Overview
Did you know that 89% of homebuyers who searched for a home on the internet found photos to be among the most useful features of REALTOR® websites, according to the 2017 NAR Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers? Digital photography and virtual tours allow REALTORS® to serve their clients like never before. Digital images can quickly and professionally showcase a listing, and today's technologically savvy clients appreciate the convenience of a virtual tour for both long distance and local moves. The following articles will guide you from the beginning to the advanced stages of how to choose and use one of real estate's hottest tools.
References
NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require a password.
REALTORS®' Use of Digital Cameras
- 40% of REALTORS® websites feature virtual tours.
- 80% of homebuyers find virtual tours to be very or somewhat useful.
- 98% of homebuyers find photos to be very or somewhat useful.
Frequency of use of digital cameras:
Daily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16%
A few times per week . . . . 22%
A few times per month . . . .12%
A few times per year . . . . . 16%
Rarely or never. . . . . . . . . . 34%
Sources: 2018 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile (National Association of REALTORS®) and 2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers (National Association of REALTORS®)
Choosing a Camera
From Point-And-Shoot to DSLR and Mirrorless, Here’s How to Choose a Camera (Digital Trends, Jan. 11, 2019)
Best DSLR for Beginners 2019: 10 Cheap DSLRs Perfect for New Users (Tech Radar, Jan. 1, 2019)
Cameras (Consumer Reports, Oct. 10, 2018)
The 10 best DSLRs You Can Buy Right Now (TechRadar, Nov. 27, 2017)
The Best Camera for Real Estate Photos? (Techlicious, Oct. 5, 2017)
How-To Tips: Shooting, Editing, & Storing Digital Photographs
Top 33 Real Estate Photography Tips & Mistakes to Avoid (Fit Small Business, Jan. 3, 2019)
10 Simple Tips for Impressive Real Estate Photography (Expert Photography, Sep. 15, 2018)
The Best Photography Apps for Real Estate Agents (Zurple, Mar. 29, 2017)
5 Secrets of Real Estate Photography (And Why Quality Photos Are Half the Battle) (Rentberry, Dec. 13, 2016)
Camera Phones
Using Your Smartphone For Real Estate Photography (BoxBrownie.com, Apr. 6, 2018)
Best Camera Phones 2018 Reviews and Buyer’s Guide (BottomStack, Oct. 9, 2017)
Smartphone Photography Guide for Real Estate Professionals (Become a Local Leader, June 30, 2017)
Marketing Your Listings With Digital Images
Real Estate Photography: 23 Tips For Stunning DIY Photos (The Close, Dec. 6, 2018)
Tips on Taking Great Real Estate Listing Photos From NYC Pros (StreetEasy, Oct. 5, 2018)
The Best House Listings All Have This in Common (Apartment Therapy, Sep. 4, 2018)
5 Ways to Make Listing Photos Pop (REALTOR® Magazine, Apr. 13, 2017)
Virtual Tours
Virtual Tours (the balance, Feb. 3, 2019)
Virtual Realty: 10 Tips to Improve Your Real Estate Virtual Tour (USA Today, Oct. 14, 2018)
Top 11 Most Innovative Real Estate Virtual Tour Companies (PropertySpark, Dec. 16, 2016)
360-Degree Cameras for Age of Virtual Listings (REALTOR® Magazine, Feb. 2016)
9 Steps to Video Marketing Success (REALTOR® Magazine, Dec. 2014)
Useful Websites
techradar—The source for tech buying advice.
Imaging Resource—Comprehensive site features product reviews, comparison charts, news, tutorials, and other key information about all aspects of digital cameras and photography.
CNET Cameras—Product reviews and recommendations, comparisons, buyer's guides, how-to articles, and more from the electronics experts at CNET.
Digital Photography Review—Product reviews, discussion forums, sample images, glossaries, buyer's guides, comparison charts, tutorials, news, etc. The site even includes a fully linked timeline to digital cameras released since 1995.
Shortcourses—Online tutorials on various digital camera topics, with a glossary of terms and links to other digital camera websites. A valuable feature of the Shortcourses site is the collection of printable, portable guides to using specific Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Olympus digital camera models.
Fro Knows Photo – Professional photographer, Jared Polin, offers product reviews, discussion forums, advice, instructional videos, and photo critiques. A useful website for both beginner and advanced photographers.
Featured -- Each month the Photography For Real Estate community chooses the best real estate photo of the month. This page is a compilation of past winners.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Digital Photography For Dummies® (Kindle, eBook)
iPad 2: the Missing Manual (eBook)
Take Control of Media on Your iPad (Kindle, Audiobook, eBook)
How to Do Everything with Your iPhone® (eBook)
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Digital Video (eBook)
Digital Photography All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies® (eBook)
Digital Photography Just the Steps For Dummies® (eBook)
Digital Video Essentials (eBook)
Digital Video for Dummies® (eBook)
How to Do Everything: Digital Camera (eBook)
How to Do Everything with Online Video (eBook)
Marketing to the Social Web (Kindle, Audiobook, eBook)
Video Marketing for Dummies (Kindle, Audiobook, eBook)
Have an idea for a real estate topic? Send us your suggestions.
The inclusion of links on this page does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this page complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
