How to Price Real Estate Photography
Real estate photography is an excellent way to earn extra money as a freelance photographer. The key is to price your services based on the value you provide your clients.
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Your pricing structure will be influenced by several factors, including the size and location of the property you’re photographing, the number of images they want, and the turnaround time. It’s also important to consider the type of equipment and software you need.
You can charge a premium for your services if you’re an experienced real estate photographer with a deep understanding of the industry and your gear. For example, you may be able to sell a 3-D model of a house to home builders for a higher fee than a standard photo package.
Aside from the photos, you’ll also need to pay for your camera gear and equipment, insurance, and business management software. These can add up to a significant amount of money, so it’s crucial to find the right balance between cost and quality.
It’s common for photographers to offer multi-tiered pricing, based on the number of square feet of the property and how many photographs they can shoot within a given period of time. While this might sound like a good idea at first, it can quickly become unprofitable because you won’t be able to cover all your costs.
Having a clear and consistent pricing structure can be hard when you’re just starting out. You might be tempted to copy what other photographers in your area charge, but you should always base your rates on how much you think you’re worth and the value you can bring to your clients.
The biggest mistake you can make is to try to match the prices of your competitors. This can result in lower numbers of clients and an overall negative impact on your income.
Your rates and packages should be based on your experience, skill level, and the value you can add to each property. It’s also a good idea to be flexible and offer a variety of different packages, so you can attract a wide range of clients and grow your business.
For example, if you’re new to the business, you might not want to charge a premium for shooting large houses or luxury properties because it could take you more time to complete the shoot than for smaller homes. On the other hand, if you’re experienced and know how to capture stunning photos of all types of properties, then it’s probably a good idea to set your rates high so you can make a comfortable living as a professional photographer.
A great way to save money is to schedule your photo shoots during the off-season when the weather isn’t as harsh and there are fewer competing for a property. During this time, you may even be able to find discounts or free services from your local camera shop or studio.
Aside from the photography itself, a real estate photographer’s services should include post-processing and editing of all of the photos they’ve taken. This takes time, especially if they need to apply special effects or fix lighting in specific rooms. This can add a substantial amount of time to the overall process, which can negatively affect your turnaround time and the quality of your photos.