In this episode of the PropMedia podcast, Matty & Moses, co-founders of Pixlmob.com and PropMedia.com, discuss everything relating to property media. This episode focuses on new legislation recently passed and coming into enforcement in California that is highly relevant to real estate photography, videography, and image alteration. They discuss licensing, usage, copyright, and how California's AB723 law now mandates disclosures for digitally altered real estate media, moving regulation from the private sector (MLS systems) into law with potential civil and criminal penalties. The hosts explore the impact of AI on image manipulation, the specific types of alterations the law covers (like changing fixtures, furniture, or views through windows), and which types of normal editing are excluded. They also discuss their positive view of the bill as a necessary step for data veracity and share details about a tool Pixlmob is developing to help realtors and photographers comply with the new disclosure requirements.

Chapter Markers:

- 00:00 - Introduction to the PropMedia Podcast and the episode's topic
- 00:37 - Discussion of licensing images in real estate and media pricing based on usage
- 02:15 - Copyright ownership, protection, and how it applies to real estate versus architectural photography
- 05:35 - California's AB723 law on image alteration and the shift from MLS regulation to state law
- 05:53 - Disclosures and the impact of AI on media alteration
- 11:05 - Specific enforcement details of AB723, including the requirement for a publicly accessible link to the unaltered photo
- 11:32 - The definition of a "digitally altered image" in AB723, including examples of covered and non-covered alterations
- 14:18 - Discussion of HDR blending, the "window pull" technique, and concerns about generative AI
- 17:21 - The law is primarily aimed at the people publishing the material, specifically realtors, brokerages, and those acting on their behalf
- 19:10 - Concerns about AI models creating fictitious elements, such as lighting from non-existent windows, and the high stakes of real estate photos
- 21:51 - Digital alteration is not new; examples of non-AI manipulation and the inherent manipulation of reality in photography
- 24:44 - The rapid proliferation of easy-to-use AI tools is the driving force behind the bill
- 26:21 - A non-lawyer suggestion for realtors: consider if a change would materially alter a buyer's decision to see the house
- 27:03 - Disclosure is the safety net that allows for creative tools to be used responsibly
- 28:43 - The law applies to *all* advertising, not just the MLS, setting a precedent for future laws in other states
- 29:34 - Reading the specific text of the law regarding disclosure and the required publicly accessible link
- 30:35 - How the law might include videos with digital alterations, such as digital actors
- 33:20 - The high stakes for authenticity in real estate compared to other fields
- 34:50 - Pixlmob's upcoming tool to simplify compliance with the disclosure law by providing a long-living site with the before-and-after images

This episode of the PropMedia podcast features Brendan Hsu, co-founder of Aerial Canvas and Acre Partners. Brendan discusses his journey from fixing phones in a college apartment to building Aerial Canvas into a $7 million per year business. He also shares insights from his coaching company, Acre Partners, which helps real estate media agencies scale their businesses.

Brendan talks about the importance of a compelling offer and how Aerial Canvas pioneered the bundled real estate media services. He also shares why cold calling and "whale hunting" for top-producing real estate agents was a key to their success. A major theme is the shift in mindset from focusing on vanity revenue metrics to optimizing for profitability and building a business that can run on autopilot.

Chapter Markers:

• 00:00 - Introduction to the PropMedia Podcast and Brendan Hsu
• 00:40 - The moment Aerial Canvas became a "real thing"
• 01:01 - The entrepreneurial drive for growth and hitting the first million
• 01:39 - Achieving business "autopilot" as a key milestone
• 02:57 - What does $7 Million in revenue look like for Aerial Canvas?
• 03:33 - Aerial Canvas's geographic footprint
• 04:30 - The offer and partnerships that fueled Aerial Canvas's success
• 05:29 - Pioneering the bundled media services offer
• 05:40 - Scaling a real estate media business outside of major markets
• 07:13 - Winning over top agents through cold calling and hustle
• 10:19 - "Whale Hunting" vs. "Net Fishing" for clients
• 12:54 - Building Aerial Canvas vs. Building Acre Partners
• 14:14 - Who is the ideal candidate for Acre Partner coaching?
• 17:04 - The outcome of putting a business on autopilot
• 17:57 - The mindset shift from solopreneur to scalable business owner
• 19:19 - Why real estate media is a good market for a scalable business
• 23:37 - Shifting from a focus on revenue to optimizing for profit
• 25:10 - Managing growth, recession, and the risks of scaling too fast
• 27:57 - Target budget percentages for a profitable media company
• 28:51 - Making sacrifices and committing to growth
• 29:59 - Coaching to a budget model and financial literacy
• 32:49 - Lessons learned from "pulling an Aerial Canvas"
• 34:42 - Planning an exit strategy and building enterprise value
• 35:39 - The commitment required after hiring a team
• 38:36 - The difference between a Lamborghini and a Tesla business model
• 41:26 - Why you don't need to be a genius to scale
• 43:10 - Mergers, acquisitions, and the power of consolidation
• 43:51 - The easiest way to double your business
• 45:14 - Where to follow Brendan Hsu and Acre Partner

In this episode of the PropMedia podcast, hosts Matty and Moses, co-founders of Pixlmob and PropMedia, interview Alex Coombs, who owns a large real estate photography and videography business in Hamilton, Canada. Alex's business, Northern Spruce Media, started in the real estate space but has expanded into social content and is experimenting with AI.

Alex shares the origin story of her business, which started "by fluke" while she was selling hats. She is now the face of Northern Spruce Media, focusing on sales and growth, and has a team of 15 full-time employees and several part-timers. Alex discusses her decision to step away from shooting and focus on sales, and how she gained business knowledge by immersing herself in the world of real estate agents.

She explains that the hardest phase of growth was going from one to five employees, as it required "letting go of control" and trusting others with the service. Northern Spruce Media serves Hamilton, which has over half a million people, and is expanding into Niagara Falls. Alex's ultimate goal is to build a sustainable business large enough to sell.

Alex also shares her biggest hiring mistake: hiring for talent over attitude. The hardest role to fill, she notes, is a dedicated administrator or office manager who handles client care and bookings. She discusses how she and her team use AI, such as the tool Higgsfield, to try new creative ideas. She shares how they charge for AI services—categorizing them as small, moderate, or hard—based on factors like time, cost, and complexity.

**Chapter Markers:**

0:00 - Introduction
0:42 - How Alex Coombs got into Real Estate Media
1:32 - Alex's current business: Northern Spruce Media
3:36 - Stepping away from shooting to focus on growth
6:02 - Drawing inspiration from real estate coaching
7:08 - The journey from hats to a large media company
8:51 - The hardest stages of business growth
9:35 - Northern Spruce Media's geographic reach and future goals
11:58 - The ultimate goal: building a business to sell
12:03 - Commercial break
13:06 - Biggest mistake in hiring
15:02 - The hardest role to hire
18:56 - Scratching the creative itch
20:55 - Selling the creative vision to agents
23:45 - Investing in the company
24:34 - System for testing new technologies
27:17 - Fun with AI video editing
28:47 - Social media engagement with AI content
31:09 - The trend cycle of creative content
32:48 - The value of "behind-the-scenes" content
34:46 - Tips for experimenting with AI
36:42 - Pricing AI video services
38:50 - Shooting differently for AI
41:04 - Educating clients on AI costs
44:23 - Concerns about realtors underestimating the work involved in AI
46:34 - Opportunities for the future
48:08 - Where to follow Alex and Northern Spruce Media