A Word of Caution from a Fellow Photographer

Dear friend,

I'm writing this letter to you not to crush your dreams, but to offer a dose of reality from someone who has been there. Real estate photography is a lucrative and straightforward way to make a living with a camera, offering the promise of steady work and a predictable income. And sometimes, it is. But more often than not, it's a field fraught with unique and frustrating challenges that can slowly drain your passion for photography.

The first, and perhaps most common, issue is that the homes are often not ready. You'll arrive at a scheduled shoot, camera bag in hand, only to find the homeowner frantically stuffing clothes into a closet, unmade beds, and dishes still in the sink. Instead of focusing on your art and the beautiful composition of a room, you're now acting as a de facto home stager, trying to work around clutter or waiting for a space to be minimally presentable. This wastes your time, throws off your schedule, and adds an unnecessary layer of stress to your workday.

Then, there's the harsh truth that some of the homes can be genuinely nasty. We're not just talking about a little mess; we're talking about homes that are dirty, unkempt, or reek of pet odors. You'll find yourself shooting around stained carpets, grimy bathrooms, and neglected kitchens. This isn't the clean, perfect world you see in glossy magazines. It’s a job that can make you question why you ever left your studio.

In addition to the physical environment, you often have to deal with the people. Some homeowners and real estate agents can be incredibly rude or unappreciative of others. You may encounter clients who treat you as an inconvenience, question your process, or simply lack respect for your time and craft. Your role can feel less like that of a creative artist and more like a line item on a checklist. The beautiful, polished images you deliver might be met with little more than a perfunctory "thanks," or worse, an ungrateful critique.

Ultimately, real estate photography can be a grind where your work is viewed as a commodity, rather than an art form. Logistical headaches, unpleasant conditions, and ungrateful clients often overshadow the moments of beauty and creativity. It's a job that can make you forget why you picked up a camera in the first place.

Please weigh these challenges carefully as you consider your path. Your passion and skill as a photographer are valuable; make sure you choose a direction that will nurture them, not diminish them.

Sincerely,

KENNETH PURDOM

A fellow photographer

A Day in the Life: From Sunrise to Sunset (and Beyond)

7:00 AM - 9:00 AM: The Morning Rush.

Your day begins not with the click of a camera shutter, but with a cup of coffee. You're up early, long before your first appointment, to double-check your gear, format memory cards, and review the day's schedule. You'll map out your route to account for traffic, knowing that every minute counts. Your first stop is often an hour's drive away.

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The First Shoot.

You arrive at the first home. The listing agent is running late, and the homeowners are still frantically stuffing laundry into closets and wiping down counters. You spend the first 30 minutes helping to stage the space, moving furniture, and hiding personal items. You have to work quickly, moving from room to room, battling bad lighting and narrow spaces to capture a shot that makes the home look better than it is in real life. All the while, the homeowners hover nervously, offering unhelpful advice.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch (on the go)

There's no time for a sit-down meal. You grab a quick bite from a drive-thru on the way to your next appointment. This is a standard part of the job, as you are always on a tight schedule, traveling between locations.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The Afternoon Grind

Your second and third shoots are back-to-back. The sun is at its highest point, making it difficult to get good exterior shots without harsh shadows. The heat is stifling, but you're constantly moving, lugging heavy equipment from your car to the front door and back again. One of the agents you're working with is impatient and asks, "Are you done yet?" every fifteen minutes, making you feel more like a nuisance than a valued professional.

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: The Commute Home

The last shoot of the day is done, but your work is far from over. You're stuck in rush hour traffic, and the long drive home gives you time to reflect on the day. You're tired and covered in a thin film of sweat, but your mind is already on the next phase of the job.

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: The Editing Marathon

You finally get home and your evening is just beginning. You've shot hundreds of photos, and now it's time to cull and edit them. This is the most unglamorous part of the job—sitting at your computer for hours, adjusting white balance, straightening lines, and correcting for bad lighting. The work is meticulous and time-consuming. You'll process images, export them, and upload them to a gallery, often racing against a deadline. It's not uncommon to still be working long after 9:00 p.m. to make sure the photos are ready for the morning.

And that's a typical day. It's a combination of physical labor, creative problem-solving, and a lot of solitary screen time, all for a job that can be a constant hustle.

Commonly Asked Questions about Real Estate Photographers

What is the most common issue a real estate photographer faces upon arriving at a home?

The most common problem is that the homes are often not ready for the shoot, with clutter and unmade beds.

Beyond a little mess, what is another harsh truth about some homes?

Some homes can be "genuinely nasty," being dirty, unkempt, or having foul odors.

How do some homeowners and real estate agents treat the photographer?

They can be rude, unappreciative, and disrespectful of the photographer's time and craft.

How can the photographer's role change when a home isn't ready? The photographer often has to act as a "de facto home stager," working around clutter and waiting for the space to be presentable.

What can the profession of real estate photography do to a photographer's passion?

It can slowly drain their love for photography and make them feel like their work is a commodity rather than an art form.

Types of real estate properties a real estate photographer might encounter, based on standard market categories.

Residential Properties

These are properties where people live. This is the most common type of real estate a photographer will be asked to shoot.

Single-Family Homes: Standalone houses for a single family, including detached, attached, ranch, bungalows, or custom-built homes.
Multi-Family Properties: Buildings with multiple housing units. This can include:

Duplex/Triplex/Quadplex: Buildings with two, three, or four separate living units.
Apartment Buildings: Buildings with five or more units, often treated as a commercial property.
Condominiums (Condos): Individual units within a larger building, owned by an individual.
Townhouses: Multi-level homes that share one or more walls with adjacent units.

Specialty Residential:

Vacation/Second Homes: Properties used seasonally, such as lake houses, beach houses, or mountain cabins.
Manufactured/Mobile Homes: Factory-built homes, often placed in a mobile home park.
Luxury Properties: High-end homes, including mansions, penthouses, and estates.

Commercial Properties

These are properties used for business or to generate income.

Office Buildings: Ranging from single-tenant offices to large high-rise skyscrapers.
Retail Space: Properties where goods and services are sold, such as:

Shopping Malls and Strip Malls
Individual storefronts
Restaurants and cafes
Big-box stores

Industrial Properties: Used for manufacturing, production, storage, and distribution.

Warehouses
Factories and manufacturing plants
Distribution centers

Hospitality: Properties providing temporary lodging.

Hotels, Motels, and Resorts
Bed and Breakfasts

Special Purpose: Properties with a unique design for a specific use that is not easily converted.

Churches, schools, hospitals, theaters, and stadiums

Mixed-Use Properties: A single development that combines multiple types of real estate, such as residential apartments above retail shops.

Land

This category includes undeveloped property. While this may not involve interior photography, it is still a significant part of the real estate market that a photographer might be asked to document from an aerial perspective.

Undeveloped Land: Raw land with no buildings or infrastructure.
Agricultural Land: Used for farming, ranching, or other agricultural purposes.
Infill/Brownfield Sites: Previously developed land that is vacant and needs to be cleaned up or redeveloped.

A Day In The Life Of A Real Estate Photographer By Chris Hammill Audio

If you're still interested in being a Real estate photographer, don't hesitate to get in touch with me, and we can help you.

Real Estate Photographer Pro, LLC

Kenneth Purdom - Founder

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A Day in the Life - Real Estate Photographers