"Well I think you'll only need this much time"

Photographer expectations - A classic conversation with potential clients.

I just got a call for real estate shots. Their Assistant has been taking photos with "nice" camera but they just aren't that good...and the property just isn't selling.

I start with "the list" of questions you would ask...6000sf, has been styled, ready to be shot.

From realtor:
need it tomorrow
you won't need lights
we take about 40 minutes
you should only need 60.

OK...I give a decent quote, a loss-leader really but I would like to get in with this brand.

Uhhh chirp chirp..."I'll call you back."

I'm not sure what this thread is good for other than a mini-rant...and for noobs to be ready to educate everyone about what you do. We are not picture takers. We are photograph builders - stolen from someone I think

Anyway...keep the faith!

The no lights and 40 minutes comments tells me right away they don't have a clue and are not serious. Hope they are happy with crappy photos.

I met with a potential new client at my studio years ago to discuss an ice cream shoot. Now if you've never been involved with shooting ice cream for packaging, it is a complicated thing.

We sat at the conference table and went through a few different topics of conversation. At the end he leaned over and pulled out the 2 gallons of ice cream that he'd brought with him and were sitting in a bag at his side.

Yikes...really? Ah...er...I don't think so...

I ended up putting a quote together for him and I think the dry ice costs alone were more than he'd budgeted for the entire project. Needless to say, I didn't shoot the job, not sure it was ever produced.

JQ

It sounds like you may not have been talking to the real decision maker. Always be sure to ask if there is going to be anyone else involved in the decision making process. If possible try to meet with everyone in one phone call or meeting. If the person has to go asking for approval you are dead in the water.

In this case she was the ultimate decision maker however.

She played me the " I have to pay for advertising out of my own pocket" routine.

I wanted to remind her that "it" all comes out of my pocket too. But just smiled over the phone politely.

Whose pocket does that 6% come out of...and where does it go?

Foodguy, that is a good one...and yet it doesn't really surprise me anymore either. That food work is black magic to me anyway

PS I knew this conversation was going to be a loser when she volunteered that she had just gotten her head shot done...@ JCPenny...fair enough.

-jq- wrote in post #14339746
In this case she was the ultimate decision maker however.

She played me the " I have to pay for advertising out of my own pocket" routine.

I wanted to remind her that "it" all comes out of my pocket too. But just smiled over the phone politely.

Whose pocket does that 6% come out of...and where does it go?

Foodguy, that is a good one...and yet it doesn't really surprise me anymore either. That food work is black magic to me anyway

PS I knew this conversation was going to be a loser when she volunteered that she had just gotten her head shot done...@ JCPenny...fair enough.

To be fair, the advertising does come out of their pockets. Real Estate agents are independant contractors running their own business.

And the 6% figure is only if they are the listing agent AND its through their company.

For example say it's a ReMAX house, and your agent is the lister. They get 6%. If it's a ReMAX house, and it's another agents house, but your agent sells it...they get 3%.

I'm not saying they are 'poor' but just like everything else, they are looking for the lowest cost solution that gets the job done.

It's not like they are selling pots and pans for FrontGate, and need ultra-premo shots of each room.

But I see your side as well. Win some- Lose some.

CMfromIL wrote in post #14339827
To be fair, the advertising does come out of their pockets. Real Estate agents are independant contractors running their own business.

And the 6% figure is only if they are the listing agent AND its through their company.

For example say it's a ReMAX house, and your agent is the lister. They get 6%. If it's a ReMAX house, and it's another agents house, but your agent sells it...they get 3%.

I'm not saying they are 'poor' but just like everything else, they are looking for the lowest cost solution that gets the job done.

It's not like they are selling pots and pans for FrontGate, and need ultra-premo shots of each room.

But I see your side as well. Win some- Lose some.

That is true, but the appalling factor here is that they tried the lowest cost solution (GWC) and weren't happy with it and in fact it didn't get the job done. Apparently they felt that the images were the weak link with selling the house. Had it been a cold call saying "we have this house that I just know is going to need that extra umph to get it gone ASAP.." then it would be a different story..

