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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 April 2025 PFRE Photographer of the Month Winner Dave Koch, with a featured image of his winning photo titled "Primary Bedroom"

Congratulations Dave Koch! April 2025 PFRE Photographer of the Month

Congratulations Dave Koch, April 2025 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "Primary Bedroom".Dave Koch - Entry 1056 Peter Wingfield - Entry 1051 Paul-Dan Dragoman - Entry 1053Here's what Dave has to say:Thank you so much — this real ...

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

In: 
27/03/2019
By: Larry Lohrman
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, […]
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Pierre Galant from Pasadena, CA--March 2019 PFRE Photographer of the Month!

In: 
24/03/2019
11 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Pierre Galant from Pasadena, CA--March 2019 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "kitchen" and I saw 60 entries from around the world. This is Pierre's second POTM win already this year! Thank you to everyone who participated and to the jurors who took time out of their busy schedules […]

Congratulations to Andre Mckenzie - February 2019 PFRE Videographer of the Month

In: 
09/03/2019
7 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Andre Mckenzie from Toronto who has won the February 2019 PFRE Videographer of the Month Contest! Here is Andre's winning video. Here's what Andre had to say about his winning video: I am humbled and very thankful for winning the Videographer of the Month. Thank you to the community and all the judges. […]

Congratulations Matt Davis--February 2019 PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
25/02/2019
16 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
If it sounds like I'm repeating myself, it's because I am!  Matt Davis is once again the PFRE Photographer of the Month for February. The living room/family room contest always brings out a good crowd and this year was no exception. I had a PFRE record-breaking total of 60 entries this month from 10 different […]

Where to Host Your Video and Why

In: 
12/02/2019
21 Comments
By: PFRE Admin
Although there are many paid and free hosting platforms, not all are suitable for hosting real estate videos. Different platforms have different regulations and guidelines on the content you can upload and whether they can advertise other content through your videos. So, where can you host your videos?  Quick NavigationWhere to Host Your Video and […]

Congratulations to Jared Saulnier - January 2019 PFRE Videographer of the Month

In: 
03/02/2019
4 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Jared Saulnier from Portsmouth, NH who has won the January 2019 PFRE Videographer of the Month Contest! Here is Jared's winning video. Here's what Jared had to say about his winning video: Thank you for choosing my video for the January VOTM! This project was for what became the second highest sale in […]

Congratulations Pierre Galant from Pasadena, CA--January 2019 PFRE Photographer of the Month!

In: 
24/01/2019
8 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Pierre Galant, from Pasadena, CA--January 2019 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "twilight exterior" and I saw 48 entries from around the world. This is Pierre's first POTM win. Thank you to everyone who participated and to the jurors who took time out of their busy schedules to contribute […]

What Sun Tracking App or Website Do Most Real Estate Photographers Use?

In: 
21/01/2019
16 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Jack in Florida recently asked: What do most real estate photographers use to determine the lighting conditions (sun) for a particular address at some future date and time?

Congratulations to Zoltan Present - 2018 PFRE Videographer of the Year

In: 
19/01/2019
19 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Zoltan Present from LuxHunters Real Estate Video and Photography Services in Miami, Florida. Zoltan won the October Videographer of the Month contest with this great video and has now been named PFRE Videographer of the Year for 2018. Here's what Zoltan had to say about the win: Wow! What a surprise! I am […]

Getting Started Shooting Real Estate with a Sony A6xxx

In: 
16/01/2019
9 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
?Karen in Sunriver, OR says: I'm a licensed agent and general contractor in California; although I currently live in Sunriver, OR. Since the passing of my husband a few years ago, and needing to support myself, I am looking to switch gears. I've always had a good eye for design, have an appreciation for real […]

How to Use Pole Photography to Get No Drone Aerial Photos

In: 
01/01/2019
10 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
the years, I've pointed out how important it is to be able to shoot at an elevated point of view when shooting the front exterior shot. Before the advent of drones, the standard way to get your camera elevated was a pole. You could either put your main camera on the pole or use a […]

Would the New DJI OSMO Pocket Work for Real Estate Walk-Through Video?

