Documentary and Street Photography Prints AvailableDocumentary and Street Photography Prints Available

Hey everyone,

After several years and numerous attempts with different photo print companies, I am VERY excited to announce the following :

 My documentary and street photographs are now available as photographic prints. Printing my art has been a dream of mine since I first fell in love with photography 18 years ago. Now I am finally able to make my documentary and street photographs available as prints to everyone. Simply visit my store and check out my collections. Even better, prints are now available to ship internationally through Redbubble. This is a big deal for me as many fans, friends and supporters from the Global Village frequently ask for prints of my work. Starting from today, from wherever in the world you are, you can receive framed prints for your personal gallery, home or office.

I can't wait to hear your feedback on my new online store :

https://www.redbubble.com/people/leoncato/explore

All the best,

Leon

Documentary and Street Photography Prints AvailableDocumentary and Street Photography Prints Available Documentary and Street Photography Prints AvailableDocumentary and Street Photography Prints Available Documentary and Street Photography Prints AvailableDocumentary and Street Photography Prints Available

Real Estate and Development

Real Estate and Development

New York just surpassed San Francisco as the most expensive rental market in the U.S. - The coronavirus pandemic caused a massive disruption to New York’s real estate market early on, but demand has since turned around. Rents are not only rebounding but returning to pre-pandemic levels. CNBC

NYC apartment leases with major concessions are coming up for renewal. Here's how to negotiate - In addition to landing apartments with lower rents, New York City renters who signed new leases during the pandemic scored major concessions, like multiple months free, paid broker fees and sometimes other freebies like flexible move in-dates, relaxed pet policies, or reduced fees for storage, and parking spots. But what is happening now—as those freebie-laden leases start to come end—especially those with free months, which made apartments much more affordable? NYC renters are about to find out. - Brick Underground

Ramped-up testing helps contractors fight delta variant - Ezra Laniado has been fighting the pandemic on his jobsites, one COVID-19 test at a time. As the owner of Landmark Construction Crew, a Los Angeles-based commercial contractor, he learned early on that keeping his teams up and running meant making sure that anyone who got sick stayed away, and then immediately got tested. - Construction Dive

Why Life Sciences Is The Hottest Sector In CRE - The life sciences sector was the outlier while much of the business world suffered through 2020. According to CBRE, life sciences employment in July 2020 was actually higher than the year prior, and venture capital funding at that point was setting records. Commercial lab space, meanwhile, grew 12 percent in 2020, with a similar growth anticipated for 2021 in the form of new construction, and lab space rents have been rising unabated. - Commercial Observer

 

Architecture and Design

Meet the millennial New Yorkers dropping as much as $45,000 on interior designers to help pimp out their pandemic pads: 'Time is the biggest luxury' (featuring photography by Leon Cato) - A 2,000-square-foot apartment is a unicorn in New York City, but when Rachel Martino nabbed such a gem last June, she didn't know what to do with it. By March, she decided to bring in outside help: an interior designer. She likened it to using a wedding planner. - Business Insider

How can design help the visually impaired? - Dutch designer Simon Dogger has created projects that open up the museum world for blind and visually-impaired visitors. He speaks to art historian and disability activist Amanda Cachia about access technologies, inspirational personal experiences and the virtues of physical spaces - Wallpaper

Creating Digital Equity in a Hybrid Workforce - Experts suggest that nine out of ten organizations are moving to hybrid, but as we learned in this podcast, hybrid is the hardest. As so many make the switch to a hybrid workforce, a multitude of new considerations are brought to the forefront in creating an equitable workforce and workplace. On a Zoom screen all the boxes are the same size, but what happens when three people are in one room and only one is virtual? Is the experience digitally equitable? Does the remote person feel “less than” or “left out” when cameras go off? In order to make hybrid stick, we must find ways to create an equitable experience.  - Interior Design

Real Estate and Development

Real Estate Industry Couldn’t Be Happier With Eric Adams’ Primary Victory - Eric Adams is six months away from likely moving into Gracie Mansion, and the real estate sector couldn’t be happier. - Commercial Observer

Real Estate Hopes Cuomo’s Gun Violence Emergency Will Help NYC Tourism - Tourism represents an $80 billion dollar industry in the Big Apple, but recent concerns over gun violence might hamper its recovery — and the business community is concerned. - Commercial Observer

