Comments on: Synergy Between Real Estate Photography and Staging

By: ZZZ

ZZZ — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 23:32:52 +0000

@lory – I’m starting a real estate photography business up in sac, well at least trying to. I’m looking for the best way to approach it and the stager collaboration seems like a great way to get a foot in the door. From what I’ve read real estate agents understand the importance of staging and value it a lot. Maybe they will understand how important good photos are for showing the staging online?

How did you get your first gig?

By: lory

lory — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:44:47 +0000

My comments here are both about working with a stager, and a continuing reflection on an earlier discussion about setting fees. I am new to real estate photography. I live in SF Bay Area and I have photographed three houses for a realtor who is pleased with my work. I got a call two weeks ago from a stager who was in a jam. She has worked for the last four years with a photographer who offers virtual tour packages that include flyers. social network links, web hosting and so on for $150 or straight photos for $100. He was not willing to drive to where the home was, which was close to where I live (can’t blame him for setting a limit at his fees) but 40 miles from him, and she was staging in three days.

She had asked for a referral from the realtor who has used my photography and my name came up. I got a call from her. She was very upfront and not shy about asking what my rate and packages are (I have noticed that people in real estate are not shy about talking about money…which is good because I am…).

After reading the article here about not undercharging, I had decided to quote a $200 fee to start with all new people I might start working with. She said she couldn’t pay that (I only offer straight photography at this point) especially since the other guy did a complete package for $150.

She and I talked it through, she said she might look into software and do her own virtual tour using my photos instead of hiring that part out. She mentioned that if she liked my photos she would love to team up with me and if I settled on a smaller fee I would make it up in volume. Since I am still learning just about everything there is to learn to produce high quality photos, I agreed to start with her at $125 per house, and so far this last week I have done two houses with another one tomorrow. I realize this fee is too low, but I just don’t have the experience yet to know what the bottom line should really be…I don’t want to undercut anyone, so I’d love to hear what others are charging in the East Bay.

While I was photographing at the last house, the realtor who had hired her services dropped by and was very pleased to meet me and wanted to more about my services. He also asked what I charge, and before I could put forward my $200 rate, he said that the last photographer he had worked with charged $145…thus setting the rate he is willing to pay, as best as I can figure.

So, back to the stager part of the story; it looks like a possible way to meet the realtors she works with and she is very promotional in her orientation. She saw the landscape photos on my website and suggested I have large prints for her to use in the staged homes and she would offer them for sale (has anyone done this before?). I assume she is thinking I would pay for the prints and she would take a percentage if they sold, but we haven’t discussed the details.

All in all, I think this is a fabulous idea; great synergy for all parties.

Any thoughts?

By: christine alpert

christine alpert — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:29:25 +0000

I started as a stager in 2009 and am looking for any avenue that might help me expand my clientele. I have thought of real estate photographers and would love to team up with someone in my area (Bergen County, NJ) to try and share ideas and clients. All comments read here were very on target…

By: Emma

Emma — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:58:20 +0000

When I found out my son’s friend had an interior designer mom, I started overtly hinting I wanted to work with her, only to find out later her ID was actually in real estate staging! To keep her bottom line low, she does DIY photos, but I kept reminding her, and when she got a photo job that was over her head, who did she call? Maintaining those relationships is key: the first one is the hardest.
She still does DIY for as much as she can, but now she has someone for those tougher jobs. I now offer a package with her fee included as a subcontractor, and rather than refer out to me, she just subcontracts me as well. It’s a nice arrangement that has room to grow with other stagers in the area. They’re just like RE agents: they need to be educated about how much value good photos add to their bottom line in shorter sale times and great referrals.

By: Andrew Mayon

Andrew Mayon — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:14:57 +0000

I have recently teamed up with a Home Stager here and so far, things are working out great. She includes my services in her price and does NOT make it an option. It is included with her work giving the seller or agent TWO very valuable services at one time. It is a very symbiotic relationship…I need a Stager to help make the home look great, and they need me to photograph it so their work looks great online, where 85% of the market starts their research.

I now have Home Stagers in two other cities interested in working with me, so it creates more opportunities to get my work out there.

By: Photography For Real Estate » 6 Ways To Stretch Your Marketing Budget

Photography For Real Estate » 6 Ways To Stretch Your Marketing Budget — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:55:25 +0000

[...] that stage listings are likely to pay for good photography. For more details on this subject see this previous post on this [...]

By: Annie Maloney

Annie Maloney — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:53:37 +0000

I know a good deal about staging and have just started with the photography (I am a Realtor and want to do my own pics) with my new D60. In our area of East Tennessee I don’t think that service is even available, and if it is, I have not heard of anyone providing it. Sounds like a great idea for the higher end homes or even spec homes that builders are trying to push. Pretty interesting concept though…

By: Chris Thomas

Chris Thomas — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 08:03:24 +0000

Guys, this is a superb idea. The Oklahoma housing market is one of the most stable in the country, with sales only down 1-4%, but there are more and more empty, freshly built homes out there. There is only so much you can do to make an empty box look good.

It’s funny that Larry posted this because the timing could not be more perfect. Without making this a windy post (because I can get to some serious typing), a mutual friend suggested that we should partner up. I thought about it some and I think it would be a great idea. Currently it is a hobby for her and she really has no way to tax and bill clients right now. However if I was to bring her into my company as a partner- maybe change the name slightly- we might be able to build off each others talents. At the same time, I would also have an in-house stagger for my higher-end shoots, and I would be getting some business personally from photographing her projects.

As she is not established, and I am a new RE photographer of only a couple months, to me it seems like a viable partnership. Both of us need to build some clientele and our portfolio.

You know Larry, this site is a real thought provoker. Keep up the good work, I don’t know what any RE photog would do without these resources.

By: Mike Martin

Mike Martin — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:51:06 +0000

@Larry,
Maybe we need more specifics in what “teaming’ means. How about the below as a starting point?
Teaming Expectations:
1. Both will share links on each others website home pages.
2, The photographer will build and update a virtual tour of staging photos (unlimited quantity). Links can be used without restriction.
3. The stagger will include photography services within their staging package. A flat photography rate will be coordinated.
4. All photos can be used for any marketing use.
5. We will promote services jointly to all new and existing clients.

By: Allen Hoffman

Allen Hoffman — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:55:47 +0000

I’m still new to PFRE but I’ve worked with realtors for years as a mortgage broker. This business is all about the relationship and I’m sure it’s the same with stagers. If you ask once you will get a positive response and nothing else.
Remember, the serious stagers are building a business and won’t change their business model unless they see clearly how it will help them.
I have always had a better response selling a service if I took time to get to know their business, prove my worth, and prove my reliability.
How to do it? Do a few for free and let the stager and realtor see what you can do. Will you get burned from time to time? Of course! But that’s the price of finding the right relationships.