photography packet reference document...shot o if you are unable to capture the entire building in...

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Photography Packet Reference Document

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Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Who is Yardi Matrix? ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Overview of Job Details ..................................................................................................................................................... 3

Photographer Requirements .............................................................................................................................................. 3

Contractor Status ............................................................................................................................................................... 3

Types of Photos Needed ......................................................................................................................................................... 4

General Rules ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Guidelines for Multi-Family (Apartments)....................................................................................................................... 6

Guidelines for Office Buildings ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Guidelines for Industrial Buildings ............................................................................................................................... 10

Guidelines for Retail Buildings ...................................................................................................................................... 12

Assignments ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Assignment Size and Due Date ....................................................................................................................................... 16

Mapping the Assignment ................................................................................................................................................. 16

Assignment Logs .............................................................................................................................................................. 16

Completed Assignments ................................................................................................................................................... 17

Delays ............................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Additional Assignments .................................................................................................................................................. 17

Shooting On-Site .................................................................................................................................................................. 17

Difficulties Encountered .................................................................................................................................................. 17

Questions .......................................................................................................................................................................... 18

Compensation ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18

Other Compensation ........................................................................................................................................................ 18

Payments Issued............................................................................................................................................................... 18

Additional Questions ........................................................................................................................................................... 19

Uploading Photos ................................................................................................................................................................. 20

Organizing Your Assignment .......................................................................................................................................... 20

Downloading FileZilla ..................................................................................................................................................... 20

Uploading to FTP ............................................................................................................................................................ 22

Contact Information ............................................................................................................................................................ 23

Office Location and Hours ............................................................................................................................................... 23

Phone and Fax Line ......................................................................................................................................................... 23

PhotoMerge Photographs .................................................................................................................................................... 24

Taking Pictures for PhotoMerge ...................................................................................................................................... 24

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Introduction

What is Yardi Matrix?

The Yardi Matrix apartment information service is a high-performance software system with the sole function of

supporting the commercial real estate industry’s dominant participants. The company’s services monitor the

apartment, commercial, and self-storage universe from the property level to the submarket/market level.

Yardi Matrix subscribers access up-to-the-minute market information which is critical to the assessment of current

and prospective market status.

Overview of Job Details

Photographers will receive a group of properties to photograph via e-mail. Attached will be a document containing

property names/address/phone numbers and coordinates. Typically, assignments range from 15-35 properties.

Assignments are due by noon (MST) one week from the date e-mailed; however they can typically be completed in 2-

3 days. Assignments may be eligible for a bonus if turned in a shortened time frame (typically 2-3 days from the date

it was sent). The assignment e-mail and assignment log will give specifics on the bonus, including timeline.

Photographer will travel to and gather exterior photos of the properties (see page 9 section for more info).

Additionally, photographers will update the log and upload unedited JPEGS to Yardi Matrix via our FTP site. At the

completion of an assignment, photographers will e-mail the photo coordinator a copy of their assignment log, and

notify them that the photos have been uploaded.

Payments are typically mailed out mid-month and end of month from Yardi’s corporate office in Santa Barbara.

Assignments must be received two weeks prior to mailing in order to be guaranteed on the next check payment

cycle.

Photographer Requirements

Photographers must be 18 or older and know how to frame and compose photos; professional experience not needed.

Additionally, photographers will be expected to:

• Provide their own digital camera; Depending on test photos, some camera phones may be used, such as newer

Android/iPhone (Galaxy S9, S10, Iphone X, 11, Google Pixel, etc)

• Map assignment out for travel

• Have reliable transportation to properties

• Provide proof of current car insurance

• Provide a copy of valid driver’s license

• Notate on the assignment log (.xls) incorrect names, addresses, or access issues

• Organize photos into property folders for easy upload and sorting

Have access to high-speed Internet for photo uploads to FTP site

No editing is required; all editing is completed in-house by Yardi Matrix employees.

