Comments on: Ad on newyork.craigslist.org: $12 per assignment photo taking job

By: Mindy

Mindy — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:26:06 +0000

I am an agent, I am amazed at this agents offer of 12 BUCKS. I bet he was trying to do BPOs (Broker Price Opinion) for banks and they pay about $40-$75 per BPO and require photos. In Dallas Real Estate Photographers get at least $75-150 per job. More on the luxury listings.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:26:08 +0000

I’ve heard of other companies offering less than $12, so if this is a ridiculous offer, a lot of other realty companies and following in his footsteps.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 18:15:40 +0000

Maybe craigslist would work better if people replied to the ads..I send out tons of emails for jobs that were posted, and yet none of the people who ‘urgently’ need help ever reply back.
I am beginning to think craigslist is some kind of a joke.
I mean if they truly were in need of help they’d at least have the common courtesty to reply to every email.

even if they were already hired at least respond back

By: TC

TC — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:30:05 +0000

Sounds like these are of homes that he has not yet listed.

In other words, he is using the outside photos to try to “get the listing.”

Then perhaps sending the photo to the homeowner and saying, “we hire professional photographers to market your home. Here is a sample..”

Now, I don’t know about you but if I saw some stranger standing outside and taking a photo of my home without permission, I would be a bit upset.

Ask yourself…

1. If this guy has no listings, then what houses does he expect someone to take photos of?

2. Why doesn’t he want photos of the interior? (Cause they are not his listing yet?)

3. $12.00 an hour would just about cover flipping burgers at McD’s.

4. What happens if the homeowner comes out and starts freaking out that you are taking photos without their permission?

Jeez…..

By: James Northen

James Northen — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:23:52 +0000

Pretty funny really – This person is a bonafide member of the “ZPC”, Zero Producers Club and won’t make any impact on anything to do with real estate let alone real estate photography.

By: Andrew Ptak

Andrew Ptak — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:18:14 +0000

I’ve fought this kind of crap all of my life. I tell potential clients who do this to go and hire a kid just out of Photo school and when they mess it up and the client comes back to me, the rate will be double the original quote.

The main problem lies with photographers though, because almost always someone will do a job for almost nothing because they think it gets their foot in the door. Automated equipment makes any idiot think that they can shoot and we photographers have done a very poor job in educating our clients.

I don’t think any of this will change though, we just have to be vigilant, stick to our guns and be prepared to loose a job rather than price it too low.

By: Matthew Robertson

Matthew Robertson — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:06:17 +0000

This ad tells me a lot about the calibre of the agent. 98% of agents are satisfied with bad photography, but at least they visit their client and perform the ‘service’ themselves. This gentleman is willing to pay someone $12 so that they don’t need to visit their own customer.

This ad runs on a regular basis on Craigslist in Toronto:

“I am a freelance photographer with a background in arts photography (Ontario College of Art and Design). I provide carefully lit and composed images for feature sheets and MLS. I charge $65 for a 1-2 hr. shoot, and provide minor lighting and staging. Please email me for a sample feature sheet.”

By: Cherie Irwin

Cherie Irwin — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:47:01 +0000

This really goes to show much some agents value good photography when it comes to marketing their listings. They know they need photos, but they don’t realize that quality comes at a price, or perhaps they don’t care. On the other hand, they may dealing with dumps in foreclosure and just need photos to submit to the bank that they are representing.

Needless to say, it is our job to show an agent the value of our work, otherwise…well, I guess they’ll pay someone else $12 to snap their pics.

By: Susanne Hayek

Susanne Hayek — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:26:31 +0000

Well…I looked at his website and he doesn’t show any current listings…

By: Tony Meier

Tony Meier — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 04:54:46 +0000

I agree with Scott on this one! As an agent… how can he expect the public to treat him with value and respect if he is not willing to offer the same courtesy to the people he hires?