Are you looking into how to get new clients as a real estate photographer?
With the right clients, real estate photographers can take their business to new heights and make a steady income in this ever-expanding field. From agents to private sellers, there are plenty of opportunities when it comes to landing gigs – so learn how to find them!
In this post, we dive into our top 12 industry tips and strategies for real estate photographers to help you land clients and take your business to the next level.
Alright, let’s get started!
12 Tips on How to Find Real Estate Photography Clients
Being a successful real estate photographer takes commitment, perseverance, and an eye for detail!
It’s important to stay connected with your clients through the various strategies you have in place. Or simply find new ways of promoting your business.
Here are 12 effective tips on how to get new clients as a real estate photographer at record speed.
1. Research Your Competition
To be the top real estate photographer in your area, you need to know what you’re up against and who’s leading the pack.
Take a deep dive into their product offering. For instance, look at each of their websites, as well as any social media accounts they have running—Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc., to get insight into why those photographers are successful.
Also, join local real estate directories and look at different listings in your area. Check the listing photos and the Realtors, look at the top-ranked listings, and see what works and what doesn’t quite hit the mark.
The National Association of Realtors reports that an average of 74% of agents’ business comes through their sphere of influence. So, try to establish a personal connection with agents through social media, email marketing, and spontaneous visits to their offices.
It’s always good to bring coffee or offer agents free lunch to get an opportunity to establish a connection and present who you are as a real estate photographer.
2. Build an Impressive Online Portfolio and Offer Free Photography
Having an online portfolio or real estate photographer website is essential for showing off your work, driving client interest, and ultimately securing more bookings!
From breathtaking interiors to stunning exteriors, let potential clients see the beauty you can bring out of every property. Make sure all photos are perfectly lit and edited for maximum effect across devices.
On top of great visuals, add info about yourself on an “About Me” page complete with contact details, so leads don’t have trouble finding you online and booking your services.
Additionally, you’ll need a few houses under your belt that you can add to your portfolio and show potential clients. It is hard to showcase your skills if you have nothing to show. Therefore, it can be a good idea to offer to shoot a few properties for free when starting out.
After that, you can shoot a few more properties below market value and then increase to the normal rate when you have built a decent portfolio.
3. Polish Your Photography Skills
If you specialize in real estate photography, the key to success is having a well-developed skill set and an impressive portfolio.
Hone your craft by practicing shooting interiors and exteriors of properties. And make sure each shot conveys top-notch quality with lively lighting, clear composition, and detail.
Grow your reputation even further by taking drone photography or 360° images and showcasing them on websites like Instagram so that potential clients can get a better sense of what it’s like working with you.
When done right, stunning visuals that capture potential buyers’ attention have tremendous power—so don’t be afraid to show off yours!
4. Contact Real Estate Agents Directly
When starting out, cold calling can be a bit intimidating. But don’t let that stop you from tapping into this opportunity to get more clients.
For best results in finding agents who may need your services, take a look at local listings and zero in on those with twelve or more properties within recent years.
They’ll most likely be too busy for DIY shots, so hiring a professional photographer is their best bet. Plus, if any of these are using images not taken by professionals – bingo!
Additionally, when calling a Realtor, keep the conversation brief and friendly. And note that you see their property listing has been on the market for a while and that you’re a local photographer who can help them with high-quality photography that can help to sell the listing or close the deal faster.
Best yet, if you have a friend or family member that is a real estate agent, start there!
If you can present additional product offerings such as virtual staging and virtual house tours to help potential buyers visualize themselves living in the home, you’ll be even more attractive to agents and Realtors.
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5. Present at a Local Brokerage
This one takes a bit of courage. But there’s nothing wrong with putting together a PowerPoint presentation, buying a box of doughnuts, and showing up at a brokerage to present your services and make some connections.
Try to find out if they have a regular meeting where all the agents are present. Ask for a few minutes to introduce yourself and show your work.
In the best-case scenario, you come away with a few new clients. And the worst that can happen is you’re out some money on doughnuts. It’s well worth the risk if you ask me.
Alright, we are now halfway through how to get clients as a real estate photographer. Let’s take a look at our next effective tip – asking for client referrals.
6. Ask for Client Referrals
Word of mouth can be one of the best ways to grow your real estate photography business!
Start with family and friends, letting them know that if they hear anyone looking for professional photos they should pass along your name.
Reach out to current clients too, and offer them an incentive to send you new clients like a 10% discount on the next photo shoot or similar.
You could even contact past agents – take this opportunity to rebuild connections in the industry and make sure everyone knows how great you are at capturing property listings.
7. Post Your Photos on Social Media and Be Open for Feedback
All of us can always get better at what we do. It’s dangerous to feel like you’re on top and there’s nothing more to learn or improve upon. Stay open to criticism and advice.
One of the best ways to get noticed is to post your work on your personal and/or business social media accounts.
Social media is a great tool for marketing your work, starting conversations, and even booking your first client. It may surprise you just how well-connected you are to Realtors or agents in your area.
8. Search Engine Optimize Your Website
Your website can act as a resume and advertisement all rolled into one. Search engine optimization, or SEO, is key in helping potential customers find you online faster by optimizing the page copy, Meta Tags, and keywords on your site.
Along with running an up-to-date blog filled with useful content that keeps readers engaged, Google will give your website priority in the SERPs for publishing valuable content. That way, people can easily find your website when searching for a local real estate photographer.
For example, PhotoUp’s real estate photographer websites or single property websites allow you to take full advantage of user-friendly SEO tools while creating beautiful portfolios and listings guaranteed to elevate visitors’ experiences from start to finish.
9. Create Branded Business Cards and Flyers
A great way to make sure your real estate photography business stands out is by having marketing collateral like business cards and flyers at the ready.
You can, for example, showcase a beautiful shot from your portfolio on the front of each flyer or business card, highlighting what you do best as a photographer.
Don’t forget to include contact details like name, phone number, and email address so potential customers can get in touch with ease.
10. Attend Open Houses
Open houses are a great place to start expanding your network. So gather your camera equipment and give yourself the opportunity to meet local agents and Realtors in person.
Dress professionally, and bring business cards with you, along with any other marketing materials that can showcase your unique skillset as a photographer.
You could also set up business meetings with agents or potential customers at open houses, putting a human face on your work.
11. Create Email Newsletters
Email newsletters are one of the most effective ways to stay top-of-mind with your audience and ensure they have all the latest updates on your real estate photography.
It’s a great way to show off your latest projects and provide valuable advice from an industry expert – you!
Overall, it’s all about finding that perfect blend of personal approach and offering professional insight. When you get it right, subscribers will be engaged by what you have to offer every time they read through their inboxes and hopefully convert into new clients.
Whether you send email blasts out twice a month or weekly, make sure each newsletter offers fresh insights for readers and an easy way to book your services.
12. Use Paid Advertisement
Paying for Google Adwords or Facebook ads for your real estate photography business can be a great way to drive traffic to your online portfolio and bring in more clients.
By identifying who you’re targeting and crafting an ad that speaks directly to their interests, these well-crafted advertisements can help drive connections between potential clients and the services you offer.
And these were our most effective practices on how to get clients as a real estate photographer. We hope you found them useful and are ready to crush it as a real estate professional!
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We hope this blog post helped you learn how to get clients as a real estate photographer. Before you go, you may also want to check out the following resources:
