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How to Make Your Photographer Happy!

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Hearth & Home Videos

So you've decided to take the plunge and hire a professional to provide your photos and/or video tour of your listing.  When you have a professional come to shoot a home it is different than you going over to take the photos.  As a professional, my pricing is based on how long a typical house of a certain size takes to shoot.  The size also affects how much footage there is to edit afterwards.  

There are things you and the seller can do to make things go very smoothly and quickly for both you and the photographer.

 

Ways to Prepare for a Professional Photographer/Videographer

Do not have parked cars in the driveway or in front of the house (unless it is a very long driveway and then park at the end).

Remove all garbage pails from outside/next to the garage.

Do not schedule other service providers: plumbers, painters, landscapers, cleaners, chimneysweeps, etc. at the same time as the photographer - I cannot stress this enough!

Have all cleaning done BEFORE the photographer arrives

Have all major staging done BEFORE the photographer arrives.  Moving a vase here and there is fine, but now is not the time to rearrange furniture.

In bathrooms, remove clutter from counter and have toilet seat down.

In the kitchen, have counters fairly clear, no dish towels on oven/fridge handles.

Remove large fisher-price type toys, high chairs etc.

Outside, remove ladders and hoses.

Do not walk past doorways or stand watching from a hall - if you can see the camera, the camera can see you.

Remember, the photographer wants your listing to look as good as possible, just as you do.  If you share these tips with your seller and have the property ready to shine, it will benefit everyone.

Amy Hunter, Hearth & Home Videos/Photography in the Metrowest area of MA

 

 

Posted by

Amy Hunter,  Hearth & Home Videos

www.hnhvideos.com    Serving the Metrowest Area of MA

Comments(7)

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Jan Stearns
Jan Stearns, Waterville Valley Realty, Waterville Valley, NH - Waterville Valley, NH
Marketing Director for Waterville Valley Realty

Awesome post, Amy.  You'd think this would be common sense, but it's not.  As marketing director for a real estate firm, I've often accompanied the photographer to shoot new listings, and it's amazing how much time I have to spend clearing counters and furniture, making beds and opening/closing blinds in order to get the best photos.

Jan

Mar 21, 2010 01:57 AM
Marzena Melby
Coldwell Banker Burnet Realty - Richfield, MN
Realtor, Twin Cities Minnesota Real Estate

Great tips, Amy.  It can very frustrating to have to wait for the sellers to finish cleaning, or even to have to move things around with them before you can shoot.

Mar 21, 2010 01:59 AM
Andrea Cameron
Ultima Real Estate - Cedar Park, TX
(512)636-2675

Hi Amy,

Thanks for the great tips in your article.  I use a professional in my area for listings and I generally ask the homeowners to leave while the photographer is working.  I want to give her freedom to create without the client trying to be "helpful" :)...thanks again!

Mar 21, 2010 01:59 AM
Ralph Gorgoglione
Metro Life Homes - Palm Springs, CA
California and Hawaii Real Estate (310) 497-9407

Thanks for the post.

So many times sellers do not think ahead of time about having everything ready for the photoshoot.

Mar 21, 2010 02:01 AM
David Okada
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
Service-Beyond Your Expectations

Thanks for the post. I ran into this recently on an estate sale, and we did have to move art work around, but the photographs came out great. Most sellers don't understand about things being ready for the photographer even when you explain it to them.

Mar 21, 2010 02:17 AM
Fred Light
| Nashua Video Tours - Nashua, NH
Real Estate Video Tours for MA and NH

You hit the nail right on the head.  I'm amazed at how often I show up to a shoot and there is a gaggle of stagers, contractors, landscapers... plus a seller, an agent.. a few kids, a dog...   toys in the yard.... 

Even though a very lengthy checklist is sent out prior to the shoot, I oftentimes feel I'm interrupting life....

The best ones are those who start cleaning up when I ring the doorbell!  

Amazingly enough, I still end up on time to the next appointment 90% of the time!  

But it definitely helps if you're READY when the photographer arrives.  If you're not ready, it's best to reschedule.  Especially during the busy times, a delay due to a seller/ agent not being ready pretty much ruins the entire day and all clients that follow since I'm not able to keep my schedule.

It's part common courtesy - and part common sense!

Mar 21, 2010 03:06 AM
Ellie Shorb
Compass Real Estate - Chevy Chase, MD
Realtor DC, MD & VA Luxury Home Expert

Yep. Anything that distracts the eye (like a hose or trashcan - or newspapers in the bag on the lawn.... seen that too....) I love my pro photographers and always try to have your steps done! Great work!

Feb 08, 2011 01:51 AM