1950s Cardiff Beach Bungalow Masterpiece

Last week I got to shoot another GEM by Jim Frisbee of Frisbee Architects. I love that he maintained the character of this 1950s Cardiff beach bungalow. The square footage added was only in the ADU that was built above the garage. And, er mer gerd, I want to LIVE in the ADU!!! Check out some of my favorites. Also, huge kudos goes to the rest of the crew that brought this property back to life...

Architecture: Frisbee Architects

Interior Design: Erica DeLorme Design

Landscape Design: Garden Studio Design

Builder: Travis McCaw (T-Mac Construction)

Realtors on the High Seas: A Compass Corporate Party to Remember

Having shot enough real estate over the years, I knew that realtors, in general, are very outgoing, fun people. But, MAN, get them on a boat with pizza and some dranks flowing!?!?! It gets crazy real quick! Huge thank you to Michelle Walsh Ozanne and the Andy Bovender Team at Compass for having me shoot their kickin' party on the Champagne Yacht. Despite the rain, that boat was a ROCKIN'! I highly recommend you consider their harbor yacht cruise for your next party. For now, enjoy some of my favorite pics from the crazy night...

Restoring a Classic in La Jolla

Photographing real estate, usually the challenge is to accentuate the positives of a property and minimize the negatives. And if I'm being honest, I can sometimes make a house look better than it actually is in person. Once in a while, though, a house comes along that simply doesn't have a bad angle. It's no longer my job to improve upon it, it's just to get out of the way and reveal it. That said, older homes like this one, with beautiful dark wood can definitely gobble up the light and present its own challenges. Still, I felt like a kid in a candy store shooting this one and think, in the end, I did it justice. Almost 20 years ago, the renovations to bring it back to it's original glory (it was originally built by master woodworker and architect, Herbert E. Palmer back in 1925 and renovated by Trip Bennett of Arista Architects), drew the attention of the architectural world, and the owners had many offers to have it photographed for the world to see. They declined and as such, I'm the first person to photograph it since it was redone.

Well known San Diego architect, Trip Bennett oversaw the renovations and it's now for sale, represented by Linda Daniels and Regin Daniels Rubin of The Daniels Group for a cool $8,650,000. I hope you like some of my favorite images.

The Use of Drone Photos to Sell Properties: Benefits and Importance of Hiring a Licensed Part 107 Drone Pilot

In recent years, the use of drone technology has become increasingly popular in real estate, as it offers a unique and advantageous perspective when showcasing a property. Whether you are a real estate agent, property owner, or developer, using drone photos can greatly enhance the selling process of a property. Here are some of the benefits of using drone photos and the importance of hiring a licensed Part 107 drone pilot.

Benefits of Using Drone Photos

1. Improved Property Presentation: Drone photos provide a complete and detailed overview of a property, including its surroundings, landscape, and location. This can give potential buyers a better understanding of the property and its potential, as well as its relationship to the surrounding environment.

2. Increased Visibility: Drone photos can capture a property from an aerial perspective, providing a unique and captivating view that can stand out in a crowded market. This can increase the visibility of a property and attract more potential buyers.

3. Cost-Effective: Hiring a drone pilot is often more cost-effective than traditional aerial photography methods, such as helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft. Additionally, the images captured by drones are of high quality and provide a unique perspective that can save time and money compared to traditional methods.

Importance of Hiring a Licensed Part 107 Drone Pilot

1. Legal Compliance: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates the use of drones for commercial purposes. Hiring a licensed Part 107 drone pilot ensures that the operation of the drone is in compliance with all federal regulations, avoiding potential legal consequences.

2. Professionalism: A licensed Part 107 drone pilot is a professional who has completed the necessary training and certification to operate a drone for commercial purposes. This ensures that the drone photos captured are of high quality and professional standard.

3. Safety: A licensed Part 107 drone pilot has the necessary training and knowledge to operate a drone safely, avoiding potential safety hazards such as collision with other aircraft, power lines, and buildings.

In conclusion, the use of drone photos in real estate can greatly enhance the selling process of a property by providing improved property presentation, increased visibility, and cost-effectiveness. However, it is crucial to hire a licensed Part 107 drone pilot to ensure legal compliance, professionalism, and safety.

THIS is why realtors are worth every cent!

Once again I’m blown away at the level of service my good friend, and Compass realtor, Michelle Ozanne, consistently gives her clients.  Whether it’s a multi-million dollar estate or something a bit more modest like this beautiful home, she ALWAYS makes sure that it will show as favorably as humanly possible.  As a real estate photographer, the fact that she stages all of her homes, makes my job SO much more interesting and frankly, easy. Try shooting an empty house and make it look warm and inviting to a prospective buyer.  Good luck. Instead, have a look at these photos and tell me you don’t want to just grab your toothbrush and move in.  Beyond just the staging, I have to add, having used Michelle Ozanne, to sell our house just a few months ago, her passion and commitment THROUGHOUT the whole buying and selling process was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt at all that the current owners did such an amazing job renovating and updating just about everything, especially the gorgeous hardwood floors.  At a bit under 2000 square feet, this won’t be for everyone (the current owners having just welcomed their 3rd child simply outgrew it), but for the right buyer, this will be absolutely perfect.  The backyard is surrounded by high fences and MASSIVE trees that give this home oodles of privacy.

Now, if I had ONE criticism of Michelle it’s that she was so excited to share and preview this amazing home, that she posted CELL PHONE pics of the house rather than waiting just a few hours to get my shots.  She clearly didn’t read my previous blog post about my other friend, Joanna, who was going to use a cell pic for a business headshot! Maybe I should entitle this one, Friends Don’t Let Friends Sell Homes Using iPhone pics!  That said, like Joanna, even in an iphone photo, this house looked amazing and I have zero doubt that it will sell in a very big hurry! Enjoy some of my favorite pics!!!

Welcome to my Blog!!!

Some of you may remember that many years ago there existed a John Riedy Photography blog. It was filled with beautiful young couples whose weddings I had photographed both in Southern California and all over the world. Blogs were all the rage back then and I was pretty good about keeping it current…for a while. Then, like all good things, it came to an end. Becky and I had kids and life just got in the way. Well, the kids are pretty much grown now and we’ll be empty nesters before you know it. My career has taken myriad twists and turns over the past 20 years and I never would’ve guessed I’d be where I am now. I shoot few weddings these days (though I still do love them), but rather spend most of my shooting days in either Vietnam or Europe photographing war veterans back on their battlefields. When I’m home, I do a lot more studio work focusing mainly on corporate headshots and personal branding. I also love photographing commercial and residential real estate.

Suffice it to say, my life and priorities have changed. I’m very excited to use this blog to give my friends and clients a glimpse into my career and how I approach my work/passion of photography. If there’s one thing that hasn’t changed over the years, it’s that I LOVE what I do and the people I do it with. So to conclude this first post of my new/old blog I just want to thank EVERYONE who has allowed me to capture them through my lens. You are why I’m still doing this with love and gratitude after 20 years. And thank you to my loving wife Becky, who’s incredible work you can check out at www.rebeccariedy.com, and my sons Jack and Cole, for putting up with my wacky travel schedule and for always being more or less willing to sit as my lighting dummies.