. There are tons of great places to shoot Minneapolis and Saint Paul. You just have to go off the beaten path sometimes!
