Author: Claire Wright

Should Real Estate Photographers List Packages’ Prices Online?

For years, some real estate photographers are still asking the same question over time: Is it necessary to put prices online?

Well, the truth is there is no right or wrong answer here. It is purely your decision as to the photographer, especially if you are a freelancer.

However, if you are connected to a real estate photography company, the decision to publish your services’ rates is solely up to the owner, not you.

In this case, it is now a matter of communication with your boss. It is best if your leader is open to feedback, but they don’t need to consider what their employees think all the time.

But if they do, you are lucky. So, consider the facts and use them to prove your point.

It would be best to give the pros and cons so your boss can evaluate things and make a sound decision.

So, here are the pros and cons of listing prices on your website and other online platforms.

Pros

Search Optimized Result

Since search engines such as Google love to show results based on unique algorithms and keywords, it is best to take advantage of it by putting your prices online.

As long as the page is optimized correctly, there is a chance that your site will rank with the keyword like “How much does it cost?“

This is considered one of the most searched question-based keywords that have valuable traffic. Hence, including a price table on your website can help get more traffic, improving your visibility online.

Credibility and Trust

Having your price available on the website will build your authority over the service or product niche you are targeting.

Moreover, it makes potential buyers trust you for being transparent with your rates. It gives them the idea that you only charge reasonably to everyone who wants to avail your products or services.

Efficient and Time-Saving

Imagine going through a series of inquiries before getting a quote for what you need. It is tiring and time-consuming.

However, if you eliminate this from the process, there is a lesser chance for potential customers not to pursue the purchase.

Besides the work quality, price is also an essential key factor driving clients’ decisions. Giving your costs right away allows them to check if they can afford it or not. This will save you time and ensure more successful transactions in the long run.

Cons

Price Shopping

There is no denying that making the prices public allows people to browse and look for competitors’ websites to check if their services are more affordable than yours.

This can be a downside because prospective clients may only look for the prices and not consider the efficiency and quality of work you can offer.

Room for Doubts

You see, it is expected that competitors offer the same product or service as yours at a lower price than what the standard is.

Well, you understand that this is the right price for it, but your potential clients do not, and it is possible for them to doubt you right away, asking why you are offering this at a higher price when others do not.

Client Database Problem

One reason businesses opt not to show prices on the website is to build a client’s database. This is usually done by incorporating email marketing strategies wherein potential clients sign up to get information about the prices.

This is a good strategy but can be missed if your prices are all on the website, except if you offer custom pricing wherein they need to email you to get a quote of what they need.

Alright. These are some of the pros and cons you can cite to support any decision to put prices on your website.

We hope that this gives you valuable insights to make the best decision about the business or job.

March 11, 2021
Top 4 Most Popular Panorama Makers
In photography, panorama is one thing that makes the lives of photographers comfortable and easy.

Using this technique, real estate photographers can stitch out the most compelling images you need for your listings.

But why is panorama critical in real estate photography, and how can you make one?

What is a panorama?

Unless you have the most updated camera, capturing the perfect panorama shot is quite challenging. Hence, it would be useful to know how to do this manually.

So, what is a panorama?

In photography, the panorama is a technique wherein images with single exposures and HDR are stitched together to create one comprehensive picture. Panoramic images show the particular captured image in a broad view – something that a standard camera lens cannot do.

Moreover, panoramic photography is only for wide horizontal images. It is commonly used for landscape photography but is now widespread in real estate photography, cityscape photography, and architecture photography.

Panorama Makers for Real Estate Photographers

Today’s modern cameras have panoramic mode available, but if you still do not have the most updated one, try using a panorama maker.

Check out this list.

1. PTGui

PTGui is one of the most popular panorama makers with photographers. It has a simplified interface, friendly-user features, and fast processing that makes the perfect panorama images.

Moreover, it is also versatile as it supports many types of lenses and cameras.

The PTGui Pro version supports HDR blending and Exposure-Fusion, which are essential in creating the best sharpness through the frame and blending across the photos’ seams.

Here are some of its pros and cons.

Pros:
- It allows fast adjustment of the projections, including rotation and center.
- Automatically recognizes the camera and lens. Once done, it will calibrate the perfect settings for you.
- Offer a wide range of projections such as the essential rectilinear, the obscure Vedutismo, spherical, “little planet,” and cube face.
- Remove unwanted features and allows you to tweak the control points manually.
- Stitch a 1 Gigapixel panorama in just 25 seconds.
Cons:
- Default settings are unconventional and need a lot of manual adjustments.
2. Autostitch

Autostitch is a wholesome automatic panorama maker with an easy-to-use interface and functions.

