photgraphing for realtors
Jun 27, 2012 18:25:39 #
I was just wondering if there could any any market for photographing homes, inside and out, for realtors or realty companies? Or do the listing agents usually take care of that themselves? What lens would be the best to do the inside shots? Canon 10-22mm?
does anyone here do that kind of work?
does anyone here do that kind of work?
Jun 27, 2012 18:45:46 #
kmohr3 wrote:
I was just wondering if there could any any market for photographing homes, inside and out, for realtors or realty companies? Or do the listing agents usually take care of that themselves? What lens would be the best to do the inside shots? Canon 10-22mm?
does anyone here do that kind of work?
does anyone here do that kind of work?
Here in the UK some Estate Agents (as we quaintly call them) do their own, and some employ a professional. I am trying to sell my house at the moment, and the agent used a P&S. Not very good results, so I took some myself and got them to use some of them instead. For the interior I used a 17-40 on my 5D2, so the 10-20 on a crop body would be about the same. But take great care to keep those verticals vertical!
Jun 27, 2012 18:47:22 #
I don't but I know a guy that does it. To do it well is not easy and not cheap. Which is not to say there is plenty of crummy cheap stuff out there.
Interestingly, a wide angle lens is NOT the best as it distorts too much. Maybe a little wide, but not TOO wide. Instead, a more normal focal length lens with stitched images seems to work well.
And since you are stitching images with close subjects, rotating around the nodal point of the lens is necessary. This means a tripod mount that allows that rotation point instead of around the camera tripod socket.
Then, it means a lot of good HDR work - not that silly cartoon-looking HDR, but images with an extended tonal range.
Then you need to consider good lighting inside.
I guess he does well with it- or at least he did last time I saw him - but he has a healthy investment in the proper gear.
Of course lots of real estate folks take their own with a P&S.
Interestingly, a wide angle lens is NOT the best as it distorts too much. Maybe a little wide, but not TOO wide. Instead, a more normal focal length lens with stitched images seems to work well.
And since you are stitching images with close subjects, rotating around the nodal point of the lens is necessary. This means a tripod mount that allows that rotation point instead of around the camera tripod socket.
Then, it means a lot of good HDR work - not that silly cartoon-looking HDR, but images with an extended tonal range.
Then you need to consider good lighting inside.
I guess he does well with it- or at least he did last time I saw him - but he has a healthy investment in the proper gear.
Of course lots of real estate folks take their own with a P&S.
Jun 27, 2012 21:06:15 #
kmohr3 wrote:
I was just wondering if there could any any market for photographing homes, inside and out, for realtors or realty companies? Or do the listing agents usually take care of that themselves? What lens would be the best to do the inside shots? Canon 10-22mm?
does anyone here do that kind of work?
does anyone here do that kind of work?
Contact local agents and see how they do it.
Jun 28, 2012 08:56:39 #
Here in Toronto it seems that it is low-end photographic pricing. I heard of one company that charges a little over $100 to the client for approx 8 - 10 stills and 2 pans, of which the photographer sees a percentage. You would need to cram quite a few of these into your day to make reasonable coin, and the time spent on post-processing would need to be as close to zero as possible.
Jun 28, 2012 09:33:11 #
I am a Real Estate Agent and do my own photography. You can check out my work at www.thetechingroup.com.
I use a Canon 40D or 7D and Canon's 10-22mm lens which is excellent. I do not post process at all.
I use a tripod or monopod all of the time and occasionally use a fill flash. Have found that cranking up the ISO even to as much as 2000 lightens up the shadows and extends the dynamic range of the captures. This is something to experiment with.
My photos are not masterpieces but serve our purposes very well. If I wanted to create the best possible images I would probably have several off camera light sources and do a lot in post processing including correcting vertical distortion caused by the lens. Although we as enthusiasts would object to this distortion, most people don't even see it. At least that's my opinion.
There are outside companies that photogaph homes that have a large balloon tetherd on a wire to which they attach a camera. They let the balloon rise up to get arial shots.
Hope this helps.
