Find A Real Estate Photographer Near You
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Finding a real estate photographer near you can be a real challenge. Between dealing with either one-person business or contracting out to a big name national company like Momentum 360. Knowing what you need and how you are going to use it, is always the first step. Sure, you can just blindly search “real estate photographer near me”, but that can churn up a whole array of results. And when you do find a real estate photographer, if they are good, you hold on with both hands. Loyalty to photographers can be fierce in this game, but who can blame the agent? With hundreds of dollars to photograph a residential or commercial listing, and with big commissions on the line- finding a real estate photographer can be a big risk.
Real Estate photographers, and how to find them. If you’ve decided against using a curated list of specialist photographers from a company like Momentum 360, then there are some solid and steadfast methods and examples you can employ to make sure you find the right real estate photographer. Keeping to these tips will be time consuming, but will ensure you get the best value you can. These six rules will help you get the most bang for your buck, come away with stunning photos of your listing, and empower you to say, “I found the right real estate photographer for me!”.
Rule #1: No Phones!
Yes, these wonderful smartphones do have very nice cameras. Some of them can even shoot from a wide angle. Which is impressive. But not the same as a “real” D/SLR camera, but why? On facebook, the MLS, or even right when taken, they might even look the same. So save yourself a few hundred and take your own photos, right? Especially in this 2021 housing market?
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Starting with the fact that the image sensor in a DSLR or SLR, the digital part of the camera that is the “eye”, is vastly larger than in any phone. When you are finding a real estate photographer near you, don’t be afraid to ask what kind of gear they will be using! Fun fact, photographers usually love to talk about their gear. If someone gives you a shifty answer, or won’t simplify technical information, it’s time to find someone else.
Phones are versatile and easy to use. Most people don’t go further than ten feet from their phone without getting worried. Phones can also fit into cost effective photography accessories. From gimbals for smooth, smooth video, all the way over to ND filters and upgraded microphone. But nothing can change the fact that you rarely have ISO control (how sensitive the image sensor is to light), or that the image sensor has the diameter of a grain of rice. Compared to the full frame 35 millimeters that a professional real estate camera has, the quality just does not show under even faint scrutiny. A second tip, someone who uses a “full frame image sensor” versus a “cropped sensor”- go with the full frame. When it comes to image sensors, size matters.
Rule #2: Know What You Want From Your Real EState Photos.
You’re not a photographer, that’s why you’re hiring one to take pictures. But you still need to know what you want. Having a shot list, a breakdown of must-have photographs, is going to make your life a lot easier. If you don’t know, that’s ok as well! Just make sure you communicate openly with the photographer about what information or expectations you do have. It’s absolutely acceptable to say, “I trust your judgement”. But know then that you will have slightly less control on what comes out on the end product.
While you’re setting expectations, now is the time to show samples. Perhaps you or someone on your team used a photographer that had striking angles. Maybe you worked with someone in the past who just nails it every time. Photographers aren’t offended at the realization that you have done business with and hirted other photographers in the past. In fact, most will warmly welcome the guidance.
All good photographers will bend over backwards to make the life of the client easier. Anyone who scoffs or is closed to viewing others’ work, needs to hit the road. We need the best photographers, not the biggest egos.
This is where I’ll drop the obvious point of checking a portfolio before booking anyone. Not only do you need to know what you want when finding a photographer, you’ll need to know what they can offer. Some people simply do not know how to say “no” to a job they are not equipped to handle in either skill or equipment or both.
When finding photographers near you- know what you want, be assertive in what you want, and don’t take photos without knowing what you are looking at.
Rule #3: Etiquette Matters For Real Estate Photographers.
The photoshoot might only cost you a few hundred, but the house is for sale for a few hundred thousand. Even if the photographer shows up when the client is not home, presentation matters. Making sure a photographer is up to the standards of your brand is important. You never know when someone might be introduced, and you want to make sure you are seen as associating with high quality photographers. A clean and tidy presentation is the preferred look. We can leave the suites and ties at home, right next to the gym shorts and regular shirts
Someone who takes pride in their looks is going to take pride in their work, which means your listing will show better. It’s a small, telling piece of information that will help you instantly gauge the professionalism of a photographer.
