Even with the recession, real estate is a multi-billion dollar market in all major developed and developing countries. What do you think is the first thing people see when they are looking to buy a property? The answer would be photos of the property in question. Humans respond best to visual stimulation.
So quality and interesting photography is very important and if you are a property photographer you should take it seriously. Why? Because your livelihood depends on it! If you are trying to sell real estate photos to realtors and they are not worth the dollars the realtor pays, your effort will be wasted.
Real Estate Photography Tip #1: Capture the Best Images
The intention is to sell the property, so your photography should definitely be attractive to people who see it. Try to highlight the best features of the house; the features that potential buyers would like to see are the most important. Photography also depends on the nature of the property – residential or commercial. Actually, the images should show your talent and skill. While looking for real estate agents to view images, sometimes you need to provide samples, so capturing the best images will go a long way in closing the deal.
Real Estate Photography Tip #2: Sell Your Images
To make a professional living in this type of photography, take 1-2 years to build a solid client base. You can set up a professional website with your portfolio, current projects (if any), specialization, skills, and plenty of clear HD images for potential buyers to see. Of course, you need to do a lot of marketing to get customers. Start by exploring the area you live in and any others you have easy access to. Get in touch with real estate agents in the area, show them sample pictures, and if luck is on your side, you’ll get your first offer soon!
Real Estate Photography Tip #3: Land High-Profile Clients
Getting high profile real estate clients to buy your photos is not easy because there are always better photographers around you and you also lack experience at first. So, after working for a year or two with local real estate agents, think about migrating for high-profile clients. The pay rate is definitely higher, but you need to have real skills and knowledge to get an edge over others. Ask yourself: what is it about you that sets you apart from other real estate photographers? Once you answer this, develop that aspect for better projects.
Of course, getting high-profile clientele isn’t easy. Be prepared for sample photo shoots as part of a personalized sales pitch.