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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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Congratulations Franz Rabe - August PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
25/08/2017
14 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Franz Rabe of Pretoria, South Africa who the jury has voted PFRE Photographer of the Month for August. This is Franz's first win! Here are the entries that the jurors awarded points to this month:
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What Is the Best Way to Control White Balance When Shooting HDR or Enfuse?

In: 
23/08/2017
15 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Charlie in Illinois asks: I bracket my photos and the white balance of the merged pictures is rarely accurate. I currently don't change the white balance of the RAW files in Lightroom before exporting to Photomatix. Should I?

How Do You Properly Use a Slider to Make a Great Video for Real Estate?

In: 
15/08/2017
9 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
and Don in Southern Ontario ask: How do you properly use a slider to make a great video for Real Estate? This is a pretty good video on the mechanics of how to use a slider. As far as how to use a slider in a real estate shoot, I think it is instructive to […]

Should I Invest in Providing Matterport Tours as a Product?

In: 
10/08/2017
24 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
in South Carolina says: I own an aerial videography company and have done several virtual home tours using an Osmo with my DJI X5 camera for interiors. I recently started researching the Matterport camera system for actual 3D virtual tours, but it just seems too good to be true and I don't want to invest […]

Congratulations Michael Lefebvre - July PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
24/07/2017
18 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Mike Lefebvre of Sherborn, MA whom the jury voted the PFRE Photographer of the Month for July! This is Mike's first win! Here are the entries that the jurors awarded points to this month: Michael Lefebvre Wade Steelman Peggy Parr Wright Julie Legge Garey Gomez Matthew Stallone Andrew Pece

What Are the Recommended Photo Delivery Methods for Real Estate Photographers?

In: 
22/07/2017
21 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Bill in Northern Virginia recently asked the question: I have been experiencing some issues in sending clients their photos and videos. What are some recommended photo delivery services to use? First of all, I would not send video files to Realtors. Most Realtors won't have a clue what to do with a large video file. […]

How Do You Light and Photograph a Large Interior Space?

In: 
19/07/2017
9 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
in Iowa asked: I have been asked to photograph the interior of a commercial property. I went there in advance to see how I would set up my lighting, but honestly I'm having a hard time coming up with a plan. It is a gym with huge open spaces and very high ceilings. I thought […]

Why You Can't Use Auto Exposure Bracketing When Using a Flash

In: 
12/07/2017
5 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Ron in Northern California says: I love your resource here. I have a Canon 5D MKIII with 600EX-RT speedlite and ST-E3-RT trigger. I've been shooting for a couple of months using brackets and Lightroom HDR. I had some color consistency issues and after reading some your posts on using a manual flash I added flash […]

What Should Real Estate Photographers Base Their Pricing On?

In: 
07/07/2017
10 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Aaron in Ohio asks: I know most real estate photographers charge based on the square footage of a property but lately I have been charging a per image fee. It seems to be working but I have gotten some guff about it. I do this because some Realtors want upwards of 50 images for 1500 […]

What Is the Best Way to Allow Clients to Pay with Credit Cards?

In: 
27/06/2017
By: Larry Lohrman
Eric in Florida says: Years ago I accepted credit cards, but the fees got too expensive. Most of my clients pay with a check and some cash at the shoot. I invoice some of my good agents and receive payment in a week or two.  Some clients pay late but will offer their credit card […]

Congratulations Aaron Kraft – June PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
24/06/2017
11 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Aaron Kraft of Jackson, Wyoming who the jury has voted PFRE Photographer of the Month for June. This is Aaron's fourth win. He's previously won in May of 2017, August 2016 and October 2016. Here are all the entries that the jurors awarded points to this month:

Congratulations to Hamish Beeston - PFRE Videographer of the Month for April/May

In: 
01/06/2017
4 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Hamish Beeston, Bristol, UK who has won the April/May  PFRE videographer of the Month Contest. Here is his winning video. Here are the contestants that the jurors awarded points to this month: Hamish Beeston John Lindsay Allan MacKenzie Joshua Vernon-Rogers Dave Dwyer Jarett Horton Patrick Bertolino

Congratulations Aaron Kraft – May PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
23/05/2017
9 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Aaron Kraft of Jackson, Wyoming who the jury has voted PFRE Photographer of the Month for May. This is Aaron's third win. He won in August 2016 and October 2016. Here are all the entries that the jurors awarded points to this month: Aaron Kraft Garey Gomez Stefano Pedroni Matt Rosendahl Alasdair McIntosh […]

Should You Work As a Contract Real Estate Photographer?