Contractor Status

Photography contracts are offered as an independent contractor on assignment with Yardi. You are not an

employee of Yardi.

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Types of Photos Needed

General Rules

While the types of photos needed will vary slightly based on the type of property you are photographing (i.e. office,

apartments, industrial, retail, self-storage), the following requirements remain the

same.

• Minimum resolution must be greater than 8 megapixels. Photos should

be uploaded to the ftp as unedited JPEG images

• First photo should be of the property sign: If the property doesn’t have a

sign then photograph the building number or the log pointing to the property;

this ensures photos are uploaded to the correct property

o If the complex name on the property differs from the sign, make a note

on the Photo Log, but continue to photograph the property.

• Shoot in horizontal format for most buildings: Vertical shots are

acceptable for these taller (8+ stories) buildings in order to capture the entire

building but should be avoided for buildings that are only a few stories high.

o Even horizontal shots should be taken for taller buildings to present

different options for editing

• Photos should be taken at a slight angle: A two-thirds, or three-quarter

view is preferred focusing mainly on the front of the building

o Shot not only from the right but also from the left

• Capture several unique views/angles: Photos should show what the

property as a whole looks like; walk the premise to capture the photos. If there

are different building types then capture a few shots of each

o You do not need to photograph every building on-site, however if some

of the buildings are shorter/longer/taller/different colors then the

photos captured should show this.

o If you feel that a property does not have 15 good locations to

photograph, take several steps to the right or left from the original shot

and take another. This can make the difference needed.

• Capture the entire building at the center of the image: Give equal space of ground/pavement and sky

o If this cannot be done, it's preferable to capture more pavement; the sky can be recreated in editing

• Avoid obstructions whenever possible: We prefer to avoid trees, lamp posts, telephone polls, cars, etc

however if the choice is to avoid the obstruction and have the building be cut off OR include the obstruction

and capture the entire building then shoot so the entire building is captured .

o Sometimes simply stepping to the right or left or changing your distance can correct the issue. It is

also helpful for our editing team if you try and place these objects on the outside edge or bottom

portion of the photo so that it might be possibly removed during editing

o In areas of dense tree inclusion it may be necessary to take 20-30 photos. Try different angles, taking

several steps in different directions tin attempt to minimize obstructions.

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Stand far enough back: Photos should be shot far enough back that ground and sky can be seen in each

shot

o If you are unable to capture the entire building in one shot please capture as much of the building in

the shot as possible including the corner of the building furthest from you.

So our FIRST preference is this type of shot (showing entire building at an angle)

If that’s not possible then we would like it to look like the following (catching most of the

building and the far end)

We want to avoid these (where far end is cut off)

NOTE: If editing is unable find enough usable angles/views that meet our criteria, payment will not be issued

on that property. To increase chances of payment please AVOID the following

• Photographing in the rain or right after a major rainstorm in which there are large puddles of water

• Photographing at dusk, dawn or during times that there is excessive discoloration thru shadowing or sun

glare

• Photographing from your car

• 100% full facing or head on view

• Photographing with specialty lenses (i.e. fish eye) which can distort the building appearance

• Standing too close to vertical buildings and shooting with lenses below 15mm

• Photos of the parking lots and parking structures

• Photos of apartment amenities (i.e. leasing office, clubhouse, tennis courts, walkways, playgrounds)

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Guidelines for Multi-Family (Apartments)

15-20 exterior shots should be captured in order for the editing department to be able to edit and upload six

unique views. These shots should represent what the apartment community as a whole looks like.

