Real Estate Photography?

[joooowan]

Hi, im getting into photography as a hobby for now, but i'd like to eventually do some paid work in my free time to help me pay for gear.. school and such.

i was wondering if there is such a market for real estate photography, such as taking pictures of homes for sale for realtors.

if so, does anyone have experience who are willing to share? such as where to look, and how to prepare myself. and also what type of equipment is recommended?

[Canonymous]

http://photographyforrealestate.net/

Great site ;)

[PhotosGuy]

Because you have a descriptive title, you can look at the "Similar Threads" links at the bottom-left of this page!
Each link you visit should provide more links at the bottom.

[joooowan]

http://photographyforrealestate.net/

Great site ;)

+1 thank you

[Harry Settle]

My experience, FWIW, location, location, location. I have been asked to shoot for some realtors in my area and would be glad to do them, but they don't want to pay anything. I'd say if you are working in the 6 figure realestate market, you may be able to work it out.

[Picture North Carolina]

http://photographyforrealestate.net/

Great site ;)

Thank you!

[Picture North Carolina]

I have been asked to shoot for some realtors in my area and would be glad to do them, but they don't want to pay anything.

I assume you don't mean this literally, i.e., to work for free. But I would be interested to know what developers, agents, etc. are offering.

[P51Mstg]

My brother is a real estate agent, when he's not busy he'll take pics of houses for other agents who can't use a camera (yes, those people exist).......

He gets $40 cash a house...... He usually does them when he's in the area, etc to keep costs down. Shoots a Nikon D-40 with kit lens (which is good, if he shot Canon, he borrow my stuff).......

I asked him about nice shots of high end houses and he pretty much laughed at me, those shoots are RARE.......

Look at REALTOR.COM and see what the photos of houses look like. Most probably shot with camera in cellphone...... I know they could improve, but I mean the shot of a bed room wall, doesn't mean a lot to me if I want to buy the house..........

I've got a few ideas for doing it, just never did it yet....... (after talking to brother, little interest left)

Mark H

[harroz]

there's loads of work out there in the Real Estate market. Just don't underprice yourself, stick to your guns, and let everyone know who you are and what you do, it's a numbers game, don't expect to shoot every house an agent has, but if they get a good one they'll push for good photography as they know the impact it has on their marketing. Your locale makes a difference as well, it's not much use marketing yourself in the boondocks, but if you're in the Hills go for it!

$40.00 a house wouldn't be worth getting out of bed for. But if you diferentiated yourself from that, as in created stunning images beyond what is expected, then you'll be able to charge for them.

A major part of it is being very accomodating and being able to do it within a day or 2 max, if you are unable to do this then don't even bother wasting your time marketing as they really want a fast turn around.

Also bear in mind that they have to trust you explicitly, as they are sending you to their clients house. The better they know you the better off you'll be, I wouldn't expect any jobs until you've done a few rounds of the agencies and they've got to know you.

[Harry Settle]

For commercial photographers: How would you price out a real estate gig for a developer? I have three locations to shoot...unsure of the number of photos to be used in marketing. Little to no extra production costs. I am a portrait/ wedding photographer by trade, but I have this new opportunity to expand my portfolio. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

First off: Location, location, location. In my case, even the $40 someone else shoots for is more than the cheapskates around here want to pay.

Second: "How much do I charge?" For any commercial, advertising, stock shooting, I recommend "fotobiz" or "fotoquote". I bought the full package in order to price out an upcomming commercial shoot. The prices were out of whack, for me, but they tell you what others are charging for the same work and you can customize to suit your situation. The biggest plus for me was the "coach" section. When I got done reading through most of it, I was able to talk to the customer and justify my pricing.

[hypertech]

Look at what VHT and Obeo charge before you decide you can convince an agent to pay you $300 to come shoot some stills. Those are the big players and they offer services that an individual photographer really can't compete with based on price. You are going to have to find some angle to convince them to higher you instead of one of them.

You can get moderately steady work in real estate photography but you aren't going to get rich.

[Roy Webber]

I have a real estate agency and do all my own photography.
40D, 10-22 and my flashgun...all I require

[ChasP505]

The agents who are not only surviving, but thriving in today's economy and real estate market are those who make use of every marketing option available. In our market in New Mexico, Sellers and agents demand a full marketing package. The company I work for offers multiple packages at stepped price rates. Sellers and agents who don't want to pay for photos, don't want to sell properties.

[Picture North Carolina]

The agents who are not only surviving, but thriving in today's economy and real estate market are those who make use of every marketing option available. In our market in New Mexico, Sellers and agents demand a full marketing package. The company I work for offers multiple packages at stepped price rates. Sellers and agents who don't want to pay for photos, don't want to sell properties.

True. But convincing an AWC that the crap he's shooting isn't good enough is another task altogether.

[picturecrazy]

I guess it's different in every area, but generally realtors don't wanna pay to get some really great photos done. I don't know why, as it would really help them sell the house for potentially more. Real estate pictures are generally HORRIBLE!!

I do some real estate very rarely, but it usually ends up being specialty homes or condos where the OWNER finds value in spending $1500 to get some pictures of their house. Generally if realtors pay, they pay hardly anything.

[hypertech]

$1500? Did the house marry someone or something? Of course they won't pay that much. The high end of the market is essentially dead. If you want regular work, it will be houses near the average sale price in your market and the commissions on those will not support a fee that high.

[picturecrazy]

That the thing. I don't want to do lots of average houses regularly. I'm only interested in very unique and high end homes and buildings. There is a very small demand for it but it's there.

So to the OP, you gotta choose what market you want to go for and then do it. Just like portraits, you can do the high volume but cheap route or go with low volume but expensive route. But I agree with hypertech, if you want regular income then high volume is probably the best route. If you only want to do it as a side hobby and the income isn't important to you, then maybe look into the higher end market.

[ChasP505]

True. But convincing an AWC that the crap he's shooting isn't good enough is another task altogether.

That's actually part of my job... I look at it as maintaining quality control in our marketing. I usually ask the agent something like this: "Joe... When your listing clients see these pictures in our catalog and then see professional photos on the next page, how will you explain why their home does not look as good as the competition?"

But it's a constant uphill battle and some agents must be wearing beer goggles when they assess their own P&S photos.

[ChasP505]

The high end of the market is essentially dead.

Hmmm... It's still alive and kickin' in my area of the world. :D

But as I read posts on the subject of breaking into real estate photography, it reinforces what I've said before. I believe that someone who is getting into real estate photography should have some personal real estate experience and know his/her market intimately. Most of the "real estate only" photographers I know are also licensed brokers or appraisors.

How can you successfully enter into the business of real estate photography, if you have no knowledge of the business of real estate?

[mnaz]

Real estate pictures are generally HORRIBLE!!


No doubt about this. My house is for sale right now and after seeing the pictures that my agent put up I went back and reshot the whole interior of the house. Much better now.

[ChasP505]

...after seeing the pictures that my agent put up I went back and reshot the whole interior of the house.

The agent's mistake was not in taking his own photos, but not being confident enough to ask YOU to cover the cost of professional marketing photos. This is one of the things that separates the "top producers" from typical uninspired and mediocre agents. And it separates Sellers who get top market return for their homes from those who get low-ball offers.

[Picture North Carolina]

No doubt about this. My house is for sale right now and after seeing the pictures that my agent put up I went back and reshot the whole interior of the house. Much better now.

I hope you told him so (with diplomacy and tact, of course ;) )

By doing so you will help professional photographers.

1. when he compares his to yours, he'll realize he's providing crap to his clients.

2. Telling him that you were "concerned about the quality of his photos" (the diplomatic interpretation of "yours are crap") will make him conscious of the fact his customers are not happy with crap and perhaps he'll consider using a professional in the future.

[ChasP505]

I still say many of you are out of touch with the residential real estate industry (in the U.S. and Canada). The listing client should be offered a menu of photographic options ranging from free "crappy" photos taken by the agent to professional shots paid for by the client.

I occasionally get a set of "crappy" photos forwarded to me by an agent who says the Seller INSISTS that we use his photos. With rare exceptions, Sellers are just as delusional about their photographic prowess as the agents.