If a picture is worth a thousand words, you could write a book about this business.

Buderim-based Top Snap Marketing has been run by former Sydney photographer Byron Miller for three years.

Mr Miller said the business used a combinati on of methods including aircraft and helicopters, mobile 20m masts and even blimp photography to “show off property to its best advantage with a view t o maximising sale prices”.

He said the elevated masts, imported from the US, were not used by many real estate photographers but provided a genuine point of difference.

“I don’t know why more companies don’t use them. They give us a big competitive advantage, particularly for canal front, beachfront and acreage photos,” he said.

“The technology allows us to provide view shots from the equivalent of six or seven storeys up.”

Top Snap also uses a range of other new technologies to achieve the best results for its clients.

Mr Miller said an on-line image server allowed the company’s photographers to load their images on-line within about 24 hours, allowing them to be managed by the agents from then.

“We’ve also got our own graphic artists who photoshops the images,” he said.

“I’ve also come up with a lighting enhancement system that produces outstanding results.

“I’ve actually developed a lot of systems and procedures over the last 10 years I’ve been doing this (six of those in Sydney).”

To the point where the company has just launched Top Snap Marketing franchises.

“They’re marketing businesses, but specialising in photography at this stage,” Mr Miller said.

“There’s no doubt the best way to manage the growth of a business like this is through franchising. I’m looking to sell franchises in south-east Queensland first, then expand interstate once they’re up-and-running.” Mr Miller said it was not imperative that potential franchisees were photographers, although he acknowledged they would “have to have a keen interest in photography”.

“We’ll certainly provide extensive hands-on training,” he said.

Anyone interested in the franchises can contact Mr Miller on 0423 081364 or go to: www.topsnap.com.au