Comments on: New Real Estate Photographers Starting Business http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/ Helping Real Estate Photographers Be Successful Fri, 25 May 2012 01:11:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Maj http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/comment-page-1/#comment-3283 Maj Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:03:02 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/#comment-3283 If you were just starting out and only had an SLR (Fuji S2 Pro)with a flash (SB-80DX), would you spend money on a wide angle lens (mine now is 24-120) or a strobe light or 2? Or, would you just go with what you've got and learn a little bit first? This site is GREAT and so helpful! Thanks for any and all comments! If you were just starting out and only had an SLR (Fuji S2 Pro)with a flash (SB-80DX), would you spend money on a wide angle lens (mine now is 24-120) or a strobe light or 2? Or, would you just go with what you’ve got and learn a little bit first? This site is GREAT and so helpful! Thanks for any and all comments!

]]> By: Chad Jones http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2999 Chad Jones Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:13:34 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/#comment-2999 I currently have created a business centered on 360 tours, photos and custom websites geared directly towards real estate. I work for a real estate company in southern California. I helped create this business for the company i work for. They use it for agent recruitment and as a benefit for working for our company. We currently charge $79 for a 5 view tour, $55 for unlimited photos. One draw back is that I only have access to a pool of about 250 Realtors in my area because of the "company benefit" factor. To help my business grow, the company i work for is allowing me to go outside the company but charge more for my services. Because of this I am creating my own virtual tour application built with Symfony (PHP, MYSQL, Apache). My background was in IT management and I have played around with web programming quite a bit over the years before I got into this business. Always enjoyed filming and photography, just couldn’t afford the gear on my own. This gave me the opportunity. The biggest suggestion I can offer is to get a car that has the best gas mileage. Gas eats at your profit the most out of anything. This business can create so many referrals in so many ways with little work. If you have great customer service, sales, photography and computer skills you can really create a business that sells its self with a good package of services. I currently have created a business centered on 360 tours, photos and custom websites geared directly towards real estate. I work for a real estate company in southern California. I helped create this business for the company i work for. They use it for agent recruitment and as a benefit for working for our company. We currently charge $79 for a 5 view tour, $55 for unlimited photos. One draw back is that I only have access to a pool of about 250 Realtors in my area because of the “company benefit” factor. To help my business grow, the company i work for is allowing me to go outside the company but charge more for my services. Because of this I am creating my own virtual tour application built with Symfony (PHP, MYSQL, Apache). My background was in IT management and I have played around with web programming quite a bit over the years before I got into this business. Always enjoyed filming and photography, just couldn’t afford the gear on my own. This gave me the opportunity.

The biggest suggestion I can offer is to get a car that has the best gas mileage. Gas eats at your profit the most out of anything.

This business can create so many referrals in so many ways with little work. If you have great customer service, sales, photography and computer skills you can really create a business that sells its self with a good package of services.

]]> By: Joe Fultano http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2980 Joe Fultano Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:51:33 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/#comment-2980 It's funny. I came across this site because it was linked from Strobist. I consider myself an advanced amatuer looking to pick up a part time job for a little extra money to buy those lenses and other photo goodies I want. I'll be sure to keep track of this site and maybe get some stuff posted if I can break into the RE photo business. It’s funny. I came across this site because it was linked from Strobist. I consider myself an advanced amatuer looking to pick up a part time job for a little extra money to buy those lenses and other photo goodies I want. I’ll be sure to keep track of this site and maybe get some stuff posted if I can break into the RE photo business.