In: 
17/05/2017
7 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
John asks: I am an aspiring photographer but I'm trying to decide if its worth it for me or not. I have tried to contact some of the regional real estate photography companies to contract shoot for them but I can't get a good read on the photographer compensation. How much do real estate photographers […]

A Foolproof Digital Workflow for the Professional Real Estate Photographer

In: 
29/04/2017
By: Larry Lohrman
This is a guest post by Marc Weisberg of Irvine, CA. Marc is giving a workshop in NYC, June 5th and 6th. Having a foolproof digital post production backup system for architectural and real estate photographers is essential. Below, is a detailed look at the workflow and post production system I use at my studio. I've […]

Congratulations Brian Doherty – April PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
24/04/2017
12 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Brian Doherty of Boston, MA who the jury has voted PFRE Photographer of the Month for April. This is Brian’s fourth win as the PFRE Photographer of the Month. The other three wins were November and June 2016 and July 2015.

How Many Photos Should Real Estate Photographers Provide?

In: 
14/04/2017
33 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Michael in Illinois recently asked: My MLS has changed the real estate photography playing field. The number of photos allowed used to be limited to 25. They now allow an unlimited number of photos for each listing. So for me, this is a great advantage, since my competition in this market typically provides only 25 or so […]

How Do Real Estate Photographers Deal With Dark Colored and High Gloss Walls?

In: 
08/04/2017
7 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
in South Carolina asked: Shot a higher end house the other day and encountered a tough scenario: black walls, dark wood, lots of windows. Any tips or tricks for shooting black walls? Flashes were doing very little at full power. Also in the same house, high gloss red paint! I left the flashes in the bag […]

Congratulations Gary Kasl – March PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
22/03/2017
13 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Gary Kasl in Carlsbad, CA, who the jury has voted PFRE Photographer of the Month for March. This is Gary's first win as the PFRE Photographer of the Month. Because there were 36 great kitchen images, the voting was very close. Here are the entries that the jurors awarded points to this month in order […]

Is Compositing Ambient and Flash Shots in Photoshop for You?

In: , ,
18/03/2017
16 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
recently asked the following: I would love to know via a poll how many real estate photographers do a Lightroom to Photoshop composite process vs. lighting the way Scott Hargis does where you spend much less time post processing.  I see so many tutorials on YouTube for compositing, and it seems like it's a very big […]

How Do You Avoid Having Shadows When Shooting Rooms with a Ceiling Fan?

In: 
07/03/2017
11 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Rob in Southern CA asks: What's the best way to avoid shadows on ceilings fans, chandeliers, etc? When using strobes I know I can blend in an ambient exposure but I'm looking for a technique or trick without those extra steps. Yes, shadows from things that hang from ceilings are a pain! The trick to […]

How Do You Deal with Bright Windows When Shooting Interior Real Estate Property Video?

In: 
06/03/2017
7 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
in South Carolina asks: I have a question regarding the creation of interior videos. HOW can a video be recorded which allows proper exposure of the room AND the view through the windows? This has eluded me for years! What is so simple to do with a flash in still photography, seems impossible in video […]

Congratulations to Vic DeVore – February PFRE Videographer of the Month

In: 
02/03/2017
4 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Vic DeVore, of Clermont, FL who the video jury has voted PFRE videographer of the month for February 2017. Click here or the image to the right to look at Vic's winning video. Here are the results of the video jury's voting: Vic DeVore Travis Rowan Ryan Haschke Brad Barnson Gary Kasl Full […]

How Do Real Estate Photographers Deal With Windows?

In: 
01/03/2017
9 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
asked the following: I am starting to explore real estate photography and have been playing with HDR in Lightroom. When looking at this month's photo winners, I notice that the views outside the windows are crystal clear. How is that done? Does the photographer use multiple flashes? Any input would be appreciated.

Congratulations Jenn Verrier - February PFRE Photographer of the Month

In: 
24/02/2017
21 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Jenn Verrier in Arlington, Virginia who the jury has voted PFRE Photographer of the Month for February. This is Jenn’s first win as the PFRE Photographer of the Month. Here are the entries that the jurors awarded points to this month in order of points awarded:

How Can Real Estate Photographers Speed up Bracket Processing?

In: 
20/02/2017
24 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Tod in Virginia says: In the past, I've worked mainly on my own but I'm going to work (as a contractor) for a small boutique-ish staging and photography group.  It's all good and the pay is nice, the only possible drawback is I do all the post processing myself  I love Lightroom, but for my […]

Should You Be Concerned When Realtors Watermark Their Listing Photos?

