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Real Estate Photography
swintonphoto
Registered Users Posts: 1,664 Major grins
Real Estate photography is an arena I haven't done too much of but would like to get more involved with it. Anyone here have any experience that could help me know how to get into the market? I have thought of using past clients I have had for weddings, portraits, etc to see if any have connections.
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I've been doing quite a bit of real estate photography and I've learned a great deal about the market from a Flicr group called Photography for Real Estate, you should check it out. There is also a website of the same name, www.photographyforrealestate.com Hope that helps.
I do a bit of work for a few Realtors and 2 builders. Getting the work is not really an issue. Getting paid decent for your time is a hassle. I do the real estate work as almost a lost leader. I actually am also I licensed mortgage broker. I do the photo-work for next to nothing as a networking tool. One closed loan more than makes up for the money i am giving up shooting cheap.
I have found that Realtors and Builders never want to pay a fair price for the service. I'll shoot a house for $150 and they'll think they are paying too much. That's 1/3 of what I would charge for anything else I do. With the market being what it is these days getting paid can be another struggle. I only do this type of work for people I already have a relationship with (top producers) and they pay on time. The projects that I have shot for Realtors that I don't do mortgage business with turned into a struggle (bounced checks, etc).
If you still want to give it a whirl, the best way is to work any contacts that you have in the real estate business. You are going to want to target listing agents. Pick up your local real estate mag (lands & home, Homeseeker, etc). See who has the most listings. Then see who you know, that knows them. I warm introduction is important. People are pitching these agents daily. You don't want to get lost in the shuffle.
The agents that use me, do it as part of their listing pitch. When they are putting on their dog and pony show for a seller, it's one more service that lets them stand out from their competition (and competition is fierce!). They will present it to a seller as something no one else does ("I am going to have your home photographed professionally"). My pictures are not going to sell that house, but the client perception is that it will. After all Realtors are selling perception.
That's just my quick two cents worth.
Interior, street level and elevated. Offering a unique service helps with the sale. This is from a 40' mast with a remote control pan/tilt camera head.
In MI its still a tough sell. I belong to another aerial type forum where platforms used are full scale, Radio control Helicopters, airplanes, masts, kites and even special made helium balloons and blimps are used. Some of them are doing elevated VR panorama's from a mast or a RC Heli and earning $1k- $2k for each one (heli). It's a skill only a handful can accomplish.
In my area the agents pull out a P&S cameras and say "this is all I need".
I've got an appointment with a group of realtors this coming month.
I should also note that the FAA has commercial photography with RC Planes and helis ruled out until they can regulate the crap out of it. It can still be used as a hobby. Currently many are using masts, kites and balloons.
Troy
http://www.jonathanswinton.com
http://www.swintoncounseling.com
A friend of mine is an agent and he hires a small local firm that not only takes the pictures, but also does a floor plan and web hosting of all the images and the floor plan for an unbelieveably low figure. I really don't know how they make money doing it but when he asked if I wanted to supply his images I said "no".
A former sports shooter
Follow me at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bjurasz/
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Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
I enjoy the look of mast aerial photography but having worked in my own aerial photo business fo the last few years. I found that realtors usually want a higher perspective. Just last week I photographed a multi million dollar home on the waterfront and she only wanted to show it's relation to the ocean, which you couldn't get with a mast.
I do have an aerial photography marketing course that I purchased a few weeks ago if any of you up and coming aerial photographers need some good marketing techniques.
Troy