• 1 photo of a property sign that identifies the building you are photographing for reference

• 3-4 shots of the pool if applicable

o Shots of the pool should focus on the entire shape of the pool; chairs/cabanas/tables should be

avoided if possible

o If a property includes more than one pool, all pools must be photographed

o If a property has an indoor pool, photos are not required, however if you are able to gain access and

photograph a $2.50 bonus will be issued

o Photos should be captured even if the pool is dirty, drained in use or under maintenance

o Try to photograph inside or above fence enclosures; the fence should not block the pool shot

o Missing pool shots may result in a reduced payment – if a photo of the pool is missing it results in

Yardi-Matrix requiring a re-shoot

• 12-15 photos of the residential buildings

o Focus mainly on the fronts of the residential buildings

o Include in the shots the entry types; if there is more than one entry type, photograph each type

• Photos are NOT needed of the following

o Amenity Buildings (i.e. leasing office, clubhouse, fitness center)

o Other Exterior Amenities (playground, tennis courts, courtyards)

o Parking Lots (if there garages attached to the building you may include but do not specifically

photograph the parking lot or stand alone parking structures)

Examples of Full Set of Unedited Photos for Multi-Family (outlined properties indicate the properties

that were chosen to be uploaded

EXAMPLE 1:

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EXAMPLE 2:

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Guidelines for Office Buildings

15 exterior shots should be captured in order for the editing department to be able to edit and upload four to six

unique views. While several offices will only encompass one building, some office complexes will contain several

buildings.


• 2-3 shots of the entrance taken

• 10-12 shots of the building(s)

• Photos are NOT needed of the following

o Parking Structures

o Architecture Details

Examples of Full Set of Unedited Photos of an Office Building (outlined properties indicate the

properties that were chosen to be uploaded

EXAMPLE 1:

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EXAMPLE 2:

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Guidelines for Industrial Buildings


unique views. As in the case with offices, several industrial buildings will only encompass one building, however

some industrial complexes will contain several buildings.



• 2-3 shots of the loading docks


Examples of Full Set of Unedited Photos of an Industrial Building (outlined properties indicate the

properties that were chosen to be uploaded

EXAMPLE 1:

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EXAMPLE 2:

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Guidelines for Retail Buildings


unique views.


• 1 photo of the directory that shows business tenants (retail stores)



EXAMPLE 1:

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EXAMPLE 2:

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Guidelines for Self-Storage Properties


unique views. Photographer will utilize an approved Yardi script sent by coordinator to request permission to

shoot on-site for self-storage properties.


• 1-2 photos of the leasing office

• 1-2 shots of the gate


• If possible, include photos of interior storage units (as seen in examples)

• 1-2 photos of outside vehicle storage area

EXAMPLE 1:

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EXAMPLE 2

:

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Assignments

Once a contract has been offered and returned, a photographer will receive an assignment via e-mail from the

coordinator.

Assignment Size and Due Date

Assignments will vary in size but are typically between 15-35 properties and are created based on geographic

location to minimize driving. Assignments are due by noon (MST) one week from the date e-mailed to the

photographer, however they can typically be completed in 2 days. Assignments may be eligible for a bonus if turned

in a shortened time frame (typically 2-3 days from the date it is sent); the assignment e-mail and assignment log

will give specifics on the bonus, including timeline.

The assignment e-mail will also include a map showing the location of the properties and two excel logs: one

containing the property names, phone, addresses and coordinates, the other showing payment breakdown for each

property as well as any pertinent notes. It is important that notes are reviewed before photographing the

property.

It is requested that you e-mail the coordinator confirming you are accepting the assignment. If you feel

uncomfortable shooting the location, notify the coordinator. In some cases a new assignment area may be available.

Mapping the Assignment

A $9 mapping compensation is offered per assignment that are 5 or more properties to account for the time that it

will take you to map out and determine the order in which you will photograph the properties. We do include the X

and Y coordinates, which you can paste into http://batchgeo.com/ to assist with determining your route. You do not

need to turn any documentation to receive this compensation; rather it will be included in the check with the

completion of the assignment.

Assignment Logs

The assignment log with payment breakdown will also be the log that is turned in upon completion.

