What is the right number of photos for a real estate listing?
There is no easy answer to this question. The number of photos you provide as a real estate photographer will depend on your clients’ expectations and the norms in your area. However, we can estimate how many images are needed based on the marketing requirements for a listing, some simple math, and your available time. Let’s start by figuring out the marketing requirements for an average listing by asking some simple questions. How [...]
Real Estate Photography – What’s in my camera bag?
Every real estate photographer has their preferred camera gear that they use to complete their work. Let’s explore my real estate photography camera bag and I’ll explain what I carry and why. When shooting for Real Estate I usually provide a 3D tour, floorplans, photos, and sometimes video, so I need to have a set of tools to suit Real Estate clients’ needs. The basics: DSLR + wide angle lens + normal lens I use a Nikon D750 and typically pair [...]
Top Tips for Better Real Estate Photo Composition in 2020
Real Estate photography follows the same basic compositional rules as other types of photography. It’s similar to portraiture, landscapes, and sports in most technical aspects (ie. focus, exposure, white balance) but can differ in composition because of scale and industry requirements. Here are some of the top tips for improving your real estate photography composition. Tell a story with every photo. Each photo should serve a purpose and communicate something relevant to the intended audience. It‘s a good idea to think about [...]
How to Show Your Worth as a Real Estate Photographer – Answering the Rate Question
As a real estate photographer, you’re a professional. You bring experience, skill, market knowledge, and many other benefits to your customers. Does your rate reflect those benefits? It may not, especially when you’re working with long-term clients who expect the same rate you quoted them five years ago. You occasionally need to raise your rates or justify your existing rates to skeptical clients. Having these conversations can be uncomfortable, but losing business because you’re unprepared for them is worse. To succeed, you must walk into [...]
Identifying and correcting vertical lines. Basic real estate photography tips for beginners.
Are you just starting out in real Estate photography and want to know the easiest and fastest way to get good results? The fast answer is to start by making sure your vertical lines are straight. What vertical lines you ask? Here’s a few examples (image above). Vertical lines can be seen most easily at the intersection between two walls and they are important because they affect the perceived value of your photographs. You will be able to charge more money and will have happier [...]
Start to finish, 3200 sq ft scanned in about 20 minutes
Follow along with me to see the experience of shooting an iGUIDE. Experience what it’s actually like and why it’s a great tool for professional photographers. The property featured in this video is just over 3200 sq ft and it took about 20 minutes to capture. There is a timer in the bottom right hand corner to help better illustrate the time required to shoot. The footage is sped up to fit the entire shoot into a short video and slowed [...]
What Today’s Home Buyers Are Looking For Online
Whether you’re a new agent or a seasoned pro, chances are you’re always looking for that competitive edge over other local agents to score the hottest new listings in your area. From your (perfectly on-brand) listing presentation to your rock-solid knowledge of the latest neighbourhood sales, you’ve got the tools you need to nail the appointment. While those factors can certainly help sway a seller’s decision and win you the handshake, one thing is certain: in today’s market, sellers have a LOT of questions. One [...]
10 Tips For Real Estate Photographers Who Want To Create Effective 3D Virtual Tours
For real estate photographers, the demand for 3D virtual tours is rapidly becoming more commonplace. And, for good reason. 360 panorama tours offer audiences an immersive and intuitive experience, which gives them a clear idea of a space they are interested in. While 360 panoramas are certainly attention-grabbing, it is important, as a real estate photographer, to produce them mindfully – that is, with a specific goal in mind. Otherwise, you run the risk of giving the impression that 3D tours are merely flashy and [...]
Real Estate Photography Time Management Tools
Everyone gets the same 24 hours in a day. However, not all hours are created equally. Some people seem to get more productivity out of their time than others. Meanwhile, others can’t seem to catch their breath, and before they know it, another work day has slipped by. Why? Often, they are leveraging different tools such as accounting, digital marketing, and photography to be more productive. And we cannot forget the importance of time management! Prioritizing, scheduling, effective communication, and project management – these [...]
Digital Marketing Tools for Your Real Estate Photography Business
When you decided to become a photographer, you were likely guided by your love of the art and science that is photography. Then, you figured out you could make a living doing what you love and started a real estate photography business. And just like that – *poof* – you became a business owner. Now, you have to worry about things like marketing, scheduling, and accounting systems and software. What happened? You just wanted to take awesome pictures, right? There are going to be some [...]
Accounting Tools – Software for Your Real Estate Photography Business
Living the entrepreneurial life is a dream come true for many. However, it’s not always as easy as it looks. Sure, running your own real estate photography business isn't just about making great photos, getting to call the shots regarding your career, and doing what you love to make a living. But, sometimes business owners have to do some un-glamorous things. Things like… accounting. Some people love accounting and managing finances – and we love and respect those people. In fact, we need [...]
10 Ways to Distinguish Professional Real Estate Photography
When it comes to selling real estate, image is everything. The quality of your property photographs and 360 panoramas matters. And yet, many real estate agents fail to invest wisely in professional real estate photography. Or worse – perhaps they don’t invest at all. The truth is, real estate photography is not as easy as it might seem. And, a lot is at stake when it comes to the quality of these images. Great photos and 3D virtual tours will help a real estate agent sell more [...]