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PFRE is the original online resource for real estate and interior photographers. Since 2006, it has been a community hub where like-minded professionals from around the world gather to share information with a common goal of improving their work and advancing their business. With thousands of articles, covering hundreds of topics, PFRE offers the most robust collection of educational material in our field. The history of real estate photography has been documented within these pages.
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Image banner for the February 2024 PFRE Photographer of the Month Winner Art Ibewuike, with a featured image of his winning photo titled "Living Room or Family Room""

Congratulations to Art Ibewuike, February 2024 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "Living Room or Family Room". Art Ibewuike - #895 Paul-Dan Dragoman - #898 Peter Wingfield - #900 Here's what Art has to say: Thank you so much for ...

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For over a decade, photographers from around the world have participated in PFRE’s monthly photography contests, culminating in the year-end crowning of PFRE’s Photographer of the Year. With a new theme each month and commentary offered by some of the finest real estate & interior photographers anywhere, these contests offer a fun, competitive environment with rich learning opportunities. 

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PFRE prides itself on the depth and breadth of the information and professional development resources it makes available to our community. Our goal is to help real estate and interior photographers be successful while bringing the community together and elevating the industry as a whole.
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Copyright Law vs Real Estate Photography

23/04/2021
No Comments
Read about the state of our legal system and how it affects the ownership of your copyrights if you want to work in the real estate industry.
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Copyright Registration and the Importance of "Chain of Evidence Custody"

09/03/2020
31 Comments
Author: Mike Boatman This is my personal viewpoint. This is my opinion based on my personal experiences. Other people have different experiences and therefore, their viewpoint may be different than mine. Understanding What You’re Up Against I will boldly repeat something that I stated in my previous article because I believe it is worth repeating: […]

Who Owns the Copyright for Real Estate Images?

07/08/2018
3 Comments
Jack in Florida says: I'm starting to get confused about who actually owns copyright privileges to the images that are posted on the MLS. My local area Real Estate Association seems to think that they do once they are on MLS. They even put their Association logo on the images posted to MLS. Do real […]

Congratulations To Dave Williamson in Perth On Winning His Copyright Court Action

15/07/2015
4 Comments
Dave Williamson in Perth, AU has been engaged in a copyright dispute/misunderstanding since January of this year. This was a typical real estate photography dispute about listing photos being used by an agent different from the one they were licensed to. I wanted to highlight this decision because it helps to have clear resolved example […]

How Much to Sell Photo Rights For?

08/11/2023
12 Comments
You should find the right approach for setting prices when offering real estate photography services. This is crucial if you want to sell photo rights and give up the license of your digital files. We're explaining how much to sell photo rights for and how you can set reasonable rates. How Much to Sell Photo […]

Canon Shutter Count: How to Check Shutter Count on Canon

In: 
29/08/2023
You don’t want a camera that will stop working in the middle of your real estate photo shoot. Since shutter count varies across camera models, knowing how to check shutter count on Canon will give you a clear idea of the condition of your camera and how long it will serve you. How to Check […]

How to Become a Freelance Photographer

22/06/2023
No Comments
Entering the world of freelance photography takes dedication, hard work, and a passion for capturing visually stunning moments. With the right steps, creating a rewarding and successful career in this field is possible. Here's a quick guide on how to become a freelance photographer. How to Become a Freelance Photographer To become a freelance photographer, […]

How to Install Gradients in Photoshop

12/06/2023
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Learn how to install gradients in Photoshop to utilize the built-in presets for gradients and increase design capabilities.

How to See Camera Settings in Lightroom

08/06/2023
No Comments
Cameras save your shooting settings when taking a real estate image, especially the ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and focal length. However, when editing, you may sometimes need to know the settings to serve as a reference. This guide shows the different ways how to see camera settings in Lightroom. How to See Camera Settings in […]

How to Batch Edit in Lightroom

11/04/2023
No Comments
It's possible that you'll need to edit thousands of real estate photos in one go. Batch editing is one of the best Lightroom features that can help you post-process real estate photos easily. Discover the different ways how to batch edit in Lightroom to save time and effort. How to Batch Edit in Lightroom To […]

What Is Adobe Bridge? [Complete Overview]

01/03/2023
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The computer’s file browser doesn’t have advanced features that can let you organize a large collection of photos. Understanding what Adobe Bridge is and how it operates allows you to take advantage of its advanced file management features to organize your photos. What Is Adobe Bridge? Adobe Bridge, also known as media manager or digital […]

How Much to Charge for Real Estate Video

In: 
02/11/2022
16 Comments
Creating real estate videos is one of the most popular services you can offer. Real estate videography serves as virtual tours to help realtors increase sales by exhibiting properties, listings, homes, and neighborhoods. How Much to Charge for Real Estate Video The average price of real estate photography and videography video production can range between […]

JPEG vs DNG Image Format: Which is Better?