Condo collapse spurs inspections, questions about other towers - Local officials are ramping up inspections and audits of high-rise buildings in Florida, while insurers nationally and residents as far away as California reconsider the implications of tower living in the wake of the Champlain Towers South condominium collapse.  - Construction Dive

5 strategies construction firms use to lower their taxes - A recent Construction Dive analysis revealed that public construction firms' effective federal tax rates are among the lowest of any sector. The 19 largest profitable firms in the industry paid a collective 16.8% on their U.S. profits in federal taxes in 2020, a fifth lower than the 21% statutory rate set by Congress. Of those, 12 — or nearly two-thirds — paid less than the statutory rate. These construction firms relied on several provisions to reduce their tax liability, all of which are completely legal. Here is a look at the top techniques they used. - Construction Dive

Hosting an Airbnb Right Now Is Harder Than You Think - The pandemic has increased demand and also ramped up the expectations of vacationers. - New York Times

 

Architecture and Design

Rockaway Beach, New Yorkers’ Favorite Escape, Sees a Creative Resurgence - The creative New York City beach community is ushering in a new era of design. - Architectural Design

New York Design Center Celebrates 95 Years - Talk about venerable history: It’s coming up on the New York Design Center’s centennial! Ninety-five years in business, to be precise. - Interior Design
 

Real Estate and Infrastructure

Interior Design and Architecture -

5 Creative Ways to Expand Your Design Business in 2021 - In response to the economic downturn, some interior designers have reevaluated their design services and considered alternate revenue streams. AD PRO consulted with several who have expanded their offerings beyond traditional interior design services; some made these professional pivots even before the pandemic struck, and others as a result of it. Here, they share their experiences and provide insights for others who might be contemplating secondary money-making means. - Architectural Digest  

3 Winter Design Shows That Are Sparking Wonder Right Now - The social-distancing axiom that “we come together by staying apart” is a cue that the world’s leading art and design dealers have clearly taken to heart. This month, a trio of compelling exhibitions are the product of collaborations between gallerists and curators, who are also making the fruits of their labor available for both online and IRL consumption. - Architectural Digest
 

Hospitality -

NYU Hospitality Investment Conference Postponed to November 2021- Due to continued concerns regarding COVID-19, the 43rd annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference—originally slated to take place onsite at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City from June 6-8, 2021—will now be held in-person at the same location on November 7-9, 2021. - Lodging Magazine

Ongoing pandemic drives STR, TE to downgrade U.S. hotel forecast - Worsened pandemic metrics and assumptions of limited early-year travel have led STR and Tourism Economics to slightly downgrade their latest U.S. hotel forecast. Full recovery of demand remains on track for 2023, while close-to-complete RevPAR recovery is still projected for 2024. - Hotel Management

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A smaller couch works well with moveable smaller chairs.
 

Just a few years ago in the United States renting out your home or property to total strangers seemed like an impossible concept. Now vacation rentals are an established global industry and it is clear that this business model is here to stay. If you are hosting guests you now have thousands of listings to compete with so it is very important to provide a top notch customer experience in order to set your listing apart.

As an architectural and interior photographer, I have photographed over 2,000 vacation rental listings all over the New York City Tri-state area. Because of this experience, I can say without a doubt that strong photography is critical to success for owners who want to have successful vacation rental investments. Potential guests consistently overlook listings with poor photographs for ones with vibrant and professional photographs.

In addition to photographing many rentals, I have personally hosted dozens of Airbnb guests and stayed at many vacation rentals since 2012 so have additional insight into what makes some vacation rentals wildly prosperous and others moderately successful. Here are tips that can help your space perform well and give you an overall pleasant host experience while increasing revenue.

What Would I Like?

In my experience nothing is more important when offering a vacation rental than viewing the space as if you were a guest. You should always think, “What would I like if I was staying here”? It may help to think of an impressive customer service experience you recently had - whether it was a hotel stay or even a minor touch that a store provided that made you take notice. What specifically about that experience made you tell family and friends, leave a sparkling review and maybe even make plans to revisit?

Many hosts make the mistake of simply perceiving their rental as a way to make money and see their clients as customers rather than welcome guests. With every decision you make about managing your space you should think, “Is this visually appealing?”, “How would this make me feel?” or “Would this make me feel welcome?” This genuine concern for the well being of your guests will automatically make your listing stand apart. 

