http://gjhomesbyrhonda.com/blog/categoryname_pictures/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ If you walk up and down Main Street in Grand Junction, you will see there is no shortage of art in the area.  From sculptures to interactive art, there is always something fun to snap pictures of. If you crave the finer things in life, you will enjoy what the galleries in the Grand Valley have to offer.  Here are some gorgeous galleries for you to visit. Working Artists Gallery & Studio is off of Main Street and S. 5th Street.  They have pottery, jewelry, and fine art.  Showcasing stained glass is a huge hit at this location and they even have supplies for you to create your own masterpiece.  Serving the Grand Valley with beautiful pieces for almost three decades, this gallery exhibits almost 100 local artists! From metal work to fine photography and more, they have something for everyone and even offer shipping to anywhere in the United States.  Find your favorite masterpiece here: https://www.workingartistsgallery.com/ Head into Orchard Mesa for a “rock’n” good art exhibit.  Rock’n’Art Gallery & Studio is a locally owned and operated gallery that has a wonderful selection of artwork.  They keep a large amount of pieces in their showing area, so stop by often for newly displayed work. Offering polished stone spheres, stained glass, and watercolor painting, they delight in portraying local artist pieces from across the Western Slope.  Although they don’t have a website, you can stop in anytime Monday through Friday from 11am-5:30pm. Our final stop on the list is right across Main Street from our first gallery on the list.  The Raw Canvas is an art gallery, urban apparel vendor, and a tattoo studio all in one. Presenting some of the most beautiful tattoos you’ve ever seen, you can be the masterpiece at this unique gallery.  Tattoos include unimaginable watercolors and graphic accents. You will be amazed at the quality of the work done here. There are more than a dozen local artists that contribute to their art gallery and their pieces are ones of modern and eccentric taste.  This gallery is one of a kind for the Grand Junction area and you will be surprised by the amount of “raw” talent that comes out of this distinctive location. Learn more at their website: https://www.therawcanvas.net/ Grand Junction in itself is a work of art and it is constantly inspiring local artists to draw, paint, and shape masterpieces focused on representing the area.  From downtown to hole-in-the-wall locations, you will find the gallery that has everything you want to create a perfect ambiance in your home or office. Visit one of these galleries today and support a local business! http://gjhomesbyrhonda.com/blog/6078/grand-valley-galleries/ Thu, 26 Jul 2018 12:00:00 -0700 Before you take (or get professional, which is what we suggest) pictures of your home, you need to stage it.  There are many blogs on staging your home, but not as many on photographing your home.  Usually your realtor will take pictures, or preferably hire a photographer (this can really make your home stand out), but if they don't, you may want to consider delivering high-quality pictures to them.  Why? This is the first thing people see when they are interested in your home.  Most people find their home online and then attend an open house or contact a realtor to show them the home.  This means your pictures better be spot on and inviting to draw in the prospective client.  Here are some tips on how to take quality photos: 1. CLOSE THE TOILET LIDThis may seem like an odd tip to put as #1 but it is crucial and can so easily be overlooked when you are going around snapping a ton of photos.  No one wants to see what's in the bowl, so close the lid.   2. USE A TRIPODThis is a definite in real estate photography.  Tripods will allow you to take crisp photos in low light.  Explain: when you take pictures with long exposure (takes the shutter a long time to "click" because it is allowing a lot of light in) you NEED proper stability so your picture doesn't turn out blurry.   3. USE A WIDE ANGLE LENSIf you are a novice photographer, this may be a hard one to get, but you can always rent cameras and lenses and it may be worth it.  I'm not saying a fish-eye lens (these can make the home deceiving, which isn't your goal), but you want a lens that will zoom out far enough to capture the entire room, otherwise it will look much smaller than it really is.  4. LIGHTINGMake sure your lighting is good- turn ALL the lights on and choose a bright time of day.  This can make a world of difference in your photographs.  Nobody wants to enter a dark room, so light it up and if it is still dark, bring in some other lighting!  This will make the room look inviting and warmer and fill in the dark areas in the corners.  5. PREPARE THE ROOMThis is so vital when taking your pictures.  People are thinking about this as THEIR future home, so get rid of things that scream YOU.  This includes the 29 photos of your mom, dad, great aunt, great great grandparents etc.  If there is clutter (clothes, your kid's homework) get rid of it (or put it to the side where it isn't in the picture).  Plump the cushions, make the bed, straighten the curtains, you get the idea.   6. GET OFF AUTO (IF YOU CAN)If you know the basics of the camera, get off auto!  Keeping your ISO on 100 (or maybe 200) as default will usually set you up for good interiors and get rid of the graininess. Set the aperture to f/8, f/11, or f/16 and then change if needed.  This will create good focus and a wide enough depth-of-field so the WHOLE ROOM is in focus.  If it is looking too dark, you probably need more light so then you can choose a smaller f number. http://gjhomesbyrhonda.com/blog/5293/taking-real-estate-pictures-for-beginners/ Wed, 13 Dec 2017 12:00:00 -0700