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 the member's nar.realtor login.
REALTORS®' Use of Digital Cameras
- 42% of homebuyers find virtual tours to be very or somewhat useful.
- 87% of homebuyers find photos to be very or somewhat useful.
Frequency of use of digital cameras:
Daily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14%
A few times per week . . . .. 18%
A few times per month . . . .16%
A few times per year . . . . . 13%
Rarely or never. . . . . . . . . . 40%
Sources: 2019 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile (National Association of REALTORS®) and 2019 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers (National Association of REALTORS®)
Choosing a Camera
Best DSLR Cameras (Best Reviews, Feb. 2020)
The Best Digital Cameras for 2020 (PCMag, Jan. 22, 2020)
Best DSLR camera 2020: 10 Great Cameras to Suit All Budgets (TechRadar, Jan. 21, 2020)
The Best Camera for Real Estate Photography (Photo Workout, Jan. 20, 2020)
3 Real Estate Photography Cameras to Consider for 2020 (Photography Talk, 2020)
How-To Tips: Shooting, Editing, & Storing Digital Photographs
15 Simple Tips for Real Estate Photography (CRE Tech, Jan. 21, 2020)
10 Real Estate Photography Tips for Honing Your Skills (Readdive, Nov. 27, 2019)
15 Tips for Capturing and Editing Real Estate Photography (ON1, Oct. 16, 2019)
The Basics of Real Estate Photography for Interior Photos (Digital Photo Mentor, Oct. 8, 2019)
14 Easy Real Estate Photography Tips (HomeSnap, Sep. 25, 2019)
How to Photograph Real Estate with a Smartphone (Photography Talk, Jun. 3, 2019)
Basic Real Estate Photography Tips for the Beginning Photographer (Fstoppers, Feb. 21, 2019)
Top 33 Real Estate Photography Tips & Mistakes to Avoid (Fit Small Business, Jan. 3, 2019)
Marketing Your Listings With Digital Images
4 Tips for New Real-Estate Photographers (Realty Times, Jan. 28, 2020)
Why Photography is Key for a Listing (Mark Spain Real Estate, Aug. 20, 2019)
Wait! That’s My Listing Photo! (REALTOR® Magazine, Sep. 2019)
Real Estate Photography: The Ultimate Guide for Agents Who Know Image Matters (Follow Up Boss, May 9, 2019)
Virtual Tours
Survey: Consumers Strongly Prefer Listings with 3D Tours (REALTOR® Magazine, Jan. 27, 2020)
Video Should Be Part of Luxury Home Sellers’ Marketing Strategy (Mansion Global, Dec. 6, 2019)
How to Create a Virtual Tour in 8 Steps (Fit Small Business, Jun. 21, 2019)
Real Estate Marketing & Virtual Tours: Benefits & Tips for Success (H3 Photography, May 10, 2019)
Virtual Tours (the balance, Feb. 3, 2019)
Useful Websites
CNET Cameras — Product reviews and recommendations, comparisons, buyer's guides, how-to articles, and more from the electronics experts at CNET.
Digital Camera World — Digital Camera World is the world's fastest-growing photography website, covering every aspect of image-making, from DSLR and mirrorless cameras to mobile photography, drones, post-production and printing. This site also has buying guides, tutorials and product reviews.
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.
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.
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.
Imaging Resource — Comprehensive site features product reviews, comparison charts, news, tutorials, and other key information about all aspects of digital cameras and photography.
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.
techradar — The source for tech buying advice.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Digital Video (eBook)
Digital Photography All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies® (Kindle, eBook)
Digital Photography 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 (Kindle, eBook)
How to Do Everything with Online Video (Kindle, eBook)
How to Do Everything with Your iPhone® (Kindle, eBook)
Video Marketing for Dummies (eBook)
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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.