A captivating first experience goes a long way in the real estate market. Professionally taken pics can make a deal go all through successfully. A well-lit-up image taken from the right angles is what a client wants to see. A client wants to know what a place looks like through the photographs. As a genre real estate photography is very specific but at the same time it is marketable.
We have put a few pointers together for you to understand the requirements of this industry if you want to take up the career professionally and be excellent at it
What Is a Real Estate Photographer?
Every real estate agent has prospective clients lined up looking to buy a property from their listing, but everyone wants to see images first. A real estate photographer’s job comes into play here. You as a photographer will need to click sharp images that are attractive enough to lure customers and buyers.
Real estate agents tie up with photographers to take sharp pics from various angles and use these images for their online portfolios. As a real estate photographer, you will also be tying up with architects, interior designers and builders to get more work. A photographer will also work with assistants who work on equipment handling etc.
What Does a Real Estate Photographer Do?
Real estate photographers have to make sure they handle all the pre-and post-production responsibilities as well apart from clicking appealing and flattering photographs. Choosing a profession in real estate photography requires you to have a knack for taking pictures that make properties look their best.
You need to know the angles you are going to click from, the setup and how you want the place’s interiors to look you need to edit the pictures to enhance them. We have dissected the key duties of real estate photographers for your understanding:
- Planning a list of shots to get the images from the best angles, and highlighting key features is a must.
- A skilled photographer will capture both the interior and exterior of these properties.
- Adjusting the light as and when required is a key skill if you are aiming for this profession.
- Take care of pre-planning the shoot with the right equipment, charged batteries and memory space.
- If you wish to be a master of the art, you must keep your camera, lighting gear and lenses well-maintained with regular cleaning.
- The art of editing pictures is a must, it will help you enhance the images further.
- Make a compilation of your best work to create a portfolio that you can showcase.
- You must learn to network with clients, real estate agents and designers to be able to get more work.
Different Types of Real Estate Photography
- Residential Photography – This is the most popular and in-demand photography in real estate. It will require you to shoot, single and multi-family homes, condos, townhouses and even luxury homes. You will be shooting interiors, exteriors and even ariel drone shots if required.
- Commercial Photography – These refer to properties that are sold for commercial purposes, like office spaces, hotels, storage houses, restaurants etc. These pay better but are less in demand, if you opt for commercial real estate, you will also be expected to have better equipment.
- Architectural Photography- You need to have a heightened attention to detail if you want to shoot the architecture of a project. You will be required to shoot and highlight, the interiors, exteriors, the flow of the building and quality of the construction. You will have to highlight special features, and clever use of space, your clients would be civil engineers, builders, designers and architects of course!
- Interior Photography – Applicable to both residential and commercial, this kind of photography will require you to highlight furnishings, mood, color, amenities etc. Your clients could range from luxury homeowners to magazines and more.
Which Type of Real Estate Photography is Right for Me?
There is no hurry to specialize in one area. You must begin your career with whatever opportunity that comes your way, and build your portfolio. The most popular and in-demand is residential photography and it is a good idea to start working with real estate agents to get more work. If you want to get into a niche, architectural or interior photography would be a good place to start. But working your way up after understanding what you genuinely like is the right way to go about it.
Steps to Become a Real Estate Photographer
- Master Photography Basics- You need to begin your career by understanding in depth about the camera, and lighting equipment and how they work. You need to have an artistic eye for angles and frames to be able to take pictures that tell a story.
- Invest in the Right Gear – Make an investment in a good camera, lenses, tripod, and lighting equipment that are suitable for real estate and architectural photography. Your camera should be able to take in-depth images that are sharp.
- Get to Know Your Camera- Practice as much as you can to understand what your camera can do. Explore different settings, light conditions and angles with different indoor and outdoor shots.
- Learn Photo Editing- Color correction, exposure adjustment etc. are all part of photo editing that help enhance the image you have taken and make it look brighter.
- Market yourself: Advertise yourself locally and on social media. Meet clients, and network and get to know more people in your field like real estate agents, designers etc. to be able to get more work through word of mouth. Make your online presence up-to-date and professional.
- Create a Strong Portfolio- Make a compilation of your finest work, any client before hiring you will want to look at your previous work and you want to show them the best.
Companies Real Estate Photographers Can Find Work With
Real estate photographers are usually hired by property developers, builders and real estate agents who need to showcase their work to promote it and sell properties. Architectural firms who want to highlight their art, property management companies and owners of vacation home rentals tend to hire real estate photographers as well, Real estate photographers and their high-quality images are what these companies and home owners need to cut through the competition and stand out in the market.
How to Price Your Real Estate Photography and How Much Can You Earn Yearly
Before you price your photography, you must consider the following aspects:
- Size of the Property- The larger the property more the price.
- Your Experience- More the experience in the field, the higher the price.
- Travel and Distance- The longer the commute, the higher the charge to cover the travel cost.
- Video Footage- If the client requires video footage, you must charge more for the longer time, the extra equipment and editing required.
- Number of Photos- If the clients require more pictures from various angles than you are offering, you must charge more.
- Turnaround Time – If the client needs the photographs before the usual delivery time, you can charge more for faster delivery.
- Location- Research local rates as per the city you are working in. Major cities charge more than small towns.
Let Styldod Handle Your Real Estate Photo Editing!
Professional photo editing brings back the lost zing from photographs that lighting conditions, weather and other minor distractions can cause. Outsourcing your photo editing to us at Styldod helps you focus more on your photography and less on post-production services.
Outsourcing to us means you don’t have to master software and still manage to get your work done with expertise. We help you deliver your best work as well as meet deadlines. You will have an edge over your competitors.
You have more time at hand to be able to click better pics and grow as a business simply by collaborating with us.
Why Choose Us?
- Automated + Manual Corrections- Basic edits such as brightness, and exposure are done automatically but the more intricate details like object removal, and sky replacement are taken care of by experts manually.
- Rapid Turnaround- At Styldod we offer industry-leading turnaround time. We complete edits in 2-24 hours and that works perfectly for photographers with tight deadlines.
- Bulk Order Capability -We offer consistency and excellence with every image even if there is a bulk order. Our experts can handle multiple projects at once without compromising on quality.
- Tailored Editing- Our experts can add tailored effects and a dramatic flair like sky replacements, twilight effect, object removal etc. to images per your requirement.
- Premium Results – Our work will set you apart from the others. We provide you with images that attract clients and give your brand visibility.
FAQ
Which is the Best Camera for Real Estate Photography?
We would advise you to go with a full-frame mirrorless camera for your real estate photography since they are versatile.
What Lens Should I Use for Real Estate Photography?
There are a lot of options in the market. We would suggest a Nikon Z5 body with Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2, and Nikon 17-28mm f/2.8 lens or a Canon EOS RP or Canon EOS R7 with Canon RF15-30mm F4.5-6.3 lens.
Learn more - Best Lens for Real Estate Photography
What Editing Software Should I Use for Real Estate Photography?
You can edit your real estate images to perfection with Styldod or Adobe Photoshop.
Shital Gohil
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Styldod