"Rethink" Professional Real Estate Photography

Professional photography is the cornerstone of nearly every magazine ad, mailer, branding campaign, website design, and more... in truth, thousands of other examples can be given. In real estate, today's buyers are demanding better quality and more photos to help them make a decision to visit your listing... and sellers are asking "Why is my agent showcasing my home with mediocre imaging?"(or worse... from a smart phone)

It's a proven and well documented fact that homes with professional real estate photography have, on average, sold in less time and for more money. The problem that many real estate agents have is that they think that real estate photography is too expensive ... or they simply believe that they can do their own professional photography for less. The following addresses these views in the industry.

Real Estate Photography is too expensive!

In most areas of the country, a "LOCAL" professional Real Estate Photography company can be hired between $100-$400 for each listing depending on size of home or  time on-site. Local real estate photographers live and eat in the same communities that you list your properties in --- and know your customers. They will typically showcase your listing by showing their work on Facebook, YouTube, their website and much more. The amount of exposure that you get with professional real estate photography should help you to not only sell your listing, but also to gain new prospective buyers and sellers because of the quality marketing that you provide.

Another thing that many agents forget to notice, or even utilize is the fact that once they have professional real estate photography done on one of their listings, they then have stock photography of what they do. Agents can use their stock photography in seller presentations, websites, blogs, social media and much more. (depending on the copyright license agreement of course)

The ROI for professional real estate photography lasts much longer than the life of your listing if used correctly, and should never ever be overlooked.

As a professional photographer myself, I urge you to consider a good local photography to work with. Just as in all sales, it's all about the relationships you build that you will succeed with.

The DIY Real Estate Agent/Photographer:

"Just because the plumber knows a bathroom very well, doesn't mean he should choose the wallpaper." In the same way, a great Real Estate Agent knows real estate very well, but capturing the art in emotional photography should be left to the artist.

After owning HotShotPros.com for what seems like forever now, I have had dozens of clients ask me to train them on how to use their new SLR camera. Unfortunately for them, our professional photographers have been honing their skills for years (if not decades) to be able to capture emotion in architecture. To try and teach someone how to capture emotion in a few sessions is upwards of impossible.The camera is simplay a tool, not unlike a paintbrush... and nothing more. The photographer is the artist behind the lens. This reminds me of when my own mother told me "Your camera takes great pictures!" I then responded by saying... "Thanks mom, and your oven cooks a great roast!" (LOL)

In short, it's important that our clients understand that our equipment is simply a group of tools that help us capture emotion in a manner that engages and attracts. For real estate, a photographers main focus should be to generate traffic for their client so they can do what they do best... "Sell Real Estate."

Forward:

A professional real estate photography company is a valuable resource to any real estate professional, and should be (if it isn't already) considered for every real estate listing and marketing plan. I hope that you've found this article useful, and if you need more help finding the right Real Estate Photography Company for your business, take a look at this article that I've written here. "

If you're looking to hire a professional real Estate Photography Company.... Ask them the top 10 Questions first: Choosing a Photographer for Real Estate "Top 10 Q's"