Make Money With Photography - Real Estate Photography

Real estate agents are always looking to have an edge over their competitors, and they are also very determined.  Since real estate agents are both determined and are looking for that elusive edge, you can help them!

You might not know anything about real estate or even much about photography, but you can make money through real estate photography, it's a match made in heaven.

Here is how it works:

1. Preparation.

Take some interior and exterior pictures of houses and have them printed professionally.  8"x10" would be best, that would give your potential client a taste of what can be done.  Then if they want smaller pictures, no problem.  If your camera won't print that large, just print a 5"x7".  Then place these pictures in a binder that talks a little about you and your photography.  Make sure this part is personal, it is your cover page and should draw your client in to who you are and give them a reason why they want to work with you.

You should create 5-10 of these binders.  If you go somewhere like Office Depot, they can bind your cover sheet and photos into a beautiful handout that would be perfect for your real estate agents.

Make sure the pictures are bright and look perfect.  The pictures are the key to you making money with photography in real estate.

You might also want to get some business cards printed.  If the business cards have your portrait on them, that would be perfect, in addition, you might want to put one of the houses you took a picture of on the card.  If you're trying to keep this cost effective, check out some free business cards to get you started.  After you make some money, get some nice glossy business cards printed.

2. Find your prospects.

I would start with two of the biggest real estate agents in town.  If they are selling the most houses, they are probably the busiest and you can help these top performers with their busy schedules by relieving them of the responsibility of taking pictures of every house they list.

Now, I would find 3-5 brand new real estate agents.  You can find these new agents by searching your local newspaper or calling real estate offices.  Newspapers usually offer a deal to real estate companies if they'll list their new agents biographies in the paper.

Find a time to meet with these new real estate agents and explain that you can help them make money with your photographs.  Since many people will look for a home online, or in the newspaper, pictures are the most important ingredient in making a successful Realtor.

Tell them you work with a web designer that will build them a website and they can list all of their houses and put the pictures that YOU take online at no additional charge! Now if you don't know anyone that can create a custom blog, send me an email, my company does web design and marketing. My email address is brandonchopkins@gmail.com and my website is AfterHimMedia.com. I will work out all of the details with them, and I'll set them up so that the pictures can be easily uploaded to their personal website.

3. Offer a free trial.

Many real estate agents will be hesitant to work with someone they don't know, and won't like the idea of paying you to do something they can do themselves.  You'll need to remind them that you can do it better and their time is more valuable seeking sellers and buyers while you do the dirty work.  Make sure this Realtor knows that you are doing this for free with no obligation.  Make sure you also tell them why you are doing this, because you are looking to do this full time and you need to get your foot in the door any way you can.  They'll appreciate the honesty.

Since they still might be cautious, offer to take pictures of some of their properties at no charge to them, maybe you want to shoot 1 or maybe 3, but set a specific number that you'll do at no charge.  You'll then put those pictures on a CD so they can use them in any marketing materials they want.  You might also want to try to set yourself apart by printing an 8"x10" and put it in a $10 frame that the agent can give to the new buyers as a gift.  Anything that you can do to make the real estate agent look good will help them sell more houses and give you additional work.

Hopefully they'll want to meet you at the house to let you do a quick walk through and get some pictures.  This is a great time to make friends with this agent.  You'll want to do a great job as fast as you can.  Nobody will want to sit around for 2 hours while you try to get the absolute perfect shot.  Dont forget to take a tripod, it will give you better results and make you look really professional.

4. Close the sale.

I don't know what your time is worth or how long it takes you to shoot each house, but if you are going to make money taking real estate photographs, make sure you value yourself, and your work.  You don't want to work for $3 an hour, right?  Make sure you know all of your costs including your time and then set a flat price for every house.  Some houses will be 800 sq. ft. and some will be 5,000 sq. ft.  Make sure the prices are the same so the agent doesn't get confused.  You are trying to make their lives easier than they are currently.

Hopefully by passing out 10 of your binders and talking with 10 agents, you can secure at least 3 trials.  After those trials are over, you should have at least one client.

Now add that clients name to your cover sheet and get more binders created.  You're now well on your way to making money by taking digital photographs!