Looking for a real estate photographer to shoot your new listing?
In today’s competitive market, ensuring your listing stands out with high-quality real estate photography is more important than ever.
So, you want a professional to shoot the photos. But what exactly should you look for in a real estate photographer?
In this post, we will share 6 things to look for in a real estate photographer.
6 Things Agents Should Look for in a Real Estate Photographer
There are many real estate photographers out there competing for your business. But how do you choose the best real estate photographer for your listing?
The following 6 things to keep in mind will help your search and decision-making process.
1. You Want a Real Estate Photographer
Specialty matters. All photographers are not alike. For example, most photographers tend to specialize in certain types of photography, such as:
- Portraits and weddings
- Senior and class pictures
- Nature, fashion, or food photography
- And product marketing photos
These are all valuable photography specialties but not what you’re looking for when you need real estate photos.
For example, an experienced real estate photographer will be able to do the following:
- Capture each room from its best angle
- Shoot with the right exposure levels and light for each room
- Be able to keep lines and perspective straight
- Know what photos to take to showcase the property best
Maybe you know a fantastic portrait photographer. But you might not want them to shoot your new listing. That’s not what they’re used to, and the results might reflect that.
So, in your search, look specifically for real estate photographers.
2. Inquire About Equipment
Let’s start by recognizing that the photographer’s skills, eye, and experience are most important. Still, the right gear and equipment are important, too.
First, you want a real estate photographer who works digitally. Most real estate photographers do, so this shouldn’t be difficult.
Second, you want your real estate photographer to shoot with a modern DSLR or mirrorless camera to allow for a high enough megapixel photos for your real estate needs.
Further, you’re looking for a photographer who has the following at their disposal:
- The proper lens kits and filters
- Steady tripods, guides, and glides
- Drones, 3D cameras, and the ability to shoot video
- And adequate flash and lighting options
After all, you want bright, clear, detailed photos to give your potential buyers a feel for the home. The right photography equipment will help achieve this.
Learn more by reading this article on a no nonsense guide to real estate photography gear.
3. Check Out Their Work
You’ll want to check out the real estate photographer’s previous work before hiring them.
The majority of photographers have websites with online portfolios so that you can see samples of their work. And here are some things to look for:
- Images from different types of properties, rooms, and exteriors
- Each and every photo looks clear, bright, and without flaws
- And that both interior and exterior images look great
Real estate photography has a specific “look and style,” but many photographers add their personal touch to their work. You’re looking to see if their style matches your marketing vision.
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4. What About Photo Editing?
Any real estate photographer can tell you there’s much more to do than just taking photos.
And while you might think that real estate photos look relatively unedited, you’d be wrong. There’s always work that has to be done behind the scenes to make the photos perfect — and that work is real estate photo editing.
With that in mind, here are some things to ask any potential real estate photographer:
- What editing programs and applications do they use?
- Are they skilled at editing their photos?
- If they outsource editing, who do they use?
- Also, how experienced an editor are they?
They should be able to give you a basic overview of their editing process but don’t expect the details. Editing is personal; your photographer may want to protect some of their secrets.
Now, while it might be tempting only to hire a photographer who uses the popular Adobe Suite, many other quality editing programs are out there.
If your real estate photographer doesn’t edit at all, this might be an issue. However, if their portfolio is solid, don’t eliminate them from your possible choices, but keep it in your mind.
For more details, read this article on how real estate photo editing makes your listing stand out from the crowd.
5. Real Estate Photographer Reviews
It’s always a good idea to search through online testimonials and reviews of the photographer’s previous and recent work.
To find their work, look at these possible sites as sources:
- The photographer’s business website
- Their Facebook business page
- And local professional review sites
Additionally, you can seek out former clients to see if they have good things to say. Of course, some photographers keep a “testimonials” page on their portfolio site but remember that they will only display the good reviews.
Above all, you’re looking for happy customers.
6. Last but Not Least, the Price Point
Real estate photographers charge a variety of prices, and these usually reflect the property type, the number of photos, and the photographer’s experience level.
Look for photographers who are within your budget. But don’t skimp on the photography. Deciding solely on price is usually a mistake. Why?
- Experienced real estate photographers usually get the best results
- The quality of the photos is crucial – 97% of home buyers begin their search online and use the listing photos to help them decide which homes to see
- And finally, the photos are your listing’s first impression — and a good first impression is vital in real estate sales
Remember, you get what you pay for.
And you’re not just paying for the few hours the photographer spends to take your photos. You’re paying for the editing time, experience, and equipment they bring to the shoot.
You might want to read this article on real estate photography pricing in 2024 for more information.
Now that you know what to look for in a real estate photographer, let us share another important real estate marketing resource with you.
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We hope you benefited from this article on 6 things agents should look for in a real estate photographer. If you liked this article, you might want to check out the following related resources:
