northStudio

• We do not take the photos nor build the panorama panels for 360º virtual tours
• We do stitch the panels in to your web site in a search engine and user-friendly way
• Example of one of our High Definition panel installations at this Victoria bed and breakfast

Here's what you should know when choosing a VR provider

Skills
Of course they need to know how to take a good photo - check out their photo gallery

Technology
Check to see what technology they are using. Flash or Quicktime is prefered. Flash is already downloaded in most web browsers. If not it is an easy download as is Quicktime from Apple. Avoid proprietary software which will require proprietary plug-ins to be downloaded for the viewer.

Copyright
The photographer retains the copyright to all photographs unless the rights for derivative and/or other uses are specifically purchased

Typically - and this applies to all photography, original designs and illustrations -  when you are "buying" a photograph you are purchasing a license for specific use of the photographs. The permitted range of may vary between photographers.

Always ask and get in writing what the permitted use will be. If you believe you may need a less restrictive permitted use agreement then ask the photographer if they are willing to negotiate the terms, although, do not approach this with buying all the rights for the photograph just because. It's not a good way to invest the photographer in your project.

In any event be sure to actually get a copy of the original size photographs and VR panels.

Hosting of Files
This is in our opinion perhaps the single make-or-break criteria. Many VR supliers will host the virtual tours on their web site and encourage you to link to them. This is an approach that we highly recommend you stay clear of at all costs.

1. Linking to their site shares out your SEO Page Rank and drives traffic to their site
2. In many cases your competitors can also be easily discovered on the VR site
3. In all cases it takes people off of your web site
4. If the VR site crashes and/or goes out of business so is your Virtual Tour
5. Not having them on your own site misses a huge opportunity to increase your own website's presence in the search engines

Recommendations

• Have your webmaster install the panels on your own web site in a search engine optimized and user friendly manner. The cost is minimal - a few hours in most cases.
• Allow the VR supplier to also host and feature the panels on his site linked back to your website's home page
• For our BC West Coast clients it is our pleasure to recommend Bob Bright of Vancouver Island Digital Imaging