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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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What MLS Photo Size Should Real Estate Photographers Deliver?

24/11/2023
28 Comments
Have you tried delivering different MLS photo sizes? Perhaps a previous client wanted 800 x 600 JPG pixels, yet a new listing trend shows agents prefer 1600 x 2000 pixels for page photos. When uploading photos on a web page, your images tend to change or become smaller. What is the standard everyone is using […]
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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 […]

Top 6 Real Estate Photo Editing Services

08/11/2023
No Comments
Beautiful, quality photography is crucial in today’s real estate industry, and to create stunning photography, you need an editing service. In this article, I have listed the top 6 real estate photo editing services in the industry and compared them regarding services offered, pricing, turnaround time, and customer support. Top 6 Real Estate Photo Editing […]

My Formula for Real Estate Photography Pricing

23/07/2023
41 Comments
There are different ways and factors to consider when you’re deciding on how to charge for your work. Let’s discuss how to calculate rates, create packages, and avoid common real estate photography pricing list mistakes.

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, […]

Just In: New Real Estate Photography Statistics

23/05/2023
11 Comments
Good visuals like photos play a big role in the work of photographers, real estate agents, and even home buyers. If you're still wondering about the power of images, here are real estate photography figures you should know.

Unbelievably Bad Real Estate Photos

02/05/2023
7 Comments
I've pointed out Saskatoon agent, Norm Fisher's really funny presentation of bad real estate photos before but it's so funny I think it is worth featuring again. I feel like inventing a real estate marketing award for Norm's presentation. I was reminded of this subject by the fact that Athol Kay, a Connecticut Realtor got some coverage […]

Save Time and Money by Outsourcing Real Estate Photo Editing

24/03/2023
No Comments
If you're a real estate photographer, you know that post-processing can be a time-consuming and, therefore, costly process. But what if you could outsource your editing to a professional so that you can free up time to shoot more properties and grow your business? In this blog post, I'll explore how much it costs to […]

Where Is The Best Place To Build A Photographer Website?

09/01/2023
21 Comments
If you're a real estate photographer, having your portfolio website is one of the best ways to showcase your photography to agents and future clients. Since condensing years of photography work into one website can be difficult, the following are the best places to build a photographer's website. Our Top Places to Build a Photographer […]

Hot Real Estate Photography Trends for 2024

14/12/2022
No Comments
There's no way to predict definitively what the hot real estate photography trends will be in 2024, but I can make some educated guesses based on the market trends. In this article, I’ll present hot real estate photography trends for 2024 that will set the tone for another exciting year for real estate photography. With […]

Financial Checkpoints Before Starting a 3D Tour Business

28/10/2022
In my earlier blog about starting your own Virtual Tour business, I touched upon how to do in-depth research on different solutions in the market and what questions you should be seeking answers for when zeroing in on a solution. In this blog, I will dive deeper into the financial aspect of it all. Whether […]

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.

The Importance of Real Estate Photo Editing Outsourcing

08/06/2022
19 Comments
data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">?</span>This topic always seems to be controversial. There are strong opinions on both sides of the fence but despite our points of view, I think most of us can agree that there is a place for outsourcing in our industry. A few months ago, I wrote this […]

How to Grow Your Real Estate Photography Business in 2022

27/04/2022
Real estate photography is an excellent way to expand an existing photography business or turn your photography hobby into a flexible and profitable career. The good news is that real estate photography is booming, especially in times of the pandemic, giving you the perfect opportunity to grow your real estate photography business. In this post, we’ll […]

Best Marketing Strategies for Real Estate Photographers to Skyrocket Sales

17/03/2022
No Comments
To get your name out there as a real estate photographer, you need to develop a successful marketing strategy. With the right marketing strategy, you can build brand awareness and get more leads for your business. In 2021, 97% of home buyers used the internet to search for homes and they expect to see high-quality […]

How to Manage a Broker Deal

05/11/2021
No Comments
Landing an office deal? Here are some tips on how to manage a broker deal and keep your business running as smooth as possible.

Should You Offer Property Websites?

22/09/2021
No Comments
As a real estate photographer, should you be offering single property websites to your clients? Read on to learn more information about property websites.

How Much to Charge to Edit Photos

17/09/2021
No Comments
Are you wondering how much to charge to edit photos? We're sharing tips in setting rates for real estate photo editing to ensure profits.

