How do I take my own virtual tour pictures?

Taking pictures for your virtual tour is really quite easy. The important things to remember are to keep the camera level (we strongly advise using a tripod) and creating enough overlap to allow continuity in the tour.

1. Pick up to six rooms/views. This can include one outside front shot and a back yard shot.
2. Set up the room prior to taking the picture. Any items that change from one shot to the next can have a negative affect on the splicing process.
3. Set the camera in a part of the room that allows the best view. Typically a corner or wide entry works best but, sometimes, an overhead shot works well if it is possible. Do not worry about going around 360 degrees as this is usually very difficult to do unless you are doing a huge room and it is not necessary.
4. Start taking pictures at one side of the room and rotate the camera so that each picture in series overlaps from about 10% to 30%. Tip: look for an item on one side of the picture, for example, the lamp on the left side of the picture, and make sure that it is still on the right side in the next picture.
5. Try to keep the camera as level as possible between shots. The splicing process is tolerant to some movement but the steadier and more level the shots, the better the quality of the tour. This is particularly why we feel you need a tripod to do it right.
6. Don't worry if it only takes 2 or 3 pictures to cover a room. This is just fine and often looks better than taking additional pictures of blank walls.

The quality of the virtual tour depends heavily on the quality of the pictures taken. If you are unhappy with your virtual tour, we can advise you on ways to improve your pictures and allow you one opportunity to retake them for a redo of your virtual tour without additional costs.