Just click on the File menu, then tap on Open to import photos. This software will automatically work on stitching the pictures in one go.

The usual turnaround time is around two minutes. After this, you should already have a panoramic photo. The matching and blending of edges are generally better in Autostitch than manual operations.

Here are its pros and cons.

Pros:
- A simple and functional interface
- Proven effective in stitching images with superb quality
As for the cons, users worldwide do not have specific complaints when using this tool, so it is up to you to judge.

3. Panorama Stitcher Mini for PC and Mac

Panorama Stitcher Mini is a favorite of most Mac users when creating a panorama.

Its free version allows users to experiment with how to create a stitched panorama by using an app. Such an app can stitch up to five images and is now compatible with macOS 10.12.

Moreover, it also incorporates lens shading correction for more accurate and realistic colors.

Here are some of its pros and cons:

Pros:
- Fully automated panorama maker application
- Create high-resolution images suitable for large prints such as banners or tarpaulins.
Cons:
- Quick memory draining
- Slow speed
4. Hugin

Hugin is an open-source panorama photo creation tool. This means it can be easily modified by anyone knowledgeable about open-source software to customize it according to needed features.

It is free software that allows users to fix control points manually. This makes various exposures taken from two types of lenses look natural and smooth.

As for the pros and cons, check the following:

Pros:
- Special free software.
- Easy to install and use
- Final panoramic images are high-quality
Cons:
- It can be challenging to use by beginners
- Bugs are common
So, what do you think? Which of these tools above is your best choice? Let us know below!
March 4, 2021
Top 5 File Formats in Photography

In photography, knowing how to capture the perfect images is the main point but knowing the technicalities is another thing to deal with and understand

Learning the art of photography is not always taught in the book. Sometimes, you need to invest more time into learning other things to equip you further in the game.

There are always many things to understand and remember. One of these is the file formats.

When you specialize in real estate photography, it is best to know which file format is the most suitable for your photos. The first step to determining this is by knowing your purpose. Evaluate and try to understand what you are trying to achieve.

Then, try to check which format fits your purpose. As real estate photo editors, having a suitable format is one key to a successful editing process.

It can help a lot in completing the project with the highest quality possible. Take a look at this guide and learn the standard file formats in photography in general.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

JPEG is the most common image file type.

Most documents and websites use this type of image, including those used for printed outputs. Nowadays, it is used mainly in social media, emails, and other marketing campaigns.

One of its advantages is that it takes less space in your memory cards but does not support transparent backgrounds for images, and is more prone to losing some color information.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

The PNG format is the most versatile file format.

It is a lossless file type because it can preserve images without any loss in its quality. This format helps a lot, especially if the photos need a transparent background. However, it is hardly practical if you intend to use it for non-transparent purposes.

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)

TIFF is the best for the post-processing stage since this format is never compressed.

It is also compatible with almost all image-editing software currently available. You can also have options to support different color standards such as CMYK, RGB, Lab, Indexed Color, and Grayscale Images.

It is best to preserve the image’s quality, primarily if used for high-quality printing. However, it is usually a large file size and is not always supported by most websites and social media platforms.

PSD (Photoshop Document)

PSD file comes from Adobe Photoshop. It is usually used to save images for further editing.

It is one of the only formats that can save a file with all the existing Photoshop features, including the layers, applied effects, and other healing tools used to beautify the image.

Specifically, you will be able to preserve layers, transparency, adjustments, masks, clipping paths, blending modes, vector text, shapes, gradients, and others, but its downside is that you can only open the file in Photoshop.

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)

The popular animated image you see online is known as GIF.

It is a popular image format online because of its animation property, which is very useful for diagrams, graphics, logos, and others with limited color range.

Due to its animation effect, it is highly favored by those people who need it for their graphics. Yet, it always has limited features in the color range, which are not best for reproducing high-quality images.

These are the most commonly used file formats that every photo editor can use and experiment with.

There is no written rule about what format you should use, but there are recommended ones you can try. Remember that every format has its use, so it matters you choose what fits most your needs.

February 24, 2021
Top 5 Best Photo Sharing Websites in 2021
The rise of social media networks and platforms has created a buzz in the internet sphere, with most users wondering which app is the best among the others.

For example, there has been a constant debate among users of photo-sharing platforms, citing that some apps are superior.

However, if you take a closer look at the number of users of a particular platform, it is evident that some photo-sharing websites and apps are indeed more popular than others.

But there is no one to blame. After all, it is the features of the websites and apps that matter. Hence, if you are a real estate photographer, it is best to know what websites or apps to use in sharing your images.

Here are five widely used photo-sharing websites to choose from:

Instagram

One of the most known platforms for photo-sharing is Instagram. Most users find it realistic and straightforward, with most of its features easy to follow, not to mention that it is a free network to use.

It offers a fast and convenient way to share photos you can take directly through the app or import one from your gallery.

Moreover, it has lovely filters and tools that you can use to edit photos quickly. It also has an intuitive and user-friendly interface.

Here are its pros and cons:

Pros:
- Customizable
- Easy to use and can be connected to other apps
- Ad friendly
- Huge database
Cons:
- The web version is not optimized.
- Only available for iOS, Android, and Windows
500px

500px is a website for pro and semi-pro real estate photographers. It is available in both paid and free versions, although the free version is already good enough with the option to sell licenses for your images.

Its pros and cons include the following:

Pros:
- Has the comment option
- Affordable prices with a lot of features
- Has a portfolio feature
- Accepts only high-quality images
Cons:
- A limited number of photo uploads for free accounts
- Direct links are not supported.
Imgbox

Imgbox is a free and easy-to-use image hosting website.

It lets you display and share your photos on social media sites like Twitter, Google Plus, Facebook, Reddit, and Pinterest. Moreover, it allows you to choose the file type to use, ranging from GIF, JPG, and PNG file formats with unlimited storage.

Here are its pros and cons:

Pros:
- Supports different social network media sites
- Allows hotlinking with no bandwidth limitations
- No registration needed
Cons:
- Your file should be at most 10 MB only.
- It supports only three image formats and has no captions available.
Adobe Portfolio

Adobe Portfolio is best for both beginner and expert photographers. It is mostly used for creating photo portfolios since this website has stable features for managing and building one.

Here are some of its advantages and disadvantages:

Pros:
- It can be integrated right away with Adobe products such as Lightroom and Photoshop.
- Unlimited photo collections and no need for a code when customizing the site
Cons:
- Limited customization templates
- Creative Cloud subscription is a must with no option to sell images on the site.
Behance

Behance is a free portfolio and showcasing platform for photographers and other professionals such as graphic designers and painters.

It is a great platform to do self-promotion of your work and companies and buyers to look for creative talents.

Here are some of its pros and cons:

Pros:
- Simple and easy interface
- Excellent customer service with a massive database of 12 million+ freelancer
- Unlimited number of uploads
Cons:
- Compressing your photos is essential before uploading them.
- Costly platform to post jobs for full time and contractual workers
Alright! These are the five useful photo-sharing platforms that can make you stand out and be known in the photography world.

It is best to check each platform’s pros and cons before deciding which one is the best for your needs.
February 17, 2021
5 Expert Tips In Real Estate Videography
For some, taking videos seems to be an easy thing to do. Naturally, it is, especially for the usual videos you want to have for personal use.

But when it comes to real estate videography, everything is different. There are several things to consider and observe to make the clip look appealing and attention-worthy.

In the past years, the real estate industry has been driven by the constant demand for good photographs and videos. Hence, there is no doubt that real estate videography has unleashed its power in driving buyer’s engagement and interest in buying a property.

If you want to get the best results, try incorporating the following basic rules:
- Pay attention to time shooting.
- Secure the best lighting
- Depersonalize the space by making sure you declutter the property well
Above all, you need to learn and understand the most successful techniques in producing a real estate video. Among these are the following expert tips:

Choose the Perfect Video Equipment

Just like taking photos, your video should also be compelling enough to add value to your listings. You can only do this when you have the perfect camera to do the work.

A full-frame DSLR camera is a perfect choice because it allows light to travel through a lens and a mirror. This makes it more sensitive and produces high-quality videos.

Moreover, consider the type of lens to use. The most preferred ones are the less distorted lenses, usually 17–40 mm or 16–35 mm wide.

If the room is small, use at least a 15 mm lens or higher. Doing this gives less distortion and noise in the final images.

Check the Camera Settings

Again, having the skills to take the best videos using the perfect angles is one thing, but it is not entirely possible with skills alone. You still need the best camera settings, no matter how expert you are.

Shoot the Exterior

Remember that when shooting a property video, the exterior is as important as the interior. You need to highlight the exterior surroundings to make the whole video complete.

Most videographers who have drones can do this easily, but if you do not have one, then do not lose hope. You can still capture that classic video using your existing camera.

You just need to master how to create that cinematic exterior video by presenting it with wide angles using a slider or a panning camera.

