Help This Agent! Are All Real Estate Photographers Running 10 Days Out?
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Just received word from Dallas real estate agent extraordinaire Cody Farris that he is getting a little frustrated with real estate photography services because they are so over-booked! He has a listing and the service tells him they cannot get to HIS listing for 10 days. It’s the same story with all of the services! And I have heard this from other agents, too. Sometimes you have to get a listing up and out because the homeowners want it out there on the web. They want fast! I mean, it’s spring, it’s hot. We have done such a good job of teaching agents the importance of great photography for listings, well now, seems we are all at the mercy of photography services!
Also, are the photography services taking on other business apart from Realtors which is keeping their schedules full? More than one prominent Dallas photogtrapher has queried me about getting into the real estate biz. Well, now sure well would be the time!
“I think they need to hire more photographers,” says Cody.
So this brings to mind a host of questions:
Should an agent take their own photos? Maybe take a course and invest in some solid photography equipment?
Have a photographer on staff at some of the larger brokerage houses?
And dare I ask this… maybe magazine-quality photos are just not as vital in this red-hot market as they were when the market was a bit cooler… though certainly I would want my own home beautifully, stunningly photographed…
Does having a photographer on hand give one agent an edge over another?
Inquiring minds just need to know!
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There is more than one real estate photography company in DFW. Plenty of outstanding photographers available so agents don’t do a disservice to their seller and provide poor photos they take themselves.
The busy company needs to not hire more photographers, but instead raise their prices. This will free up time for them to focus on agents who value not only the photo product, but customer service and scheduling availability as well.
Real estate photographs are becoming like personal ads. The pictures look great…then you meet in person, and you wonder what ever appealed to you. Realtors should just take good quality pictures and buy their own equipment. It’s not difficult.
If there are non-real estate photographers looking to jump in the real estate market I suggest they get a firm grasp on the technical side of real-estate photography. It’s NOT the same as taking boudoir, bridal, or baby pictures.
Why doesn’t the realtor take the photos themself. You don’t need a professional to take a photo. Just shoot from a bunch of different angles and choose the better of the shots.
Good real estate photographers produce photos that make your home look like it could be in “Better Homes and Gardens.” It’s supposed to show off all the wonderful things about your home. If it doesn’t look exactly like it does in the photos when you visit, well, Cindy Crawford doesn’t look exactly like she does in person as she does on the cover of Cosmopolitan either!
I guess, the important thing is that if you are selling someone’s home and expecting a robust commission, those photos better make it look like a supermodel. First impressions are important!
Lord that’s true, all those celebs get airbrushed up. Can we airbrush homes?
Wonder if this guy airbrushed himself? Current DFW listing:
http://www.redfin.com/TX/Grand-Prairie/2431-Somervell-Trl-75052/home/31110088
Photo 6
This is what happens when agents take their own photos. I feel bad for the seller, so unfortunate.
I LOVE the reflection photo of him in the mirror looking rather puzzled!
I think it’s great to see the demand for premier marketing services like professional photography is up for the real estate industry locally! Home sellers be educated! Hire agents who offer these types of services NOT ones who take their own photos unless they are professionally trained. But how many hats can an agent really wear successfully? Smart, savvy Realtors who understand the power and difference quality photos (along with staging I have to add because as the one comment said homes can be like personal ads in photos – the need to look the part when their date err home buyer arrives!) can make for their sellers are busier than ever selling more real estate faster and in many cases for more! Their marketing affiliates like photographers and stagers are also experiencing the shift and are seeing a boom in their own businesses which is a long time over due IMHO.
Establishing great relationships with your best clients who value your services is key. Price for services can also create a demand beyond the capacity a company can handle. I believe in not overpromising and under delivering. Setting expectations is also important for deliverables. Don’t advertise you’ll be able to deliver something tomorrow if in reality it’s impossible. Good relationships with your established client base is super important. As a home stager I take care of those clients who have taken care of me and I’d rather be a small boutique company that can deliver as expected than not. And clients who understand the nature of how fast bookings are happening understand the value of lead time and respect for your craft. I am super grateful to my client base. They are awesome and changing the way RE is bought and sold.
I believe part of the problem is that for years many agents weren’t using services like these to help their clients and their brands stand out and those that understand the power and value are growing and demand is exceeding supply of quality service providers in our area. Just because someone can take a great picture or even stage a home doesn’t mean they can run a solid business.
