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Congratulations Peggy Taylor: FastPix Photography Services For Real Estate

In: 
Published: 09/08/2012

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If you've been a PFRE reader and/or a PFRE Flickr group participant for the last few years you probably already know Peggy Taylor in Tampa, FL. I've featured Peggy several times in the last couple of years (and she has been an active participant in the PFRE Flickr group for several years.

Yesterday I got an email from Peggy that said the following:

A couple of days ago I came across the receipt for my first DSLR--March 2009--just a little over three years ago. That was when I ventured into real estate photography. I was a rank amateur working for a tour company for $30 a gig and decided I could make more money on my own. I googled "real estate photography" and fortuitously found your website and a post about the basic equipment needed to get started. I bought a Sigma 10-20, Photoshop Elements and PTLens and joined the Flickr group where I learned a tremendous amount of knowledge. Since then you counseled me on my pricing and I have raised it several times to get it on par with area photographers.

My business is so successful that I have taken a partner this week!

Great success story Peggy! I think it is important to put stories like Peggy's out there so that real estate photographers out there just starting can see what can be done if you:

  1. Hang in there and work hard for several years you can build a successful business as an independent real estate photographer.
  2. The PFRE Flickr group is a valuable  way to learn real estate photography.
  3. Raising your price can increase your business because you attract more upper-end agents.

Congratulations Peggy! Great job!

Larry Lohrman

17 comments on “Congratulations Peggy Taylor: FastPix Photography Services For Real Estate”

  1. Congratulations Peggy and best of luck with your new partnership! I would love to hear more about the partnership and how it came to be that you decided to add another photographer.

  2. No surprise to hear another success story thanks in part to PFRE.com! Hard work and dedication are important to success, but so are the many friends who help us along the way.

  3. Congratulations Peggy - Your story is the one I hope to repeat in years to come!
    I have been following Larry's website for over two years in preperation of starting my own business and have slowly been purchasing my tools of the trade based on his and those who contribute to this site. I still have goals of many more photography "Tools of the trade" but what photographer doesn't! I have launched my business over the past month and am very excited with the growth this past month. Keep up the good work and I look forward to hearing more about your success!
    Dave Olsen

  4. Hello Peggy,
    Congratulations on your success!

    I was just wondering if you allow agents to give your photos to the homeowner at no charge to them or if you want the homeowner to actually purchase these photographs from you and if so... what do you charge?

    Thank you!

  5. Congratulations, Peggy!

    I'm reading, practicing, and researching daily to throw my hat into the RE photography ring, and remember reading back through some of the first posts you made on the Flickr group recently. Looks like you've come a long way, and your photography looks great. This blog and the discussions over at the Flickr group are a priceless resource. Thanks to you and everyone else who contributes, and thanks Larry for starting this invaluable collection of knowledge.

    Hope to join your ranks very soon!

  6. Thank you all. Yes, I have definitely come a long way! When I started on the Flickr group I was a total amateur. My images were terrible. I didn't know anything about photoshop, lighting, pricing...you name it, I didn't know it! If I had not seen Larry's blog, I would not be where I am today! He put me on the right road to knowledge! Marek, I allow the agents to pass the images to the homeowners at no charge; however, I will re-license to builders and decorators at $175.

    I decided to add another photographer because I have been turning down work--a lot-- because I cannot be in two places at once. Especially when I want to take a few days off!

    My success is a result of a lot of dedication and hard work building my business and learning, learning, learning. But I have also developed very good customer service that my clients appreciate.

    Good luck to you all and thank you!

  7. That is fantastic Peggy!!! I know how much hard work you have put in, I am on a similar path! I would also like to say thank you to Larry. Without this site I shutter (no pun intended) to think where my real estate photography skills would be!! I can hear Larry "yelling" at me about my verticals still! LOL

    Take care,

    Ethan

  8. Congratulations Peggy!

    Glad to hear that business is good enough to bring in a second photographer.

    BTW, I noticed that you have what I believe to be a pricing error on your site. On 300sq ft + houses, you quote at 3 cents/sq ft, which would make it $90.00 for a 3K home. That would be $110 less than your 2K homes. I would assume that you intent it to read 3 cents extra per square foot above 3K? or perhaps it's just a type on should be 13 cents/sq.ft?

    Seems a little unclear and just didn't want you to have somebody try to hold you to shooting a 5K place for 150 bucks.

    Best,

    George

  9. Hello Peggy,
    I have to also say that I am very impressed with you Interior Photography.
    May I ask which software are you using for your HDR processing?
    Marek

  10. Congratulations Peggy! Like you I started this venture with zero knowledge of real estate photography. But, thanks to Larry, you and too many others on the flickr group to mention by name I am starting to "earn my keep" with this craft.

    Great job! I look forward to seeing more of your outstanding work.

  11. Congratulations! Great to hear the success.
    So close, and yet we have never met. Perhaps someday our paths will cross.

  12. Marek, here is my process. I use multiple flashes AND HDR!  This probably explains why I have no time!  I take 3 bracketed shots in manual with flash to get a good window pull and sharp image. But usually the ceilings are too sharp and the ambient is totally lost so I also shoot 3 bracketed shots with ambient light. Then I process them in Oloneo Photoengine--it is much faster than Photomatix and the exteriors are gorgeous!  Run them through Lightroom and layer the ambient and flashed HDR blends over one another in Photoshop until the ceiling in smooth and the ambient is just right. 

    George, I have been told that my pricing is unclear but I just haven't had time to change my website. Now that I have a new partner I am hoping to have time for this! Thanks!

  13. Congrats! I'm considering following in similar steps, and this site has been a great resource.

  14. Great job Peggy. Wished I lived in an area that could support my business. St. Louis is miserable.

  15. Peggy, Congratulations on your success! Sounds like you've found a good formula. This site has so much information and has become an invaluable resource. Thanks PFRE!

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