For example, a classic panning shot should follow a left to the right direction before having the opposite direction. It is also best to add a tilt shot and combine it with the pan shots for a more creative presentation.

Film the Interior

After the exterior shots, it is now time to focus on the interior.

One requirement in this step is creating a visual flow that lets prospective buyers understand what the video is all about.

Most interior filming starts by facing the door, then showcasing the first “main” room that most buyers find first if they walked inside the property.

Then, head straight to the kitchen or living room as most buyers will look first into it. Next, highlight the other essential rooms on the property but ensure that the video is not too long. You should make sure that it is still short but concise.

Master Video Editing

After a tedious day of taking interior and exterior shots, it is now time to edit your video.

It is perfect if you can do this alone without a video editor, but it is best to get a professional video editor to help you; otherwise, if this is not your forte.

Such a person is undoubtedly knowledgeable in using advanced tools for video editing such as Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, iMovie, Wevideo, and DaVinci Resolve.

The ideal video length should not be over three minutes. Also, make sure you add appropriate music to the video so that it will not sound boring.

In the end, this article should let you become an expert in no time. Follow these steps and let us know your thoughts!
February 9, 2021
Top 5 Real Estate Marketing Trends in 2021

The previous year left us with so many overwhelming events. The chains of unforeseen happenings and the impact it has on our lives are beyond words.

Now, 2021 is in its early stage. It is still hard to say if this will be a prosperous year for the real estate industry which obviously, has taken the aftermath of the pandemic last year.

But being optimistic is one key to unlock this year’s likely trends.

The real estate marketing trends give us insightful ideas of what 2021 will likely be, especially in the real estate market and all the businesses related to it, such as real estate photography and videography.

So, if you are also one of those people who are intrigued about 2021’s real estate trends, take a look at this list.

Drone

If you are a gadget geek, you likely know what a drone is.

In 2020, it was one of the most noteworthy trends used for real estate photography and videography.

Moreover, it is used for neighborhood tours, also known as community tours, to highlight the property’s vicinity and entice buyers ultimately.

Stunning aerial photography and drone video are much more appealing to home potential buyers. This makes it a robust marketing material in real estate.

It is expected that drone photography will continue to dominate the real estate market this year because more buyers will want to see a property’s surrounding straightforwardly.

Real Estate Videography

The use of compelling images is essential, but if you can upgrade it into a video, then fantastic – you just nailed it!

Some people prefer to see videos instead of images alone because it is more convincing than plainly looking at pictures.

Hence, video marketing has become a buzzword. Based on forecasts, it is still likely that this niche will even thrive this year.

This is because nearly 80% of real estate marketers use listing videos from last year until now.

Social Media

The use of traditional marketing in today’s real estate industry does not always work.

This is because most marketing activities these days are all done online by utilizing websites and social media accounts.

Social media is powerful. It emerges as a great channel to keep in touch with your followers and allows you to access hundreds of potential guests in just a few clicks.

You can use social media platforms to show your achievement and impress them with informative updates about the real estate market. It can also help you gain a strong social media presence that can boost lead generation.

Given this consumer behavior, this trend is bound to continue in 2021.

3D Tour

In real estate, 3D tours matter – a lot.

It is a creative solution that boosts your digital marketing strategy. One main reason is that it drives more interest and helps your home stand out among other listings.

The purpose of a 3D tour is not to make images and videos obsolete. Instead, it is more of a supplementary material that gives viewers a more accurate feel.

Through a 3D tour, prospective buyers understand the house’s floor plan and flow better and can conveniently do their walkthrough of the property from anywhere and anytime.

Besides, it is the most realistic and immersive way to experience a property online; hence it is highly anticipated that the effectiveness of 3D tours can continue to be one of the emerging real estate marketing trends in 2021.

Single Property Website

If you want to utilize digital marketing magic in the real estate industry fully, you should first consider having a single property website.

A single property website is emerging as a hot trend because it can reduce your need for a vast marketing budget typical in traditional marketing.

You might still be unfamiliar with how this one works, so here is a simplified explanation: it is a solely intended website for one property you want to sell.

Its superior design, catchy photos, and videos keep viewers to stay on the site longer.

It is also the best “storytelling marketing” tool to explain a unique history of the property, if applicable.

A well-done and optimized single property website is certainly powerful enough to dominate the emerging real estate marketing trend this year.

So, what do you think?

Is it likely that all or some of the mentioned trends above still make it until the end of the year?

To be honest, it is still early to say, so you should sit down and observe how these trends can change over time.

January 29, 2021