5 Secrets to Great Photos – Things your photographer won’t say out-loud

IT’S A SIMPLE TRUTH… Photographers work harder for you when they know you care as much as they do.  This is true for wedding and portrait photographers, and for real estate photographers.  So, if you want the best possible images of your listings, all you have to do is make sure your photographer knows you care.

A internationally renowned real estate trainer asked me to share a unique perspective on how agents can improve their real estate photos and get the most out of their photographer.  Here’s what I came up with…

5 Secrets to Great Photos- Things your photographer won’t say out-loud.

1.  Respect your photographers’ time.  Showing up late to an appointment is often a subconscious signal to the photographer that you don’t care, and that you’re okay with fewer photos than you might otherwise receive.  When your photographer sees that you showed up early and prepared the home, you’re telling them that “you respect their time”, and that you want to give them as much time as possible to do a good job.

2.  Prepare the home for photography.  Sounds obvious right?  Unfortunately 60-70% of homes are not ready for photos when the photographer arrives.  If the photographer sees that you took the time to show up early and prepare the home, you’re telling your photographer that “you respect their time and care about the quality”.  That makes them want to do a better job.

Think about it this way… If you were to show up for a portrait shoot with wrinkled clothes and messy hair, your photographer is going to assume you don’t really care how your photos look and it’s safe to assume he’s not going to go above and beyond for you.  The same principle applies when a home isn’t prepared for photos; your photographer is going to assume “you don’t care” about the quality.  This probably isn’t true, but IT IS what your photographer perceives to be true.

Your photographer will still do a good job for you, because they take pride in their work, but they’ll go above and beyond for you when they know you care.

3.  Tell your photographer what’s important to you.  When you take the time to share ideas with your photographer, it shows them that you’ve thought about what you want to accomplish (that you care), and it sets an expectation for your photographer to meet.  However, be brief about it.  If your photographer thinks you’re going to micro-manage them, they may not want to work with you again – trust me!

4.  Compliment your photographer.  Real Estate photography is an art form and photographers care deeply about the quality of their work.  They spend a great deal of “extra” time trying to make photos look perfect… thinking, hoping, fantasizing… that you will notice the difference and appreciate it.  But 99% of the time, there’s no “thank you” or “wow” email response.   A simple “thank you” goes a long way in your favor – to strengthen your relationship and your photographers commitment to you.

Photographers work very hard and usually give much more of their heart to a photoshoot, than you would be willing to pay for.  They do this because they love what they do, and they’ll usually do a good job for you, even if they don’t think you understand or value the extra difference.  BUT when you take the time to compliment your photographer, you are dramatically improving your odds for success.  Trust me on this… YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER WILL WORK HARDER FOR YOU, IF THEY KNOW YOU VALUE THEIR HARD WORK.

5.  Refer and connect.  Nothing will tell your photographer that you care more, or make your photographer feel more appreciated, than a referral.  Be sure to connect with your photographer on Facebook and Twitter, or LinkedIn.  Rave about how awesome they are whenever you post your virtual tours on social media sites.  When your photographer feels like they’re a part of your team and part of your community, a level of accountability exists that compels them to give you their very best.

Whether it’s your gardener, your food server, your Realtor, or your Photographer, IT’S A SIMPLE TRUTH that applies to everyone… People work harder for you when they know you care and acknowledge their efforts.