yescats

I would like to start a program to help Realtors take more professional looking photos. I would like to keep the total hardware and software costs for them under $1000 if at all possible. I am thinking the package should include an ultra-wide lens, remote flash, a body capable of in camera HDR, a tripod, and Lightroom.

Is this possible to do for under $1000? Any suggestions?

SheriB Loc: York Co, PA

Not sure about your area, but the realtors around here are starting to lean toward using a 'service' that comes in and does their shots, processes them ( all HDR) and even on higher end or large properties, drone aerial footage.

SonyBug

As far as I know, drone footage can not be used except with a special permit. The drones that you and I can fly can not take commercial footage.

Edward Booth Loc: Riverview, Florida

I am a full time real estate photographer. I am not a realtor. Why would to want to teach realtors to do my job and dilute my craft. It is hard enough trying to make a living as a photographer. I know you probably mean well, but come on are you really serious?

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Serious as a heart attaché. If I was a Relator and I am not I would be spending all my time on the HARD marketing. Ed I bet that you do the same. Showing value and how you can multiply time and talent by using your service.

In my town we have some very good real-estate photographers. We have some very good sales professionals. The 1000 dollar budget leads to the 1000 dollar question.

It seems to all lay down to the question of professionalism.

Just saying! J. R.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Edward, I am going to suggest that the realtor with the <$1000 system is absolutely no threat to your business. They will never get your results. In fact the quality will be so lacking that it will help differentiate you from everyone else.

If your business is threatened by these bottom feeders then your business has other issues - specifically identifying your market segment. I did architectural photography in the 70s and zeroing in on your target clients and providing anticipatory and preemptive customer service was, and continues to be the key to profitability.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

What's your background in photography? I notice that this is your first post on UHH.

yescats

As a former Realtor who's done over a thousand listings I can tell you that the reason, "it's hard" is because with Realtors you are barking up the wrong tree. It's hard enough getting the listing. We don't need to also have to sell the homeowner on paying for photos. And we don't want to expend any more money than we already have with no guarantee of return on our investment. We also don't want to struggle with copyright issues. We don't want to depend on another person being on time, and having any potential adverse contact with our client. We want the listing to appear (with photos) as soon as possible as well. In my experience the less people involved the better. KISS.

I also use the photo taking session as part of the sales pitch. I go right from the front door to taking photos. It's very powerful to show them how good their house will look immediately. By the time you sit down at the kitchen table to sign paperwork you already have a rapport with the people.

If it's an estate and there's a need for a high quality virtual tour and photos for a foofoo magazine then that's a whole other matter. Also going in as a team might be really helpful but I never tried it that way.

I'm sorry you feel the way you do but it's your choice who you market to. I've been paid by Realtors to do photo shoots for them as well but I soon realized that dealing with Realtors for a couple hundred bucks just wasn't worth it. They need to learn to do this themselves. They already have too many hands in their pockets. The broker, the Board, the MLS provider, and the taxman just to name a few.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Personally I think your selling a pipe dream. Even with the best camera and equipment you now have to teach photography. Remember, it's not the camera. The already Poor realtors will be even poorer, with crappy photos and you the richer. I also provide a photography service here locally where I live. The realtors that want better photos and exposure pay the extra for the photos themselves and Don't charge the sellers. They understand the cost of business and write these off as expenses at the end of the year. The ones that want to do it all are normally the ones that try to undercut everyone else in town.

SonyBug

Wow, I can think of a thousand reasons that you are not in the business. I just read a survey about "rich realtors" vs "poor realtors" and the difference is how much money is spent on marketing. Your reference to getting the client to pay for the photography just shows that you are not willing to invest in your business. Sure, there are expenses. But there are expenses in every business. The difference in the rich or poor agent goes to many things, but the rich agent outspends the poor agent by a factor of 10 in marketing cost. A great photo may not sell the house, but a great photo may get a buyer to look at a house that they otherwise would not. It's just like me if I wanted to do photography as a living. Would I buy a cheap camera for under $1,000 or buy a pro camera and pro lenses. The simple answer is that yesterday I bought a Nikon 85mm af-s F1.4 for $1,600. With that I would bet that I can take a better picture, all other things being equal, than you can with any lens in your bag. That would make a difference in selling a house or not. Which is why tho OP will never make a business of selling a sub-thousand dollar camera rig that will successfully be used to create listing photos for houses.

yescats

Ten years taking my own real estate photos. I've only used point and shoot cameras but from seeing my results I've been hired by Realtors and investors to do photos for them but only as a favor. I now train Realtors how to use the MLS but want to include photography in my training since I've found it's sorely needed. It's like pulling teeth getting them to hire a professional for the reasons I mentioned in a reply to another person on this thread.

I would now like to take it to a higher level with better cameras and especially wider lenses. I plan to either hire a professional to teach them or do it myself once I know what I'm doing. But the first step is figuring out which equipment to start out with. In general Realtors are on a budget so I wanted to try to keep the equipment costs as low as possible while still getting good results.

I'm seeing this idea is being perceived as a threat to some so I guess I shouldn't have said I was going to teach Realtors to do what they think is their job. I guess sometimes honesty isn't the best policy. :)

SonyBug

Look at it this way YesCats. If a realtor used a pro photographer at $150 each for 20 listings, and sold one more house as a result of it, would the commission offset the cost of the photo costs?

yescats

No. In real estate a $1600 lens won't make a difference in selling a house or not. I've gotten excellent results using a $99 point and shoot. What you're saying is just a sales pitch to Realtors. You're believing your own hype. Any experienced Realtor knows what sells houses.

What a Realtor needs beyond a point and shoot camera is a wider lens and some training. When looking at a listing a potential buyer or potential buyer's agent is looking for accuracy and full coverage of the house. Not fantasy or perfection.

Please either answer my question or go to another thread. Insulting me and discouraging me from teaching a Realtor to be independent is not only off topic it's small minded. There's enough business to go around for everyone if you know how to market yourself. Tell me about photography and I'll listen but don't try to tell me how to sell a house. If I want to know that I would be on a different forum.

yescats

That's a good sales pitch for photographers but it isn't answering my question.

SheriB Loc: York Co, PA

Which is why the realtors hire the company that has the permits :-)