In: 
26/12/2018
By: Larry Lohrman
??Ray in North Carolina asks: Has anyone purchased and begun using the DJI OSMO Pocket to provide walk thru video tours for clients? If you look at the reviews of the DJI OSMO Pocket, it is getting great reviews. Gerald Undone's review to the right is just one example. There are many other positive reviews!

Is an f/2.8 Lens Essential for Real Estate Photography?

In: 
18/12/2018
13 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Michael, who is just starting out in real estate photography says: I am trying to decide what equipment to purchase and am wondering how important minimum aperture is for a lens. I understand that f/2.8 is preferable in low light conditions but in low light conditions I will be using strobes. As you know, there […]

Congratulations to Michael Lefebvre - PFRE Photographer of the Year for 2018!

In: 
17/12/2018
16 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Michael Lefebvre from Barrington, Rhode Island. PFRE Photographer of the Year for 2018. Michael was the runner up for photographer of the year in 2017 and carried that momentum into 2018 with two photographer of the month wins in March and July. Below are the top three photographers for 2018 based on the […]

Do You Shoot with Interior Lights on or Off?

In: 
14/12/2018
13 Comments
By: PFRE Admin
Sometimes when you try shooting with the interior lights off, you may notice that the rooms look a bit less inviting. If you shoot with the lights on, you may get some less impressive features forcing you to Photoshop the lights off. So do you shoot with interior lights on or off? Quick NavigationDo You […]

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

In: 
11/12/2018
23 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
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 […]

What Are the Limits of Photoshopping Listing Photos?

In: ,
08/12/2018
10 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Justin in Australia pointed out this recent article in News.com.au about the listing photos misrepresenting the color of the Brisbane River. Some Reddit users noticed that there was a little part of the river in the lower right of the photo that had been missed by whomever did the photoshopping job. This error makes the […]

Congratulations to David Iglesias - PFRE Videographer of the Month November 2018

In: 
07/12/2018
1 Comment
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to David Iglesias from SFVT in Southern Florida who has won the November 2018 PFRE Videographer of the Month Contest! Here is David's great video. Here is what David had to say about his winning video:

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

In: 
26/11/2018
By: Larry Lohrman
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 […]

Congratulations Gary Kasl! November 2018 PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
24/11/2018
15 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Gary Kasl from Carlsbad, CA; November 2018 Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "open" photographers could submit any real estate photo they choose. This is Gary's third POTM win, he also won March 2017 and November 2017. Thank you to everyone who participated and to the jurors who took time […]

What Are the Best Light Diffusers for Shooting Large Rooms?

In: 
21/11/2018
5 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Discover the best diffusers for shooting real estate interiors and learn different approaches to using flash lighting.

How to Setup Auto White Balance on the Sony A7III

In: 
07/11/2018
7 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
in New Jersey says: I am a run (sprint) and gun kind of guy. Recently, I switched from a crop sensor, Nikon D5300 to a Sony A7III, and while I knew there would be a big learning curve, I find there are some things in the Sony that are just a bit odd, or I […]

Onsite Dangers for Real Estate Photographers

In: 
06/11/2018
23 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
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 […]

Does Anyone Use an Independent Light Meter to Shoot Interiors?

In: 
05/11/2018
9 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
?David in Alabama asked the following: I've recently been reading about the Sekonic C-700 color and light meter. It seems like an amazing tool with great potential for PFRE users but how would you best use a device like this to sort the perennial problems of WB and color accuracy in rooms with multiple light […]

Introducing HD PhotoHub

In: 
03/11/2018
5 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
? Answers to Three Questions that Just Might Help You Build Your Real Estate Photography Business from HDPhotoHub on Vimeo. Background Herb has been pioneering marketing technology for real estate photography since 1997. While Chief Technology Officer and then CEO for TourFactory, he drove innovation there for 18 years. The only thing he loves more […]

Congratulations to Zoltan Present - PFRE Videographer of the Month

In: 
01/11/2018
8 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Zoltan Present from Luxhunters in Miami, FL who has won the Aug/Sept/Oct 2018 PFRE Videographer of the Month Contest! Here is Zoltan's great video.

