Before he became one of real estate's most well-known technology trainers, Stephen Canale was a portrait photographer. He never lost his love for imaging, and is an active proponent for digital cameras as a primary real estate marketing tool.

Canale recently was asked by Hewlett-Packard to write a how-to course specifically targeted for real estate professionals who want to use digital photography in their online marketing and presentations. Designed for the gamut of professionals who have never owned a digital camera before to those who are more experienced, the course is free to anyone who would like to take it. While it's obvious that HP would like to sell a few cameras to Realtors, Canale says that the instruction is meant to be applied by anyone regardless of whether they are or intend to become a HP customer or not.

"Photographing houses is a lot different than photographing people," says Canale, "and it's not just about getting the lighting right. It's also how to process and store the image so that it becomes a productive listing and selling tool for an agent," explains Canale.

Offered at the HPLearningCenter.com beginning August 6th and ending September 7th, the course will have six installments, two per week, giving even the busiest real estate professional time to participate. At the end of the course, promises Canale, Realtors will be able to use their digital cameras in ways that will surprise even the most techphobic agents.

"The lesson plan is written in a linear progression, so that you want to be there for the first session," explains Canale. "There is an introduction, how to shop for a camera, what features are useful, using the features, photography tips, and then a tips and tricks that agents will enjoy that will get more business value out of digital photography."

The course is self-paced so that students can learn the basics and move on to more technical information. In addition, students will be supported by sidebars of information as well as a message board that will be moderated by Canale.

"This is what any agent needs to know about buying and using a digital camera," says Canale. "And it goes into the technical aspects that they have to know about basic settings, transferring and editing images, and manipulating images. In other words, they will learn about putting settings, resolution and compression so that they will understand how digital images are taken, saved and stored electronically."

Even if you think you can already point and shoot, there may be something new to learn.

According to Canale, the course is already a success although it has yet to begin. "HP has over 500 agents who have registered to take the course," he says. "They want to know the right way to use photography for electronic distribution, but the basic information of the course will help them do that so that agents can interact with e-commerce."

Published: August 2, 2001

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Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.