What is a portfolio? Let’s start here. It is a collection of your best work, when you want someone to see the kind of work you have done, your portfolio is what you will be presenting, showing off your skills and creativity. It is the same in every industry including real estate photography. In a way, it is your visual resume. Helping you attract clients like realtors, homeowners, or business owners and getting them to work with you. When you have a good portfolio, you portray yourself as trustworthy and professional. Let’s discuss how to build a real estate photography portfolio step by step.
Building a strong real estate photography portfolio is crucial for attracting clients and showcasing your skills. Here's a breakdown of key steps:
First things first, every business has to understand the target audience. Who are you doing it for? Is your target to bring in luxury realtors, homeowners, business owners, or people looking for budget housing? You need to ask yourself this question because every group has a different set of needs. For example, high-end luxury realtors would want fancy pictures, while homeowners would want to look at a space that is warm and comforting. Knowing what your audience needs and then delivering accordingly is the key.
Before you go click-click-click, do a little homework about what other photographers are doing, look at their work, understand what is trending and what is working, and then decide on how you want to click pictures. You can also come up with new ideas and do something different when you know what the others have already done. You will need to plan your photoshoot in advance to be able to deliver the best.
Apart from displaying your work, give other details about your services as well. You should mention the unique services you offer, like, do you use drones? do you take twilight photos? Do you offer virtual tours? Mention everything that will make you different from the rest. Including pricing etc. Make it clear why the client should choose you and what makes you special. This will help you stay ahead of the competition.
To create a photography portfolio, you have to include only your top-quality photos in the portfolio. Make sure your photographs are a mix of everything that you have worked on. If you have worked on more than one variety of properties, remember to add them and create a mix. Categorize your portfolio into homes, offices, and other spaces to have an organized and balanced collection that is ready to impress. Your portfolio should not look monotonous to the viewer.
Another thing to keep in mind is your photo editing style, it has to be the same for all images to look professional. Your portfolio should have a combination of outdoor and indoor shots, like landscapes, and portraits as well. Let the client know that you can deliver whatever it is they need. The variety makes your portfolio interesting and lets the client know that you can do it all.
Fixing lights, improving colors, and removing any unwanted object that is distracting the image is a must and for that, you need to edit your images like a professional.
Tools like Styldod’s AI object removal are great for these edits and it will help you save time and effort. To make your portfolio look polished, you need to be consistent with all your images.
A simple and uncomplicated website is the way to go. Make sure your website is highlighting your photos and your work is in the limelight. Include photo sliders, quick loading times, and very importantly mobile-friendly layouts. A well-designed site will help people enjoy your work better.
Once you have picked a design, displaying your best work is next. Your clients can simply access it to see what you do and how well you do it, but your websites should have the following sections to look professional:
When you add these sections to your website, it looks complete and professional. Creating a photography portfolio is not just about displaying your work, but also building trust.
Once everything you’ve done is ready for the world to see, the next step is to get the right visibility. You have to be seen in the right places and to the right audience. You have to market yourself well. Here are a few ways to achieve that as well.
It is always advisable to have a digital version of your portfolio on your phone or cloud storage. When you meet someone while you are networking or responding to a sudden inquiry, it is always helpful to have something to show for your work, it shows that you are professional and prepared.
If you already have a client base, you can share your portfolio through emails. Send it out in your networking groups as well to keep people interested. You need to update it often and keep adding new pictures. The answer to “How to build a real estate photography portfolio that gets noticed?” is by sending it out everywhere. As we said, visibility is key, so when someone needs the services, the person who comes to their mind is you.
Everyone is on social media today, and that is where you will get maximum visibility. Be it Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, you have to be on it. Make video content for engagement and run targeted campaigns to reach the right people. You can also harness the power of SEO to show up on the internet when someone is searching for services you offer. It is all about being in the right place at the right time.
It is not complicated to build a real estate photography portfolio. All you need to do is, think about who you want to work with, flaunt your best photos, and keep things simple yet professional. An easy-to-share and up-to-date portfolio goes a long way. Ready to get started? Create your portfolio today and let your photos speak for themselves.