Congratulations Tacey Jungmann! October 2018 PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
24/10/2018
12 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Tacey Jungmann from Oak Harbor, WA; October 2018 Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was elevated exterior, pole, aerial, UAV. Thank you to everyone who participated and to the jurors who took time out of their busy schedules to contribute their votes and thoughtful commentary. Tacey Jungmann - #21 Trace Tague […]

Congratulations Dan Solomon! September 2018 PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
23/09/2018
8 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Dan Solomon from Redondo Beach, CA, September 2018 Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was patio/deck/garden space. Thank you to everyone who participated and to the jurors who took time out of their busy schedules to contribute their votes and thoughtful commentary.

Wide-Angle Lenses for Real Estate Photography: How Wide Is Wide?

In: 
31/08/2018
By: Larry Lohrman
A wide-angle lens is something everyone getting into real estate must get before anything else because you can't get by shooting interiors with off-the-shelf kit lenses that come with cameras! I've talked to several Real Estate Photographers recently in the process of purchasing new DSLRs and noticed that there is a misunderstanding about what lenses […]

Lumenzia: A Luminosity Masking Panel for Photoshop

In: ,
30/08/2018
By: Larry Lohrman
the most recent episode of Shooting Spaces Podcast, Rich and Brian interviewed Greg Benz who is the developer of Lumenzia, which is an extension for Photoshop that allows you to: Select and mask anything visually Creates masks automatically Simplifies exposure blending Keeps files smaller by not using channels Creates vignettes with ease I think Lumenzia […]

Congratulations Garey Gomez! - August 2018 PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
25/08/2018
13 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Garey Gomez from Decatur, GA, August 2018 Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was daylight exterior and Garey's image is a great example of how powerful a thoughtful composition with subtle editing can be. A true testament that you don't need to be shooting multi-million dollar homes every day to create […]

Need Help Getting Correct White Balance on Sony A7III

In: 
22/08/2018
7 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
in Texas says: I purchased a Sony A7III and I'm having difficulty using it on real estate photo shoots. The real problem is when I turn on the camera mounted flash (Flashpoint Zoom R2 TTL), the white balance changes to very warm, even when it's set to auto. When I'm not using the flash, auto […]

What Should Real Estate Photographers Charge for Travel?

In: 
21/08/2018
9 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
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

In: 
20/08/2018
12 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
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?

In: 
07/08/2018
3 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
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 Jared Saulnier - PFRE Videographer of the Month for June/July 2018

In: 
02/08/2018
2 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
Congratulations to Jared Saulnier, of Portsmouth, NH who has won the June/July 2018  PFRE Videographer of the Month Contest! Here is Jared's great video.

Shooting an Empty Room with a Bright Window and Shiny Floors

In: 
01/08/2018
14 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Steven in Jersey says: A few months back, I had a photo shoot in an empty house with wood floors. In post-processing, I noticed what a poor shot it was. Recently, this happened again. The dark/light extremes and exposure are really kicking me in the pants. In post, I can bring the exposure up but […]

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

In: 
25/07/2018
22 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
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 […]

Congratulations Michael Lefebvre! - July 2018 PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
24/07/2018
7 Comments
By: Brandon Cooper
The July 2018 PFRE Photographer of the Month contest has come to an end. The theme this month was master bathroom/ensuite. Thank you to everyone who participated and the jurors who took time out of their busy schedules to contribute their votes and thoughtful commentary.

Keeping the Neighbors Near a Drone Real Estate Shoot Happy

In: 
13/07/2018
13 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
that more and more people understand what drones are, what they do, and what they are capable of, the neighbors around the homes you photograph are becoming more sensitive about having a drone near their home. The video to the right shows a great example of someone who doesn't like a drone near his home. […]
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