Steve
I use a Canon 40D or 7D and Canon's 10-22mm lens which is excellent. I do not post process at all.
I use a tripod or monopod all of the time and occasionally use a fill flash. Have found that cranking up the ISO even to as much as 2000 lightens up the shadows and extends the dynamic range of the captures. This is something to experiment with.
My photos are not masterpieces but serve our purposes very well. If I wanted to create the best possible images I would probably have several off camera light sources and do a lot in post processing including correcting vertical distortion caused by the lens. Although we as enthusiasts would object to this distortion, most people don't even see it. At least that's my opinion.
There are outside companies that photogaph homes that have a large balloon tetherd on a wire to which they attach a camera. They let the balloon rise up to get arial shots.
Hope this helps.
Steve
Jun 28, 2012 09:50:07 #
In the DFW area, most realters do their own or have a relative do it and write off as a (bogus) expense.The current "new" thing is the virtual tour usually done with a cheap video camera. If you are serious about getting in with property sales, try to get commercial work (Hotels, high rise property, bowling centers etc.) for their web sites. Just be prepared to work for the dark side. Get a portfolio together and start kicking doors in.
Jun 28, 2012 11:47:43 #
I used to do that type of work years and years ago. However, as of late, most of them use a cell phone to keep their expenses down. "Why pay for a photographer to do something when I can take a perfectly good photo with my cellphone" syndrome.
It will be an uphill battle.
It will be an uphill battle.
Jun 28, 2012 12:38:20 #
It's amazing what you can do with an I phone...My son is an author and his first book ( children's book) by Penguin is coming out in a few months. All of the photographs including the cover of the book have been done with his I-phone, and they are quite respectable.
Jun 29, 2012 00:53:02 #
kmohr3 wrote:
I was just wondering if there could any any market for photographing homes, inside and out, for realtors or realty companies? Or do the listing agents usually take care of that themselves? What lens would be the best to do the inside shots? Canon 10-22mm?
does anyone here do that kind of work?
does anyone here do that kind of work?
I do some of that now. I did a favor for a broker once because her regular photographer was not available and needed images right away. Never did this type of photography before but I will shoot anything. (Because Im crazy). Well now all her listing MUST be shot by me. (How did this happen? Now Im working outside my studio comfort zone) If you see what the regular agents shoot with their point and shoot cameras you will feel confident that you can do better, which I sure you totally can. (They are agents not photographers). Wide lens are totally necessary. GO FOR IT.
Jun 29, 2012 01:08:49 #
kmohr3 wrote:
I was just wondering if there could any any market for photographing homes, inside and out, for realtors or realty companies? Or do the listing agents usually take care of that themselves? What lens would be the best to do the inside shots? Canon 10-22mm?
does anyone here do that kind of work?
does anyone here do that kind of work?
That lens 10-22 would be great. Anything that got to 15mm on a crop sensor or 24mm on a full frame should do the job. You will need a good polarizing filter, a lightweight tripod and some HDR software. HDR images are off the best images of interiors.
Jun 29, 2012 01:29:49 #
Jun 29, 2012 07:25:08 #
Thanks for replies/ideas everyone. would a person be able to get by with a 430 EX II as far as lighting? As far as the HDR, I'm wondering if the T4i's HDR shooting mode would work for this? (I think I'll start practicing a little this weekend).
I do know a realtor that we used a couple years back - she might be a good person to approach first.
I do know a realtor that we used a couple years back - she might be a good person to approach first.
Jun 29, 2012 10:36:54 #
kmohr3 wrote:
Thanks for replies/ideas everyone. would a person be able to get by with a 430 EX II as far as lighting? As far as the HDR, I'm wondering if the T4i's HDR shooting mode would work for this? (I think I'll start practicing a little this weekend).
I do know a realtor that we used a couple years back - she might be a good person to approach first.
I do know a realtor that we used a couple years back - she might be a good person to approach first.
Nothing wrong with that flashgun. Try bounce flash, or do you have a diffuser you can use? Both methods produce smoother results than direct flash which can appear harsh.
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