How Much to Charge for Photo Retouching

03/09/2021
No Comments
Are you wondering how much to charge for photo retouching? We're revealing the ideal price range for real estate photo retouching services.

How Long Does It Take to Photograph a House?

22/06/2021
41 Comments
Similar to other kinds of photography, photographing real estate properties involves variables like natural lighting and composition. To determine how long it should take for professional real estate photographers to photograph a home, we're going to help you plan a timeline to capture quality real estate photos.

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.

What Is The Average Real Estate Photographer Salary?

30/03/2021
Are you among the lower-priced real estate photographers in your area? Do you feel afraid about raising your fees because companies might complain? We're going to see the average real estate photography salary, as well as tips on raising rates so that you can earn the standard pay or more.

Commercial Real Estate Photography Pricing

10/03/2021
No Comments
Pricing your work can be difficult, as low prices may not make your business profitable, and pricing too high can drive away clients. To make sure you earn more while providing the best services, we're going to discuss commercial real estate photography pricing, including types of packages and pricing considerations.

3 Ways to Know an Add-On is Right For Your Business

05/03/2021
No Comments
Are you considering offering an additional service to your business? Let's discuss 3 ways to learn how to know if add-ons are right for your business. When it comes to planning anything for your photography business, the important thing is to have the right people, a quality product, and a streamlined process in place.

Pre-Shoot Checklist Template

24/08/2020
No Comments
Most high-volume real estate photographers know that efficiency can make or break their business. This is why it is so important to ensure homes are prepped and ready prior to arriving on site. I've created a standard pre-shoot checklist for the community so please feel free to download, customize, and use as you see fit. […]

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 […]

Is Zillow Entering the Field as a Direct Competitor?

19/03/2020
22 Comments
Mike, from Palm Harbor, FL recently wrote in to advise me of a survey he received from Zillow. I found it both interesting and disturbing at the same time. I thought it would make for an important post for a couple of reasons. First, to give our community a heads-up of what might be coming […]

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: […]

Real Estate Photos Are Distorting Reality, Frustrating Home Buyers

17/05/2019
26 Comments
My post today is based on an article that was brought to my attention by David Williamson in Perth, Australia. The article's tagline was particularly interesting to me: "Wide-angle lenses, Photoshop, and virtual staging: Real estate photo enhancement is reaching new heights as desperate sellers look to sell imperfect homes."     Rosemary Counter - Macleans […]

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 Many Photos Do You Deliver for a Typical Real Estate Shoot?

11/12/2018
23 Comments
Marea in Florida asks: What are professional photographers charging for additional photos now that MLS is allowing 50 images? The fact is that many MLSs have allowed unlimited photos for many many years! So this is by no means a new issue. Back in 2015, I had a fairly extensive discussion on the subject of […]

How Soon Can You Schedule a Real Estate Shoot and How Long Does It Take You to Deliver Results?

26/11/2018
Taylor in West Michigan asks: I'm wondering if you have any information on average lead times and media turnaround times for real estate photographers working full time. This question reminds me of sitting at a home seller's kitchen table with my wife after the listing clients signed a listing agreement. The first thing out of […]

Onsite Dangers for Real Estate Photographers

06/11/2018
23 Comments
Dave in Australia pointed out this article on Fstoppers titled: The Biggest Dangers Photographers Face. The article points out several  specific on-site dangers for real estate photographers: Make sure homeowners are expecting you. One Atlanta real estate photographer was shot by a surprised homeowner who wasn't notified of the shoot. Beware, many listing agents aren't […]

What Should Real Estate Photographers Charge for Travel?

21/08/2018
9 Comments
Ashley in South Carolina asks: At what distance/mileage do you recommend charging a "travel" fee and what are the typical rates? As far as what to charge for your mileage and time, here are some considerations:

Creating and Printing Flyers for Real Estate Agents

20/08/2018
12 Comments
John in St Louis asks: Can you recommend a flyer and brochure printing service that services the real estate industry? There is nothing special about the needs of the real estate industry in the area of flyer/brochure printing. Many businesses use flyers and brochures. Here are some approaches for real estate flyers and brochures:

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 […]

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 […]

Is It Legal to Use Google Earth and Google Maps Imagery on Real Estate Listings?

26/12/2017
Leroy in Alberta asked: I started focusing on real estate photography this year and your site has been a very valuable resource! When I Googled this subject, I saw that some people referring to Google Earth Pro users being able to use images commercially, but sifting through the opinions on the online world to get […]
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