A thread for real estate, architectural, and interior design photography

TGrundvig wrote in post #13832322
I checked out there site and they have some pretty good photos. Then, I checked out their prices....holy crap, they are whoring themselves out like crazy! $89 for 25 HDR images? Are you kidding me? They will work weekends for an extra $39. Four hour 'super fast' turn around for only $50 more? This group has no self worth at all. I know my prices are pretty low compared to some of you guys on here, but these prices are ridiculous! I hardly work weekends. We either have to get 4 snows days in one week, or someone has to be a VERY GOOD client for me to work weekends. And this company will do it for only $39.

Another thing I noticed is the Supra key access. I have that here and I can tell you from experience, it is a very powerful service. Having that key means I can let myself into the listings and they don't have to show up, let me in, wait for me, and then lock up. Of course, here, I have to maintain my appraiser license to be able to have that key and I have to pay to be a member of the local MLS board. But, I have stolen many clients simply because of this service. One agent had been with the same photog for 7 years, found out I had a Supra Key, now she's my client. You may want to find out if there is a way for you to get that key in your market. It is obviously important enough that they have it on multiple pages on their site.

Now, here is what I think about his company....they won't be around long at these fees. There is no way they can maintain the pace they need to maintain to make any decent money. Four hour turn times? Seriously? It sounds to me like a run and gun shop. These places usually have a lot of turn over and they just won't stand the test of time.

If you are in the Dallas area, you have a lot of options to pursue. I don't think you will have any problem getting work if you can pursue the right agents. Depending on the MLS board, you may be able to get a list of the top agents. If you can, that would be where I would start.

Best of luck!

One thing that many around here don't understand is, many times, photogs just can't charge more due to the market they're in. If I charge $250 for my photos, but everyone else is charging $50. It's gonna be tough for me to sell my wares. Now, I don't disagree the guys selling for $50 are under-charging...to a point. What I mean is, how does one define under-charging? If everyone else in a given market charges $X (even if it's lower than it should be), are they still under-charging?

Now, another thing to keep in mind is that many of these photogs charging so little may not make a living off RE photography. They may be portrait or wedding shooters just making a little extra money when they can. My RE business has been that (although I'm getting started with interactive floor plans, etc. and that should change soon) for quite some time. So they may be able to stay in business for quite some time. They won't , however, be able to support a business unless they do MAD volume.

I also agree on the Supra Key access. Tyler brought that up to me in the past and I've been talking with realtors about it. They agree it's a good thing. Only one cavet, many RE boards require you to get an RE license. Some realtors will look at you as competition and not like that. So you need to assure ANY realtor--from the start--this is not your intention. You just have it in order to make it easier for them.

Here in NE FL, all I have to do is become a member of the local board (NEFAR) and I can then get key access. It's nice since I don't have to study and take an exam and my customers won't feel I'm competing with them. I'll be doing that shortly.

So I hear what you're saying about showing crap as part of my portfolio. For this house I did my best to "Polish the Turd". This guy had just painted practically the whole house, installed new flooring, and replaced part of his backyard fence. The house was covered in so much dust there were footprints on the floors. And you should've seen the kitchen before the agent got after it! I hate to say it, but they are going to have a hell of a time selling this house for what they're asking...

This freaks me out a little to post these, but here goes: Thoughts?

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GadgetRick wrote in post #13833570
One thing that many around here don't understand is, many times, photogs just can't charge more due to the market they're in. If I charge $250 for my photos, but everyone else is charging $50. It's gonna be tough for me to sell my wares. Now, I don't disagree the guys selling for $50 are under-charging...to a point. What I mean is, how does one define under-charging? If everyone else in a given market charges $X (even if it's lower than it should be), are they still under-charging?

Now, another thing to keep in mind is that many of these photogs charging so little may not make a living off RE photography. They may be portrait or wedding shooters just making a little extra money when they can. My RE business has been that (although I'm getting started with interactive floor plans, etc. and that should change soon) for quite some time. So they may be able to stay in business for quite some time. They won't , however, be able to support a business unless they do MAD volume.

I also agree on the Supra Key access. Tyler brought that up to me in the past and I've been talking with realtors about it. They agree it's a good thing. Only one cavet, many RE boards require you to get an RE license. Some realtors will look at you as competition and not like that. So you need to assure ANY realtor--from the start--this is not your intention. You just have it in order to make it easier for them.

Here in NE FL, all I have to do is become a member of the local board (NEFAR) and I can then get key access. It's nice since I don't have to study and take an exam and my customers won't feel I'm competing with them. I'll be doing that shortly.

I certainly understand the market drives the price, but this is Dallas, TX. There is BIG money in Dallas and the surrounding areas. A good photographer should be able to charge a lot more than $89 in that city.

Keep in mind, we are talking about 25 HDR images for $89. That is a lot of work for $89. I could understand $89 for a photog running through, handheld, on-camera flash....but HDR....I just don't see how they can get good results for that price consistently. Also, how does one get a four hour turn around on 25 HDR images?

