How important are professional real estate photos?
When taken by a professional photographer, real estate photos can significantly help real estate agents sell listings faster and for more money. As a majority of agents state their business goals for 2023 are to generate more leads, increase referrals, and sell listings faster and for more money, professional real estate photos can help you reach your business goals faster!
Do realtors pay for real estate photography?
Yes. Realtors and brokerages who want to enhance their brand and marketing strategy use and pay for professional photographers and real estate photography to help sell their listings.
However, real estate agent and photography pricing depend on the type of photography and company.
Types of professional real estate photography
Real estate drone photography
A professional real estate photography service can provide quality content using amateur real estate photography and drone photography. Aerial drone photos can be excellent marketing materials for your brand.
Not every property needs aerial images, but drone photography could highlight those features more listings for prospective buyers if the property has a unique layout or outdoor quality.
3D virtual tours
A 3D virtual tour provides potential buyers with an immersive experience—giving them more buyers the ability to walk through the home without leaving their desk!
Additionally, virtual tours are available 24/7, making it easy for clients to view homes on their own time.
As more than half of home buyers find their homes online, offering virtual tours can help you generate qualified leads and sell your listings faster.
Floor plans
Similar to 3D tours, floor plans can give buyers an idea of what the home actually looks like. While pictures are vital, depending on the quality and angle at which they’re taken, potential buyers may not have a complete picture.
Virtual staging
While you don’t want a listing to appear overly personal, it’s essential that buyers can imagine themselves in the space—and an empty room doesn’t always make that happen.
With virtual staging, you can give the potential buyer to you an affordable way to showcase the space. Even better, listings that feature virtual staging can sell 75% faster than listings without!
3 benefits of hiring a professional real estate photographer
Did you know that agents who use professional real estate photography make double the average gross commissionable income compared to agents who don’t do amateur photography?
Great real estate photography begins with composition and a proper understanding of the perceived value of visual story-telling. Some real estate photography tips can get you a head start, but a professional photographer understands the following:
The time of day to shoot to get the best natural light
The angles to shoot from to highlight a room’s best features
Skipping rooms or features that will not help market a home
Which camera settings to use that bring out the best qualities of a photo
How to scan space to make on-the-fly changes, boosting the appeal
The order in which they shoot spaces to enhance the flow
Without professional training, it will be difficult for you to achieve successful results. Professionals use this bullet point list countless times a month to shoot real estate listings.
Let them show you the difference their professional images make! Don’t settle for real estate stock photos or shoddy exterior photos; hire a photographer who understands how to use a light source and best market your listing. So, before you start snapping real estate photos with your smartphone, here are the top reasons to hire a pro for a real estate photo shoot.
1. Stand out online
Look at your favorite online retail store. Now, the first thing you’ll notice is that they’re using professional photography for every product. From a $5 pair of socks to a $300 pair of designer boots, the product photos they are using are high-quality and consistent.
This is by design. They know that professional photography is a powerful marketing tool that can lead more consumers to click on a product and make that purchase. Also, today's buyers of these companies understand that the images you see on their site directly represent their brand.
2. Professional real estate photos build your brand
As discussed above, using the same real estate photography company or real estate photographer for all of your listings will create brand consistency. Additionally, a consistent and professional brand image gives real estate agents, new and seasoned, the confidence to go to a listing presentation and demonstrate their worth to prospects. As a result, successful real estate agents tend to have better photos and a developed marketing strategy. You may be surprised by the vast difference that high-quality photos can have on your brand.
3. A great camera doesn’t equal great real estate photos
Your smartphone camera or DSLR may have all the bells and whistles, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to take a great real estate photo with it, much less any magazine-quality images. So, while you may understand a rule of thumb for real estate photography, such as using natural light or making sure to use a wide-angle lens for exterior shots and beautiful photos, a professional photography service saves you both time and money.
Professional real estate photographers near you
Providing professional real estate photography for your listings is one of the simplest ways why you need to hire a professional real estate photographer who can shape your brand and real estate business. High-quality photography can help generate leads, market your brand, and deliver a memorable client experience. Start making more today by investing in professional photography.
