![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/nov2006\/1-IMG_5084.jpg\")
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Overall of living room<\/strong><\/p>\n Each experience in life can teach two things–what to do and what not to do. Recently, I had an experience that taught me both the \u201cto-do\u201d and the \u201cnot-to-do.\u201d\u00a0A close friend of the family died in July after an illness, and his wife died unexpectedly thirty days later. Because they hadn\u2019t thought ahead, no estate plan had been prepared. A will or a trust is important for everyone. (Lesson 1: What Not to Do)<\/p>\n After much legal maneuvering, I was appointed Interim Administrator for the Estate. This is a really interesting position, as you assume full responsibility for safeguarding the assets of the deceased and continuing to run any business they had.\u00a0The idea is to act in a fiduciary capacity to protect and maximize the assets of the estate. (WOW!)<\/p>\n Because there was a question about whether the cousin I represented would be the sole inheritor or if an heir search would turn up a closer relative to inherit, I decided that a part of my job would be to photograph the assets.\u00a0In this way, I would prevent any questions from arising about my administration, and I would create a record for the one who did inherit.\u00a0(Lesson 2: What to Do)<\/p>\n When you\u2019re faced with this dilemma, how do you go about photographing assets in a home? And isn\u2019t it also a great idea to have this record for the insurance company in case of a disaster?\u00a0(More of Lesson 2).\u00a0Let\u2019s go through some of the steps to recording assets photographically.\u00a0As you\u2019re working, keep in mind that the focus of these photographs is not art but documentation designed specifically to record and identify.<\/p>\n Single piece of furniture<\/strong><\/p>\n The first question that needs to be asked is, \u201cWhat are we trying to show?\u201d Start with the overall shots.\u00a0I took these images in a very deliberate way.\u00a0Standing at a door, I began to photograph the room by moving the lens first to the right, then the center, and finally, the left.\u00a0Be sure to overlap frame to frame.\u00a0I also stood in the center of the room and began shooting a circle around the room, starting with a doorway.\u00a0You want to show what\u2019s in the room and where it\u2019s located.<\/p>\n Next, move closer to capture a more detailed view. Detail is necessary for anyone to be able to identify the specific items in the photograph. If there is furniture or art work of value, try to take one photograph for each that includes the entire piece. If necessary, move in closer for additional shots.\u00a0If there\u2019s a \u201cbrand\u201d such as a signature on a painting or a name on a piano, be sure to include that detail, as well.<\/p>\n Those are the basic techniques for recording a room, but what about special items of art, clothing, or jewelry?\u00a0In the case of the estate that I was working on, the deceased performed in many musical shows. She collected interesting art pieces, lovely vintage clothing, and many things that made her home unique and quite remarkable. She had great style and a passion for dramatic touches.\u00a0All of this needed to be documented.<\/p>\n Overall of one lot of jewelry<\/strong><\/p>\n The deceased also loved unusual jewelry and had many pieces that might not have had monetary value but were striking.\u00a0I wanted to photograph those, as well.\u00a0Carefully laying the items out, I first did an overall shot of the group and then did a close-up of the selected pieces.\u00a0I don\u2019t have any expertise in estimating the value of items, but I did take the time to describe some of them for her estate.\u00a0I kept these small things in \u201clots\u201d and packaged them together.<\/p>\n Doing something like sorting and labeling is time-consuming and tiring, so why did I make the effort?\u00a0I was aware that other heirs might be entitled to assume the administration of the estate later.\u00a0Regardless, I knew that a full and complete accounting would need to be made for the court.\u00a0But I think there\u2019s more to it.<\/p>\n When someone dies and you have the responsibility of caring for his or her property, you have (in my opinion) an ethical obligation to treat his or her things with dignity and respect.\u00a0Being the photographer gave me a unique opportunity to act in a responsible manner on behalf of the deceased.<\/p>\n Now that I\u2019ve completed the assignment, I\u2019m going to take the lessons I learned back to my home.\u00a0I\u2019m going to be sure that my estate plan is in order, and then I\u2019m going to photograph all of my assets.\u00a0I\u2019ll put these photographs in a safe location outside of my home.\u00a0I don\u2019t ever want anyone I love to be forced to go through for me an experience like mine was.\u00a0(Being pro-active is definitely more of the \u201cwhat to do\u201d lesson\u2026and the time to do it is NOW!)<\/p>\n by Noella Ballenger<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/nov2006\/7-IMG_5091.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/nov2006\/8-IMG_5159-valuables.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/nov2006\/9-IMG_5161-valuables.jpg\")
\nSingle Piece of Jewelry<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/nov2006\/11-IMG_5298%20valuables%20copy.jpg\")
\nVintage clothing<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/nov2006\/10-IMG_5293%20valuables%20copy.jpg\")
\nValuable piece of art<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/nov2006\/2-img_4925-ave-46.jpg\")
\nRemainder of images: Wall by wall of the living room<\/strong><\/p>\n