]]> By: rd3 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2684 rd3 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:04:32 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/#comment-2684 About new RE photo business Below is an excerpt from Dave posted on January 25th (having to do with panoramic virtual tours) I am new and in no way as professional as any of you…But, I do think that the cheap VT’s are killing the quality and reputation of the VT’s of what i see from all of you… I shoot maybe 12 stills and 3 panos, give the realtor a website(the home address), a downloadable brochure business card cd’s(5) for $119.00 I brand the website to their companies colors so its an added value.. I ONLY go to the three closest counties for business, thats it..I have a gas guzzler and if i went all over, it would not be worth it. If they just want me to take stills, thats even easier, 10 stills for $59. i can have the shots up on a website/slideshow (not a personal website) in 20mins. How can so many people be thinking of getting into RE photography when someone is out there sells stills, panos, CDs and brochures for $119.00? Not only that,Dave will cover three counties. Egad, we’re doomed! There is no business model that can support this kind of pricing. We have all the national RE photo franchises here and they probably average $175.00. That is bad enough, but $119.00 is crazy even if one assumes the quality of the work is just as lack luster as the franchises. Of course, all of this changes if the business is off the record and Dave has a trust fund. Then the model likely works. For the rest of us…let’s hope Dave is overstating his value proposition or is in someone else’s market. About new RE photo business

Below is an excerpt from Dave posted on January 25th (having to do with panoramic virtual tours)

I am new and in no way as professional as any of you…But, I do think that the cheap VT’s are killing the quality and reputation of the VT’s of what i see from all of you…
I shoot maybe 12 stills and 3 panos, give the realtor a website(the home address), a downloadable brochure business card cd’s(5) for $119.00 I brand the website to their companies colors so its an added value.. I ONLY go to the three closest counties for business, thats it..I have a gas guzzler and if i went all over, it would not be worth it.
If they just want me to take stills, thats even easier, 10 stills for $59. i can have the shots up on a website/slideshow (not a personal website) in 20mins.

How can so many people be thinking of getting into RE photography when someone is out there sells stills, panos, CDs and brochures for $119.00? Not only that,Dave will cover three counties. Egad, we’re doomed!

There is no business model that can support this kind of pricing. We have all the national RE photo franchises here and they probably average $175.00. That is bad enough, but $119.00 is crazy even if one assumes the quality of the work is just as lack luster as the franchises. Of course, all of this changes if the business is off the record and Dave has a trust fund. Then the model likely works. For the rest of us…let’s hope Dave is overstating his value proposition or is in someone else’s market.

]]> By: kelly http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2607 kelly Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:55:17 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/#comment-2607 All great suggestions. I'd add another... Instead of handing your great photos over to an agent, post them to your own web site. They'll link to it. (that's a real good thing!) Create an "online buyers guide" (hub) where buyers can easily browse. You'll quickly create traffic, agents will/should advertise for you in their ads. You'll build a web property that will have lasting value and you'll be able to sell advertising on your site, creating an more of a residual income that can more than cover your hosting costs. This has worked very well for us over the years. Interested? Keep in touch. /kelly thomas SIHomeTours.com All great suggestions. I’d add another…
Instead of handing your great photos over to an agent, post them to your own web site. They’ll link to it. (that’s a real good thing!) Create an “online buyers guide” (hub) where buyers can easily browse. You’ll quickly create traffic, agents will/should advertise for you in their ads. You’ll build a web property that will have lasting value and you’ll be able to sell advertising on your site, creating an more of a residual income that can more than cover your hosting costs. This has worked very well for us over the years. Interested? Keep in touch.

/kelly thomas
SIHomeTours.com

]]> By: Photography For Real Estate » Real Estate Photographers; Team With Stagers http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2589 Photography For Real Estate » Real Estate Photographers; Team With Stagers Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:57:07 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/#comment-2589 [...] want to amplify and expand on a comment that Justin Soles made on yesterdays post. There’s probably no more potentially symbiotic relationship as that [...] [...] want to amplify and expand on a comment that Justin Soles made on yesterdays post. There’s probably no more potentially symbiotic relationship as that [...]