Investing in the visual and overall quality of your listing is beneficial for the following reasons:

1. Guests rely on you to help them feel at home and settled - Most guests are traveling from out of town and in some cases may not be able to communicate fluently in English. Your number one priority is to make sure that their first interaction is a pleasant and welcoming one. Nothing feels worse than traveling many miles to be met by a disinterested or grumpy host.
2. It feels good - Since you are a host, chances are you like meeting and interacting with people. A great guest experience makes everyone involved feel good and creates positive interactions. If communicating with strangers and helping people navigate your town sounds frightening then you may consider co-hosting with someone who is more comfortable doing this end of the business.
3. You can get good reviews - Reviews are one the most important factors guests take into account when booking your space. A great guest experience often equals a good review.
4. More bookings and a higher price - A nice looking property combined with a pleasant guest experience means that you will receive 5-star reviews. These strong reviews will lead to more bookings. Eventually this will allow you more freedom to modify your pricing and yield more profit.
5. Competition - The quality of vacation rentals has increased over the last few years so in order to compete it is essential to provide a quality experience from check-in to check-out.

Guests will always be relieved when arriving to a well made bed.

A minimalist approach works well for smaller spaces.
 

Details Details Details

The one thing that I take notice of when preparing to photograph a vacation rental is how attention-to-detail can improve or diminish the overall guest experience. 

Guestbook

My wife and I have stayed at several vacation rentals and one very small detail always sticks out - the guestbook. This detail may seem trivial as you no doubt have spent lots of time and cash on securing furniture, bedding, kitchen essentials and countless other items that have put you over budget. But taking the time to put together a binder or book of local suggestions, tips, house rules and a welcoming message is priceless.  

To be clear, a guestbook and a rule book are quite different. A book of house rules simply stating dos and don'ts about the space can come across as rude and unwelcoming which can, in turn, put a tarnish on the stay. Of course as a host you hope that guests don't damage or destroy anything in the property and are respectful to neighbors, but this worry should not come across in any written communication.

For example we stayed at a cabin for over a week that was absolutely perfect as far as our needs but the fact that the host came across as cold and removed in the rule book stuck in our heads. By contrast we stayed in a shared space for one night and the host and guestbook were so welcoming that we still talk about this experience.

Also the guestbook can appear in your listing photographs which conveys to the potential renter that you are thinking about hospitality when creating your space rather than just renting out an extra property. Finally, a nicely presented guest book immediately creates a great visual first impression when guests enter the home. 

Guestbooks should include information only a local would know.
 

Guestbook Essentials

• Local transportation - Assemble a list of taxi phone numbers and advice (best option for late nights, airport, etc). Also include recommendations for gas stations, local directions and traffic advice.
• Take-away menus - Provide a variety of food delivery options, recommendations on favorite dishes and details on waiting time for delivery. 
• Restaurants - Offer a variety of dining options and recommendations on popular local cuisines and dishes. Also mention typical waiting time for a table and distance from the vacation rental.
• Local attractions - Suggest activities to do and things to see specific to the area. Details on travel time to major sites and lots of recommendations are always welcome.

Everything You Need!

Take Your Time to Build

You may have visited a hotel or vacation rental and have thought, “it would nice if they had…”, only to turn around and notice it was there. This level of forethought might take some time and experience to build up so definitely take into account feedback from guests. It is important not to look at guests as a necessary nuisance but as partners in your enterprise. The ability to get useful guest feedback on every interaction is extremely valuable.  

Also, get creative and don’t be afraid to ask for help. As a former host, I made the mistake of simply providing a roof over my guests' heads - a clean, safe and comfortable apartment. A friend of mine got involved later on and brought in desks, hair dryers, an iron (and ironing board) and artwork. These items along with a few other details instantly transformed the small space and felt more inviting to guests.

Also it leaves a great impression in your listing photographs as a comfortably furnished space will get booked quicker and more regularly than an empty space 100% of the time. Top Tip : Leave enough blankets for multiple guests and have close-up photographs taken of unique details. 

In the absence of a friend, you can connect with other hosts in the area. I suggest checking the Meetup.com website as well as the vacation rental platforms you are using. 

