Essential Real Estate Photography Marketing Tips
- Real Estate Photography Marketing Basics
- Real Estate Photography Marketing - Target the Right People
- Real Estate Photography Marketing - Show a Portfolio in Person
- Real Estate Photography Marketing - Use a Website
- Real Estate Photography Marketing - Make Large Display Prints
- Real Estate Photography Marketing - Use Prints as a Business Flyer
- Real Estate Photography Marketing - Be a Thoughtful Business
- Recommended Photography Gear
- Free and Inexpensive Marketing Tools for Photographers
- What Is the Best Paper for Photo Prints?
- How To Promote Your Photography Business
Photo by adamkaz via iStock
Real estate photography is a nice job to have. We can add this genre of professional photography to our existing business model, or we may want to specialize in it. Either way, it’s rewarding, both financially and as an enjoyable endeavor.
You may be wondering how to break into this market or, if you are already in the business, how to increase your bottom line. Real estate photography marketing is the key to both of these concerns.
I’ll present some real estate marketing ideas for your consideration, which will help you get started or create growth for your existing business. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents:
Real Estate Photography Marketing Basics
Photo by LOUOATES via iStock
Some real estate photography marketing ideas are basic to all types of photography businesses.
I find that the old standby of having a business card is still one of the best methods of real estate photography marketing, or any photography business promotion for that matter. Yes, all sorts of modern ideas have been presented to me. Each says this will supplant old-style business cards, but nothing has beaten the low-cost factor and ease of presentation that a business card provides.
You’ll also want to ensure you have all of your I’s dotted and your T’s crossed about business practices. Follow local regulations covering forming a business, have the proper insurance, and create a simple method for accepting payments.
From the very beginning, getting all of that done ahead of time will enable you to concentrate on your efforts for real estate photography marketing.
Real Estate Photography Marketing - Target the Right People
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You’ve heard the old saying that someone is such a good salesman that they could “sell snow to an Eskimo.” My thought is, why would I waste my time and theirs on that fruitless pursuit?
The same idea flows over to real estate photography marketing. While we definitely want to be accessible to all sorts of people when the time comes for them to want our services, we can also focus some efforts on people and businesses that are involved in real estate in one way or another.
Using the idea of business connections, such as forming connections, is part of this tip on targeting the right people. Make your presence known to local real estate offices, individual realtors, building contractors, insurance agents, service providers, and the like.
Make it worthwhile for them to pass on your information to their clients, and be sure to reciprocate in kind with referrals and suggestions that benefit them. This is one of those real estate photography marketing ideas that can work well with many photography business models.
Real Estate Photography Marketing - Show a Portfolio in Person
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It used to be all the rage for photographers to have a portable portfolio of physical prints compiled into a portfolio. Online, web-based marketing has supplanted many thoughts about this, but it still is a very effective method of real estate photography marketing.
I like to print out some of my more outstanding images in a large enough size for people to be able to see minor details that I can point out to them as I talk to them about their real estate photography needs.
Fine Art Paper Prints from Artbeat Studios are a fine way to create a portfolio. You don’t need to make a giant portfolio; I find that 8x10” or 11x14” prints work just fine. This smaller size also is not quite as intimidating as larger sizes, and an 8x10” print lets me point out many small details in an image.
When making up your portfolio, you’ll want to use an ultra-high-quality print from a professional printer, so the Breathing Color® Fine Art Paper used by Artbeat Studios is an excellent choice. It’s 310g weight, bright white with no color tint, museum-grade, velvety finish fine art paper that is made from 100% cotton fiber that is both archival and acid-free.
Real Estate Photography Marketing - Use a Website
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While the physical portfolio has many advantages for an in-person meeting, being online can reach more people in a few minutes than we can see in a whole week of face-to-face meetings.
You’ll want the type of web design that allows you to add images easily, plus having a Contact Us page is extremely important. Keep it simple and focused; you can always discuss details in person, over the phone, or through email and texting.
How to get traffic to your website to make it an effective marketing tool is the focus of this video from LYFE Marketing:
Spreading the word about your website is every bit as important as having one, but creating a website is the first step.
Real Estate Photography Marketing - Make Large Display Prints
If your business model includes having an office, home-based office, or studio space, you may want to consider your wall space for real estate photography marketing.
A large, specialty process print such as the Metal Prints and Acrylic Prints made by Artbeat Studios is an eye grabber. You will want to use your best beauty shots of real estate photography; I find that twilight imaging is a great option for using this real estate photography marketing tip.
What I like about these styles of enlargements is that they are all image, no matting, no frame. Your artwork, skill, and capability for crafting the best images for them stand out to your potential clients.
Real Estate Photography Marketing - Use Prints as a Business Flyer
Photo by xavierarnau via iStock
Business cards are cheap, but you can only put so much on one. I like including a web address or social media account on business cards to give them something more to see when they want to know more.
Another approach for real estate photography marketing is creating another physical thing for them to have, hold, look at, and respond to. Business flyers are a fine method to use for that.
As a photography business, I find that using photographic paper really stands out, reminding people instantly that this flyer is promoting a photography business. Sizes that work well for this are 4x6”, 5x7”, or even 8x10” prints.
Luster Paper Prints from Artbeat Studios are perfect for this method. The semi-textured finish doesn’t show fingerprints like a glossy print would, so they can handle some repeated handling.
To be most effective, you’ll want to use text to convey some of your specialties and how to contact your business. You can use a large background image or put together multiple images as a collage.
Real Estate Photography Marketing - Be a Thoughtful Business
Photo by RAUL RODRIGUEZ via iStock
With all of these real estate photography marketing thoughts, ideas, and tips, perhaps the most important tip of all is to keep your business as friendly and accessible as possible. The client is how you make your money; there would be no profit if you can’t please your customers or potential clients.
Providing great customer service, being clean and honest, and creating the best possible images will go a long way in how your business succeeds!