+ The Malibu home of billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad (photos: Anthony Barcelo/Barcelo Photography)
Q: Anthony, how did Barcelo Photography come to be? Kindly describe your company’s scope of services?
Barcelo Photography was born seven years ago, the result of passion meeting opportunity. I was a real estate assistant at the time, with an interest in photography. I offered to photograph the listing of a colleague, and fortunately, the success led to a series of referrals which evolved into the business I have today. Presently, we offer a full range of media services including interiors photography, commercial, video, aerial, virtual tours and even virtual staging.
+ The Beverly Hills Home of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi (Photos: Anthony Barcelo/Barcelo Photography)
Q: How do you approach projects and what are some of the considerations? Could you describe an aspect the work you do that might surprise people? What goes into producing a great photo/video session?
I love a collaborative approach, so I do my very best to involve my clients in every aspect of the shoot. In fact, clients — agents and sellers — are provided an iPad livestream of my camera’s viewfinder during each photo session, so they can see every shot come to life. This is probably my favorite part: collaboratively deciding on a given shot while discussing the pros and cons of an angle. Ultimately, our goal is to attract the most amount of buyers to a listing, so I provide clients a prep list. This gives them all the best tips for getting the property photo-ready, ahead of my arrival.
+ The Beverly Hills Home of Ryan Seacrest (Photos: Anthony Barcelo/Barcelo Photography)
Q: Could you talk about the work you’ve done for C&D Homes? You can be totally honest… ;)
I love C&D Homes! You guys were among the first clients to give me an opportunity when I began my business, so I’m eternally grateful for the leap of faith. I love the attention to detail you guys devote to every shoot — each one is like an Architectural Digest shoot. As of late, you’ve been featuring your dogs in various listing photos. I think this is a fun and effective way to infuse lifestyle into the marketing of a home.
+ 820 N Vista St — designed, built, and sold by Craig & David Homes (Photos: Anthony Barcelo/Barcelo Photography)
Q: Can you describe your ideal client(s)? How you would like them to think about photography and video — and its potential benefits?
My ideal client is kind and generous. Someone who respects my craft, but most importantly my time. When a client has prepared for the photography session ahead of time, it often contributes optimal results.When it comes to photography and video, I would like them to think of it as a critical tool in attracting potential buyers. Capturing great images will maximize their buyer pool. Sometimes that means, not capturing everything, rather the most important elements of a home. For example, a client may want to focus on a sprawling stairway in the entryway of a home. It may be beautiful, but it’s wise to consider the message it will send. What story does focusing on that feature tell? Sometimes, less is more.
