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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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My Wacom Epiphany - Everyone With Multiple Monitors Needs A Wacom Tablet!

In: 
25/09/2015
16 Comments
Epiphany: An experience of sudden and striking realization. Generally the term is used to describe scientific breakthrough, religious or philosophical discoveries, but it can apply in any situation in which an enlightening realization allows a problem or situation to be understood from a new and deeper perspective. Yes, that's what happened to me! After last […]
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Congratulations To Travis Rowan - PFRE Photographer Of The Month For September

In: 
24/09/2015
13 Comments
Congratulations to Travis Rowan of Maui, Hawaii who has won the September photographer of the month for September. Travis has won the PFRE video contest three times so he thought he'd try his hand at still photography. Travis is the second photographer/videographer that has won both the video contest and the still contest. Anders Carlson […]

Wayne Capili's Sony A6000 Epiphany

In: 
15/09/2015
24 Comments
This is a guest post by Wayne Capili. Wayne was the very first PFRE real estate photographer of the year  in 2008. Back then I called it PFRE Idol Contest. If you are a regular in the PFRE Flickr group you've seen a lot of  Wayne's work there. The photo to the right is work […]

The Canon 10-18mm Lens Is a Reason To Start Real Estate Photography With Canon

In: 
09/09/2015
7 Comments
Elsa recently ask the following question: My name is Elsa and I ran into your website today as I was doing some research on the startup of a real estate photography business. I am 19 years old and I want to get this going as soon as possible. The earlier the better right. it would […]

Are There New Rules In California For Real Estate Photographers?

04/09/2015
18 Comments
Micah, a real estate photographer that recently moved to California asked the following: I heard something interesting today that I hadn't heard of before but thought maybe you knew: Someone was telling me that photographers who shoot real estate in California need a real estate license in order to do it legally. Is this true? […]

Congratulations Alasdair McIntosh PFRE Photographer of The Month August

In: 
24/08/2015
8 Comments
Congratulations to Alasdair McIntosh, York, UK, the PFRE photographer of the month for August. Alasdair is a first-time winner. He's been a regular contestant for a long while. I must say, I really like this beautifully composed exterior shot of this idyllic English cottage. Great job Alasdair! Here are all the contestants that the jurors awarded […]

Should I Be Shooting More In Portrait Mode Since Mobile Devices Are Used So Widely?

07/08/2015
18 Comments
Billy posed the following question recently: With there being so much mobile traffic now a days and their native resolutions being in a portrait/vertical orientation vs landscape - have you or any other photographers considered framing more shots in this manner? I've yet to run across a real estate specific website that will auto scale […]

Congratulations To Charlie Dresen - June/July Videographer Of The Month

In: 
01/08/2015
8 Comments
Congratulations to Charlie Dresen of Steamboat Springs, Colorado who the video jury voted the June/July videographer of the month. Here is Charlie's winning video. Here are the ranking results of the voting: #4, Charlie Dresen, Steamboat Springs, CO #6, Steven Dolinsky, Nyack, New York #5, Jared Saulnier, Portsmouth, NH #7, Allan Mackenzie, Moolooaba, Australia #2, […]

What Is A Good Hosting Service For A Real Estate Photography Website?

28/07/2015
Bill asks: I'm about to set up a website for my photography projects. I'll be building the site with the URL "ResortHomePhotography.com", which I just bought through Google Domains. I use WordPress for my (still-under-construction) real estate web site but noted Google partners with several web hosting services: Blogger, Squarespace, Shopify, Weebly, & Wix. Do […]

Congratulations Brian Doherty - PFRE Photographer Of The Month For July

In: 
23/07/2015
9 Comments
Congratulations to Brian Doherty of Boston MA who the jury has voted PFRE photographer of the month for July. Brian is a first-time winner. He's been a regular contestant for many months. Here are all the winners: #22, Brian Doherty, Boston, MA #14, Barry MacKenzie, London, ON #12, Tony Colangelo, Victoria, BC #11, Alasdair McIntosh, York, UK #19, […]

How Do You Build A Credible Portfolio Of Real Estate Work When You Are Getting Started?

17/07/2015
16 Comments
A photography portfolio conveys your style, and what type of work you do. A portfolio could be printed or online, or even both, but should also include only your best work. So, how do you build a credible portfolio of real estate work when you are getting started? Quick NavigationHow Do You Build a Credible […]

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 […]

What Do You Charge To Shoot 1 to 3 minutes of UAV Video For Real Estate?

25/06/2015
21 Comments
Anthony recently asked the following: I've searched here and the Flickr group, but the answer to these questions still elude me. What is a reasonable rate for basic video? What is a reasonable rate for certified drone flights/photos? I've done a poll for standard real estate video that is fairly recent but I've never done a […]

Congratulations Tony Colangelo, Victoria, BC - June PFRE Photographer of The Month

In: 
24/06/2015
21 Comments
Congratulations to Tony Colangelo, Victoria, BC, Canada.  Another close competition again this month with a 3 way tie for 2nd place. We had some discussion about how this theme (large interior adjoined space) is a bit fuzzy as to what it really means. Matthew Stallone and others took exception to whether Tony's image is a […]

Giving A Presentation On Real Estate Photography To An Office Of Agents

17/06/2015
4 Comments
Kerry Bern moderates a real estate photography group on Linkedin and pointed out that one of the group members (Ray Kenney) posted a video of a presentation that he gives to real estate brokerages. Kerry says: I thought he did a great job with his presentation. The important part he didn't go in to the meeting […]

What Is The Best Way For Real Estate Photographers To Straighten Verticals?

