Author Topic: Would you accept this real estate photo assignment? (Read 13101 times)

oxman · « **on:** January 13, 2014, 15:10 »

A real estate agent is offering to pay me $200 and cover food, lodging and air travel (San Diego to Napa Valley by San Francisco) to shoot a five million dollar home with models (she pays models and arranges). IF the property sells, she will pay a $1000 bonus to me.

This will be a one day shoot, many with strobes and most with available light bracketed for HDR to capture window data so they don't get blown out. Guessing about 20 to 30 processed shots -- post will be HDR, color corrections, clean up and wide angle distortion correction.

Architectural photography is new to me and still sorting out my chops but my first shoot blew her away (she paid $200 which I accepted since I was learning). I thought I would add it to my offering but read on other forums that real estate shooters make about $100 to $350 per house! Just not enough for me.

Would you take a contingent assignment like this? Are RE photographers really shooting for such low fees?

Thanks for your thoughts

Bill

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2014, 15:12 »

I wouldn't. That sounds ridiculous. For $200 on a $5 million house, you get me and my iphone for 20 minutes

. She must not think she's a very good agent "if" it sells...

oxman · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2014, 15:18 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on January 13, 2014, 15:12

I wouldn't. That sounds ridiculous. For $200 on a $5 million house, you get me and my iphone for 20 minutes . She must not think she's a very good agent "if" it sells...

That is what I am thinking. Sure it would be nice to visit the area but most of my time would be pressed up to a camera back and sliding light stands around. Run-and-gun day shoots are exhausting and post on these shoots is extensive. She makes over a hundred grand commission if they sell and she does well but these homes take A LONG time to sell.

Copidosoma · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2014, 15:31 »

Tell her that if it sells you'll take a 0.05% cut of the sale price.

noodle · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2014, 15:58 »

so your probably looking at 2 full days of work minimum
1 day to shoot 1 day to process for a minimum of $100/day and at the best $600/day

she got you for $200 initially and thats where she expects it to stay

I would say - in addition I want model release and property release so that you can at least take some of those shots and sell them on your own providing perhaps a little buffer for you if the deal craps out.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2014, 16:01 »

Perhaps - if you wanted the experience and the trip - you could work a deal with model and property releases so you could sell some stock images from the shoot. Perhaps also use of the models for a bit longer with some shoots for you on the grounds or around the house? You might want to take a look at existing pictures of the property to be sure it'd be a good set for your own stuff.

oxman · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2014, 17:22 »

Quote from: noodle on January 13, 2014, 15:58

so your probably looking at 2 full days of work minimum
1 day to shoot 1 day to process for a minimum of $100/day and at the best $600/day

she got you for $200 initially and thats where she expects it to stay

I would say - in addition I want model release and property release so that you can at least take some of those shots and sell them on your own providing perhaps a little buffer for you if the deal craps out.

I got the MR and PR on the other shoot but only the sauna shots should be marketable. Models standing on massive staircases might not sell so well -- so I don't think general interiors with models being models will be in demand. Sure I could start working concepts into the shoot but with agent and home owner over my shoulder that might not fly.

I might just take it for the experience and shoot without strobes. Won't cost me anything and I was considering moving and Napa was on the list. The adventure factor is an angle -- at least that is what I am trying to convince myself...

jjneff · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2014, 18:02 »

Bottom line if you feel like taking it and have nothing else lined up right now why not. I would say pay me $1200 up front and I am there

JPSDK · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2014, 18:54 »

its a good offer.
just make sure she bears all expenses in case the house is not sold.
then it boils down to that you make 200 dollars that day, and that is ok.
If you are smart, you have the models sign releases so you can microstock them.

ComfortEagle2095 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2014, 19:01 »

If they have enough money in the budget to pay more than one model, how come they can't cough up a reasonable fee for the photog? Sounds a little funky.

It's an all day assignment with post-processing. I wouldn't do it for less than $600 and I'd normally ask for $900.