On the assignment log

✓ notate the number of photos uploaded to the FTP site; this assists editing in knowing if we received all

photos

✓ any difficulties encountered (gated community, asked to leave)

✓ property name changes

✓ wrong addresses listed

✓ other pertinent notes (pool located indoors, why you were unable to photograph a property)

All properties must be accounted for on the photo log, including comments stating why you were unable to photograph

or complete a property

http://batchgeo.com/

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Completed Assignments

Once an assignment is completed photos should be uploaded to our FTP site. Files should be submitted as

unedited JPEGs.

An e-mail, with the attached assignment log in “xls” or “xlsx”, should be sent to the coordinator, notifying them that

the assignment is complete.

As a precaution, save copies of the photographs until you have received payment for the assignment;

some photographs may not transfer completely.

Delays

It’s recognized that extenuating circumstances may delay completing an assignment. In such an event, notify the

photography coordinator before the due date. In some circumstances an extension may be issued. If the assignment

is not completed by the due date and there has been no agreed upon extension, the properties may be reassigned to

another photographer. If this occurs, photographs received from the original photographer cannot be accepted nor

will compensation be paid.

Additional Assignments

Additional assignments cannot be issued until the current assignment is completed and editing has had a chance to

review. While the review process may take a few days, ultimately it will give a chance for editing to provide feedback

that may minimize the number of properties that need to be re-photographed.

Shooting the Assignment

As an independent contractor you may choose when to photograph the properties as long as it is during daylight

hours and before the due date, however you may find it easier to photograph office and industrial buildings on the

weekend when businesses aren’t open.

Difficulties Encountered

If you are denied access to a property, it is recommended that you photograph the property as best as you can from

public access (outside the property). NOTE: Photographing any building from public access is within your rights as a

photographer.

Including photos of what is preventing you from completing the property (i.e. security gate, construction) is

appreciated; full compensation may not be awarded however we will do our best to provide some compensation.

If there is no property at the designated address, photograph the location and make a note of that condition on the

assignment log.

If you are approached by management you may state that you are an independent contractor for Yardi Matrix,

however you may not state you work for us or are an employee of Yardi Matrix.

Your safety is of utmost importance so if you do not feel comfortable photographing certain properties due to their

location, please simply notate this on your log.

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Questions

If you have questions during an assignment you may call the office (480) 663-1149 during business hours (7AM –

4PM M-F) and we will try and assist you.

Compensation

Base compensation is $12.50 per completed property. A completed property provides a minimum of 15 photos of

which a minimum of four, but preferably six, usable photos are found.

Other Compensation

Mapping: Time spent mapping your compensation, including phone calls for directions, will be compensated in the

amount of $9.00 per assignment, should you have an assignment of five or more properties.

Mileage: We do not reimburse for mileage or gas however we will issue $3.00 for each property that is not at the

designated location. We are not responsible if the property does not map correctly on Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. (We

provide phone numbers when available to assist with locating the property.)

Parking/Tolls: Parking and tolls charges incurred while photographing the assignment may be reimbursable. A

receipt detailing date, and amount must be submitted in order to be eligible for reimbursement.

Phone Numbers: In rare circumstances we may need assistance with locating a working phone number for the

leasing office for a particular property. If you are able to obtain a verified, working number you will receive a bonus

of $5.00. The assignment log will notate when a phone number is needed and therefore additional compensation is

available.

Indoor Pools: A $2.50 bonus is payable should you capture shots of the property’s indoor pool. This bonus is

payable in addition to the base compensation. Please notate any indoor pool shots on the log to ensure payment is

not missed.

Swimming Pool Only: In some cases we do not require any shots of the residential buildings; rather we are looking

for 3-5 shots of the pool only. In these cases compensation is $5.00 and will be noted as such on the assignment log.

Pool Deduction: In cases in which an outdoor pool is located on site and appears to be accessible but is not capture,

there will be a pay deduction of $3.00 for that property.

Payments Issued

Checks are issued from Yardi Systems, Inc. corporate office in Santa Barbara, CA. Checks are mailed out twice a

month; generally mid-month and end-of-month.

