Comments on: Partnering with Real Estate Professionals http://blogs.photopreneur.com/partnering-with-real-estate-professionals Marketing Your Photography Business Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:28:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael http://blogs.photopreneur.com/partnering-with-real-estate-professionals/comment-page-1#comment-3024 Michael Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:47:28 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=630#comment-3024 I suspect that the agents who take their own photos don't KNOW how bad their images are. So they naturally don't understand the advantages of using a pro. It would help to educate the real estate industry at large if we all used the following reasoning, until it became common real estate lore: "How much is high quality photography worth? How much would having your property sell, due to high quality photography, save you in terms of the first price reduction? Thousands? Or more like tens of thousands?!" I suspect that the agents who take their own photos don't KNOW how bad their images are. So they naturally don't understand the advantages of using a pro.

It would help to educate the real estate industry at large if we all used the following reasoning, until it became common real estate lore:

"How much is high quality photography worth? How much would having your property sell, due to high quality photography, save you in terms of the first price reduction? Thousands? Or more like tens of thousands?!"

]]> By: Joanna M http://blogs.photopreneur.com/partnering-with-real-estate-professionals/comment-page-1#comment-1800 Joanna M Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:00:55 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=630#comment-1800 I started out shooting listings as a contract photographer for a large provider of virtual tours and MLS photos. These were merely exerior shots taken with a Kodak DC260. This lasted over 2 years until the end of April '08 when Trend discontinued their contract. Since then, a colleague and I have contacted realtors in our area for 12-stills packages and managed to pick up several accounts although it could be a lot better. We started out charging a lower price in order to get started but have since raised our price and are still getting new assignments. Our equipment consists of Canon 350D Rebel XT cameras, Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lenses, and Vivitar and Metz hand held flashes which work well for interiors. Exterior shots are taken with Sigma 18-50mm lenses and the images are processed in Photoshop and put on disk for delivery to agents. Marketing is a big part of generating new business, I design the flyers and my partner prints them out and we deliver them to agencies for distribution to their agents. It's very time-consuming but it works. I think if the RE market ever stabilizes this could become a very lucrative business. I started out shooting listings as a contract photographer for a large provider of virtual tours and MLS photos. These were merely exerior shots taken with a Kodak DC260. This lasted over 2 years until the end of April '08 when Trend discontinued their contract. Since then, a colleague and I have contacted realtors in our area for 12-stills packages and managed to pick up several accounts although it could be a lot better. We started out charging a lower price in order to get started but have since raised our price and are still getting new assignments. Our equipment consists of Canon 350D Rebel XT cameras, Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lenses, and Vivitar and Metz hand held flashes which work well for interiors. Exterior shots are taken with Sigma 18-50mm lenses and the images are processed in Photoshop and put on disk for delivery to agents.
Marketing is a big part of generating new business, I design the flyers and my partner prints them out and we deliver them to agencies for distribution to their agents. It's very time-consuming but it works. I think if the RE market ever stabilizes this could become a very lucrative business.

]]> By: boomboom http://blogs.photopreneur.com/partnering-with-real-estate-professionals/comment-page-1#comment-1746 boomboom Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:34:27 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=630#comment-1746 Might be different in other parts of the world but unfortunately Estate Agents in the UK just won't go for it. I personally think that the best way to show any home or other property at it's best is to use a properly photographed "Spherical" 360 Degree Panoramic Image. All the Estate Agents I've approached immediately state "we don't need anything like that" or "we could just do that ourselves". When a 360 image does appear (rare in the UK) it's always the limited narrow angle horizontal "one shot" panorama where you can't look up or down. UK Estate Agents are more than happy to take your money but seem to have a big problem with spending. Proper "Spherical" 360 degree x 360 degree shots can be taken for a comparable price as conventional photography if the 360 photographer is a specialist and has his workflow sorted out. Might be different in other parts of the world but unfortunately Estate Agents in the UK just won't go for it.

