Comments on: What Should I Charge For A Shoot?

By: annon

annon — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:57:37 +0000

A good photographer knows his market.
its no good being a great photographer if you dont have the contacts.
Invest in yourself with time and build a relationship.No sure about Seattle but some of the so called sleepy areas can pay well.

These days there are some pretty average photographers out there trying to get into the market, they can damage the pricing, but hopefully the agents are all educated on Photography and can spot and stay with the good photographers.

By: larry

larry — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:55:23 +0000

@Neil- OK. I see what you are saying. Excellent analysis and point. Thanks for taking another run at explaining.

By: Farmington MO Real Estate

Farmington MO Real Estate — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:47:21 +0000

Anonymous, Larry, – The point I was trying to make is that you cannot price the services above the value provided to the agent. The numbers used in the example are not important. What is important is not charging more than the value providd by the service. Each area is going to have it own set of commission rates, home prices and broker fees.

By: Erik Grammer

Erik Grammer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:53:23 +0000

Larry – absolutely true on commission structure and home price.

Seems these days that homeowners who planned on a huge windfall when selling are struggling with all that missed equity. I always cringe when I’m on a shoot and the homeowner pulls me aside to ask if I, the photographer, think the home is priced properly. (This is like asking your grocer if maybe you should have that rash looked at, no?) This has become so common that I encourage my agents to leave me in the house, alone with the homeowner, during the shoot. That way I can casually comment on how great their agent is at properly pricing homes in this market… how effective their marketing techniques are, how experienced they are in this area, etc., all in the course of casual conversation during the shoot. I consider this to be part of the service I provide and I know it has had a positive effect.

On a side note, alone with the homeowner is also great time for the photographer to mention things the owners might want to tidy up prior to the first open house. Homeowners tend to trust the eye of a photographer more than an agent when it comes to what looks good and it also keeps the agent from sounding like a heavy…

By: larry

larry — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:30:30 +0000

Yes, Anonymous is correct… even in the best of situations the listing agent is only going to make 3% (the other 3% typically goes to the agent representing they buyer) and it’s not realistic to assume anything in todays environment about what the listing agents are making. Commissions are negotiable. On bank owned properties, “short sales” or foreclosures the agent may not make a dime. Banks will work agents out of commissions to make deals go together if given a chance.

The other reality that everyone needs to understand is that price is THE overriding factor. When a home is priced too high the best photos available can’t make it sell. And in todays market, where home sellers are still in denial about what their home is worth, it takes a VERY good listing agent to get the seller to price their home at market value.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:52:50 +0000

“Consummisions on a $150,000 run about $9000 ($150,000 x .06).”

No agent I know makes 6% on a listing. They gross 3% and then have to pay their brokerage and expenses ect. You want to piss off an agent real quick? Start talking about how they’re going to make $60k on a million dollar listing.

By: Moorestown Homes and Real Estate Education

Moorestown Homes and Real Estate Education — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:30:33 +0000

This is a well put together list that any business oriented photographer especially a new one should find valuable. I think your last point is most valuable.

By: Farmington MO Real Estate

Farmington MO Real Estate — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:35:12 +0000

There is one item left out “What is the value of your product to the consumer”.

For Example:
If you charge $150 and the the $150,000 home sells in 6 months instead of 12 months, is that a good return for the agent??? Here are the numbers: Consummisions on a $150,000 run about $9000 ($150,000 x .06). So the agent has a choice; pay $150 now and get $9000 in six months or wait 12 months and get the full $9000. The interest on $9000 for 6 months is about $450. This is the amount the agents loses by waiting the extra six months. The interest on $150 for 6 month is $7.50. This is amount of potential interest that the agent loses by paying you now. So the net gain for the agent for using your services is $450-$7.50 = $442.50.