While I think it’s great that the market is so hot and everyone who’s stuck around (and survived) for the long haul in our marketing services sector of the RE industry is also in high demand, there is still room for much growth in our area. I believe there’s more work than any of us can handle. I often refer work to my fellow staging colleagues (through the RESA Dallas Chapter) when I cannot be available and I think it would serve RE photographers well to get to know others in the industry too who they can refer work to when timelines like these become an issue.
Thanks for bringing this issue to light!
As a full-time professional real estate photographer I understand the importance of agents needing relatively quick appointments and even quicker turn-around times. I’m typically booked 3-5 days out, but try to leave room open every other day in case one of my regular clients has an “emergency listing”. They value my time and I value theirs, so they don’t take advantage of this fact. But something to consider – if a photographer is always available the moment you need them, how good are they really? Those that have wait times are usually worth the wait!!
But those that don’t think professional real estate photography is needed are the same that are likely to never become a ‘Top Producer’. They rely on their iPhone or a point-and-shoot camera and cut other corners as well – all while doing the homeowner (and their industry) injustice. Or, they’ve hired a “real estate photographer” in the past and experienced a total lack of quality and service. Heck, some “companies” out there have the most inconsistent photos (bad quality being the only thing really consistent!) – so anyone would be better taking photos than them! The issue is they claim to offer “magazine quality” photography, but don’t. And coupled with shotty customer service, it’s no wonder their giving the rest of us truly professional photographers a bad name. So to those I’d say ask your next real estate photographer to see their last 10 shoots – then compare the consistency!!
If an agent is serious about selling a property, and selling it quickly and for as much as possible, they already know the secret to success – which is a sound marketing strategy that includes a professional real estate photographer! Not just slapping something into MLS…
End Rant!
I mirror a lot of what Lance said. There is the “Big Box” real estate photography service that most agents know about, however many, many, (can I emphasize) many realtors looks to the smaller companies when they are booked too far out. There are numerous well-qualified real estate photographers/companies out there beyond the one or two that everyone knows. A quick Google search for “Dallas Real Estate Photography” will pull up a host of fantastic options. #1 on that list might not be able to get you in for 2 weeks, but scroll down a bit.
I don’t think all the Real Estate Photographers are booked…but the good ones for sure are.
It is NEVER a good idea for the listing agent to take their own pictures unless they are schooled in Real Estate Photography. Some of the pics I see on MLS are horrendous.
And truthfully the realtors need to exercise some planning. They can’t make their emergency/problem, the photographers or the stagers problem. ( I say that, because that’s what I do, I stage homes for a living).
-Give a week or two for the home to be professionally staged and then photographed.
-Have an on going working relationship with a stager/photographer who will accommodate your needs and schedule.
Know how far they are booked out. For example, because I know my photographer who shoots all my vacant stagings is busy ( Lance Selgo who the best in my opinion bar none), I make sure I go on his schedule one to two weeks in advance. I would never leave anything for the last minute. You got to have a well executed plan in place at all times if you want to be on top of things.
I know a lot of Professional Photographers. To professionally shoot homes ,,it requires a lot more than a camera and flash,, requires Skllis, Knowledge of layout of the home, where the sunlight is being directed at time of shoot,,that makes a. It difference at time of shoot, requires lighting ,,on or off flash ,, pocket wizards ,communication between the Agent ,Person(s) staging the house,,the Photographers time ,his or her skills. Software to edit , Set the edit to music if needed,,and a lot of other things,,come Into this, it always best it hire a Professional Photographer to photo shoot the house They will get it right the first time around.
I am more than happy to refer anyone to a professional photographer who does this type work for a living ,,
Kris peterson
Yours truly wrote a series not that long ago on all the wonderful real estate photographers . Google it, print it off and keep that list ! I bet if you call everyone on that list you are going to find help within a week. Professional photography is a necessity ,as are professional staging , professional landscaping , professional painting, professional cleaning.. This list goes on. The website “Bad MLS Photos” exists not just as entertainment but as a reminder to always use professionals : )
I shoot McSam’s type home shots (with extensive), but would also be available for simpler listing purposes on relatively short notice. I hope this is the kind of information you were looking for – if not, please feel free to delete this reply.
Marc