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
We've 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
- 43% of REALTORS® websites feature virtual tours.
- 82% of homebuyers find virtual tours to be very or somewhat useful.
- 71% of all REALTORS® use a digital camera.
Frequency of use of digital cameras:
Daily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16%
A few times per week . . . . . 23%
A few times per month . . . . 19%
A few times per year . . . . . .13%
Rarely or never. . . . . . . . . . .30%
Sources: 2017 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile, (National Association of REALTORS®, 2017) 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, (National Association of REALTORS®, 2017)
Choosing a Camera
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 Choose the Perfect Camera for Real Estate Photography, (What Photography Gear, Oct. 5, 2017)
Product Guide: Cameras and Video, (REALTOR® Magazine, n.d.)
How to Choose a Digital Camera, (Wake Forest University, n.d.)
How-To Tips: Shooting, Editing, & Storing Digital Photographs
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)
Real Estate Photography – 25 Tips From The Pros, (Fit Small Business, Oct. 5, 2016)
Tips for Beginners in Real Estate Photography, (PetaPixel, Aug. 15. 2016)
How to store your digital photos safely, (Consumer Reports, May 5, 2014)
Camera Phones
Best Camera Phones of 2017, (CNET, Nov. 30, 2017)
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)
Tips to Take Better Real Estate Listing Photos with Your Cell Phone but should you?, (Brad Zimmerman Photography, Feb. 7, 2017)
Top Five Smartphone Apps for Real Estate Photography, (My Real Estate Voice, Jan. 31, 2015)
Marketing Your Listings With Digital Images
5 Ways to Make Listing Photos Pop, (REALTOR® Magazine, Apr. 13, 2017)
The Ideal Image Sizes for Your Social Media Posts: Guidelines for All 6 Major Social Networks, (Buffer Social, July 20, 2016)
15 Surprising Real Estate Photography Facts You Need to Know, (agentimpress, Feb. 8, 2016)
6 Ways to Get Your Listing Ready for Photos, (REALTOR® Magazine, Oct. 19, 2015)
Ultimate Guide: How to Prepare Your House/Listing for Real Estate Photography, (HS Media, Aug. 10, 2014)
Virtual Tours
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)
3-D Listings From Every Angle, (REALTOR® Magazine, Sept. 2014)
How I Shoot a House Walk-through, (Nitsan Simantov, Sep. 6, 2013)
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)
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