I often get asked "Does it really make a difference to hire a professional photographer for our listing?" and the answer is YES! Whether you're a real estate agent or have an incredible Airbnb or VRBO rental, you NEED professional photographs and drone imagery.
Why? Well to get started (and a little nerdy), here are some statistics:
“72.2% of realtors agree that high-quality photography helps them win more listings. Houses with aerial footage and photographs sell 68% faster than those without visuals. People who outsource photography work earn twice as much commission compared to others.” - Sourced from https://photographyforrealestate.net/
"Homes that use a professional photographer for their listing on average sell $11,000 over market value and sell 50% faster than homes with standard photos. Studies have shown that 98% of homebuyers judge whether or not to walk through a property by first seeing the listing photos online." -Sourced from benaccinelli.com
"Drone-attained aerial imagery will set you leagues apart from traditional photography, allowing the buyer to get a much better feel for the lay of the land. According to multiple listing service (MLS) statistics, properties with aerial imagery are 68% more likely to sell than those without it." -https://www.nar.realtor/
Incredible real estate photography begins with composition and a proper understanding of visual story-telling. Some real estate photography tips can get you a head start, but a professional photographer will have a second nature towards the following:
The time of day to shoot to get the best natural light/highlight exterior view(s)
Which angles to shoot from to highlight a room’s best features (not all rooms are created equal)
Which camera settings to use based on time of day, direction of light, etc.
How to blend photos together post production to create the most aesthetically pleasing images to potential buyers
Acute Attention to detail to move things within the frame that are distracting and will not enhance the image (You can also hire professional stagers to help with this step)
The order in which they shoot spaces to enhance the flow for optimal MLS viewing
You've seen it for yourself on the MLS; which photographs draw YOU in more? Changes are the ones with professional photography. Don’t settle for iPhone photos or rushed photo job. Hire a professional who understands how to best market your listing.
Smartphone vs. Professional
Here are just a few examples of images taken with smart phones vs. a professional photographer. They pretty much speak for themselves.
1. Stand Out Online
Go take a peek at your favorite online store. Every image is a professionally lit and composed to a t in each photograph. From a $3 pair of socks to a $500 pair of designer jeans, the product images are high-quality and consistent. This is not by accident. This is clever design and constant market research. Businesses know that professional photography is a powerful marketing tool (perhaps the most powerful marking too with today's ubiquitous presence of social media) and if presented just right, will persuade a buyer to click a button and purchase that product.
Some food for thought on marketing:
Homebuyers are looking at dozens of real estate properties online, especially in today's competitive market where so many buyers are from out of state. If your listing image doesn't draw the attention of the buyer's eye, you may be missing out on clicks and potential buyers (which can turn into sellers).
Another thing to consider is image consistency. From a small cape house to a 3000ft home, your images should be consistent If a seller sees that you’re only using professional real estate photography on higher-end houses, they may not trust that you’ll use the best tools to sell their more modest home. Buyers might suspect that if the sellers didn't take the care to stage and hire a professional photographer to take photographs of their home, who knows if they actually took care or and cared for their home.
It's the simple fact that we feel more taken care of when we see a listing that has professional photographers, which is deeply psychological. And that is the trick to attract your ideal clients; you want to reach out to them, make them feel taken care of, and that is exactly what listings with professional photographs do. Buyers will automatically feel more of a sense of trust and ease with agents with professional imagery.
Additionally, image quality, twilight shots, and aerial drone imagery skyrocket your real estate branding to the next level!
2. Professional Real Estate Photos Will Help You To Build Your Brand
As discussed above, using the same real estate photographer for all of your listings will create your brand consistency. Buyers, sellers, and agents alike will be able to determine your listings based on your consistent use of professional images by the same artist. Additionally, a consistent and professional brand image will give you the confidence to go to a listing presentation and blow it out of the water. You may be surprised by the vast difference that high-quality photos can have on your brand, your clients, and your bank account.
3. It's Not The Camera, It's The Photographer
Your smartphone camera or DSLR may have all fancy settings, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to take a great real estate photo with it. While you may know the basic principles for real estate photography, a professional photographer knows the best time of day, the best angles and compositions of a shot, and has editing programs to help the post production process. In the end, hiring a professional photographer is going to save you both time and money, and will end up helping you make a lot more money in the long run but enabling you to put up stellar looking listings.
Real Estate Drone Photography
Aerial drone photos are great ways to level up listings, and are excellent marketing materials for your brand. Not every property needs aerial images, but drone images could highlight special features like acreage, outdoor pool/garden area, and unique architectural layers (both building and landscape)
It’s that easy. Really.
Professional photography for your listings is one of the easiest and quickest ways you can grow your brand and your reputation in the real estate business. High-quality photography will help generate leads, your position as a market expert, and deliver a high-end client experience. Start making more today by investing in professional photography.
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