Thread: Would you hire a professional photographer?

I think that it's a very marketable service, and $80 a home may actually be a little too low if you asked me. Initially though, it may help you get a few Realtor clients under your belt. Good luck!

I would use a professional photographer, but probably only for the higher end homes. I don't think $80 is too much at all.

I have and do use a professional photographer for high end homes.

9 times out of 10 the photos are better than mine. However, I will say on days when it is overcast the exterior photo's always look bad. Nothing beats a bright and sunny day when the grass is green and the sky is a clear blue.

Overcast days are the only days I regret paying for professional services.

I think your prices are reasonable. Try putting together a few different packages. I like to get 20 or more photo's. Some cheaper packages will include 5 photo's - you may want to keep those in your back pocket for the cheapskates.

Best of luck with your new market.

I use a professional for any service I am not comfortable with.

Photography ranks right up there as a service I can provide for low to mid range priced real estate.

For commercial and high end properties, I always hire a professional photographer. The difference is staggering in my eyes.

As to your pricing, I believe it will vary based on your geographic area, your competition and the quality of your work.

My suggestion is this:

Get with a few agents/brokers in your area and offer an introductory price discount.

Do you also provide paste up or layout work? If so, that is an added benefit and service to offer.

Best of luck.

I would have to agree. I think $80 for all the services you listed in your post is very reasonable. Especially with the fact that images are what capture potential buyers, having the right lighting and everything is pretty crucial to truly capture the room/home.

One thing you might consider doing is seeing if people in your area have posted photography jobs on freelancer sites and start working that angle. Granted, the best idea would be to just post your services in the local paper, but it may be an option worth venturing.

It depends on the prices of homes in your area.
Here in Aspen people pay $500 for a good set of pictures. But that is not snapping things but spending 5-10 hours taking pictures with a full lighting kit etc.

I take photos myself as a good amateur photographer, but getting the high contrast interior shots is tricky and having the right lights helps. I like the shots taken at what I call the "blue hour" just after dusk. Gets great skies with a deep blue and a fully lit house does the rest.

$80 depends on how long you spend. Might be high might be low, also depends on how good the pictures are.

I think it is a good idea these days with the market like they are for you to subsitute selling homes with photo shoots for those who are still busy. Your prices are great and the market is eventually going to pick back up, it always has and it always will.
Doesn't this happen every 10 years?

$80 is pretty reasonable...

You can ask him to do shootings for your web site..

Content is the king on the web......

Originally Posted by TobyMunk

It depends on the prices of homes in your area.
Here in Aspen people pay $500 for a good set of pictures. But that is not snapping things but spending 5-10 hours taking pictures with a full lighting kit etc..

Agreed. If you are selling a high-end home, professional grade photos can make a great first impression to prospective buyers. A picture is worth 10,000 words. Hiring a pro photographer for luxury homes is worth it. When selling our luxury fractional ownership homes, we always hire a good photographer and it has made a big difference.

If you are selling a home that isn't high-end, buyers don't really expect spectacular photos. You can do away with digital photos.