I have been doing this for 14 yrs now. I learned photoshop in the very beginning of my career, I didn’t have editors to fall back on, that I knew of, so I just forced myself to learn. I blend and edit all my photos. I have some I send out that need super fast turnaround but I explain to me client it’s not going to look like my editing. Sometimes it doesn’t matter and I am excited for the break lol. But I mostly don’t like the fact the editors don’t have a clue about flambient. I’ve even sent them your video and offered to pay them more. They send back the same mess. I spent long hours in the beginning learning everything about PS and LR. It’s been worth it. I get a lot of luxury listings now. My prices get questioned constantly and I’m not cheapening my brand to compete with people who don’t know their value. I’ve stood my ground.
In a group I am in, someone was telling a brand new RE photographer both of these things: outsource your editing and not that agents are cheap but there is no reason to put extra time and effort into your work because agents wont pay you, they sell houses not photographs. This guy could not understand when I explained the agent is not selling photos BUT the photos are selling the agent. After some back and forth I wished him luck in his mediocrity and left it at that. It is important to have a a balcony view coupled with a long term view when planning the trajectory of your business. Fast, sloppy, mid range turnover is never going to lead to sustainable, solid business growth.
Great advice! There's a ton of bad information out there in the facebook groups that I've come across and for people who are just getting started in this field they are stuck weeding through the nonsense. My most despised piece of advice was always "just hire an overseas editor". How in the world are you going to be able to deliver if the editor drops the ball on you? How can you deliver a rush job if you can't edit your own stuff!? Thanks for being the voice of reason in an otherwise chaotic field.
I had to reschedule a shoot late yesterday and the agent needed the photos in the morning. There is no way I'd trust someone sleeping on the other side of the planet to get the job done on time. Its a new client too so you know....first impressions! Woke up at 6am and got the job done over coffee. Happy new client!
I cannot tell you how valuable your videos have been to building my wife and my business. We started out doing everything in house from shooting to editing. We've grown to a team of 20 photographers and now outsource our editing. But I believe we wouldn't be nearly as successful had we not done everything ourselves for the first few years. It allowed us to develop our own style and look and we can jump in whenever to either shoot or edit. Also you're in your 60s? Dang I thought mid 40s at the latest
Also hate it when you're told to get the widest lens possible. This makes even less sense for video, but i see so many videographers using something like the Laowa 9mm FF lens for photo and video. Drives me nuts.
Great advice! I've definitely noticed the Dunning Kruger effect in myslef as I've gotten more advanced in my real estate photography career. I would love to see a version of this video that talks about other common misconceptions like, "You always have to see two corners and three walls" or "You always have to do window pulls" etc.
Nathan, You're the only real estate photographer I can trust on youtube. Most seem to be making a quick buck at this as a side hustle. But you are genuine and i applaud you.
Nathan speaks, I listen. I feel like I just had a breakthrough recently in my REP being able to edit high quality flambient with consistency now. Acquiring clients has proven to be pretty tough. I will prevail.
It took me 9 months and two dozen homes to figure out how to shoot high-quality flambient and edit my own work. Now, I can contact any agent, broker, or builder in my area with confidence my results are the best in the area. Pretty cool.
My hard won luxury clients are each as individual as the high end properties they represent. Outsourcing my editing has never entered into my head because there are so many subtle differences in the individual realtors requirements. If you provide a bespoke service my view is that it should stay in house.
My goal right now is to build my skillset and still earn a great side income. I want to do this after I retire from my career. I've been fortunate to have some really solid clients over the last decade that have stuck with me from the start.
I guess I’m not a good judge of age. I always thought you were probably in your mid 40’s, late 40’s at most; wow, 60’s. Good for you. Thanks for always having great content.
I thought this was going to be about how every fireplace in real estate listing photos always has the same image of a fire. LOL Anyway, good tips shared. Thank you, sir.
I have been doing this for 14 yrs now. I learned photoshop in the very beginning of my career, I didn’t have editors to fall back on, that I knew of, so I just forced myself to learn. I blend and edit all my photos. I have some I send out that need super fast turnaround but I explain to me client it’s not going to look like my editing. Sometimes it doesn’t matter and I am excited for the break lol. But I mostly don’t like the fact the editors don’t have a clue about flambient. I’ve even sent them your video and offered to pay them more. They send back the same mess. I spent long hours in the beginning learning everything about PS and LR. It’s been worth it. I get a lot of luxury listings now. My prices get questioned constantly and I’m not cheapening my brand to compete with people who don’t know their value. I’ve stood my ground.