In: 
14/02/2017
11 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
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. […]

Should You Set Your Camera to sRGB or Adobe RGB? What About ADL?

In: 
07/02/2017
6 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
in VA asks: When shooting photos should I use Adobe RGB or sRGB?  I notice when I shoot in RAW, Lightroom automatically changes my settings I have in my camera but not in JPG. Sometimes my clients say there can be to much contrast in photos. Right now I have the camera set for sRGB […]

How Should Real Estate Photographers Deal with Non-Compete Agreements?

In: 
06/02/2017
9 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
I had two questions on non-compete agreements last week. Both readers asked for examples of non-compete agreements as if there is some right way to write one. Over the years everyone I've talked to about non-compete agreements they've signed have found themselves in a disastrous situation after wanting to work on their own. My advice on […]

How to Market Real Estate Photography to Real Estate Agents

In: 
03/02/2017
19 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Devon in CA says: I recently introduced myself to a large office of Realtors in my area with intentions to just get my flyers around. However the lady at the front desk told me that very few of their realtors were in at the time. She suggested to me to actually contact the office manager […]

How to Keep Windows from Being Too Bright When Using LR/Enfuse

In: 
02/02/2017
15 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Keri in KS asked: I shoot 3 brackets with a Canon 5DMKIII and process them with LR/Enfuse but when I shoot towards bright windows the windows turn out too bright even though I expose for the darks inside the windows. I also get some color casts. What can I do to fix these problems? The […]

Congratulations Travis Rowan – January PFRE Photographer of The Month

In: 
23/01/2017
9 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Travis Rowan who the jury has voted PFRE Photographer of the Month for January. This is Travis’s third win as the PFRE Photographer of the Month. The other two wins were September 2016 and September 2015. There were a huge number of great twilight shots this month! Here are the entries that the jurors awarded points […]

What are the Requirements for Photographers with Regards to 1099s?

In: 
21/01/2017
12 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
John in NJ asks: I am a one person photographer. I have a client, the first time in 6 years is wanting to give me a 1099 for services. What are the requirements for photographers with regards to 1099s?

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

In: 
17/01/2017
15 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
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 […]

Congratulations to Brandon Cooper PFRE Photographer of the Year for 2016

In: 
01/01/2017
19 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Brandon Cooper, PFRE Photographer of the year for 2016. Contestants for Photographer of the year were the winners of the 2016 photographer of the month. Brandon won 3 monthly contests in 2016. Below are the results of the jury's voting. The list shows all contestants that got votes in order of the number of […]

Congratulations to Matt Van Emmerik 2016 PFRE Videographer of The Year

In: 
01/01/2017
9 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Matt Van Emmerik, PFRE Videographer of the year for 2016. Contestants for Videographer of the year were the winners of the 2016 Videographer of the month. All 2016 Videographers of the month are shown here. Below is the results of the PFRE video jury's voting. This list shows everyone that received votes in […]

What Should Real Estate Photographers Charge for Rental Photos?

In: 
29/12/2016
By: Larry Lohrman
Chris in NJ asks: I have been asked to do a handful of vacation rental properties. I'm not sure if these should be priced differently than a house for sale. I'm assuming the cost should be higher since the photos will be used longer. But do you charge double? Triple? I'm not really sure. Any […]

Zillow Is Now Allowing Professionally Created Video To Be Added to Listings

In: 
17/12/2016
24 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Michele in Annapolis reports that you can now get professional quality edited video on Zillow listings. She says: Hi all: Zillow is now allowing professionally created video to be added to listings. Agents or Zillow photographers must contact their reps, submit the YouTube link via email and pay $149. A bit steep, but at least […]

Congratulations to Hamish Beeston – November PFRE Videographer of The Month

In: 
03/12/2016
12 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Congratulations to Hamish Beeston of Bristol, UK who the video jury has voted PFRE videographer of the month for Sep/Oct/Nov 2016. Click here or on the image to the right to have a look at Hamish’s winning video. This is Hamish's third time winning the Video contest and he was voted the 2014 PFRE videographer […]

Is It Possible To Get By Shooting Real Estate With A 24mm Lens?

In: 
25/11/2016
15 Comments
By: Larry Lohrman
Vickie in TN asks: I am struggling with choosing a suitable wide-angle lens to use with my Nikon D4.  Being new to real estate photography, I hesitate to purchase the best/most expensive just yet.  However, I am not confident that I can get by with my 24mm.  When I browse real estate listings, I see […]
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