The pix that get the clicks

* Strive for even lighting. Professionals use strobe lights to brighten the dark spots. One of the mistakes that amateur photographers make is to shut all the blinds and turn on every artificial light in the room. This creates "halos" around each lamp. Don't shoot when sunlight is streaming in from the windows. And use the flash on the camera to even things out.

* Emphasize desirable features such as fireplaces and views. De-emphasize less-desirable features such as the closeness of the house next door.

* Bring in more furniture from other rooms to avoid blank holes in the photo. Make a room look homey. Arrange books and/or magazines on the coffee table with the colorful ones on top.

* Don't ignore the background. Remove all electrical cords from view, tidy up bookcases, fluff couch pillows. Flip the cushion over if Fido has been there, or use a throw to cover the stain.

* Wet down the brick patio and concrete pool surround to avoid it being too bright in the photo. Wetting it down also brings out the rich color in the brick.

* Remove all clutter. Also remove all personal photos. The goal is to have potential buyers envision themselves living in your house; your family's photos interfere with that process.

* In staging a room, group similar objects together rather than leaving them scattered. Arrange books based on their size and jacket colors, not literary content; a home buyer won't be analyzing your reading habits. Candles, flowers and coffee table art books all add character to a room and are inexpensive ways to decorate. Light the fireplace to make the room look warm and inviting.

* Shooting a pool presents special challenges because of the reflective nature of the water. Use a flash and try your shot in late afternoon or early morning.

* Consider using a software program such as Photoshop to touch things up. Springett sometimes uses it as a way to eliminate telephone and electric wires. Ditto for punching up colors and obscuring some less desirable elements.

Everett Fenton Gidley, Santa Monica -- who by his estimate has shot more than $3 billion in real estate -- adds these ideas:

* If there's no furniture, get some. Empty houses lack soul.

* De-clutter. Remove all personal effects, especially whatever is hanging on the refrigerator.

* Underexpose rather than overexpose.