In a group I am in, someone was telling a brand new RE photographer both of these things: outsource your editing and not that agents are cheap but there is no reason to put extra time and effort into your work because agents wont pay you, they sell houses not photographs. This guy could not understand when I explained the agent is not selling photos BUT the photos are selling the agent. After some back and forth I wished him luck in his mediocrity and left it at that. It is important to have a a balcony view coupled with a long term view when planning the trajectory of your business. Fast, sloppy, mid range turnover is never going to lead to sustainable, solid business growth.
Great point about doing your own editing - knowing what can be edited teaches how to shoot better.
exactly. a lot of RE photographers in youtube recommend outsourcing. im like whaaat
Great advice! There's a ton of bad information out there in the facebook groups that I've come across and for people who are just getting started in this field they are stuck weeding through the nonsense.
My most despised piece of advice was always "just hire an overseas editor". How in the world are you going to be able to deliver if the editor drops the ball on you? How can you deliver a rush job if you can't edit your own stuff!?
Thanks for being the voice of reason in an otherwise chaotic field.
I had to reschedule a shoot late yesterday and the agent needed the photos in the morning. There is no way I'd trust someone sleeping on the other side of the planet to get the job done on time. Its a new client too so you know....first impressions! Woke up at 6am and got the job done over coffee. Happy new client!
I cannot tell you how valuable your videos have been to building my wife and my business. We started out doing everything in house from shooting to editing. We've grown to a team of 20 photographers and now outsource our editing. But I believe we wouldn't be nearly as successful had we not done everything ourselves for the first few years. It allowed us to develop our own style and look and we can jump in whenever to either shoot or edit.
Also you're in your 60s? Dang I thought mid 40s at the latest
Thanks! And yes, I'm in my 60s now....thank you for the compliment :)
Also hate it when you're told to get the widest lens possible. This makes even less sense for video, but i see so many videographers using something like the Laowa 9mm FF lens for photo and video. Drives me nuts.
Great advice! I've definitely noticed the Dunning Kruger effect in myslef as I've gotten more advanced in my real estate photography career. I would love to see a version of this video that talks about other common misconceptions like, "You always have to see two corners and three walls" or "You always have to do window pulls" etc.
Nathan, You're the only real estate photographer I can trust on youtube. Most seem to be making a quick buck at this as a side hustle. But you are genuine and i applaud you.
Thank you! I really appreciate that.
Nathan speaks, I listen. I feel like I just had a breakthrough recently in my REP being able to edit high quality flambient with consistency now. Acquiring clients has proven to be pretty tough. I will prevail.
Great content! I also have last year this kind of strougle, but now when the quality is from work to work higher, the $ clients are coming back :)
Thank you very much, you are great! I learned so much from your videos, maybe one day I can afford your courses ❤
It took me 9 months and two dozen homes to figure out how to shoot high-quality flambient and edit my own work. Now, I can contact any agent, broker, or builder in my area with confidence my results are the best in the area. Pretty cool.
Great editing captures clients.
Great message - thanks. “Most people don’t know that they don’t know… but they think they do.” Les Brown
My hard won luxury clients are each as individual as the high end properties they represent. Outsourcing my editing has never entered into my head because there are so many subtle differences in the individual realtors requirements. If you provide a bespoke service my view is that it should stay in house.
My goal right now is to build my skillset and still earn a great side income. I want to do this after I retire from my career. I've been fortunate to have some really solid clients over the last decade that have stuck with me from the start.
I guess I’m not a good judge of age. I always thought you were probably in your mid 40’s, late 40’s at most; wow, 60’s. Good for you. Thanks for always having great content.
Thank you! You made my day :)
I thought this was going to be about how every fireplace in real estate listing photos always has the same image of a fire. LOL
Anyway, good tips shared. Thank you, sir.
Great advice and I have learned from your books/videos!
I have realtors simply pull up my RUclips channel when they are trying to win over clients. Seems to work well for them!
Dang. 60s? I had you down for around 48.
Thank you :)
You are not in your 60s!
Thank you :) My magic camera makes me look younger ;)
If you did not say it I would not believe it.
You sure don't look beyond 6 decades
Thanks! Yep, in my 60s and I actually have 4 grandkids too :) Thank you for the kind words!