Hiring a professional photographer will step up your real estate marketing and attract more potential buyers with awesome, top-notch listing photos. The cost of real estate photography ranges from $125 to $500 but it depends on where you are, the type of photos you need, the services you want, and the features of the property. Let’s dive into the different kinds of photography, the price ranges, the factors that affect pricing, and some tips for choosing the right real estate photographer to meet your needs.
Types & Costs of Real Estate Photography
Agents have many options for sprucing up their real estate marketing with cool photos. Now, when it comes to picking which type of photography to go for, you’ve gotta think about the costs. Understanding the price differences between various kinds of real estate photography can help you decide which fits your budget. Check out the cost ranges and examples below to steer your decision in the right direction.
Type 1: Standard Photography
When looking at property listings, you will typically find standard photographs of key areas such as the front and back of the house, living room, kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms. These run-of-the-mill images are pretty much required to get your listing off the ground. However, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t still be impressive and capture the property in the best light possible to attract buyers.
In this example of standard real estate photography, the angle of the shot gives it depth and really shows off the property’s size and the lovely curve of the driveway. The sunlight makes the brick detailing and window treatments stand out, so you can see all the cool features of the property.
Here’s another standard real estate photo example that captures a property’s vibe by highlighting its unique features at sunrise and sunset. This twilight photo offers a different experience, especially for clients who are used to visiting open houses during the day. Dusk photography adds extra appeal and allows potential buyers to envision the property’s atmosphere and charm in a new way.
Standard Photography Cost
Real estate photographers usually determine their pricing based on the number of photos and the property size or by offering a flat fee package. Standard real estate photography rates generally result in faster delivery times because less editing is involved than aerial or 3D photography. Some pricing options include editing in the package, while others might consider it an additional cost.
If photo editing services are outside your real estate photography pricing package, you can always find freelancers on Fiverr to do the work. You can find plenty of skilled freelancers in the Photoshop editing category who can help with tasks like photo editing, retouching, and image manipulation for as low as $5. Fiverr also lets you filter vendors for Pro services so you can find vetted professionals who offer top-notch editing and can fix bad real estate photos.
Type 2: 2D & 3D Photography
Combine 2D and 3D images with regular photos to help clients visualize property layouts, pique their interest, and speed up decision-making. This digital property presentation eliminates the need for in-person visits, which is excellent for clients who want to buy without visiting the property in person. This type of photography spruces up the standard photos to entice buyers and give them a more realistic view of the property.
Check out this incredible 2D floor plan showing the property’s layout, including each room and size. It helps clients see how everything is set up and organized. You can quickly know where the stove is compared to the sink, which enables you to determine what you want in terms of bedroom locations or closet sizes. This 2D floor plan is an excellent way for clients to understand their preferences and imagine their perfect living space.
In this example, people can see every room from above and choose to explore the areas they like the most. The dollhouse can be spun around easily, giving different views and a better understanding of the space’s layout and design. Including interactive experiences like this on your website keeps visitors engaged for longer and shows that you’re keeping up with the latest technology.
2D & 3D Photography Cost
Look at our real estate photography pricing list below based on property square footage for both 2D and 3D photography. These types tend to cost more than standard photography because they involve more work to create them. Nevertheless, they do make your listing stand out from the crowd and make the floor plan more accessible to viewers.
Type 3: Aerial Drone Photography
Aerial drone photography offers captivating views of properties, helping potential buyers envision their future homes. They’re typically used for higher-end properties that need a bird’s-eye view to showcase the entire property. However, many agents use it for all of their properties to get the wow factor. It’s a great way to show off not only the home but also the property surrounding it, especially if the property is on a large piece of land.
This example showcases the home’s stunning mountain views and expansive undeveloped land, appealing to buyers seeking privacy and seclusion. With wider shots and a unique perspective, drones capture details beyond what ground-level photography can achieve.
The excellent drone video of the Hudson Valley home shows off its outside features, like the fabulous pool, big double decks, neat garden, and detailed landscaping. It could be too much if we tried to capture all that with regular photos and turn people off. But with the drone, the video gives a complete and immersive view of the property’s surroundings, all surrounded by lush greenery.
Aerial Drone Photography Cost
Pricing options vary, including fixed fees, hourly rates, or charges based on property size. Clients can explore these options to balance quality and affordability for stunning aerial shots.
Factors That Affect Photography Pricing
When you want to sell properties successfully in real estate, having top-notch visuals is super important. There are lots of things that can affect how much real estate photography costs. You need to understand what goes into professional real estate photography, like the skills, expertise, equipment, and attention to detail. These factors all play a role in determining the pricing for real estate photography services.