All assignments must be reviewed by our editing department before payment can be issued to determine acceptance

of properties. Assignments generally need to be received two weeks prior to allow time for review and approval.

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Additional Questions

What kind of camera will I need?

• Photos should be taken with a digital camera that has the capability to shoot at a minimum of 8 mega pixels

resolution. Camera’s components should not be damaged and should be able to produce clean exposures.

Ultra-wide lenses not permitted. As noted above: Depending on test photos, some camera phones may be

used, such as newer Android/iPhone (Galaxy S9, S10, Iphone X, 11, Google Pixel, etc)

Can I edit my own photographs?

We ask that you do not edit your own photographs. Our editing team will edit select photos and then crop and resize

before uploading to our site.

Why do I need to take so many photographs of each property?

Fifteen to 20 photographs must be taken per property in order to provide the variety of photos required for our photo

editors to select the six usable photos required per property. As a reminder we only need one property sign photo;

this is used for documentation and cross reference only.

What should I do if I am approached for taking photos?

While some photographers never get approached while photographing because they are at each location for such a

short period of time, others have had their presence questioned. Explain that you are an independent contractor for

a market research company. Because you are an independent contractor and not an employee of Yardi Matrix,

please do not represent that you work for or are an employee of Yardi Matrix or Yardi Systems, Inc.

I need more time to complete this assignment. Can I get an extension?

All of our assignments are time sensitive, which is why a bonus is offered when assignments are completed within a

very shortened time frame. While efforts should be made to complete the assignments on time or earlier, we do

understand that sometimes weather may uncooperative or other issues may arise. Please communicate these with

the photo coordinator for that market to see if an extension is possible.

Will I be able to do this as a full time job?

This is an independent contractor position and it is temporary. We generally try to photograph an entire market

within a period of three to six weeks. There may be instances in the future in which more photographs are needed,

in which event we may contact you to see if you are interested and available to work on the new project.

Why is my check delayed?

Following our receipt of a photography assignment, the assignments must be edited and confirmed before a check

may be issued. Our objective is to clear editing immediately, but the process may occasionally require up to two

weeks. Checks are then processed on the 15th and month-end.

I was paid the same for a property with a pool as one without a pool. I thought I received an additional $5.00 for pool

shots?

Per-property pay is flat-rate. It is assumed that each property includes a pool to photograph; properties without a

swimming pool are bonuses to you. We pay $5.00 when only swimming pool photographs are required.

The ftp site says that the password is not recognized, but it worked last week. What happened?

The FTP site password may have been changed for security purposes. If you have not received the new password,

please contact the Photography Coordinator.

The assignment I was given is too far from my home, can I get one closer?

While you do have the right to refuse an assignment, we try to assign properties close to you, and will do that with a

reassignment, if possible.

I don’t understand why I wasn’t paid for the full assignment.

If a copy of the completed Assignment Log is not sent to you, you may request it. This log will indicate why a certain

property’s photos were unusable (i.e. “not enough angles”, “too blurry”, “too close”).

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Will I be given the opportunity to re-photograph those properties I wasn’t paid for?

While we will often provide the opportunity to complete re-photographing, this may not be possible every time. On

occasion, timing and the number of properties left to be photographed will require that another photographer

complete the assignment.

Uploading Photos

Organizing Your Assignment

Before uploading your photos you should first create a parent/main folder and name it to include (at least) your

name plus the assignment date (John Henry 3.20).

Inside that parent/main folder, create a subfolder for each property. Label each folder with the PID and Property

Name (123 – Holland Place Apartments).

Place the photos associated with each property inside their respective folders.

Compressing (zipping) your parent folder before uploading is recommended as it is more efficient and can

prevent dropped files.

Downloading FileZilla

In order to upload to the FTP you will need to download FileZilla.