]]> By: Justin Soles http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2586 Justin Soles Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:48:08 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/#comment-2586 I think it's also partially a realization by Realtors that there's just too much inventory and too many realtors that are offering the same thing. Having a professional team that includes home stagers, photographers, home marketing gurus and website wizards helps a Realtor sell themselves better than the competition when it comes to winning listings and also maintain high turnover even in leaner markets. IMHO, what this means for the RE photographer who's just starting out is: a) Look for allies: introduce yourself to others who provide similiar services to Realtors, specifically home stagers and website gurus who can pull together to help a realtor really sell a home. b) Provide a 'one-stop' service: RE agents don't like spending time arranging schedules for multiple people, so if you can provide them with a single place that can arrange home staging, photography and producing marketing collateral (online & print), they'll be happy. c) Target the newer Realtors: My guess is that the newer Realtors are probably more Internet-savvy and understand the power of the image as well as the value of their time. That's not to say that more established Realtors can't use their browser and/or put together a decent webpage...but newer realtors are also the ones who need to fight the hardest to win listings and are most likely to be receptive to new ways of working. Anyway, my 2 cents Canadian...YMMV. I think it’s also partially a realization by Realtors that there’s just too much inventory and too many realtors that are offering the same thing. Having a professional team that includes home stagers, photographers, home marketing gurus and website wizards helps a Realtor sell themselves better than the competition when it comes to winning listings and also maintain high turnover even in leaner markets.

IMHO, what this means for the RE photographer who’s just starting out is:
a) Look for allies: introduce yourself to others who provide similiar services to Realtors, specifically home stagers and website gurus who can pull together to help a realtor really sell a home.
b) Provide a ‘one-stop’ service: RE agents don’t like spending time arranging schedules for multiple people, so if you can provide them with a single place that can arrange home staging, photography and producing marketing collateral (online & print), they’ll be happy.
c) Target the newer Realtors: My guess is that the newer Realtors are probably more Internet-savvy and understand the power of the image as well as the value of their time. That’s not to say that more established Realtors can’t use their browser and/or put together a decent webpage…but newer realtors are also the ones who need to fight the hardest to win listings and are most likely to be receptive to new ways of working.

Anyway, my 2 cents Canadian…YMMV.

]]> By: Michael http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2574 Michael Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:55:51 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/#comment-2574 Yes, real estate agents are finally waking up and realizing their "point and shoot" cameras are not enough if their property is listed at above $1 million. It takes a professional to make those expensive properties look like what "they really do look like" if you'll allow me. And it is about time! Yes, real estate agents are finally waking up and realizing their “point and shoot” cameras are not enough if their property is listed at above $1 million. It takes a professional to make those expensive properties look like what “they really do look like” if you’ll allow me. And it is about time!

]]> By: John Becker http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2572 John Becker Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:08:55 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/#comment-2572 I'm not in business yet, but I plan to be within a couple of years. I'm not yet advanced enough to confidently strike out on my own, so for now I'm keeping my gig as Marketing Director (looks better on a business card than it does on my paycheck) with a major firm in my town. I'll use this time to get my technical chops up to snuff and my business plan (and marketing plan) ready. I believe the most important factor in the proliferation of real estate photographers (if you want to call it that) is the rise of the internet as the most important and cost-effective marketing venue for real estate. Estimates of those who do most of their house hunting on the internet range from 70 - 80%. If you don't have great photos and presentation, especially for high-dollar properties, you're going nowhere. Thanks to Larry for giving us a great resource for learning and sharing info - I rely on it! I’m not in business yet, but I plan to be within a couple of years. I’m not yet advanced enough to confidently strike out on my own, so for now I’m keeping my gig as Marketing Director (looks better on a business card than it does on my paycheck) with a major firm in my town. I’ll use this time to get my technical chops up to snuff and my business plan (and marketing plan) ready.

I believe the most important factor in the proliferation of real estate photographers (if you want to call it that) is the rise of the internet as the most important and cost-effective marketing venue for real estate. Estimates of those who do most of their house hunting on the internet range from 70 – 80%. If you don’t have great photos and presentation, especially for high-dollar properties, you’re going nowhere.

Thanks to Larry for giving us a great resource for learning and sharing info – I rely on it!

]]> By: Real Estate » New Real Estate Photographers Starting Business http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2568 Real Estate » New Real Estate Photographers Starting Business Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:56:39 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2008/01/21/new-real-estate-photographers-starting-business/#comment-2568 [...] ReviewSaurus wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...] [...] ReviewSaurus wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]

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