HOW RYAN SHIELDS TRANSFORMED LISTING PHOTOS WITH SNAPSNAPSNAP

Ryan Shields, together with his wife Jenn, leads Shields Group at Royal LePage Martin Liberty in Brandon, Manitoba. They are a husband-and-wife team who manage multiple listings, handling everything from marketing to photography, ensuring every property looks its best. 

With 15 years in the business for Ryan and 12 years for Jenn, their approach is deeply family-oriented; they raise three boys, and their business reflects that same focus. Most of their clients are young families, and their service is tailored to meet the needs of that community. 

Their market spans Brandon, Manitoba, a city of around 50,000 people, and Riding Mountain National Park, about an hour away. This allows them to showcase both family homes in town and seasonal cabins in a scenic national park, splitting their time and expertise between both locations. Their family-first philosophy and diverse market have shaped their business and guided everything they do. 

The Challenge: High Costs and Slow Turnarounds 

Like many agents, Ryan and Jenn faced common obstacles in real estate marketing. Professional photography was expensive, especially for lower-priced listings, and scheduling with photographers often meant waiting days for photos. 

Ryan explained that cost and timing were their biggest frustrations. “The biggest challenges we had with listing photos before were the cost and the turnaround time,” he said. “Many photographers would take four, five, or even six days to deliver the images, and that created major roadblocks for us.” 

On top of that, Ryan said one of his biggest frustrations was the lack of control over timelines. He often found himself fielding questions from clients without being able to give a clear answer. “Sellers would ask me, ‘When are we launching this? When can we do this?’” he said. “It was completely out of my control, and I’ve always hated not being able to give clients a clear update.” 

Shooting and editing their own photos, whether with a DSLR or even their phones, was time-consuming. “It wasn’t financially feasible for lower-priced listings to hire a professional photographer,” Ryan said. “So, we were taking photos ourselves on our phones and trying to edit them. When BoxBrownie.com was introduced to us, it was like a light went off; it completely changed everything.” 

The Fix: Fast, Affordable, Professional-Quality Images 

Ryan started shooting his listings with our iPhone app SnapSnapSnap and almost immediately realized it was a game-changer. Ryan describes the experience as transformative. 

“A cost perspective from the turnaround time is amazing, so it's just been a great experience from the get-go.” 

“The biggest thing for me is the turnaround time. I could submit the photos, and then I wake up in the morning, and they're already there. The quality just blows people away, the turnaround time and the quality are second to none in my opinion.”  

This fast delivery gave Ryan more control over his listings, workflow, and client interactions, enabling him to answer questions immediately and keep listings moving without delay. 

The Result: Faster Listings, Happier Clients, and Keepsakes That Matter 

The impact on Ryan and Jenn’s business was immediate and measurable. The speed and quality of BoxBrownie.com’s photo editing helped them win over clients and even convert skeptics. 

SnapSnapSnap’s automatic HDR bracketing capture—a photography technique that takes multiple exposures of the same scene—ensures that all the details inside and outside the home are captured clearly. When the images are submitted through the app, BoxBrownie.com’s editing process combines and enhances them, delivering professional-quality photos quickly, even in tricky lighting, without the need for expensive equipment.  

Even when sellers are unsure about using a phone for listing photos, Ryan sets expectations early. “There’s such a stigma around using my phone for pictures,” he said, explaining that he walks clients through a full set of sample images so they can see the results in advance.  

He also lets sellers know upfront that when he returns to shoot, he’ll use only his phone. While some clients are initially surprised, they’re quickly reassured when they see the final photos. Ryan added that every client he’s worked with has been happy with the results. Sending the edited images to sellers has become a thoughtful part of the closing process. Ryan now puts the photos on a flash drive for clients to keep as a memento of their home.  

The Takeaway: Game-Changing Technology in Real Estate Marketing  

For Ryan and Jenn, SnapSnapSnap and BoxBrownie.com aren’t just marketing tools. They transformed how the duo worked, boosting creativity, efficiency, and client satisfaction. Capturing images with SnapSnapSnap and enhancing them with BoxBrownie.com allowed them to showcase every property at its very best. 

“It’s just such a game-changer,” Ryan said. “If agents can get over the stereotype of using your phone for photography, it changes the whole game and opens up so many more possibilities; creativity, control, and confidence over your entire listing.” 

The impact extended beyond their own business. “Two or three other agents now use the app because of us; they see how good our pictures are and how well our marketing is done,” Ryan added. 

Whether capturing stunning interiors, exterior shots that highlight acreage, or marketing photos that tell a story, SnapSnapSnap and BoxBrownie.com allowed Ryan and Jenn to deliver professional results consistently, quickly, affordably, and with real wow-factor.  


RELATED ARTICLES

SCRUBBING UP FOR THE SPOTLIGHT: 7 TIPS FOR BATHROOM PHOTOGRAPHY PREP

Ready to make your bathroom dazzle in real estate photos? Don't overlook the importance of prepping it for the spotlight! Discover the seven tips to turning it into a showstopper that shines in listings.

READ MORE
HOW TO EASILY CREATE A VIRTUAL TOUR FOR REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

Looking to boost your property marketing? Discover the easiest way to create a Virtual Tour for real estate listings with this step-by-step video guide. From selecting the best 360° camera to editing your photos and creating an interactive experience, Brad covers everything you need to know.

READ MORE
FASTER, SMARTER WORKFLOW: YOUR REWORKS & FLAGGED JOBS JUST GOT EASIER!

Our latest upgrade brings updates and messages directly to your dashboard, saving you time and simplifying your workflow. Ready to learn how it works? It’s all in this blog—click to find out more!

READ MORE
HOW TO SHOOT REAL ESTATE WITH AN IPHONE 13

Looking to save time, effort and money when it comes to your real estate photography without compromising on quality? In this blog, we take a look at the latest iPhone 13 and give you our top tips for securing picture-perfect property images using this latest smartphone release from Apple. You can check out our full interior and exterior shoot and learn a few of our top expert tips along the way.

READ MORE
SMART PROSPECTING: WIN LISTINGS BEFORE THE COMPETITION KNOWS

Want to secure more business? Wow sellers at listing presentations with our winning strategy! And for prospecting, use the same tools to generate leads with a marketing strategy personalized for each potential client.

READ MORE
HOW TO USE VIRTUAL STAGING TO SELL A LISTING STUCK ON THE MARKET

If your unfurnished listing is stuck on the market, it's probably because you haven't put the magic of Virtual Staging to work. Don't let those empty listings expire! Virtually Stage them and watch the offers roll in!

READ MORE
LET’S WORK TOGETHER