JRD3 Loc: Richmond, VA

Photographing and documenting home interiors and valuables is a recommended task. Almost all of us have ability but how often is it done by the general public. I am wondering if there is a market for a service to take quality photographs and document the home and possessions for insurance and estate purposes. Question for the forum is has anyone done this for profit? If so, what has been their experience?

CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

Let me address where profit could be made. The first objective is to define the market\prospect. Your potential client is not the typical homeowner. Most believe their assets are covered under the homeowner policy. Even if this is true, it is subject to a typical 1% or 2% deductible. The cost of insurance is rising as property replacement costs have been dramatically impacted by inflation. So your client is those that "list" items on their policy. How many Hoggers have not listed insurance for their photography equipment? How many believe they are covered under their home\auto? How do you find the listed clients? Work with insurance companies or representatives that focus on high-valued clients. Create an approved standard by the insurance company(s). Caution - bonding will be required and be prepared to be a third party to various law suits when the insurance company believes fraud has occurred. Good luck.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Too many amateurs in the field dilutes the market. In today's world most people have cell-phones that have cameras included. If you have a camera, you're in business for yourself. Good luck.

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

I did take photos for insurance purposes when I was in business. I charged a basic per hour and materials charge. It was as profitable as any comercial job in my small town. In those days most people could not take a very good photo but now days with cellular phone cameras I doubt there would be much of a demand. Just my thoughts. I think most people would need to see a need and I doubt that would be there.

Hip Coyote

Look up the idea of SWOT analysis of a business model. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

Do that then decide.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

So, you want to go into private homes and photograph all their valuables. Good luck with that. Sounds like something everyone would just have to have done.
I can see the headlines now. "Photographer implicated in mass home burglary ring".

CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

...and hence my comment about bonding. Also having to appear to testify as to the state of the item(s), demeanor of the suspect and personal opinion.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

As a commercial photographer, I have occasionally been engaged to photographically documents items and properties for insurance purposes. Seeing that I do occasional legal photography for a few local law firms, the requirements usually come in through these lawyers on behalf of their clients. A few clients have hired us directly because they had experienced issues in the past where the insurance companies attempted ot somehow mitigate their claims, under-evaluate their losses, or even question if they have certain items.

The law firms called us in because we also do occasional personal injury and property damage photography for them or where they are advising certin of the client's insurance issues.

I use the word "few and occasional" because I do think there is a large enough market to sustain a specialized business in his kind of work. We are in the cellphone era where folks are photograhing their own stuff and will shoot pictures if they are involved in a minor accident, or if the is damage to their home or property. Certain cases or jurisdictions value photographic demonstrative evidence more than otheres. In some serious injury and damage cases, very detailed and professional quality imaging is required. In large urban areas there ar still a few specialists in forensic and evidentiary photogahy. In criminal cases, the police and othere law-enforcement agencies have their specialists.

The jobs I have done included stamp and coin collections, expensive jewelry and timepieces, antiques, a large collection of costly clothes, room interiors, and furniture. Photographs of the small items had to be detailed and a ruler was included in the frame to show the scale. In some cases small engraved trademark and/or serial numbers. Valuable artwork had to be detailed and show any signature labels or data on the back of the canvas or frame. Photographs were often authenticated by experts or notarized. In a big case, you may be called into court to testify thathe evidence was not exaggerated, retouched, or falsified in a manner. That can be a time-consuming experience so you need to be paid well for the initial job and that does not happen every day.

In today's environment of privacy issues, criminal activity, burgery, and fraud, I would not prompt these services directly to most private clients. I prefer to work through a law firm or insurance company.

MrPhotog

I prepared a plan, and advertised that for months when I started my studio.

I got no inquiries about that service at all.

When I surveyed other customers—people who did other business with my studio—I still got no business.

People really do not want to have you in their homes, looking at all their private treasures. The idea makes them very uncomfortable.

Eventually I got one job. The local library called. They had received a donation of jade and porcelain objects from an estate, and their insurance company insisted they have these items properly catalogued, with pictures. The job took a lot longer than I expected. Far more time than a basic home inventory would have taken, I think. I stuck to my original quote, and didn’t make much from the job.

It is a good idea, but there is a very small market. If you think the market is more receptive these days, and want to pursue this field, I think advertising to the general public is inefficient. Instead, you can go online in any state and find a list of insurance agents. Advertise your services to, and through, them. Each state has a Director of Insurance, which may be a stand-alone agency or a part of the Secretary of State’s office. The Director of Insurance issues the licenses to qualified insurance agents. Search their lists sorting for those agents licensed to sell property and casualty insurance.

I’d send e-mails to these first, then make a brochure and send a copy by mail. If you find anyone really receptive, send them a handful of your brochures, so they can pass them out to their customers. I’d suggest they get a commission for any referrals. $25 should do

Manchester Brat Loc: Manchester, Connecticut

i can not answer your question, but that's a very goo idea.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

I would think most large museums have a trained staff member(s) and setup (studio) in-house to do their cataloging photography. Even my small city’s history museum does their own using a low end Canon DSLR and a simple table top arrangement. The catalog photos are taken by a staff member who is a volunteer. It truly is a small opportunity for paying work.

Stan

rwww80a Loc: Hampton, NH

Go into the individuals home, tke pictures and manipiulate with AI. Will make the most mundane object appear -WOW. A scratched fender and the whole vehicle can be totaled.
With todays technology not much of a need.

delder Loc: Maryland

You might consider obtaining a Notary License & offing Mobile Notary services as well. Fees are normally limited but travel can be a billable expense. Check your state regulations. I actually took a Notary class from an instructor who made a living @ this. You could offer some pre-planning estate documentation services, perhaps in partnership with a law practice...

Vladimir200 Loc: Beaumont, Ca.

Totally agree; my best guess is that there would probably NOT be much of a demand for the same reason MCHUGH stated.