What It Costs to Photograph Real Estate
Taking photos for clients in the real estate industry is a great way to make extra cash, but it can also be a challenge. It takes a lot of time to get all the shots you need and, often, your clients want you to deliver their images as soon as possible.
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You can charge by the square footage, rooms or other details of the property to keep things fair and easy for everyone involved. It’s not always helpful to charge by the hour, however, as that will leave you with a lot of unpaid time and you might feel like you’re being taken advantage of.
The first step to pricing your services is to determine the type of property you’re going to photograph. This will help you determine how much it costs to travel to the location and what other expenses are included in your price.
Another factor to consider is how long it will take you to shoot and edit the photos. This can range from a few hours to a few days, depending on the size of the house and how many photos you need.
During the post-production process, you will spend time adjusting the clarity, straightening lines, and correcting colors and saturation. This is important, as it can make all the difference between good and bad photographs.
Before your client schedules a photo session, it’s important to mentally go through the home and figure out which angles work best, which small items need moving, and which areas should be cleaned up. This is a great way to make sure that your photo session goes smoothly and your client is happy with the results.
Your client may also ask you to photograph the home without putting any personal belongings in it, which will save you a lot of time and stress during your shoot. But be aware that you won’t have the same freedom to move around as you do for weddings and events.
How to Start Your Business
As a new photographer, it’s a good idea to take up some free real estate photography jobs in your area to gain experience before charging for them. This will help you build up your portfolio and allow you to build up trust with realtors and homeowners.
It’s also a good idea to have a website where your clients can view photos and order them online. This will help you stand out from the competition and get more clients.
The prices for these services vary a lot, but they can be quite lucrative. You can even charge for additional services, such as virtual staging and drone photography.
You should never charge less than what you’re worth, so it’s important to price your services properly. This will ensure that you don’t undercut other photographers and risk losing clients to someone who offers a better deal.
You can also tack on a travel fee if you have to drive long distances to get to a job. This will allow you to keep your prices competitive and still cover your transportation expenses.