In: 
19/09/2022
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Depending on how appealing you want your real estate photos to be, you can capture them in a compressed file format for posting or in RAW format for post-processing. The following JPEG vs DNG guide will help you determine which file format to use for your camera and post-processing application. JPEG vs DNG Image File […]

Darktable vs Lightroom Photo Editing Software

19/09/2022
No Comments
Darktable and Lightroom are popular photo editing applications with key features that allow you to sharpen and tweak the brightness of images. These image processing applications aim for non-destructive editing on raw photos. Below, I compare Darktable vs Lightroom so you can decide which one will suit your needs best. Darktable vs Lightroom General Overview […]

What Is a Photographer Virtual Assistant?

29/08/2022
Since real estate photography goes beyond shooting the photos to editing the images to get the best composition and still meet the Multi-Listing Service (MLS) aspect ratio requirements, you might need a skilled assistant to help with post-processing editing. So, what is a photographer's virtual assistant?  What Is a Photographer Virtual Assistant? A photographer virtual […]

Real Estate Headshots Pricing: How Much Should You Charge?

23/08/2022
23 Comments
Do you want to offer headshots for the agents you work with, yet you don't know how to charge for your work? Real estate headshots pricing can be tricky, so we're going to help you.

Real Estate Photography Contract Guide

03/08/2022
No Comments
Being a photographer is not all about photo shoots; you also have to prepare enough legal protection for your business and your clients. We're going to look into tips on writing a real estate photography contract to protect your work better and help you gain a higher reputation as a professional.

How to License Your Photo: Photo Usage Rights Guide

11/07/2022
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No matter what kind of photography you do, learning how to license your photos is essential to growing and increasing revenue for your photography business.  In today’s internet era, it’s easy for anyone to illegally download and use images both online and in print, making an airtight photography license agreement your best tool to get […]

How to Make a Brush in Photoshop from an Image

06/04/2022
No Comments
Although Photoshop comes with up to 49 brushes, you might want to edit and add some special effects to your real estate photos that the featured brushes can't add. Knowing how to make a brush in Photoshop from an image can help solve this problem. How to Make a Brush in Photoshop From an Image […]

How to Watermark Photos in Photoshop

14/02/2022
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Here are the step-by-step guides on how to watermark photos in photoshop and how you can apply a logo as a watermark.

How to Use Lightroom

23/09/2021
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Learn how to use Lightroom with these tips on file management, preset application, and editing techniques for real estate photography.

How to Edit in Lightroom Like a Pro

23/09/2021
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Lightroom has proved to be a total game-changer in the world of image editing. It has become one of the leading post-processing programs used by many professionals. By learning how to edit in Lightroom like a pro, you can take your images to a whole new level in a matter of minutes.

How to Organize Lightroom

20/09/2021
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Is it hard for you to manage images in Lightroom? Here are tips on how to organize photos in Lightroom to improve your editing workflow.

How to Open RAW Files in Lightroom

06/05/2021
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Learn how to open raw files in Lightroom with the help of this article, which includes our top tips, recommended actions and guided steps.

How to Save Photos From Lightroom

21/04/2021
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Many Lightroom users find the software’s specific methods confusing as they are against the generic ones that they are used to. Lightroom does it a bit differently when it comes to saving photos due to its non-destructive design. Understanding how to save photos from Lightroom will make it convenient for you to use them outside the software.

How to Import Photos Into Lightroom

20/04/2021
No Comments
If you want to organize or edit your photos in Lightroom Classic CC, you first need to import them. The process to import photos, although easy, is highly comprehensive, where you get multiple options to handle your images efficiently. Let us walk through how to import photos into Lightroom so that you can organize and process them easily.