I personally think that the best way to show any home or other property at it's best is to use a properly photographed "Spherical" 360 Degree Panoramic Image.

All the Estate Agents I've approached immediately state "we don't need anything like that" or "we could just do that ourselves".

When a 360 image does appear (rare in the UK) it's always the limited narrow angle horizontal "one shot" panorama where you can't look up or down.

UK Estate Agents are more than happy to take your money but seem to have a big problem with spending.

Proper "Spherical" 360 degree x 360 degree shots can be taken for a comparable price as conventional photography if the 360 photographer is a specialist and has his workflow sorted out.

]]> By: Embassy Pro Books http://blogs.photopreneur.com/partnering-with-real-estate-professionals/comment-page-1#comment-1742 Embassy Pro Books Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:12:29 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=630#comment-1742 It's true when they say a picture is worth a thousand words. People often balk at the prices charged by professional photographers but fail to see the benefits a well taken photo can provide. It can make a difference between a mediocre and phenomenal turnout at open houses. It's true when they say a picture is worth a thousand words. People often balk at the prices charged by professional photographers but fail to see the benefits a well taken photo can provide. It can make a difference between a mediocre and phenomenal turnout at open houses.

]]> By: MattT http://blogs.photopreneur.com/partnering-with-real-estate-professionals/comment-page-1#comment-1738 MattT Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:01:00 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=630#comment-1738 Well, that was embarrassingly obvious. Thanks, Anonymouse! Well, that was embarrassingly obvious. Thanks, Anonymouse!

]]> By: Anonymouse http://blogs.photopreneur.com/partnering-with-real-estate-professionals/comment-page-1#comment-1737 Anonymouse Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:22:42 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=630#comment-1737 Here's your resource: http://photographyforrealestate.net Here's your resource: http://photographyforrealestate.net

]]> By: MattT http://blogs.photopreneur.com/partnering-with-real-estate-professionals/comment-page-1#comment-1735 MattT Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:57:57 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=630#comment-1735 I'm a pretty good photographer with connections to the realty biz in my area, so I think I could make a go of this. But I have no idea what I would charge. Suggestions? Resources? Thanks! I'm a pretty good photographer with connections to the realty biz in my area, so I think I could make a go of this. But I have no idea what I would charge. Suggestions? Resources?

Thanks!

]]> By: Ian Watt http://blogs.photopreneur.com/partnering-with-real-estate-professionals/comment-page-1#comment-1730 Ian Watt Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:39:41 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=630#comment-1730 Photographs are everything. All my marketing begins with hiring a great photographer. Buyers see the photos on the MLS and want more information and then next thing you know they are on my website, on the website they see the videos, floor plans and maps etc, perhaps even another listing (of course with great photos as well). And every step of the way they are seeing the IanWatt brand which leads to familiarity and comfort, and finally leads to a new client and hopefully it leads the sale. But remember it all started with a great photographer and a great photographer, I’m not. It’s the best money you can invest in a listing. Ian http://www.ianwatt.ca/ Photographs are everything. All my marketing begins with hiring a great photographer. Buyers see the photos on the MLS and want more information and then next thing you know they are on my website, on the website they see the videos, floor plans and maps etc, perhaps even another listing (of course with great photos as well). And every step of the way they are seeing the IanWatt brand which leads to familiarity and comfort, and finally leads to a new client and hopefully it leads the sale. But remember it all started with a great photographer and a great photographer, I’m not. It’s the best money you can invest in a listing. Ian http://www.ianwatt.ca/

]]> By: Embassy Pro Books http://blogs.photopreneur.com/partnering-with-real-estate-professionals/comment-page-1#comment-1725 Embassy Pro Books Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:20:40 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=630#comment-1725 Some suggest that real estate professionals are some of the toughest to deal with so you must be picky about who you work with so you don't end up getting more than you bargain for in terms of a tough client. Some suggest that real estate professionals are some of the toughest to deal with so you must be picky about who you work with so you don't end up getting more than you bargain for in terms of a tough client.

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