http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/03/05/in-this-economy-should-i-be-starting-a-real-estate-photography-business/ Tips and Techniques for Real Estate Photography Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:12:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/03/05/in-this-economy-should-i-be-starting-a-real-estate-photography-business/comment-page-1/#comment-22377 essphoto Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:57:47 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=1004#comment-22377 Please pardon my ranting in this post, but I see a disaster looming and I need to get this out! I would like to make a few comments regarding what I have seen become of the state of our industry. I have been shooting architecture for 6 years professionally and have done really well as far as the types of assignments I shoot and the money I’ve made. I have been published internationally and have a great reputation amongst my clients. Now, this last year has been particularly rough, as many of you can attest. About 2/3 of my clientele are RE Agents, the other 1/3 comprises of Architects, Developers, RE Management Co’s. etc… I have noticed very major drops in business due to three very major factors. They are: 1) Architects and the people that support them are not designing, or building any new projects. And, since they aren’t bringing in much new business, they aren’t marketing like they used to. 2) RE Agents are scared to spend the money to professionally photograph new listings because the listings stay on the market long past the contract term these agents have with their clients. 3) The influx of individuals, and big Co’s (like the one that advertises at the top of this blogs directory. And you had better check them out, because they are coming to a town near you!), who will shoot an entire house and give a ton of photos for a very nominal fee! (this one bugs me the most because they devalue what it is that we do). In most cases, they provide sub-par imagery at rock-bottom prices just to get the job. Now what I hear from my agents is that “It’s good enough and the price is right”. I actually had one of my biggest clients ask me to do a job for over %75 off my normal rate to match a new Photographer’s pricing! I have been shooting for this client for 4 years! They are now using the other person, because I refused to shoot an entire house for… Hold onto your hats… $40.00!!! Now personally, I wouldn’t get out of bed for that, but I have to tell you, that is who we are competing with. And, I can’t compete with that (The price that is, not the quality. The images were terrible). I flat out told my client to hire them. I refuse to compromise my quality, my integrity and getting paid what I am worth, just so I can keep an account that shows no loyalty. Now, here is the thing that really rubbed salt in the wound. I have an insider that I know who does not like the company and she filled me in that even though the market was down, the Co. had a banner year from volume! They made more money this year than they did in the last 2 years combined. Now as I am sure you all know, now that they know that they can pay someone so cheaply to shoot, they will never go back to paying the rates we charge and so rightfully deserve! I have friends that shoot all types of things from weddings to journalism and they are all experiencing the same phenomenon. I guess we can either join them, or beat them… Any suggestions? Please pardon my ranting in this post, but I see a disaster looming and I need to get this out! I would like to make a few comments regarding what I have seen become of the state of our industry. I have been shooting architecture for 6 years professionally and have done really well as far as the types of assignments I shoot and the money I’ve made. I have been published internationally and have a great reputation amongst my clients. Now, this last year has been particularly rough, as many of you can attest. About 2/3 of my clientele are RE Agents, the other 1/3 comprises of Architects, Developers, RE Management Co’s. etc… I have noticed very major drops in business due to three very major factors. They are: 1) Architects and the people that support them are not designing, or building any new projects. And, since they aren’t bringing in much new business, they aren’t marketing like they used to. 2) RE Agents are scared to spend the money to professionally photograph new listings because the listings stay on the market long past the contract term these agents have with their clients. 3) The influx of individuals, and big Co’s (like the one that advertises at the top of this blogs directory. And you had better check them out, because they are coming to a town near you!), who will shoot an entire house and give a ton of photos for a very nominal fee! (this one bugs me the most because they devalue what it is that we do). In most cases, they provide sub-par imagery at rock-bottom prices just to get the job. Now what I hear from my agents is that “It’s good enough and the price is right”. I actually had one of my biggest clients ask me to do a job for over %75 off my normal rate to match a new Photographer’s pricing! I have been shooting for this client for 4 years! They are now using the other person, because I refused to shoot an entire house for… Hold onto your hats… $40.00!!! Now personally, I wouldn’t get out of bed for that, but I have to tell you, that is who we are competing with. And, I can’t compete with that (The price that is, not the quality. The images were terrible). I flat out told my client to hire them. I refuse to compromise my quality, my integrity and getting paid what I am worth, just so I can keep an account that shows no loyalty. Now, here is the thing that really rubbed salt in the wound. I have an insider that I know who does not like the company and she filled me in that even though the market was down, the Co. had a banner year from volume! They made more money this year than they did in the last 2 years combined. Now as I am sure you all know, now that they know that they can pay someone so cheaply to shoot, they will never go back to paying the rates we charge and so rightfully deserve! I have friends that shoot all types of things from weddings to journalism and they are all experiencing the same phenomenon. I guess we can either join them, or beat them… Any suggestions?

]]> http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/03/05/in-this-economy-should-i-be-starting-a-real-estate-photography-business/comment-page-1/#comment-15254 Ian Haseltine -Real Estate Photography Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:48:49 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=1004#comment-15254 You have some really good points here. I especially like some of the marketing concepts. Thank you for the information. You have some really good points here. I especially like some of the marketing concepts. Thank you for the information.

]]> http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/03/05/in-this-economy-should-i-be-starting-a-real-estate-photography-business/comment-page-1/#comment-14900 Emarts Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:05:13 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=1004#comment-14900 That's a long post you link to and I didn't yet get to read it all. I did notice the comments about doing the initial shoot for free. I have a different approach to this. I offer to do the initial post at no cost unless they like the photos and use them. This takes away their risk, but still gets me paid as most times, they want the photos. That’s a long post you link to and I didn’t yet get to read it all. I did notice the comments about doing the initial shoot for free. I have a different approach to this. I offer to do the initial post at no cost unless they like the photos and use them. This takes away their risk, but still gets me paid as most times, they want the photos.

]]> http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/03/05/in-this-economy-should-i-be-starting-a-real-estate-photography-business/comment-page-1/#comment-14886 In This Economy Should I Be Starting A Real Estate Photography Business? - Larry Lohrman | Photo News Today Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:20:07 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=1004#comment-14886 [...] Source and Read More: photographyforrealestate.net [...] [...] Source and Read More: photographyforrealestate.net [...]

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