What are /r/RealEstatePhotography's favorite Products & Services?

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Any new(ish) camera you can change lenses on is fine. I like Sony cameras, but that's just my preference. Any gains or loses in image quality you get from one camera to the next are going to be completely lost by the time you've uploaded you photos to MLS.

The two more important factors are a wide angel lens, and how you process the photos. Most cameras in your budget will be either APS-C or Micro Four Thirds. For APS-C you'll want a 10mm lens. For m4/3 you'll want a 7mm lens.

As for processing, that's going to be difficult if you have no experience editing photos. I, and most other photographers you Lightroom and Photoshop to edit, but these professional programs with steep learning curves. You may want to consider outsourcing your editing. There are many companies that will charge less than $1 per image and you'll get decent and fast results.

Another factor you may not have considered is a tripod. Cheap tripods suck. Spend at least a few hundred bucks on a sturdy one. Since you're not going to be hiking or traveling with it don't worry about carbon fiber or compactness. I've had good luck with my Vanguard tripod. It's lasted me many years.

Photomatix is what I've been using since Day 1.

I'm nearing my 800th home, and my personal setup for work is as follows:

I use a tweaked version of the Interior 2 preset.

 

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<rdf:Description rdf:about='' xmlns:pmtm='http://www.hdrsoft.com/photomatix_settings01'> <pmtm:Version>5.0</pmtm:Version> <pmtm:Method>Fusion/Real-Estate</pmtm:Method> <pmtm:DepthHighlights>0.0</pmtm:DepthHighlights> <pmtm:Highlights>-10.0</pmtm:Highlights> <pmtm:Shadows>5.0</pmtm:Shadows> <pmtm:LocalContrast>5.0</pmtm:LocalContrast> <pmtm:Saturation>1.5</pmtm:Saturation> <pmtm:IsPano360>No </pmtm:IsPano360> </rdf:Description>

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&nbsp;

Outside photos are shot using 3 brackets at 2 EV.

Inside photos are shot at 5@2 for shots with windows and 3@3 for no windows.

Best and affordable are relative to where you are in your business. I started with an Amazon Basics $20 dollar tripod. At the time, that was all I could justify. I went through a few Manfrottos (Compact Advanced, BeFree and an old Bogen) before landing on my current tripod, the Benro Mach3.

Same goes with tripod heads. Ball head to geared head to better geared head.

Don't get too overwhelmed with the options, you don't need to spend $1000 on a tripod, but you may some day. Until then, most tripods will have a hook for a camera bag on the bottom of the center column, that will help keep it sturdy. Set the legs to the height you want and try not to raise the center column, that will help, too.

If I was just getting started, I'd grab a Neewer tripod with a ball head, (https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-77-Inch-Aluminum-Kilograms-Included/dp/B081Q9YVJS/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1). I own one, and even if you upgrade it's a great backup.

Body is great, you need a wide angle zoom lens for interiors though:

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-EF-16-35mm-USM-Lens/dp/B00K8942SO/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&amp;keywords=16-35mm&amp;qid=1595646248&amp;sr=8-3

Camera is probably overkill and you could try something like a Sony A6000, Canon EOS M50, etc.

Edit: with the RF/EF adapter

"Accurate color" for RPE is something of a myth. Your consumer (the home buyer) is likely looking at your images on a much lower res screen than you are using. A phone, tablet, or laptop. The more important thing is CONSISTENCY. If you take 4 pictures of a room, the walls and objects need to be the same color from every angle. Not greenish in one photo, and bluish in another. You don't need a super monitor for that.

RPE is about speed, consistency, and creativity. It's not astrophotography, or macro, or portrait. Don't get too hung up on the monitor. A $200 Amazon monitor will get you where you need to be.

With that said - here's what I use. (I bought mine when they were much cheaper). The format is perfect for lightroom and FCX. Also, they are easy to match calibrate to a MBP screen.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YGZ7C1K/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1

I would instead purchase a slider with a pan bar and mount that to your gear head: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B4LYMRC

Having just a video head and no gimbal will look super boring. Might as well just animate your photos at that point...

I just bought this gear head a few months ago and I love it! I love how easy it is to fine tune precisely level in any situation and it is incredibly stable. I got it after seeing it on fstoppers. I think the only cons would be price and it is a little heavy.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T8REXY0?psc=1&amp;ref=ppx\_yo2ov\_dt\_b\_product\_details

They have the axis too which is like $90 bucks and you can use with just your basic smartphone.
Good to see that they are adding all Matterport products on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8YWVYHN/

Good enough for real estate? Absolutely. Most sites sell “kits” that will give you the basics that you need. Years ago I bought a Nikon d5100 with a lens and a few other items for less than your budget. With you being in NYC, you should definitely check out b and h photo. They’re an outstanding company based on NYC and they have a TON of knowledge. Amazon had quality point and shoot cameras like this that should work.

A DSLR camera is where it starts to get expensive because you “have to” buy multiple lenses

ULANZI BG-2 6800mAh Power Bank Hand Grip for Sony RX100 VII Canon G7X Mark III Compact Digital Cameras, GoPro 10 9 8 Action Cameras, DJI OSMO Pocket, and iPhone 13 Samsung Google OnePlus Smartphones https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TMCVN7W/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_TJ05RZ7VNBF4HTD9VA86?psc=1

I'm on my first DSLR and have two lenses; the kit lens it came with and my wide angle lens.

