You’ve probably heard the old cliché a million times “A picture is worth a thousand words”. You’d think that would mean photography and illustrations would be an important part of your marketing approach whether you’re flipping, investing, dealing with residential or commercial properties.
Why, then, are so many real estate photographs out there so poorly composed and badly lit?
Don’t Fear the Photographer
Hiring a professional real estate photographer is generally your best bet for getting the best pictures. The most common complaints about professional photographers involve quality and price.
You don’t want to hire someone who does not know how to compose and light for real estate. A great portrait or wedding photographer may have the skills to take decent pictures, but won’t provide you with the additional expertise that can make some pictures “pop”.
Establish Worth
Of course, the pricing of a professional real estate photographer may be surprising. Only you can decide if hiring a professional is of value to your business. Some things to take into consideration are the potential reduction in time from listing to sale or rent that better pictures can generate.
When considering costs you’ll want to keep in mind that you can use pictures for years to come as long as no major changes are made to the
property.
Equip Yourself
It may be tempting to compare and consider what it will cost to get your own equipment and training to take pictures yourself. Don’t go this route if photography doesn’t already interest you on some level. There is some truth to needing to “have an eye” for good photography. If you don’t have the interest, and a professional specialist is out of the question, consider delegating the photography to someone within your company.
Certainly there are ways to get good shots with your cell phone or automatic digital camera, but they will not produce optimum, professional results that will best flatter your property shots. At minimum, you’ll need to invest in a digital SLR, a good wide angle lense, a tripod and some additional lighting. You should expect to invest about $1500 in a suitable entry-level set-up that will serve your purposes.
Practice, Practice, Practice
One of the beautiful things about digital photography, as opposed to traditional film photography that we used to rely on, is the ability to take as many shots as you need to get the perfect shot. Expect to spend considerable time at each property until you really get the hang of capturing what will really highlight and sell. It will be worth the time it takes.
If you aren’t taking pictures regularly, you may never increase the speed of your sessions but the quality of your pictures will certainly reflect your attention to detail.