I was hired by Bird in Hand Media and ScanDimensions within the past month, and was assigned my first scan last Friday. I tagged along for a scan the previous weekend and practiced with the camera in my own home, so I was feeling pretty confident with the equipment. Still, showing up at a ready-to-be-scanned house for the first time can be quite daunting!
I showed up to the home a few minutes early so I could have some time to set up the camera and get acquainted with the space. The owner, realtor and a still photographer were also there during the same time; this helped me because it created the feeling of working together as a team to show this home it its best light.
Where you start the scan doesn’t necessarily matter, just as long as you’re on the home’s lowest level. In this case, I started back in a corner room to give the photographer a chance to capture the main rooms. It’s important to have no movement while taking the scans, as it can throw the camera off. You must also be mindful of mirrors and other furnishings creating a reflection because it may just find you while you’re hiding from the camera. And yes: we do hide! Whether it be behind a wall in the next room over or ducking behind a couch, I have to be in a place where I cannot see the camera while it’s taking a scan.
The most important thing with these scans is knowing where to place the camera. Since these are used as virtual tours and typically viewed by potential buyers, the camera should be placed in such a way that likely be seen while walking through the home. For example, at the house on Drury Lane (yes, really) one spot where I had the camera showed the entire great room leading into both the kitchen and dining room. Taking four scans around a table is another example of getting a life-like virtual tour.
220 S Drury Lane Arlington Heights, Presented by: Kathy Barkulis www.kathybarkulis.com
My first day scanning went very well. I got to meet some great people and even drank some tea with the lady at the second home. My favorite part of the job is seeing the different types and styles of homes. Also, there’s a sense of exclusivity in being one of the first to see a home staged before it goes on the market. I like that. I also like the tediousness of the work. Figuring out the optimal angles/positions presents a challenge that, if it’s well thought out, can have a rewarding end result.
Keep checking back for more updates in the world of 3D imaging!
Brittney