JPSDK · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2014, 19:08 »

If you get espensive enough, they will fly a guy in from China, who can do it for 30 dollars and a bowl of rice.
Remember that.
There is nothing in the world market that justifies that you charge 900 dollars for 25 pictures.
it all boils down to expenses such as aircraft tickets.

oxman · « **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2014, 19:14 »

Quote from: ComfortEagle2095 on January 13, 2014, 19:01

If they have enough money in the budget to pay more than one model, how come they can't cough up a reasonable fee for the photog? Sounds a little funky.

It's an all day assignment with post-processing. I wouldn't do it for less than $600 and I'd normally ask for $900.

The models are her son and his girlfriend - doing it for free. They both are very attractive and she has modeled for me often. I would like to get $1500 for a day shoot with a defined shot list. She had a guy but he wants $200 per hour... I told her that I had not shot architectural but she liked my portfolio and wanted me... then I spent hours on YouTube and Kelby ramping up LOL.

The shots came out great on the first shoot but I failed to bracket down enough to expose for the windows...oops so they are blown out. Newbie error but I know now.

oxman · « **Reply #12 on:** January 13, 2014, 19:20 »

Blown out windows OOPS!!

Ed · « **Reply #13 on:** January 13, 2014, 21:26 »

I would take it. Here's the deal, most real estate agents use their iPhone. For real estate sales getting your foot in the door (no pun intended) is insanely difficult. If you're consulting Scott Kelby books/blogs/tutorials to brush up before a shoot, then quite frankly, you aren't worth $1,200 and if you think you're going to get a $1,200 day rate elsewhere, then you're dreaming and you shouldn't be asking about this on a microstock forum. Even $600 day rates are tough to come by these days.

There are real estate photographers here where I live that are competing against each other at $75 - $85 per house and there are real estate agents here complaining about that price - including travel expenses.

I say take the gig, get property and model releases, grant them exclusive rights to use the images for a year, then market them as stock once their contract is over. Use the spare time while you're traveling to get some travel images.

ShadySue · « **Reply #14 on:** January 13, 2014, 21:31 »

Can an estate agent sign a property release on a house?

shudderstok · « **Reply #15 on:** January 13, 2014, 22:01 »

rule #1 - never shoot for free or on spec. unless of course it's a charity or non-profit you really support.

once you set the bar of 'cheap/free/gullible' it's pretty hard to raise the bar. just sayin.

ask yourself this... how much would you be willing to work for per hour in any job? multiply this hourly wage by how many hours of travel and shooting time and post processing time. what are your expenses to do this shoot ie: equipment, taxi fares, meals, etc. now add this to the shoot total.

as it stands, you are subsidizing her shoot and paying for her marketing while she reaps in the profits from the "if" sale.

oxman · « **Reply #16 on:** January 14, 2014, 00:50 »

Quote from: Ed on January 13, 2014, 21:26

I would take it. Here's the deal, most real estate agents use their iPhone. For real estate sales getting your foot in the door (no pun intended) is insanely difficult. If you're consulting Scott Kelby books/blogs/tutorials to brush up before a shoot, then quite frankly, you aren't worth $1,200 and if you think you're going to get a $1,200 day rate elsewhere, then you're dreaming and you shouldn't be asking about this on a microstock forum. Even $600 day rates are tough to come by these days.

There are real estate photographers here where I live that are competing against each other at $75 - $85 per house and there are real estate agents here complaining about that price - including travel expenses.

I say take the gig, get property and model releases, grant them exclusive rights to use the images for a year, then market them as stock once their contract is over. Use the spare time while you're traveling to get some travel images.

Thanks Ed and great reply!!

I've read where RE photographers are indeed shooting for those low fees and I don't want to waste my time with peanuts. So I do not plan to add this to my service offering unless I can get more money. And you are right -- i am a newbie getting my chops sorted.

