As a new real estate agent or an agent hiring a real estate photographer for the first time, you may not know where to begin. There are also several questions you may have before you decide which professional real estate photographer to hire for your listings.
We compiled a list of the most common real estate photography questions our Client Success Team sees, as well as popular questions seen on the Google ‘People Also Ask’ section. We hope that the answers provided will help you find the right real estate photographer in your market and help you better understand what real estate photography jobs entail.
Here are some of the most popular real estate photography questions and answers:
1. How do I find a real estate photographer near me?
Start with a simple online search for “real estate photographer near me” to find local professionals and reviews. Your search engine knows where you are located and will pull up the best options in your area. When evaluating companies from the first page of results, consider those that offer a combination of professional images, easy online scheduling, and affordable, transparent pricing.
2. How much does a real estate photographer cost?
A professional real estate photographer will cost anywhere from $55-$200/hr, with the national average being $120/hour. The cost of a real estate photographer can also greatly depend on whether you choose a freelance professional photographer or a professional real estate photography business.
Typically, real estate photography vendors will offer real estate image packages based on a few variables:
- the home’s square footage
- the real estate agent’s needs
- the listing’s location
A real estate photography vendor may also offer additional marketing enhancements that a single professional photographer may not include, like a complimentary listing website, interactive floorplans, and a 3D virtual tour.
To give you an idea of pricing, let’s pretend we are scheduling a shoot with a Virtuance photographer. If we choose the most popular package, the 25 HDReal® image package, and set the listing location to Denver, we will spend $149. Not only will we receive 25 real estate images for $149, but we will also receive a complimentary listing website, a ready-to-print flyer, an automatic upload to the MLS, real-time viewing statistics reports, and lead generation.
In addition to an image package, be sure to consider other visual listing enhancements to help any property stand out.
3. Why should I use a real estate photographer?
While some agents take their own photos, it’s a risky move that often costs more in the long run. Professional real estate photographers provide three key benefits:
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Expertise: They have a trained eye for composition and advanced editing skills.
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Client Perception: Hiring a professional demonstrates your commitment, making you a more attractive agent to sellers.
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Time Savings: It frees up your valuable time to focus on your business, marketing, and client relationships.
4. Do I need a real estate photographer for every listing?
It may be tempting to only use a professional real estate photographer for your more luxurious listings, but we recommend every listing feature professional real estate images. It’s essential to create brand consistency in the real estate space. When you use professional photography for every listing, it is evident in your branding and across all marketing materials.
5. What type of listing photos attracts buyers?
Believe it or not, there is actual science behind which listing images attract buyers. In this study, researchers found that specific real estate images captured attention faster than other images. The difference in the images came down to composition, quality, and post edits.
Real estate images that attract buyers are crisp and clean, bright, well-balanced. Photographers capture the room from specific angles while ensuring the verticles are perfectly straight. Even the time of day can play a role in when to take listing images of a home.
6. What kind of equipment should a professional real estate photographer have?
A real estate photographer should always use a DSLR camera with a wide-angle lens. These items allow them to capture high-quality images that showcase the entire room. Additionally, your real estate photographer should always use a tripod for stability.
Depending on how your listing photographer captures and edits images for lighting, they will either have a flash/light kit or use bracketing and edit the exposure in post.
If your professional photographer takes aerial video or drone photography, they will have a drone and a pilot’s license.
7. Are real estate photography jobs easy?
Real estate photographers have a background in photography. They likely have a natural eye for composition and a vast understanding of how their equipment works. Many real estate photographers specialize in other niches of photography and have years under their belt.
Whether or not a real estate photography job feels easy to them, it is not easy for someone without a background or skillset in photography.
8. When should I hire a real estate photographer during the home selling process?
Schedule your shoot once a home is cleaned, staged, and ready for its close-up, typically one week to three days before you plan to list. With next-day image delivery from Virtuance, you’ll be completely prepared.
The Virtuance advantage
Choosing the right real estate photography partner is one of the most critical investments you can make for your brand and your clients. Professional images are no longer a luxury—they are a necessity for capturing buyer attention, winning more listings, and securing the best possible sale price. By knowing what questions to ask and what to look for in a photographer, you can find a reliable partner who not only delivers stunning visuals but also helps you grow a successful, consistent business.
Ready to find your photography partner? Explore Virtuance and get started today!