As for this particular company, according to their website, they seem to specialize in RE photography. There is no mention of any other type of photography. They just have the run and gun mentality. The Wal-Mart mentality. Don't get me wrong, I am well aware of the success that Wal-Mart has had from this mentality, but it also means you have to hire people and pay them next to nothing, and there is usually a lot of turn over.

Supra Key privileges change with each MLS board. With my board you have to be a full member, which means REALTOR© or appraiser. On this company's website they claim to be some kind of Affiliate member, which means they may not have to be licensed. That could be very beneficial.

Tyler, did you see their "free offer" to green up the grass? I thought that could be misleading...

annietex wrote in post #13834761
Tyler, did you see their "free offer" to green up the grass? I thought that could be misleading...

Could lead to a major lawsuit. That will kill business FAST!

annietex wrote in post #13834761
Tyler, did you see their "free offer" to green up the grass? I thought that could be misleading...

Yeah, that is just crazy! What if the grass doesn't grow in that green or that full? You get sued. The agent is going to blame the photographer for doing that.

It's one thing to take dull green grass and give it some life, but to take dead grass and make it green.....that is just asking for trouble.

Also, how dumb is it going to look to have green grass and no leaves on the trees? LOL

I lol'ed at that option too.

btw, Ann, those are nice shots.

annietex wrote in post #13831313
This seems to be the biggest competition in town. What do you think? They seem ok but some of their shots between rooms with a dividing wall as the focal point are weird. They're also SO cheap.

Ann, I recommend that you call them tell them you are an agent looking for a photog. Then ask them for some current listing that you can look at. It's one thing to have some great shots on your website and quite another to have great shots on live listings.

If the live listings are not present or junk then you have your marketing advantage. If there good then call the agent and feel them out for quality of service.

Reverse engineer it.

TheReal7 wrote in post #13834768
Could lead to a major lawsuit. That will kill business FAST!

TGrundvig wrote in post #13834799
Yeah, that is just crazy! What if the grass doesn't grow in that green or that full? You get sued. The agent is going to blame the photographer for doing that.

It's one thing to take dull green grass and give it some life, but to take dead grass and make it green.....that is just asking for trouble.

Also, how dumb is it going to look to have green grass and no leaves on the trees? LOL

I told the agent I could make the sky blue, but couldn't help them with the grass. ANd I swear I think they thought I could photoshop the dust off the floor. I told the homeowner to grab the swiffer!

P12 wrote in post #13834887
Ann, I recommend that you call them tell them you are an agent looking for a photog. Then ask them for some current listing that you can look at. It's one thing to have some great shots on your website and quite another to have great shots on live listings.

If the live listings are not present or junk then you have your marketing advantage. If there good then call the agent and feel them out for quality of service.

Reverse engineer it.

Thanks! I'l check into that

Here's a few from a recent shoot. Timing was a little tough as the main view windows face S/SE and the agent wanted me there at 9 am but I think they ended up working alright. All are 6-shot HDR's blended in LR/Enfuse, taken with a 60D and Sigma 10-20. And please, C&C are always welcomed-

Great shots. PP looks good. That's a very nice house.

TGrundvig wrote in post #13834666
I certainly understand the market drives the price, but this is Dallas, TX. There is BIG money in Dallas and the surrounding areas. A good photographer should be able to charge a lot more than $89 in that city.

Keep in mind, we are talking about 25 HDR images for $89. That is a lot of work for $89. I could understand $89 for a photog running through, handheld, on-camera flash....but HDR....I just don't see how they can get good results for that price consistently. Also, how does one get a four hour turn around on 25 HDR images?

As for this particular company, according to their website, they seem to specialize in RE photography. There is no mention of any other type of photography. They just have the run and gun mentality. The Wal-Mart mentality. Don't get me wrong, I am well aware of the success that Wal-Mart has had from this mentality, but it also means you have to hire people and pay them next to nothing, and there is usually a lot of turn over.

And that's sort of my point. I don't disagree they'll be hard-pressed to produce any kind of quality for that cost/time. However, let's keep in mind, for MOST people good enough is, well, good enough. What you or I find ugly is still (many times) way better than what they've used or which is being used (overall). They say only 15% of listings (nationwide) have professional photos. That means that 85% either have no photos or (probably) have the typical horrible shots. Any improvement over that is really all they need.

Again, I totally agree about the lack of quality. I'm also not disagreeing about turnover/etc. However, there is a market for that sort of service (unfortunately). If you're going to compete with that, you either have to stoop to that (pricing) level or sell your (higher) price but work HARD to ensure people know why you cost so much more. Not impossible but it will take some effort.

[QUOTE=GadgetRick;1383​5687]They say only 15% of listings (nationwide) have professional photos. That means that 85% either have no photos or (probably) have the typical horrible shots.QUOTE]

Really? That's quite a helpful piece of information. What's the source? I want to branch out into side-gigs with RE on the weekends if possible later this year and as you know, information is power.