I have decided to do the shoot for the experience and adventure. Nice people and really into awesome wines so Viva De Napa!!

I get MR and PRs on these and make that clear going in so I will be able to leverage the shoot to micro stock. Like the travel images idea too!!

Thanks again...

Bill

attached is my favorite shot from the shoot. HDR and yes that is the moon up there in the sky.

oxman · « **Reply #17 on:** January 14, 2014, 00:50 »

Quote from: ShadySue on January 13, 2014, 21:31

Can an estate agent sign a property release on a house?

I doubt it. I had the home owner do it.

oxman · « **Reply #18 on:** January 14, 2014, 00:52 »

BTW -- I am totally open to any critique of my shots

enstoker · « **Reply #19 on:** January 14, 2014, 01:50 »

Quote from: oxman on January 14, 2014, 00:52

BTW -- I am totally open to any critique of my shots

Nice shots.
Take the job, use hdr, enjoy.
Your RE friend will need You again and again.
When did You earn with stock 1200$ in two days?

oxman · « **Reply #20 on:** January 14, 2014, 01:55 »

Quote from: enstoker on January 14, 2014, 01:50

Quote from: oxman on January 14, 2014, 00:52
BTW -- I am totally open to any critique of my shots

Nice shots.
Take the job, use hdr, enjoy.
Your RE friend will need You again and again.
When did You earn with stock 1200$ in two days?

Thanks will do and good point about the $$$

Hobostocker · « **Reply #21 on:** January 14, 2014, 02:37 »

i did the same mistake years ago, accepting shooting something where i had zero expertise and where i also lacked the proper gear.

the pics turned out OK but of course not on par with Pros doing that stuff for a living.

end of the story, i got the money but i lost the client and felt miserable and to top it off he also told other friends that i was a mediocre photographer.

my fault ! but lesson learned !

never accept an assignment where you know you can't guaranteee a professional result at least on par with the clients expectations.

clients know sh-it about all the technical stuff, they think a good photographer is 360 degrees from architecture to fine art to studio to indoors to sport to news to weddings, and good luck telling them otherwise.

i was very clear with him about this but i shot myself in the foot and rightly so as even wanting i lacked the proper lighting and much more.

ShadySue · « **Reply #22 on:** January 14, 2014, 04:47 »

Quote from: oxman on January 14, 2014, 00:50

Quote from: ShadySue on January 13, 2014, 21:31
Can an estate agent sign a property release on a house?

I doubt it. I had the home owner do it.

And as per previous discussion on this subject, wouldn't it need to be made known to a future owner in any contracts.
I wouldn't like my unique $5M home being used in an advert for anything (if I had one, mine just looks like thousands of others by the same builder all over the country).

etienjones · « **Reply #23 on:** January 14, 2014, 06:41 »

If it were me I would want the priced fixed, not maybe if the place is sold. Don't forget what is known as the “Call Girl Principle”

“There is a philosophy in negotiation strategy known as the Call Girl Principle and it basically posits that the value of a given service is greatly diminished once that service has been rendered. It is named the Call Girl Principle in honor of those women of commercial virtue who always demand the money up front, knowing that it is much harder to collect ex post facto in flagrante delicto.”

Ron · « **Reply #24 on:** January 14, 2014, 07:09 »

Quote from: oxman on January 14, 2014, 00:52

BTW -- I am totally open to any critique of my shots

HDR mate. If you shoot interiors with windows, its perfect for HDR. Just take 5 exposures of all the rooms, and work it out when you come home. If you do it properly you wont even notice it was HDR.

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Author Topic: Would you accept this real estate photo assignment? (Read 13101 times)

oxman

Sean Locke Photography

oxman

Copidosoma

noodle

Jo Ann Snover

oxman

jjneff

JPSDK

ComfortEagle2095

JPSDK

oxman

oxman

Ed

ShadySue

shudderstok

oxman

oxman

oxman

enstoker

oxman

Hobostocker

ShadySue

etienjones

Ron

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