How to Add a Watermark in Lightroom

07/04/2021
No Comments
Watermarking your photos is a way to promote your work and protect it from plagiarism by claiming its ownership. You can add a watermark to a photo via an easy process with Lightroom Classic CC. Learning how to add a watermark in Lightroom will enable you to add a text or graphic identity to the images you have taken.

What Lightroom Export Quality Should You Use With JPEGs?

04/02/2021
19 Comments
Suppose you've changed your camera setting back to 'fine' for better photos, yet the MLS does not allow uploads over 10MB.

How to License Real Estate Photos to Builders and Other Third Parties

14/07/2020
No Comments
In my line of work, there's a common scenario that comes up all the time. A third party, not related to the real estate agent, wants to use photos you created for their own marketing. Some common examples of when this happens: You have likely experienced some version of these scenarios as a real estate […]

My MLS Is Now Claiming a License for the Photos I Upload

27/03/2019
Pamela in Florida says: As I am uploading some photos to the MLS for an associate this morning (I'm also an agent and photographer), I see this pop up for the first time - "...I hereby grant to MLO an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, resize, adapt, […]

How Can Real Estate Photographers Use Social Media to Promote Their Business?

25/07/2018
22 Comments
Daniel recently asked: I have a question in regards to real-estate photographers and social marketing. I've been in business for 5 years now but have never done ANY type of advertising (besides maybe a handful of business cards). I've recently created a FaceBook page for my business but it's constantly blank as I seem to […]

Why Are Some Agents Asking Real Estate Photographers to Sign a Work for Hire Agreement?

03/04/2018
18 Comments
in LA asks: I got a call from an agent today to shoot a condo next week. I set up a time and everything and just as I was about to hang up he said he had a new agreement form that his office wants photographers to sign and that it says he will own […]

My MLS Told Me I Am Not Allowed to Sell My Photos to the New Agent Taking Over the Listing

24/10/2017
27 Comments
Mike in Pennsylvania says: I was just told by the MLS in my area that I am not allowed to sell my photos to the new agent taking over a listing that is on a different broker of record. She told me that the broker of record and the agent own the rights to the photos. […]

Should You Be Concerned When Realtors Watermark Their Listing Photos?

14/02/2017
11 Comments
Ryan in Texas asks: Should I be concerned about listing services that allow a Realtor to watermark their listing photos? The watermarking of photos appears to advertise the realtor's services and prevent the photos' subsequent appropriation by another realtor or broker should the listing agent lose the listing, but it seems like a slippery slope. […]

Can Previous Listing Agents or Homeowners Control the Use of Your Real Estate Photos?

17/01/2017
15 Comments
Jim in New Mexico asks the following question: I recently shot a home for a new broker who just got the listing. Since I photographed the same home 1 year ago for another broker and the previous seller, I felt compelled to use some of the previous summer season shots of the yards. All interior […]

What To Do If You Find Someone Using Your Image On A Website Without Your Permission?

09/05/2016
16 Comments
Pierre asks: I have a question regarding the internet blog "Curbed". They are using my photos regularly to write articles about the Los Angeles Real Estate Market. They comment on various listings that I shot getting their information and images from the MLS. They have no way to know those are my photos because the […]

Explanation Of Real Estate Photo Licensing For Agents

30/12/2015
Eric in Southern California asked for the following: I've been looking through the site for a basic simple explanation on copyrights and usage for real estate agents to understand. I've been a photographer for most of my life and doing real estate photos for about eight years and in working with several different agents in […]

Sky Replacement For Real Estate Photography - Should You Do It For Free or Charge Extra?

In: 
18/11/2015
14 Comments
Kimi in Minneapolis has the following questions about sky replacement, adding fire in the fireplace and putting images on TVs: The Minneapolis photography market is getting a bit more competitive these days, and one thing that a local photography company is doing as part of their package is replacing grey skies with blue, adding flames […]

Who Owns The Photos? Not All Realtors Understand Photo Licensing

22/07/2007
31 Comments
Do your clients think they own the photos that you shoot for them? Mike over at www.martinvirtualtours.com told me about a misunderstanding that he recently had in which he shot a tour for a new construction agent where he included some neighborhood photos in the tour. Later, he provided the same neighborhood photos to a […]
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