1. Property Size & Complexity
Real estate photography costs depend on the property’s size and complexity. It takes more time and work to capture larger properties because there are more rooms, details, and outdoor spaces to photograph. Also, if a property has awesome stuff like big yards, swimming pools, or fancy features, it might cost more because the photographer needs special equipment or skills to get great shots.
2. Number of Images & Services Required
Different packages or photographers might offer different options for the number of photos they provide. Some packages come with basic editing and retouching, while others might offer extras like virtual staging, twilight photography, or aerial/drone shots. The more photos or services you want, the higher the price is likely to be.
3. Photographer’s Experience & Skill Level
People who have been in the real estate photography field for a while and have a good reputation usually charge more than newbies. Experienced photographers have a lot of know-how and creativity, which can improve the quality of the final photos.
4. Equipment & Technology
Real estate photography rates depend on the equipment and technology used. Photographers use professional gear like cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, tripods, and editing software to get top-notch results. The cost of buying and maintaining this equipment, including regular upkeep and upgrades, is factored into the pricing. Also, photographers who offer specialized services like drone photography might charge extra due to the higher costs and skill level required to operate such equipment.
5. Location & Travel Expenses
If the property is in a remote area or requires a lot of travel, photographers might charge extra to cover travel costs and time away. On the other hand, properties in busy areas or near the photographer’s base might have lower travel costs, leading to more competitive prices.
6. Usage & Licensing
Real estate photography prices can vary based on how you plan to use the photos. If you only use them for one property listing, it might be cheaper than using them for multiple listings, ads, or commercial purposes. Talk to the photographer about your needs to understand any extra costs or limitations for using and licensing the photos because different photographers might have different rules.
Tips to Hire a Professional Photographer
Hiring a professional real estate photographer is a smart move that saves you time and makes a big difference in generating real estate leads. With their skills, you’ll speed up the listing process and sell properties faster. Building a good relationship with a photographer will give you high-quality real estate photos and videos that effectively show off your listings.
When hiring a real estate photographer, consider the following photography tips and factors:
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Specialization in real estate:
Hire a real estate photographer with specialized skills to avoid potential issues with third-party listing sites.
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Portfolio evaluation:
Review the photographer’s past work to gauge the quality and style of their photos, ensuring they align with your preferences.
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Value over affordability:
Don’t just pick a photographer for your listings based on the cheapest price. If you do, you might end up with low-quality photos that could hurt your marketing. When considering real estate photography pricing, it’s important to consider the return on investment.
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Test multiple photographers:
It’s smart to have a few photographers on your list for flexibility. Try out different ones and do more work on the ones you like best.
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Prompt turnaround time:
Consider the turnaround time for the post-production and photo file delivery. A photographer’s skills may be exceptional, but slow turnaround times can hinder your ability to list the property promptly.
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Clear expectations:
Discuss your marketing ideas and preferred style before the photo shoot with your photographers. After you receive the photos, give them feedback to ensure future sessions meet your expectations.
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Suitable equipment:
When hiring a photographer for property photos, make sure they have the right professional gear to handle different environments and lighting conditions for high-quality shots.
FAQs
Is real estate photography profitable?
Real estate photography can definitely be profitable. With more real estate listings online, having top-notch photos is crucial for showing off properties. Many agents and property owners are down to shell out for professional snaps that’ll make their listings pop. If you’re into photography and have a knack for capturing architectural details, real estate photography could be a sweet niche to get into. But like any gig, making it big in real estate photography also comes down to your marketing chops, connections, and delivering top-quality work.
What type of photography is real estate?
Real estate photography is about taking awesome pictures of properties like houses, apartments, and office buildings. It’s a specialized type of photography that aims to show off the property in the best way possible, highlighting its excellent features, layout, and overall look. To create top-notch images, real estate photographers use professional cameras, wide-angle lenses, and lighting techniques to make the property look as attractive to potential buyers or renters.
How do you structure photography pricing?
Real estate photography pricing can be structured in various ways, depending on the photographer’s preferences and business model. Common approaches include hourly rates, package pricing, and a la carte options. Hourly rates involve charging clients for the time spent on the shoot, editing, and any additional services. Package pricing offers predetermined bundles with specific services or coverage options at a set price.
A la carte pricing allows clients to customize their photography experience by selecting individual services or products and paying for them separately. Factors such as the photographer’s experience, location, equipment, and project scope also play a role in determining pricing. Ultimately, photographers should consider their costs, desired profit margin, market demand, and the value they bring to clients when structuring their pricing.
Bringing It All Together
Each type of real estate photography outlined in this article offers unique perspectives that enhance the visual appeal of properties and attract potential buyers. However, answering the question, “How much do real estate photographers charge?” is essential. Since photography varies on multiple factors like location, size, and the experience and reputation of the photographer, it is always recommended to contact local real estate photographers for accurate pricing information tailored to your specific requirements.
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