In: 
10/06/2015
19 Comments
Kelli asks the following: I have been a professional photographer for many many years but I am interested in real estate photography as opposed to family/senior. I am having a really hard time getting my verticals right and I would love to perfect this before going public. Do you have a resource (blog post/video tutorial)? […]

Why Not Defer Some Or All Of Your Real Estate Photography Shoot Fee To Closing?

09/06/2015
19 Comments
Because real estate listing agents don't get paid until a sale closes, the deferred payment option keeps coming up. Keith recently ask the following: I've read lots of posts about business models...pay up front, pay at close, pricing, etc. None of the pay at close really seems to address a combo - pay a bit when […]

Congratulations Travis Rowan - May PFRE Videographer Of The Month

In: 
01/06/2015
6 Comments
Congratulations to Travis Rowan, of Maui, Hawaii who the video jury voted the May 2015 PFRE  videographer of the month with this stunning video. As usual with these contests, there's a lot to be learned from looking at the juror comments in the contest Flickr group. Thanks to the jurors who had the time to […]

Congratulations Anders Carlson - PFRE Photographer Of The Month May 2015

In: 
25/05/2015
16 Comments
Congratulations to Anders Carlson of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.  The jury just finished voting on the entries and the competition this month was very close. The top four entrants were all within just a few points of each other. This is Anders' third win. He won in both May of 2012 and May of 2013, all three […]

Congratulations To Peggy Taylor And The FastPix Team In Tampa Bay!

15/05/2015
10 Comments
Congratulations to Peggy Taylor and her team in Tampa Bay. Peggy announced another milestone in her real estate photography business - she is retiring an passing on her business to her sister. Long time PFRE readers already know Peggy because I've been doing posts about her business success for many years. I also have her […]

Image Sharpening For Real Estate Photography

In: 
12/05/2015
11 Comments
This weekend Greg asked: I study photos on Houzz frequently. I notice how sharp many of these photos are and wonder how they achieve that level of sharpness. I'm using a 5D3 and a Canon 17-40 and I'm not even close to these. Are they using large format, fixed lenses, some special sharpening software, or […]

Congratulations Luke Phillips PFRE Videographer of The Month For April

In: 
02/05/2015
4 Comments
Congratulations to Luke Phillips of London, UK for winning the April PFRE videographer of the month for April. His stunning video captured the attention of the video jurors. Here are the points awarded by the jurors: 102 pts, #10, Luke Phillips, London, UK 98 pts, #2, Dino Tassara, Lahaina, Maui 98 pts, #12, Wes Neil, […]

Enfuse E-book Now Included With The Enfuse Video Series

In: 
27/04/2015
We'd like to announce that as of April 22, 2015 I have included Simon Maxwell's e-book on Enfuse with the Enfuse video series. So you now get both the video series and the e-book for $125 USD. All video subscribers can now download the e-book PDF directly from the page all the videos are on. […]

Congratulations Brandon Cooper PFRE April Photographer Of The Month

In: 
25/04/2015
12 Comments
Congratulations to Brandon Cooper, in Fort McMurray Alberta, CA. Brandon is an agent in Fort McMurray. You dazzled the jurors with your master bedroom shot! Here are the results of the jury voting: 61 pts, #31, Brandon Cooper, Fort McMurray, Alberta 22 pts, #29, Ethan Tweedie, Big Island, Hawaii 14 pts, #13, Tony Colangelo, Victoria, BC […]

Floor Plans and Room Dimensions for Real Estate Listings

10/04/2015
17 Comments
Photographers offering floor plans and room dimensions for real estate listings are becoming a hot trend. You may sometimes wonder whether there is anyone else who can offer these services, how they charge for it and whether they succeed with specific floor plan creation apps or software.  Quick NavigationFloor Plans and Room Dimensions for Real […]

Congratulations Ryan Fletcher - Feb/Mar 2015 PFRE Videographer Of The Month

In: 
02/04/2015
6 Comments
Congratulations to Ryan Fletcher, of Kailua Kona, Hawaii who won the Feb/Mar 2015 PFRE  videographer of the month award with this stunning video. As usual with these contests, there's a lot to be learned from looking at the juror comments in the contest Flickr group. Thanks to the jurors who had the time to post […]

The Scandinavian Style Of Interior Photographer Jonas Berg - Gothenburg Sweden

31/03/2015
This months PFRE photographer of the month contest had a photo that really captured my interest. The photo was by Jonas Berg of Gothenburg, Sweden. Click on the photo to the right to see a large version of Jonas' contest submission. What caught my interest about this image was how uplifting the light in the room was. […]