As it is, they come across sounding like they're saying "Well, Jane just has this P & S but we know the images could be so much better with a $3,000 camera... Hey, you have one of those... we want to hire your camera, can you come with?.."

At least, that's what jumps out to me as the insult.

JDPhotoGuy wrote in post #14339942
That is true, but the appalling factor here is that they tried the lowest cost solution (GWC) and weren't happy with it and in fact it didn't get the job done. Apparently they felt that the images were the weak link with selling the house. Had it been a cold call saying "we have this house that I just know is going to need that extra umph to get it gone ASAP.." then it would be a different story..

As it is, they come across sounding like they're saying "Well, Jane just has this P & S but we know the images could be so much better with a $3,000 camera... Hey, you have one of those... we want to hire your camera, can you come with?.."

At least, that's what jumps out to me as the insult.

I see what you are saying. And as long as you declined respectfully...they will continue to struggle with sub-par photography and you will not be pulling your hair out over a demanding client that wants to pay rock bottom rates.

Sounds like a win for you!

Sorry my facetious tone not coming though - lacking through the interwebs. Yeah I know they have to pay and where the percentages go. It is just that we are all professionals and should be paid accordingly. I'm sure she paid the stylist...and hey, they just move the automan around :->

A 6000 SF house...in that neighborhood is easily $800,000 even in this soft market. And she is having brochures designed and printed 11x17 for the property.

I wasn't insulted just sharing...and hey it might work out. Frankly, now that I think about it I bid it way too low...and THAT is part of the lesson for today.

Thanks for sharing all - not discouraging discourse.

JDPhotoGuy wrote in post #14339942
...they tried the lowest cost solution (GWC) and weren't happy with it and in fact it didn't get the job done. Apparently they felt that the images were the weak link with selling the house...
.

^^This is the funniest part and what is true.

They will call...Sunday PM is my bet...but that is OK too - so long as they call.

OK early Monday morning update...

I just got a call back from the realtor...wtf...to tell me that that won't be using me today - duh- she hadn't booked me.

But also that she just couldn't swing my price right now because she paid her assistant TWICE what I offered and she's going to let her try again....bawahaaaaaaa.

So for all your aspiring entrepreneurs - this is why you charge professional rates. There is more to this business than pushing a shutter release button. Let's just call it the "nincompoop" factor.

I really am unsure why she even called me back.

<scratches head and slurps more coffee>

^^ I know quite a few people like this. Completely clueless to the point where you wonder how they function on a personal level at all much less make it running a business.. lol

When her assistant fails to perform, and she will, and you get that call a month or two from now, make sure you tell her things have been frantically busy so you've had to markup your prices 25% since the initial quote to thin out the workload... lolol

JDPhotoGuy wrote in post #14352785
When her assistant fails to perform, and she will, and you get that call a month or two from now, make sure you tell her things have been frantically busy so you've had to markup your prices 25% since the initial quote to thin out the workload.

BINGO!

I once shot a house for a local realtor - the lady who owned the house wanted control of the images that he was going to use, and at his cost. I shot and edited the house. The price tag attached to the set didn't sit well with him, but to sell this house, he had to go along.
When the house sold, he told me I had no future in this business - photos were great, but no realtor will pay that kind of $$...
Fast forward 6 months, and another realtor in his office contacted me to do more work - saw the images, was impressed, and we agreed on pricing. I get a couple houses/month through him (more in the higher end for this area)... I've also been approached by some of his clients wo have bought and wanted their new house reshot once settled in

The original realtor has asked me to come shoot for him a few times - I just tell him I am booked/busy

What I don't see anywhere here is any suggestion that the OP should've explained to the realtor why the shoot couldn't take an hour, or be done without lights, or be completed for a minimal fee.

Photographers need to be salesmen. If the OP didn't do that here, he may very well share a good portion of the blame for not getting the gig...