What to Look For When Hiring a Professional Real Estate Photographer

If you’re a real estate agent or realtor, you’re likely familiar with the all-famous phrase “location, location, location,” that many real estate professionals live by, as it pertains to the increase or decrease in value of identical homes due to location. Well, while location may be of great importance in the real estate industry, it’s actually not the only feature that can make or break a sale. Real estate photography is the real deal “maker or breaker.”

According to the National Association of Realtors, 87% of homebuyers rely on photos to help them make their decision. Additional studies show that professionally photographed homes sell over 30% faster than homes not professionally photographed. Based on those statistics, it’s very important you have a great team of professional real estate photographers to work with, especially being that most home buyers’ initial interactions with homes are online. Having high-quality images and videos of properties will not only make your listings stand out, but they’ll also help identify you as a good realtor or real estate agent.

Of course, there are tons of companies out there claiming to be professional real estate photographers. So how can you ensure you’re truly hiring a professional to capture the best features of your properties? Well, there are a few things you want to look for before hiring a professional real estate photographer.

Cost/Pricing

As the saying goes, “time is money,” and you don’t have time or money to waste on a photographer that produces poor quality work. Getting what you pay for doesn’t necessarily mean that the more expensive a photographer is, the higher the quality of work you’ll get, nor does it mean that a cheaper photographer will produce low-quality work. The best way to approach real estate photography cost is to look at different companies online, check out their portfolios, and compare their prices. Once you’ve checked out the different companies, you’ll want to call the companies you’re interested in and explain what you’re looking for in their services, as far as the types of photos you want to be captured in properties. This will allow you to get a better idea of what that particular real estate photographer cost will be and if they understand your vision.

Turnaround Development Time

Again, “time is money,” and the sooner you can get your photos back to showcase your listing, the sooner you have the opportunity to get your properties sold. 24 to 48 hours is a great timeframe to receive your photos and videos back from the time of the shoot. For fast turnaround times like that, the prices may be a bit higher but very much worth it, especially if the quality of the photos is everything you wanted and more. Content delivery like that can lead to the start of a beautiful business relationship!

Years of Experience

Ideally, you want to go with a real estate photography company that has years of experience in the industry. It may seem like if a wedding photographer can take great photos, they should be able to take great photos of properties as well, but that’s not the approach you want to take. Hiring a photographer who specializes specifically in real estate is going to get you the best photos to engage your audience. You, of course, can simply ask the photographer how long they’ve been in the industry, but you also want to do your own research and check the quality of their past work, as it will tell you a lot about their experience.

Copyright Infringement Terms/Image Use

Before signing the dotted line with a real estate photography company, you want to make sure you have a full understanding of their terms of usage and copyright infringement policies. Some companies have restrictions on how and when their photos can be used. You can check their website under the terms of use category or simply call and ask directly what their terms are.

Clear Understanding of the Market

As a realtor or real estate agent, you want to work with a photography company that knows what’s currently going on in the real estate market of your selling area and the features that potential home buyers are most interested in. A photography company that is aware of these features will be able to capture those features to make them stand out and truly entice potential buyers. From lighting and angles, to drone technology, these skills and pieces of equipment are qualities you can expect in an experienced real estate photographer who has a clear understanding of the market.

Don’t Just Hire Any Photographer

A potential homebuyer’s first interaction with a home is viewing it online. The quality of the photos you have of a property is a reflection of the type of realtor or real estate agent you are, and the nicer the photos or videos are, the faster and closer you are to selling a property. Of course, to sell your properties with quality photos and videos, you can’t go with just any photography company you come across.

You’re going to need to take the time out to look for things like years of experience, understanding of the market, and more. Working with a quality real estate photographer can indeed make or break the sale of a property. To capture the best features of your residential or commercial properties through impeccable photography and videography, get in contact with 615 Media today!

 

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