What To Look For In A Great Real Estate Photographer
When it’s time to list a home for sale, there are lots of decisions to make. Whether you are the homeowner or the real estate agent, it seems like the work to be done is never-ending. Between listing appointments, price comparisons, overall maintenance of the property being sold, and putting together the perfect listing, the process is quite overwhelming. Most homeowners and agents know that great real estate photography can make or break a sale. When you choose your real estate photographer there are certain things that you must look out for.
8 Things To Look For In A Great Real Estate Photographer
Here are eight ways that you can find yourself a great real estate photographer. Choosing based on portfolio or price alone will likely leave you disappointed in your final product.
#1 – Portfolio
Every great photographer will have a portfolio of images that they can share with you. You should be able to see from this portfolio if they have a style and a branding that interests you. A real estate photographer’s portfolio should be offered digitally and easy to see on a professional website. After all, this is essentially their resume.
When looking through the portfolio of a real estate photographer, there are a few things that you should be aware of. Try to see the quality of the images. This will give you a better idea of the photographer’s equipment and whether or not they are fully prepared for the job.
If the images are blurry or dull in any way, they may not have the proper credentials and experience to help sell your home. Another essential factor to look for is the angles of the pictures. Do the pictures make sense? Do they highlight the property in a way that makes it stand out and look its best?
You can learn a lot from a photographer’s portfolio if you know what you are looking for. Some photographers are more modern in the lighting and angles they use, and others are very traditional. Find something that matches your vision and goals for how you want your home showcased.
#2 – Professional Equipment
Imagine hiring a professional photographer and they show up ready to take photos with their camera phone. Although phone cameras can produce decent results, this is not the professional way of doing things. A real estate photographer should have at the very least a DSLR or mirrorless camera, and a wide angle lens.
Different situations can call for different equipment. Tripods, flash lighting, light stands, and flash triggers may be some of the other necessary equipment needed. Photographers often have rates that reflect the gear they use.
Depending on the type of property photography needed, using a wide angle lens on every shot may not produce the best results. Professional real estate photographers usually have different lens choices and understand how to select the right lens for the property.
#3 – Services Offered
All great real estate photographers will tell you that their services go way beyond taking pictures of a home. There is undoubtedly an art to real estate photography and that brings into play many other services that the photographer can offer.
A true professional is going to have several different ways to help you showcase your home. Look for someone that has some or all of the following services offered on their website.
- Aerial photography
- Aerial and drone video
- Professional video production
- Twilight photography
- Commercial and residential high end photography
- Matterport and Zillow 3D capture
- Editing
- Services for vacation rentals and landlords
- 3D Tours
Chances are you will not need to take advantage of all of these services; however, it is crucial to see the impressive qualifications and offerings of a photographer. If someone is skilled in both photography and video, they may be able to offer you a package deal. Photos combined with videos can be a very powerful feature when selling a home.
If you contact a real estate photographer that only has the ability to photograph, you should know that your options will be limited. WIth high end listings, people certainly expect to get drone footage, 3D tours, and more. Real estate photography is getting more and more involved, and you will need a professional that understands that.
#4 – Communication
Chances are you will talk to a few real estate photographers before you make your final decision on which one to choose. If you have a hard time getting in touch with the photographer or getting the quote you are looking for, be prepared to wait for your photos for a long time.
Real estate photographers are busy people. Listings come up every day, and sellers and agents are looking for photo sessions to happen within a few days. A great real estate photographer will get back to you quickly, give you days and times that they are available, and provide you with some excellent communication.
If you want the job done correctly with a true professional’s expertise, make sure you have a good idea of their customer service ability. In the end, you will need to get your completed and edited photos as quickly as possible so that your listing can go live. Proper communication is key for this to happen.
#5 – Pricing
When you start shopping for real estate photography, you will see that there is a wide range of prices charged. Some real estate photographers are going to be considered cheap, and others will have premium pricing.
Those with very cheap prices probably don’t have the same equipment or qualifications as the more expensive real estate photographers. Although we agree that it is great to find a deal whenever you can, you will want to invest some money into your real estate photography.
Choosing a photographer based on price alone is a bad idea. Find someone that has fair pricing and an impressive portfolio to stand behind it. If you are looking for the cheapest, be prepared to get work that is less than ideal.
If you are a real estate agent choosing one real estate photographer that you trust and that is reliable will save you quite a bit of money in the long run.
#6 – Understanding of Real Estate
If a potential photographer tells you that they can photograph anything, chances are they are just trying to sell you. When you talk to a great real estate photographer, they will understand the importance of showcasing a home.
Taking pictures of a newborn and taking pictures of a home are two entirely different skill sets. Although a person could potentially learn to do both, just because someone is a photographer does not mean they are going to be able to feature your home properly.
A great real estate photographer understands the world of real estate. They know what buyers are looking for and how people make buying decisions about homes. Since the majority of real estate shopping is done on the internet, the home has to be displayed and featured in a way that makes it stand out.
Real estate photographers know how to help you stage your home for photos. They will give you tips for making your house look bigger, cleaner, more updated, and brighter. Without this knowledge, the photos of a home will be ordinary, and chances are so will the first offers that come through!
#7 – Website and Social Media Presence
Unfortunately for real estate photographers, there is a lot that goes into running a photography business. Although many would love to just take pictures, there is a business side of this that is extremely important.
Professional photographers will have a website and social media accounts featuring some of their complete projects. They will have multiple ways for you to contact them and ask questions about potential services.
On the website and through the social media accounts, you should also be able to see customer reviews and testimonials. These will help you see the experiences that other people have had with this photographer. If you are looking for a local photographer, you may even know some of the people that have used them.
#8 – Local and Knowledgeable
Aside from the fact that supporting a small local business is a good idea, using a local real estate photographer can help you sell a home faster. The local photographers will know what is working to sell homes in that area. They will understand the local housing trends and what buyers are looking for.
For instance, when you are selling a home in the Warner Robins area, the buyers may be looking for something different from the Macon area. Knowing what buyers want will undoubtedly help the pictures come out much better.
A local real estate photographer will also know about recently sold homes in the area. Of course, many factors help a home sell fast, but if it was the real estate photography, they could emulate some of those best practices in their next shoot.
When you have a choice between a large brand with little interaction with the individual photographer or a small business photographer, you will get better service with the smaller business.
Conclusion – Choosing The Best Real Estate Photographer
Hopefully, these eight factors have helped you determine which real estate photographer is going to be the best choice for your next project. At Gates Images, we specialize in high end real estate photography. The services that we offer are ever expanding, and we keep up to date with all of the latest real estate and technology trends. Listing your home for sale is an overwhelming and exciting experience.
Choosing a Middle Georgia real estate photographer who understands your needs and will work to get you the finished pictures in 24 hours or less will undoubtedly benefit you and your client. Whether you are a homeowner or a real estate agent, reach out to Gates Images today.
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