chris_m_atl
13th of June 2007 (Wed), 13:28
I was recently contacted through email about a new photographer looking for tips and advice on how to get into the industry. In this particular case, it was in reference to Real Estate Photography & Graphic Design. I thought this was a good thing to post on the forum in the hopes this thread could be a place for all the newcomers to the industry....including me. ;) So, it's your turn to share your best tips that not only got you into the industry, but also what sort of low-cost marketing you did that received the most clients..
Here's my response to his inquiry:
"Thank you for taking the time to look! Also, thank you for the kind words and compliments. My website is still incomplete, and what a bear it has been to design thus far! :-)
I'll have to admit, I have no formal education in Photography or Graphic Design. I'm 23 years old, self-taught all the way and I love the industry. Photography, for me, has been sort of a package deal when it comes to realestate. My main source of income is the marketing and graphic design. I charge by an hourly rate as well as a commission option. When I first started, I had a portfolio of my best Photography, Photoshopped images, and Conceptual Designs. Since I didn't have any client work at the time for my portfolio, I photographed friends homes and enhanced them with Photoshop, designed conceptual fliers, advertisements, brochures, etc to use in my portfolio. Be honest to the agents that you're just starting out. They were more inept to give me a chance since they knew I was young, ambitious, and just starting out in a big industry.
Every month, Real Estate companies hold a monthly sales/marketing meeting where all the agents get together and discuss the upcoming month. My best tip is to get a presentation together involving your services and go to the Real Estate office to schedule an appointment for a short presentation during that meeting. Sometimes you won't get any clients from the meeting while other times you can snag various projects from every agent in the room. The majority of RE Agents are driven by the bottom dollar. If you can prove your services will sell their listing faster, increase sales/customer service, and enhance their marketable image, then things shouldn't be a problem.
If times are slow, go out to the newly constructed neighborhoods that have Open Houses in the subdivision. One thing that's really worked for me is I would go in the home and see what type of flyers they currently have on the countertops. If it's obvious they don't have a photographer/graphic designer, I would bring my camera and photograph the home, plug the photogrpahs into photoshop, build a flyer/brochure with dummy text, and put it in an envelope to drop off at the home with the Listing Agent's name on the cover and my business card inside. Nearly 100% of the agents call mainly out of sheer curiousity, but the open conversation is the perfect time to say you could photograph and design flyers for EACH new listing in that subdivision within a week or so. There are over a hundred homes in some subdivisions. If you were to do this, do not post the flyer in the home where anybody can see it. Make sure it's inside an envelope and put on the countertop in the kitchen. The agent will immediately dislike you if you were to put the flyer or your business card all over their homes where anybody can see them. The cost for this effective campaign; 20 mins photography, 1 hour processing & design, and one flyer printout. The rewards could become over a hundred listings to photograph & design flyers, etc.
Once you get a good relationship with even one agent, cater to their needs! The first couple agents are the lifeline to the industry. Through them, you'll get the contacts needed to expand and grow.
All the Best,"
Here's my response to his inquiry:
"Thank you for taking the time to look! Also, thank you for the kind words and compliments. My website is still incomplete, and what a bear it has been to design thus far! :-)
I'll have to admit, I have no formal education in Photography or Graphic Design. I'm 23 years old, self-taught all the way and I love the industry. Photography, for me, has been sort of a package deal when it comes to realestate. My main source of income is the marketing and graphic design. I charge by an hourly rate as well as a commission option. When I first started, I had a portfolio of my best Photography, Photoshopped images, and Conceptual Designs. Since I didn't have any client work at the time for my portfolio, I photographed friends homes and enhanced them with Photoshop, designed conceptual fliers, advertisements, brochures, etc to use in my portfolio. Be honest to the agents that you're just starting out. They were more inept to give me a chance since they knew I was young, ambitious, and just starting out in a big industry.
Every month, Real Estate companies hold a monthly sales/marketing meeting where all the agents get together and discuss the upcoming month. My best tip is to get a presentation together involving your services and go to the Real Estate office to schedule an appointment for a short presentation during that meeting. Sometimes you won't get any clients from the meeting while other times you can snag various projects from every agent in the room. The majority of RE Agents are driven by the bottom dollar. If you can prove your services will sell their listing faster, increase sales/customer service, and enhance their marketable image, then things shouldn't be a problem.
If times are slow, go out to the newly constructed neighborhoods that have Open Houses in the subdivision. One thing that's really worked for me is I would go in the home and see what type of flyers they currently have on the countertops. If it's obvious they don't have a photographer/graphic designer, I would bring my camera and photograph the home, plug the photogrpahs into photoshop, build a flyer/brochure with dummy text, and put it in an envelope to drop off at the home with the Listing Agent's name on the cover and my business card inside. Nearly 100% of the agents call mainly out of sheer curiousity, but the open conversation is the perfect time to say you could photograph and design flyers for EACH new listing in that subdivision within a week or so. There are over a hundred homes in some subdivisions. If you were to do this, do not post the flyer in the home where anybody can see it. Make sure it's inside an envelope and put on the countertop in the kitchen. The agent will immediately dislike you if you were to put the flyer or your business card all over their homes where anybody can see them. The cost for this effective campaign; 20 mins photography, 1 hour processing & design, and one flyer printout. The rewards could become over a hundred listings to photograph & design flyers, etc.
Once you get a good relationship with even one agent, cater to their needs! The first couple agents are the lifeline to the industry. Through them, you'll get the contacts needed to expand and grow.
All the Best,"