Congratulations Seth Parker PFRE Photographer Of The Month For March

In: 
24/03/2015
24 Comments
Wow! Big contest this month! Sixty one entries. Congratulations to Seth Parker of Huntsville, Alabama. Click on the image on the right to see a large version of Seth's winning image. The competition was much closer this month than last. Jonas Berg of Gothenburg, Sweden came in a very close second. Seth and Jonas were […]

Canon's New EF 11-24mm f/4L Lens Gives New Meaning To UFWA

In: 
09/03/2015
13 Comments
I can remember when I first got my Canon 16-35mm wide angle and used it to shoot a listing for my wife. She scolded me severely and sent me back to reshoot several of the rooms where I had racked the lens out to 16mm. She said at 16mm effective the small intimate living room […]

How Do Real Estate Photographers Handle Window Blinds?

25/02/2015
21 Comments
Today Kelly asked me: How do most real estate photographers handle window blinds? Do they raise them all the way up to let in more light and show the view? Open them at an angle? Open them completely but not raise them? I think It's impossible to make any blanket statement about what to do with […]

Congratulations Jason Roehner - February PFRE Photographer Of The Month

In: 
23/02/2015
10 Comments
This month Jason Roehner's image to the right dazzled the PFRE jury and won by a landslide. Click on the photo to the right to see the large version of this image. This is Jason's third time that he has won the PFRE photographer of the month. Below are the results of the voting. Note […]

Congratulations Charlie Dresen - Steamboat Springs, CO - January PFRE Videographer Of The Month

In: 
02/02/2015
9 Comments
Congratulations Charlie Dresen - Steamboat, CO, PFRE Videographer Of The Month For January 2015. I've linked the videos to the numbers below but if you want learn something about property video be sure to read the read the comments by the jurors in the Videography contest forum. Thanks to the jurors that took the time […]

Congratulations Terry Burger, Atlanta, GA - PFRE Photographer Of The Month For January

In: 
26/01/2015
17 Comments
Congratulations to Terry Burger, Atlanta, GA PFRE Photographer Of The Month January. A bunch (53) of great images this month as usual. If you haven't already, it's worth your while to browse the contest entrants and read the comments. As usual, there is so much competition that just getting points in this contest makes you a winner! Update […]

How Do You Learn Composition For Interior Photography?

20/01/2015
19 Comments
A while ago Sandy raise an excellent question: Are there any books out there that would be beneficial to learning composition techniques for RE photography? I think I could use a little help with the basics. My initial answer was no, I know of no books that talk specifically about interior photographic composition, and recommended […]

How Many Photographs Do You Deliver To Clients For A Typical Real Estate Shoot?

15/01/2015
63 Comments
Jason recently asked the following: I have a question that may be good for a poll: How many photographs do you deliver to clients for a typical real estate shoot? In my area, I see many delivery 40 to 50 per which I think is out of control. I'm trying to get a sense of what […]

Real Estate Photographers - Always Shoot RAW!

06/01/2015
52 Comments
the holidays, Willie asked: "Why shoot in RAW instead of jpeg?. This reminded me of the days years ago when I used to have heated discussions here on PFRE about whether or not you should shoot RAW. The video to the right by Jared Polin is a funny argument from that era. Nowadays there's no […]

Congratulations Barry MacKenzie 2014 PFRE Photographer Of The Year

In: 
24/12/2014
19 Comments
This year's award of PFRE Photographer of the year goes to Barry MacKenzie of London, Ontario. Here are the points awarded by the jury: 46 pts - Barry MacKenzie 29 pts - Aaron Flores 25 pts - George Gutenberg 24 pts - Sebastian Erras 10 pts - Ryan Wicks 4   pts - Kate Benjamin 2   pts - […]

Congratulations Hamish Beeston, Bristol UK - PFRE Videographer Of The Year 2014

In: 
22/12/2014
8 Comments
Congratulations! Hamish Beeston, Bristol, UK has been voted the PFRE Videographer Of The Year 2014 for his outstanding video of Queens Court in London. Since all of the videos from this year are world-class the voting was very close! Here are the jury voting results: 84 pts, Hamish Beeston, Bristol, UK 80 pts, Patrick Kerwick, Santa […]

How Long Do You Take To Deliver Real Estate Photos?

11/12/2014
21 Comments
Todd recently asked the following: I love that every so often you post polls that help me get a better understanding of the industry. Did you ever do one on the typical length of time between shooting and delivering the final images? No, I never have. But here is the poll that Todd requested. As […]

Congratulations Jacob and Jamie McNeil PFRE Videographers Of The Month For Oct/Nov 2014

In: 
02/12/2014
6 Comments
Congratulations Jacob and Jamie McNeil, of PlatinumHD Canada, PFRE Videographers Of The Month For Oct/Nov 2014. The video jurors  used a new more structured scoring system this month. And again, if you haven't read the comments by the jurors I invite you to take a look in the Videography contest forum. Here are the points […]
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