Real Estate Photography
blog edition
I got to update the photos of a historic home in Cambridge:
One of the earliest, largest, and best Colonial Revival-style houses in Boston. Family ties with the Longfellow House (1759) two doors away underline the conscious return of Colonial Revival architects to eighteenth-century molds.
Survey number: HABS MA-875
Most real estate professionals by now know the Matterport camera as the leading name in 3D “reality capture.” Using a combination of infrared emitters, sensors, and high definition cameras, the Matterport quickly and efficiently captures… well… everything it sees. 3D models like these that are high quality and easy to interact with are the gold standard for real estate sales, especially now in the age of coronavirus when remote viewing is everything. In addition to stunning visual imagery captured by the Matterport camera, an often overlooked capability is waiting just beneath the surface.
If you haven’t seen the Amazon original series, “The World’s Toughest Race,” do yourself a favor and binge it next weekend to get a feel for what it’s like to be an adventure racer.. If you’re still interested in getting into the game after that, read on. Like many adventure racers, I saw Mark Burnett’s Eco Challenge in the 1990s and was enthralled and inspired by athletes who could cover epic distances over unthinkable times. That series launched a wave of interest into adventure racing that has been renewed thanks to the high production value reboot with outdoor personality Bear Grylls. I started adventure racing almost by mistake in 2016 and I have really come to love the sport and the community. I’m in better shape now at 38 than I have ever been in my life, and I owe it all to adventure racing.
When people ask me how much of my business is made up of architectural photography and things surrounding the real estate market, my typical reply is, “about 85%.” I guess I just really love to take pictures of empty buildings and I found my niche there, but naturally the next question I’m asked is about the other fifteen percent of my business. That other portion isn’t corporate events, senior proms, bar mitzvahs, quinceaneras, sweet sixteens, family reunions, and especially not weddings. The other 15% is mostly made up of outdoor sports coverage, specifically adventure racing. What is adventure racing? That story actually starts with seafood, so buckle up.
Thanks to all my clients for your patience while I was away over the last several days. I had a great time in Aruba celebrating my 7th anniversary with my wife, Erin, and I got the chance to dive on a few historic ship and plane wrecks while we were there. Here are a few pictures from those dives, as well as a handful from the rest of the trip!
In Aruba, Totally Wrecked
Shipwrecks off the coast of the happy little island
This was my first real experience with underwater photography, and as with anything new, I have some learning to do. I tried a lot of different equipment configurations, spoke to other divers, and generally picked up on a lot of what not to do. I still managed to get a few of these haunting images from the wrecks Antilla, and Jane Sea, as well as a few of the local reefs:
The cliff overlooking the "Hidden" Natural Pool. A quick climb down a sketchy ladder, then a rock hop across razor sharp stones, and a 10 foot jump and you find yourself in a crystal clear, protected pool.
Made entirely from driftwood and other things found scattered on the beach, this little shelter overlooked Boca Grandi Beach - or "Windy Beach"
View from inside the shelter. Aruba's wind energy farm can be seen in the distance.
Boca Grandi Beach, deserted.
On the road through Arikok National Park: a rocky desert that is home to caves containing ancient art made by native Aruban people, as well as some 19th century markings by Dutch colonial explorers.
Near Boca Grandi Beach is the Kite Surfing School. We saw this guy taking full advantage of the high winds on the windward side of the island.
First and foremost, thank you to all of my clients who have helped me build my business to where it is today. I have come a long way since going full time in 2015, and a lot is due to your trust in my services and all of the kind referrals. After hundreds of properties photographed, I've collected a lot of information about what the real estate marketing professionals are looking for. Based on the demand for various services, I am re-introducing a clearer pricing structure, more service options, and product packages that seek to more closely meet the needs of real estate professionals.
20-30 super HD photos, printable laser-measured floor plan, rendered as 3D interactive model with photo hot spots, slideshow video, tour platform, printable flyers, marketing tools, MLS sync, and more. Click here for a sample.
20-30 super HD photos, incredibly detailed 3D laser scan using Matterport technology, printable floor plan, custom property website, printable flyers, marketing tools, MLS sync, and more. Click here for a sample.
Sometimes a property only requires basic services. I am committed to continue offering pricing for these options as well. You can still schedule for single floor plans, and single photo sessions as you evaluate the needs of each individual property.
My commitment to quality is as important as ever now, but I also know that the real estate market moves quickly, and that means quick turnaround times. I'm happy to say that for most projects, I can deliver finished products within 24 to 48 hours. Matterport tours may be delivered even sooner.
I'm going to put all of this up permanently on my new pricing page soon, but I wanted to get this out there to my clients as soon as I made it official! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly at jsoconnor@photoconnor.com. I'm always happy to discuss unique projects that require custom quotes as well.
It happens more than I would like to admit, but I will open the door to photograph a property and as I walk in, I find boxes, trash, stray furniture, unswept floors, and unwiped counters. Most times, homeowners just run out of steam, especially when they've got everything else with a move on their plate. I definitely get it, and the temptation to call it quits when you've cleaned up 80% of the house is overwhelming. It's certainly okay to call it a day at that point if your agent is doing their own photos, but if you're hiring a professional photographer, the property needs to be 100% photo ready for the best results
Everyone has heard of Airbnb before - the service that connects people with short term rentals and allows home owners to set their properties up for rent while they are away. They were obviously on to something because that market has exploded in recent years. Looking to cash in on an extremely lucrative short term rental market, many other companies have sprung up to compete with Airbnb, and that has created a whole new area of business for real estate photography.
I'll be brief: If you're a real estate professional looking to get more listings in 2017, you've probably already considered adding some things to your marketing package. In response to demand I have continued to add more services, and I'll be adding yet again soon. Please take a second to complete this 4 question survey that will affect how I implement the next few expanded services. I really appreciate everyone's time and I can't wait to start rolling out the new services you help pick.
