Specific Real Estate Shoot Pricing Questions

[ImagineTNT]

Hi all, first things first: yes, I did do a few searches for general info first :)

Here's my situation, an acquaintance is selling his parent's $1M+ home (think something just short of something in Dream Homes magazine). He wants me to shoot photos of the house to be used in flyers and on a Web site. Some specs: 8x11" full color glossy flyer with 1 main image and 3-4 smaller, supporting images. Several-many images on a Web site. Images also might be used in an ad in a magazine (but that isn't for sure yet). All I would need to do is take the photos. He already has a design guy. Based on the pricing calculator here is a low-ball end estimation (since real estate is notoriously low paying).

Hourly Shooting Fee: 3 hours at $360
Flyer (main + 3 images): $1225
Web site (3 images): $825

Total: $2410

Now, there is NO WAY in France that he's gonna pony up that kinda cash. Which is kinda ridiculous considering in any other kind of industry a $7200 (adding on graphic design and advertisement fees) investment to make $1M in revenue is a done deal.

So with all that said what would be a deal that is still fair for both parties? It's not like I'm a well-known, super sought after photographer but I have my hands full with other stuff that I'm not gonna do this if it's not worth it for me.

I figure a package deal at $900 would be fair but still worth my time to do it. What does everyone else think (both those who have and have not done this type of photography).

[ImagineTNT]

Ohh, and have any of you ever showed clients the calculator wizard so they understand where you're getting your figures from?

[chtgrubbs]

I shot a house which was priced at $3.2 million for a Sotheby's real estate catalog. I charged $300 plus expenses for about 5 hours of shooting, and the real estate agent moaned about how "expensive" it was! Real estate photography is the lowest paid branch of professional photography that I know of.

[Todd_K]

We do complete videos of real estate listing (www.wowvideotours.com (http://www.wowvideotours.com) ) and these videos start around $75 and the most may be $200. We have done many higher priced homes, Realtors just don't like to pay very much for any service.

The only advise I could give is don't look to make anything like your used to when working with a realtor. Good Luck!

[Bubble]

Realtors make lots of money but also the CHEAPEST. Go figure.

[deadpass]

Is it worth it to you do it for 900? If so, and they agree then go for it, otherwise I wouldn't waste my time, realtors are a PITA.

[nanodog]

I'm an office Manager for a large luxury real estate company. I hire photographers (including aerial (sp?) for some properties and we shoot others ourselves...
You're right in that it's a very cost vs value consideration, With a lot of competition and quite frankly a lot of disapointing return on the photographers parts. I hire the 2 or 3 trusted guys at this point and that's it... Furthering the problem is that the process involves the Realtor as a conduit between the homeowner and photographer.

Also, the digital revolution has dramatically lowered the cost of services and supplies, Brochuring is 10% the cost of what it was only 5 years ago. Agents can photograph and build a beautiful brochure, order it and have a hundred copies the next day for less than 100 dollars.

I won't touch the website stuff other than to say we've spent $7,000 on some properties (which is ridiculous) but there are template services out there right now that will register your domain and have you up in less than 24 hours for only a couple of hundred bucks...

Short answer: Competitive low profit arena for a photog...

Now, there is NO WAY in France that he's gonna pony up that kinda cash. Which is kinda ridiculous considering in any other kind of industry a $7200 (adding on graphic design and advertisement fees) investment to make $1M in revenue is a done deal.

oh, and the list side revenue isn't a million, it's probably 20-30k gross before expenses and paying the agent

[Moody Blues]

I charge $150/hr for shooting time and $75/hr for editing time. When all said and done, I give the clients the digital files which show up in mags and websites.

I may not be the best but I strive to deliver huge quality for that price. I average $800-1200 for 4-6 interior shots.

http://dannymoody.com/realestate/images/6finalweb.jpg

http://dannymoody.com/realestate/images/finalweb.jpg

[nanodog]

Wow.. nice stuff..
The lighting is beautful..