AboutDon Wood Expertise I have been a professional photographer for 26 years. Wedding, portraits, passports, copies, groups pix, reunions, etc. Specialty in photography of large groups. I also have worked in newspaper photography for most of my photographic years. I have built and maintained a b/w darkroom, and a color darkroom.
Experience I have been a professional photographer for 35 years. I am transitioning to digital photography so I might be able to help in that field. I'm retired now but am still able to be helpful in the field. I have built a b/w, color darkroom, worked in a color lab, worked in the newspaper field both in darkroom and as a shooter.
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I just finished a real estate job with one of the top realaters in the nation (resedential) and she has turnd me over to the largest developer in Atlanta and they want me to shoot all of his high end projects. I have no idea what to charge! This is about the only thing I have no marketing experience in. It is all digital, and I want to be fair (there is a lot a residual business) but not sell myself short. I am a little overwhelmed by it all. Where can I obtain the info I need
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Have you surveyed realtors in other cities as to what their photographers charge. In my town most of the realtors have their own cameras and take their own pictures. We had one who almost weekly would bring in an 8 exposure roll of film, it was cheap film, and get it developed, the prints, lest that $3.00 total would then be used in his business. Another thought may be to question the real estate appraisal offices. These guys are hired to perform the groundwork of comparison of properties with others in the neighborhood to determine a reasonable market value for the property being offered. Another source may be photographers in other towns that seem to be doing well in this specialized field.
Perhaps the new developer may be of help if you asked her frankly to help you set a price. This should be done after you've researched the previous suggestion, it could be that the developer will be frank with you about it.
Other than these thoughts I have no clue. I charged X amount per picture unfortunately, we had no real big developers to provide a steady living for me, it was a very small percentage of my business.
Good luck to you, let me know what you decide and how you are doing.
Don
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Most realators here take thier own shots too. But these are for houses 4 - 11 million and up. They are developing an equestirian Country Club. They perfer a higher level of expertise to be offered, and not just pictures. It is like taking fine portriature of houses as well as advertizing. It is a tough combination. I am thinging about charging an hourly rate, or designing a workable package around 1000 - 400 bucks per home.
does this sound about average?
Answer This sound as if you should be cosidering a larger camera, with the perspective controls of swings and tilts. Whether you would need a digital back is another story. This may not be a subject for usig the digital approach. You are going to be in the high-end bracket. I do envy you. You will be having to use all your skills of photography to offer the quality and vision that they are asking. An hourly rate sounds about right. Don't forget that you're talking about the entire time you're working with the image. It's not just the time spent photographing, but the time you spend in the (digital) darkroom as well. I do have no clue. I repeat the suggestion that you query photographers in other towns how they would approach this. Best of luck. Keep in touch.
Don
