Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Real Estate Photographer

The world of home buying has changed in recent years, so that more than ever, home buyers are spending more time searching for homes online than in person. According to propertiesonline.com, nearly 100% of home buyers used the internet to find a home at some point during their search, with just over half of those surveyed stating that using the internet was their first step taken in the home buying process. So it may go without saying that professional photography is the first place agents should start in getting more eyes and more interest on their listings, not to mention selling that home faster and for more. If that hasn’t changed your mind, here are my top 5 reasons to hire a professional real estate photographer!

1.      Professional images attract more buyers

In a hot market with so many options for home buyers, how will you make your listing stand out online? Listings with high-quality photos, and lots of them, get clicked on more and ultimately sell faster and for more than those without! When potential buyers are spending hours on end looking at listings online, your photos need to draw them in and make them want to see more. Having photos that represent a home accurately helps buyers visualize the home before seeing it in person, and also means there are no surprises when a potential buyer arrives in-person for a showing.

2.      Professional images make YOU look more professional

If you think of each of your past and current listings as an advertisement for you and your services, what do you want potential future clients to think about you as an agent? Potential clients have almost endless options of agents to work with when they start thinking of selling their home, and this is a great way to show them that you are willing to put in the effort and go the extra mile to get as many eyes on their property as possible. They want to know that you’ll make this same effort whether it was their starter home, a luxury property in the country, or a condo downtown. Having a trusted professional real estate photographer in your network is a great way to help market and sell your property, and yourself as a brand! That said....

3.      Professional images create brand consistency

Finding that one photographer whose style of images you love and who understands your brand and vision is important to show consistency in a highly curated and visual online world.

When you work with one photographer consistently, all your images across all your listings will show a consistent style. In an image-driven space such as Instagram, or your own website, or anywhere else you will use your photos, your postings will show a cohesive look that your clients and followers will come to expect.

4.      A professional knows the best techniques to capture spaces

While you may think you’ve read all the tips and tricks for photographing your listings yourself (and own the latest iPhone!) nothing can compare to a true professional who knows their camera inside and out, and knows how to optimize shooting and editing techniques.

It should also be stressed that not all photographers are created equally, and you should be looking for a photographer that specializes in real estate and/or interior/architectural photography. You wouldn’t go to a heart surgeon for a tooth ache, so don’t hire a wedding photographer to photograph your property! Maybe that’s an extreme example - however, a photographer specializing in photographing homes will know the best angles to capture each space accurately, while keeping walls and floors straight and level, without distortion; which elements of a space to highlight and which not to draw attention to; how to properly expose each room and bring in additional lighting when needed; how to balance more than one light source and white balance; and how to photograph a home in a way that creates flow and gives a sense of the layout of the home.

5.      Saves you time and stress

And isn’t that the most important thing? Connecting yourself with a trusted professional photographer not only means one less thing to do in your busy day, but also never having to worry about whether you’ll receive a high-end product, within a quick turn around time, from someone who cares about the quality of work they deliver to you.