- Frank Garnica
Frank’s Ultimate Guide To Pursuing A Career In Real Estate Photography
Updated: Nov 18, 2021
It’s a pretty good time to be a real estate photographer. The housing market is roaring back, which means there are more home sales, more appraisals and more need for beautiful photos of these homes. And the real estate listing business is booming, too, because so many people are trying to buy or sell homes.
The demand for quality real estate photography has never been higher, but it’s not easy to break into the world of high-end real estate photography. Although there are no formal requirements for becoming a professional real estate photographer, it takes enough training and experience that you can’t just jump into it unprepared.
Are you interested in this kind of photography, or interested in adding to your freelance repertoire? If so, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve created this guide for photographers looking to get started in real estate photography, and to give you a picture of what you need to do to get there.
Having the right kind of equipment is only the starting point to becoming a real estate photographer. There is no shortcut to becoming a top real estate photographer, but I’ll give you my best advice on making it.
Let’s get started! I hope you enjoy my Ultimate Guide To Pursuing A Career In Real Estate Photography. This is the definitive guide to becoming successful in your new career as a real estate photographer. Real estate photography is an industry on the rise, so if you are thinking of trying out this growing career you have come to the right place.
First of all -
Find a mentor or coach
There is no substitute for a good mentor or coach. You can read all the books and articles in the world about how to get started and succeed in real estate photography, but without someone who has done it before, you are still guessing at what you need to do.
All the successful photographers I know have mentors they can ask questions of. Some of these mentors are other photographers who have been successful in their careers, while others are people such as attorneys, accountants and insurance brokers who can mentor you in other aspects of running a business.
Finding a mentor can be tough, especially if you don't know anyone in the business. One of the best ways to find a mentor is through networking. Join an association or organization that caters to real estate agents and learn how you can meet people in the industry. If there aren't any groups in your area, reach out on forums and social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook. If possible, try to attend conferences or workshops where you can network with others in the industry.
Don't be afraid to ask questions
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not asking enough questions. If you are not sure about something, ask. Some photographers think that they will look stupid if they do not know something and so they pretend to be more knowledgeable than they really are. That’s a mistake - you can’t get better if you don’t ask questions and learn.
If you're doing something wrong, chances are someone else has already figured out how to do it right. So don't hesitate to ask for advice or suggestions. And if you can't find the right person to ask, consider posting your question on an online forum or the Real Estate Photography subreddit.
Build your real estate photography portfolio
The first thing you have to do if you want to be a successful real estate photographer is to have a great portfolio. You are your best marketing tool. If you have an amazing real estate portfolio, you can charge more money for your services because your client is getting top quality photos for their money.
Here’s a couple of tips to help you build that portfolio:
Always bring your camera with you everywhere you go. You never know when the moment is going to happen or an opportunity will present itself.
Take photos of every room in a house, even if it is not part of the sale package or is just being shown as an example room. It’s free practice!
Don’t be afraid to work for lower budgets or even free when you’re just getting started - I know it sucks, but practice and portfolio-building is essential, and without a portfolio you’re not really a professional yet.
Work hard and build a solid portfolio as quickly as possible, and then put it up on a website like mine!
Know how much to price your real estate photography services
As a real estate photographer, you'll have to determine your rates. You'll need to know how much to charge for your work so you can earn a profit. Pricing your services is not an easy task. It takes time to gather the information you need and then decide how much you should charge.
The most important thing here is to remember that real estate photography is a premium service. As such, your job is to stand out. This will ensure that you get the best assignments and that you get paid what you deserve for your work.
To stand out, you need to be prepared to offer custom services in addition to your standard packages, like adding drone shots and videos, and even 3D tours. Do not be afraid to charge more for these special packages, as savvy sellers will be glad they got them in the long run.
Create An Online Presence
Your online presence is one of the most important parts of your real estate photography business. When you're just starting out, you want to create an online presence and platform that you can use to showcase your work and meet potential clients. By doing this, you can establish yourself as a credible photography professional who is worth hiring for any real estate photography shoot.
A great way to attract clients and potential employers is by creating a strong social media presence. This means setting up profiles on sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Since real estate photography is a niche within the photography world, having a strong presence on these sites will help you connect with other professionals in the industry as well as potential clients who are looking for someone like you to hire for their next project. You could also get creative and make videos featuring awesome properties on TikTok and YouTube (with owner and agent permission of course!).
Another great way to do this is to create a blog where you can write about your experiences in the industry, showcase some of your work and provide useful tips for other aspiring photographers. Even if you don't have any work yet, you can still run a blog by writing about what it takes to become a successful photographer, sharing tips on how to build an online image and how to market yourself. You can also share some of your potential client's stories on your blog as a way to attract future clients who might be interested in working with you.
In Conclusion
Real estate photography is a great way to make money! But only if you are good at it!
It is important to remember that real estate photography is not just about snapping some pretty pictures. The purpose of this kind of photography is to market properties effectively and efficiently. This calls for understanding the details of the business, what makes great photos, and how to make them happen.
You will also need an understanding of lighting, exposure, composition, framing, depth of field, and all the other things that go into making great photographs.
There is no doubt about it; entering into this industry requires time, patience, and determination. However, if you truly love the experience of taking photographs then it is worth every bit of effort!
