Real Estate Photography

[Shadow_3211]

Hello i am Newbie to this Forum and just wanted to start off by saying Hello to everyone at this forum.I'm sorry if i posted this in the wrong section but wasn't sure where to go with this question. My question is i am interested in getting into Real Estate Photography and just need to know how to go about starting this up so i was hoping someone would have some knowledge about this they could forward my way. I have a Canon A70 with a 256mb Sd Card. Any info would greatly appreciated.Thanks...

Cheers!!

[GB1]

Sorry that I don't have any info for you, although I wonder if what you're really referring to is architectural photography? Shooting real estate such as houses, condos, buildings, etc. shouldn't really be all that difficult from a technical perspective. You'd mostly have to worry about the temperature of the lighting and how it would affect your film.

I've known some realtors over the years,and if you can take good pix of houses and are available, a lot of the agents would be interested in hiring you as needed to get them some snazzy shots

[Shadow_3211]

Thanks GB1 thats the kind of info i'm lookin for To help Realtors out by taking the photos for them so you think there would be a big demand for something like this do ya. How would i go about approaching them with this kind of thing.

Thanks!

[Clemmie]

In most of the country, the Realtor themselves just take a snapshot with a Polaroid - however good or bad (usually BAD) - and that's what ends up in the newspaper ad, and in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) guidebook that goes out to all the Realtors in the market region.

San Diego? You're in an upscale, booming market - lots of potential customers. You get started by knocking on doors, one realty office at a time. Start out cheap, like $10 a shot perhaps, to sign your first few customers and get some shots in circulation. Then, honor your commitments and do a great job. Pretty soon, when your pictures are in print, their friends (other Realtors) will start asking "Who's your new Photographer?" Go sign them up!

Get a cellphone, if you don't already have one, and give that out as your business number. Realtors, especially in a metro area, live and die via cellphone - and so does anyone working for them. Availability "on call" will be key - they HAVE to be able to reach you directly, on the first attempt.

You're stepping into what has traditionally been a 'do it themselves' market, so it will be a slow go at first. You'll have to prove yourself with superior work from day one. The money won't come until you have grown your market base, and your reputation, to the point that you no longer have to chase them down, but they'll be calling you.

At that point, you can start gently easing the rates upward - but don't get greedy about it, as you can easily alienate everybody.

Good Luck.

[Shadow_3211]

In most of the country, the Realtor themselves just take a snapshot with a Polaroid - however good or bad (usually BAD) - and that's what ends up in the newspaper ad, and in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) guidebook that goes out to all the Realtors in the market region.

San Diego? You're in an upscale, booming market - lots of potential customers. You get started by knocking on doors, one realty office at a time. Start out cheap, like $10 a shot perhaps, to sign your first few customers and get some shots in circulation. Then, honor your commitments and do a great job. Pretty soon, when your pictures are in print, their friends (other Realtors) will start asking "Who's your new Photographer?" Go sign them up!

Get a cellphone, if you don't already have one, and give that out as your business number. Realtors, especially in a metro area, live and die via cellphone - and so does anyone working for them. Availability "on call" will be key - they HAVE to be able to reach you directly, on the first attempt.

You're stepping into what has traditionally been a 'do it themselves' market, so it will be a slow go at first. You'll have to prove yourself with superior work from day one. The money won't come until you have grown your market base, and your reputation, to the point that you no longer have to chase them down, but they'll be calling you.

At that point, you can start gently easing the rates upward - but don't get greedy about it, as you can easily alienate everybody.

Good Luck.

Thanks Clemmie! That is a big help i had no idea where to start but knew i wanted to do this i have no luck in General Labour work i have had multiple jobs but i think photography is the way to go it is fun and you get to be creative and express your talent.

Thanks Again!!!

[GB1]

What I'd suggest is walking into R.E. offices (the bigger ones if possible) and leaving a 1-2 page portfolio (flyer) of pictures you have taken of condos and houses, inside and out. Make sure you show your best work. Like the other person stated, you're moving into the area that they traditional do themselves for free so you'll need to be cheap at first, and also extremely available and able to get the shot ASAP (within 1-2 days) for them.

Yes it will be a slow growing thing but once you get established you will prob find that you will get more and more assignments. Btw, if you know any RE agents that would be a great way to get your word around. A lot of stuff is word of mouth in RE and they'll tell their friends, etc.

[Janie]

I do real estate photography, specialing in luxury homes. Check out my website at http://fabledphotography.com to see examples. There certainly is a technique! It's NEVER just point and shoot! I use a wide angle lens. I try to shoot the exterior when the clouds are more interesting looking, as it adds interest to the portrait of the home's exterior. Inside, never shoot on a bright day - basic rules of backlighting = a very dark room! Get a wide angle lens and a telephoto lens. Why? ANY realtor can shoot a corner of a room, but not many get wide angle lenses to shoot the entire room! It also comes in handy with exterior fronts when a house has many trees - you need to get close to get the shot - otherwise you'll end up with a picture of a hidden house! You need to bring extra lighting too - not many people have efficient lighting in a room and those stupid floor lamps that point at the ceiling creates such horrible lighting in a room! Some fan lights look like space ships - best to turn them off and bring in your own lighting! Never use a spotlight, get 2 or 3 globe lights!