There are many Real Estate Photographers to choose from— all with varying skill sets, styles, and prices. Picking the right photographer can feel a bit daunting if you don’t know the right questions to ask.

Here are some factors to consider while selecting a real estate photographer:

• Are they reliable? Are they professional and respectful to your sellers?

• The real estate industry can move quickly. Are you able to get your photographer out to take the photos within a reasonable amount of time? Do they have quick turnaround time? Industry standard for image delivery is 24-48 hours after the shoot concludes.

• Do they specialize in real estate and interior photography? Other photographers may dabble in real estate photography but it’s not necessarily their priority or expertise. Once their busy season starts back up they may become less reliable— which unfortunately may coincide with your busy season.

• Is the photo quality up to par? Are the photos bright and inviting? Are the colors accurate? Do they include blue sky replacements on cloudy days? Can you see any detail out of the windows? Do they include extras like TV screen replacements and adding a fire to fireplaces when appropriate?

We’ve included some examples below to help you understand the differences between premium photography and traditional run-of-the-mill HDR.

Premium Photography can produce better color accuracy compared to traditional HDR processing. In the image on the left, the cabinets are a nice crisp white while the floors maintain their deep rich color— just as you would experience in person. The photo on the right lacks color balance causing the cabinets to look yellow and the window view to be very blue.

This image is a great example of how differently wood tones can look depending on the photographer’s techniques. HDR processing (right image) notoriously creates a red/orange hue on furniture, wood flooring, lighting, and even upholstery. The image on the left has rich and accurate colors while the image to the right looks very unnatural.

In the example on the left, we inserted a blank TV screen with a slight reflection coming in from the nearby window to give it a natural look. The photo on the left also has better color accuracy all around. The unedited TV on the right has too many reflections that can distract the viewer’s eyes. The right photo is also washed out (ex: floors, windows, top of the coffee table) and lacks depth.

The left image has much better contrast with rich colors. Look at the difference in colors between the couch, coffee table, fireplace insert, and wood floors in each photo. The image on the right is washed out and lacking detail.

Another advantage of premium photography is that you will receive bright and inviting photos without being over exposed like you often see in HDR images. Notice in the right picture how much detail gets lost near the sliding door and sink areas. The window views in the left image are also vivid and bright compared to the washed out window views of the right image.