If you're unsure about taking your display photos yourself, call a friend. But don't hold back five great shots because one or two others need re-doing: send us what you have and we'll add the others later, gratis. Here are a few suggestions . . .

• Use a fast film (ISO 400).
   
• Take your shots in "landscape" orientation, eg. 6" width x 4" height.
   
• Be sure at least one of your outdoors shots is in season: if buyers in the middle of June see snow in all your shots, they may wonder why your property's been on the market so long.
   
• Outside, shoot with the sun at your back, and avoid extreme contrasts between highlights and shadows by shooting on a slightly overcast day. Inside, turn on all the lights and, on bright days, close the curtains.

  Shoot a whole 24-print roll of film, taking several shots (at different exposures) for each view. Try walking up to the darkest wall in the photo, setting your camera aperature there, then backing away and taking the shot.
   

• Work from the outside in, starting at the curb and yards before proceeding inside to the living room, dining room, kitchen, den, etc.
   
• Get rid of clutter: pick up around the yard, move the car, and avoid telephone poles and lines if possible. Inside, move extra furniture out of view to allow each room's full size to show. Clear counter-tops in the kitchen and bathrooms, and remove garbage bins, toys, fridge magnets, high-chairs and pets' food bowls.
   
• Use a manually-adjustable camera with a wide-angle lens (eg. 28 mm. focal length), even if you have to borrow it - it gives a better idea of room sizes. Aim it horizontally - otherwise, vertical lines will lean in or out.
   
• Take care not to cut off the top of the chimney, etc. Go for a wide field of view - if needed, we can crop the photos when we scan them.
   
• Speaking of scanners: if you have one, and Internet access as well, consider scanning your photos yourself, saving them in .JPG format at 200-300 dpi resolution, and sending them to us as attachments to the e-mail version of our enrollment form.