A few more tips -  

• Invest time - Planning can save a massive amount of headaches when managing your vacation rental. Read through recommendations on the rental platforms so that you can avoid pitfalls.
• Invest money - Initially it is wise to create as great a guest experience that your budget will allow. As your bookings increase, reinvest your earnings into the property and eventually you will be at a level that is highly competitive. This strategy allows for the ability to eventually charge premium rates while building your property’s reputation quickly.
• Consult professionals if necessary - Hiring a professional interior designer can be worthwhile. I have photographed thousands of properties but cannot tell you where to find a decent throw pillow. Everyone has their strengths and you can save time and money by hiring someone who has a passion for making your space look great.
• Create privacy - Whether you are living in the home or renting out a totally separate vacation property, it is important to be conscious of guests' personal space and time when creating your rental. Some guests require minimal contact while others are more communicative. It is up to you gauge this on an individual basis and not make the guests feel pressured to respond to you but at the same time feel that you are responsive when needed. 
• Quality signage  - For little details like how to access areas of the space with tricky door locks and locate hidden kitchen items it is a good idea to create clear and attractive signs.
• Keep your listing up-to-date - If you are an experienced host you will likely have made changes since you first listed your space. Take the time to update your descriptions and have new photography completed so that guests experience in-person exactly what they see online.

You can take your time to give your space its own personality.

Think out of the box for smaller spaces.
 

Research Resources

The New York Times publishes great Real Estate articles and sometimes addresses the vacation rental market. This article has tips like decorating with purpose, keeping it simple and using materials that wear well. 

Stay Here (Netflix) is a reality show that specializes on how to create wonderful and profitable vacation rentals. The hosts travel across the US and provide great advice on how to create that unique guest experience. Killer tip: Localize the guest experience by engaging the existing community resources. 

Houzz - A great resource for decorating your home, the wealth of information on this site can help you prepare your vacation rental. Professional Interior designers and other housing professionals use this site regularly so you are definitely getting the best and most current concepts and ideas. 

Exercise Patience

Creating a vacation rental and hosting guests from all over the world can be an invaluable experience. With the right amount of time, care and financial investment you can enjoy a fulfilling and lucrative enterprise. Whether you are just starting or refreshing an existing listing, the payoff may take a while to happen but keep in mind that this is totally normal and stick to proven principles. With a top quality guest experience as your number one priority, you will be able to compete at the highest level and achieve success.

Ps. Feel free to leave any of your own tips in the comment section!

Interior for Home Sale - Brooklyn

It is generally agreed that when selling your apartment or home, staging your space is absolutely critical to compete in the overly-competitive real estate market. A recent New York Times article states that  buyers have become accustomed to seeing fully-ready homes and can be turned off if a space seems drab or there is no attention to detail in preparing the home to be viewed. "The practice of home staging has long elicited strong reactions. Agents and professional...say staging can usually help a home sell faster, and for a higher price, offering a larger return on the investment."

So the real question is whether you hire a professional or embark on staging yourself. While there are many benefits to outsourcing to a professional stager, this article details tips for those who choose to go it alone. 

1) Give yourself time to plan
Schedule time to sit down and plan how you will prepare each room of your home. Its important not rush this stage of the project as this can be the most important step when presenting your home for sale.

Put yourself in the shoes of a prospective buyer and make decisions based on what would impress you upon viewing your space. There is no “not a big deal” room or detail so be generous when compiling your to-do list. (Now is the time to confront that old “favorite” couch!!) That little extra effort goes a long way in attracting the right buyer. Real Estate websites like Trulia and Zillow are great sources for tips and tricks - also be sure to check out New York Times Real Estate, Interior Design Magazine and Houzz.

2) Don't Skimp
You can assume that some damaged or unappealing areas of your home will appear in your listing photographs or be discovered by a potential buyer so take the time to fix kitchen and bathroom tiles, repair electrical sockets, replace old worn doors and don't be afraid to invest in repainting. Hiring professionals to polish your wood floors can be a great investment!

Simply StatedA re-tiled bathroom with minor accents creates a classy presentation. Creativity with these kinds of spaces adds more to the asking price.

3) Replace / Re-purpose Old Furniture
You may not have to purchase entire new furniture sets but that old couch with the cat claw marks won't do. To save money, be creative and source classics from antique shops, Housing Works or Craigslist. TJ Maxx has really affordable furniture and fixings that are perfect for this purpose. You can also re-upholster and/or varnish/paint existing furniture to give it a newer look. For visual inspiration check out the Architectural Digest and the New York Spaces websites.