Shoe covers? Proper PPE? Collard shirt? This is what you want showing up at your listings front door.
Another note on etiquette- response time matters. Good photographers are busy, but that’s no excuse for unreturned calls. And even after the fact, timely delivery should be something explained and laid out. One must be realistic, 24 hours or less is a rush, and if you’re getting that for free, fantastic. Anything between 48-72 hours is acceptable.
Rule #4: For Photographers, Banks Don’t Take Experience As Mortgage Payments.
When finding a photographer near you, the worst thing you can do to help your cause is to offer experience or exposure in exchange for work. Anyone who has even the faintest idea of what they are doing will run from the hills at the offer of exposure for work. Did you land a seven figure listing? Great! That does not mean your commission gets turned down to have less of an impact on the buyers and sellers- nor does it mean you can pay a photographer less than normal rate. Pro tip, there is a very high chance a good real estate photographer near you is going to shoot 1-2 seven figure listings a week.
When finding photographers near you, knowing and setting expectations for pricing can be important. You don’t know what their costs are, so asking “Will you do it for $X dollars?” can put the photographer in an awkward situation. Some photographers will show up with over $10,000 in equipment, ready to roll. Inquire about quotes, don’t make demands- and always remember that you’ll catch more with honey than vinegar.
Rule #5: Where To Begin Searching For Real Estate Photographers.
This can be a tricky question. Ask your local Facebook group, and you can get dozens of people tagged or commenting. You know, like seagulls. Conversely, if you live in a small town, there might not be any real estate photographers that even live near you. Travel costs are real and completely acceptable.
The next best place to find a real estate photographer would be a directory. One of the most popular is Google Trusted Photographer. An important distinction; these people do not work for or are contracted by Google. They have simply uploaded enough 360 panoramic images to Google Street View that have been verified to be considered legitimate. The directory is free to use, free to participate in, and those in it get to use badges and Google branding to show off their affiliation.
It should be noted that this is different from googling for a photographer. Just because they are a Google Trusted Photographer, does not mean they will rank anywhere in the first ten pages of your local search. Nor does it mean that they are endorsed by Google. It is a phenomenal headcount for one-person photography studios that can morph and come up with great solutions, especially those who do not engage in Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Anyone who is running a pay per click (PPC) campaign can easily rank as the first three choices on Google. So finding those gems can be finding the exact photographer you were looking for.
Another point, check the third, fourth, and fifth pages of google and beyond. There, we might find a sweet spot between experience and exposure, where cost effectiveness and value live in harmony.
Rule #6: It Is What It Is.
So, you’ve done it. You did your homework, have a shot list, searched for “find a real estate photographer near me”, booked someone, and the big day is here. Here are some quick tips to help the photos look the best. Have the client put their toilet seats down, tidy up the best they can, and at best leave for the hour or so it will take to photograph. The agent being on site is a matter of choice. Once you are comfortable with a photographer, you might have no issues with trusting them near your client. But at first, you might want to tag along, and that’s just fine. Any photographer who isn’t ok with you being on site; that’s a reg flag. Conversely, stay out of the way. The time to make and present a shot list has come and gone. They are on site, the gear they have is what they have. Back seat photography (“driving”), is only going to make your photographer rush through the job, just to get you off their back.
Conclusion, The Last Word In Finding A Photographer Near You.
Simply put, finding a photographer near you is an important relationship to invest in. Starting with a simple search, “find real estate photographers near me”, is a solid and reasonable first step. But making sure you understand your photographer, and that they understand your needs and style from one listing to another, you will see the working relationship improve, as well as your images. Doing everything you can to help them do everything they can to make the listing look fantastic is an important step to listing a house, even in this market, and simply must not be overlooked.