1. Download FileZilla FTP solution from: https://filezilla-project.org/. Note: Choose the Client (NOT

Server) option.

2. Open FileZilla

https://filezilla-project.org/

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3. In the menu, click File - Settings. From there, follow the screenshots below and make the following changes:

a. Click FTP and make sure your right-hand pane appears like the one here.

4. Click Active Mode and make sure your right-hand pane appears like the one here.

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5. Click Passive Mode and make sure your right-hand pane appears like the one here.

6. Click OK to save changes.

Uploading to FTP

Open FileZilla Client and type in the following:

Host: 208.77.58.100

Username: To be provided

Password: To be provided

Port: [leave blank]

Click Quickconnect

Take the parent/main folder you created on the your computer with the assignment and drag and drop into the

“Remote Site”

Allow the photos to transfer over in the background as this can take several hours.

Close the FTP site when uploading is complete.

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Contact Information Yardi Systems, Inc. corporate office is located in Santa Barbara, California, however all contract photography work

for Yardi Matrix is handled out of the Scottsdale, Arizona location.

Office Location and Hours Yardi Matrix

9200 East Pima Center Parkway, Suite 150

Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Our office is open from 7am – 5pm MST; we do not observe Daylight Savings. Calls made to the office after-hours or

during the weekend will be answered the following business day.

Phone and Fax Line

Phone: (480) 663-1149

Fax: (480) 663-6269

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PhotoMerge Photographs

There may be rare circumstances in which capturing the entire building in a single shot is not possible. In these

cases you may consider capturing shots that can be used with PhotoMerge. PhotoMerge shots are not preferred

but should be taken when no other options are available.

Taking Pictures for PhotoMerge

Your original photographs play a large role in how our editing team can create these panoramic compositions. Please

follow these guidelines when taking pictures for use with PhotoMerge.

1. Overlap images sufficiently

Images should overlap by approximately 40%. If the overlap is less, PhotoMerge may not be able to automatically

assemble the panorama. However, keep in mind that the images shouldn’t overlap too much. If images overlap by

70% or more, PhotoMerge may not be able to blend the images. Try to keep the individual photos at least somewhat

distinct from each other. Most merges only require 2-3 photos, however in rare circumstances you may need

a maximum of 4 photos.

2. Include ample ground and sky in top and bottom shots

While ground and sky will not be visible in a single shot the first and last photos should give editing enough room to

crop the photos

3. Keep camera horizontal when photographing high-rise buildings

This will keep the photos closest to the dimensions needed once they are merged.

4. Maintain the same exposure

Avoid using the flash in photos. The blending features in PhotoMerge helps smooth out different exposures, but

extreme differences make alignment difficult. Some digital cameras change exposure settings automatically as you

take pictures, so you may need to check your camera settings to be sure that all of the images have the same

exposure.

5. Stay in the same position

Try not to change your position as you take a series of photographs, so that the pictures are from the same

viewpoint. Using the optical viewfinder with the camera held close to the eye helps keep the viewpoint consistent.

6. Use one focal length.

If you use a zoom lens, don’t change the focal length (zoom in or out) while taking your pictures.

7. Avoid using distortion lenses such as fish-eye or extreme wide angles

These lenses can interfere with PhotoMerge. However, the Auto option adjusts for images taken with fish-eye lenses.

8. Keep the camera level

Although PhotoMerge can process slight rotations between pictures, a tilt of more than a few degrees can result in

errors when the panorama is assembled. It may be helpful to use a tripod with a rotating head; this aids in

maintaining camera alignment and viewpoint.

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Examples of Acceptable Photos for PhotoMerge (notice overlap, distance and horizon)

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Notice how much each photo overlaps the

other. This allows Photoshop to match

similar patterns that help it stitch each

photo together.

Color and lighting is consistent from photo to

photo. This is nice because editors don’t have to

match exposures and coloring before merging

photos.

photography packet reference document...shot o if you are unable to capture the entire building in...

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