4) Double your prep time!
It is impossible to imagine how many knick-knacks you have collected over the years or how long it takes to actually mop the entire house so give yourself loads of time to prepare for photo shoots and open houses. For a 1 bedroom apartment allow yourself at least 2 full days to de-clutter, vacuum, mop and make your place picture perfect. Add about 1/2 a day per room so if you are shooting a 3 bedroom home with a dining room your best bet would be to schedule a full 4 days of preparation. This is all, of course, in ADDITION to any major work like painting or moving in furniture. Underestimate at you own peril!

Clean and ClearRemoving all personal items and decluttering all spaces give the buyers ideas about how they might create their own home and apply personal style.
5) Details! Details! Details!
Here is a quick list of guidelines when preparing your home to be photographed or for an open house.

General
Open any blinds or curtains to allow in natural light
Have the windows washed and clean any mirrors
Vacuum and/or mop the floors
Turn on all available lights
Organize or put away objects that clutter your space
Remove any valuables or items you do not want photographed
Organize or clear away cords and phone chargers if possible
Take out the trash

Exterior
Remove all cars, boats, motorcycles, etc from the driveways and do not park directly in front of the house
Remove all garden tools, hoses and clutter
Mow the grass, rake up leaves and debris, pull weeds and remove any dead vegetation
Sweep driveways, sidewalks porches and patios

Bedroom
Make your bed look fit for a king or queen
Tidy up your desk
Put away any laundry

Bathroom
Clean all mirrors
Open the shower curtain, but close the toilet lid
Fold your towels

Kitchen
Put away extra dishes and food items
Clean every counter top
Remove personal photographs from the refrigerator

In the end, your guide should be “If I walked in here I would make an offer.” If that isn’t happening then spend more time making your home look extra special. Any additional money or time investment will only pay off to sell your home quickly and at the right price. 

Feel free to leave any of your own preparation tips in the comment section!

Designed by architectural firm Populous, construction of the new park occurred between 2006 and 2009. "Illustrated in glass, steel and limestone, the ballpark’s skin is highlighted by a four-story limestone and granite façade inspired by the 1923 Bronx Stadium." (Populous Website)

With the Bronx now becoming a destination for people looking for affordable and accessible places to live, it is expected that the area surrounding Yankee Stadium will soon benefit from upgraded infrastructure and more modern real estate and architecture.

Thoughts, comments? Let me know in the comments!

Leon

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LCP_Homepage_Mar16_2017

When I moved to NYC from London unexpectedly in January 2012 there was no clear next-step in my photography journey. Back in NYC after 7 years abroad, I had to restart my business in a different country while managing a family crisis. Moments of pause and planning I had previously enjoyed felt like a distant past.  

Five years later I have travelled all around New York, New Jersey and Connecticut meeting incredible people from all walks of life and steadily growing an Architectural, Interior and Real Estate Photography business. The upheaval and craziness of re-settling, making new contacts, establishing trust and building a client base has calmed and I am fortunate to enjoy relationships with great clients who have been with me for the duration.

During the process of establishing the business in the US I have also witnessed the property industry in the New York Metropolitan area change at lighting speed with an increased appreciation for strong visual communication. As a result old and brand new architecture are benefiting from excellent photography and marketing (a visual treat for photographers) and the future looks bright for the adoption of innovative visual marketing technologies.

These prove to be exciting times. In order to ensure my business is ready, my new website not only displays my most current work, it reflects my vision as an artist and image marketing specialist in the Architecture, Interior Design and Real Estate photography industries. The portfolio is fully integrated with Facebook, Google+,Twitter and Pinterest so users can share images with team members or family and friends when brainstorming on creative ideas. There are also links to my Houzz profile where we can collaborate on upcoming projects or share concepts and ideas. Finally, creating an account on the site is simple and ensures that users are connected to new blog posts, projects and relevant news.

So far 2017 is proving to be exciting with new initiatives and opportunities on the horizon. I look forward to continuing my embrace of new technologies while honing in on client requirements and individual aesthetics - all while adding new relevant offerings that further guarantee exemplary customer service and delivery of effective imagery.

Follow my Instagram and Facebook and Twitter feeds for regular updates of new images, discussions and news. In the meantime, feel free to leave comments below, I would love to hear from you with any ideas or feedback.

Best Always,

Leon