The camera is a Sony a6400. I didn't have the extra money to invest in a really good wide angle lens to start with so I looked for what seemed to be my best option for an affordable lens that's compatible with my camera and still pretty decent. Decided on a Rokinon 10mm F2.8 with manual focus. I'm pretty happy with it for the price ($350). From what I could tell, there didn't seem to be any other good wide angle lenses I could buy for my camera ROKINON 10MM LENS

What are you currently using and considering purchasing?

I guess that depends on the lawyer. This issue comes up in stock photography licensing, where certain properties, or any visible logo requires a release from the owner/trademark holder.

Example of sale restrictions for specific properties based on the assertion of the property owner: https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/contributor-resources/legal/stock-photo-restrictions/

Canva.com is great for designing free. They have a ton of templates and you can get the crop and bleed marks for printers as well.

The one thing I would recommend is perhaps hosting an online brochure (just the pdf version of what was designed on canva. Then get a QRcode generator (online free) and print that out. You can realtime change your offerings and the QRcode to a specific webpage will keep things current. Then you can also have nice galleries to display your best. Way less investment too.

AND if people are COVID cautious you can just have them scan the QR v touch anything.

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I get it sometimes brochures are needed but wanted to mention this idea just in case.

Two point perspective. Essentially, when photographing a room from a corner, only show two walls.

I use crashplan (https://www.crashplan.com/) as my backup in the cloud. This works for every file on the computer, and it's unlimited file size.

It also saves revisions, so if for some reason I mess up a PSD / TIFF whatever I can usually recover it. I have it set for 1 hour intervals for revision history and it keeps files as long as you keep your monthly payment of $10.

I've been using it for years and pretty happy with how well it works in the background.

I take a little different approach. I bought a hot swappable hard drive bay (something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0759567JT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NACJWQANJGTM2FH4RQHP?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1) (sorry giant link) and have bought a couple nice hard drives to use. Having two separate drives would let you separate wedding and real estate, or work and personal.

I generally buy the 5tb ones they are like $100 each. . They are optimal right now price wise. Doesnt look as nice on the desk, but lets you do whatever you want. 5tb is a whole lotta space too. If you have a high mp camera like an a7r iv that should still be 300 shoots with raw files.

If all that you're offering is a monopod to pan/stabilize the quality will not be on par with current standards. You'll need a slider/gimbal to compete. Try walking around your home with the monopod and see how easily post stabilizing fails...

Luckily you can get a panning slider cheap that will fit on a single tripod. If there is one move that will make any agent happy, it's pan-sliding.

For Sony I’ve heard good things about this one. Pixel 2.4GHz Digital Wireless Remote Control S2 Remote Shutter Release for Sony Cameras, Replaces Sony RM-SPR1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CJ5UBG6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_0QKC0R99C08EK7B3TQ3B

For simplicity and reliability:

Yongnuo Triggers

Ideally mount this on top of a flash trigger with a hotshoe mount for whatever flash system you're using (example)

Program C1 to Aperture Priority - f8.0 - 5 brackets - 2 stop increments - -1 stop below medium exposure (5DIV tends to overexpose interiors by a stop) - flash disabled

Program C2 to Manual f8 1/200 - single shot - flash enabled

Toggle to C1 and C2 to cycle between ambient and flash. trigger in pocket with nice big clicky button for tactile feedback. None of that phone wifi connect garbage. Review on camera back if needed.

You made the right choice. This is the best diffuser to get: GODOX AD-S17 Wide Angle Dome Soft Focus Diffuser Compatible for AD200 AD180 AD360II AD360 Flash https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0792HW695/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_28EDHKBEJKN843PA6H5G

It’s cheap and fills small to medium size rooms with nice even light. You can use the bare bulb if you want but the diffuser will soften the shadows around things like ceiling fans. I hardly use the fresnel head but when I do I use a Gary Fong diffuser on it. They are pricey though.

Okay thank you. Just so we are on the same page, this one? Neewer Monolight Li-io

Would it work with my XPro Transmitter as well?

I've been using this one, and really enjoyed it. Very easy to change the height.

https://www.amazon.com/IFOOTAGE-Professional-Telescoping-Compatible-Camcorders/dp/B07GBRYBHQ/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&amp;keywords=ifootage&amp;qid=1611808380&amp;sr=8-4

I bought this pack but only use the transmitter on my Nikon camera. I think by itself it is $40-ish.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FFGJY28/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1

I use this monopod

Manfrotto Compact Extreme 2-in-1 Monopod & Pole https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018E5LYDY/ref=cm_sw_r_sm_apa_i_YvZGFbMRQDXZF

And this stand

BeStableCam Upgraded Aluminum Alloy V2 Tripod Desktop Stand for Gopro DSLR Camera Zhiyun Smooth Q Zhiyun Smooth 3 III Moza Air Feiyu G4 Pro G5 V2 3-Axis Gimbal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077TPP7X4/ref=cm_sw_r_sm_apa_i_3xZGFb99Z18KE

As for the flash you can get Godox V860 or TT600. You might also need a trigger and receiver. Godox sells those too. Just check one for you camera. Keep 8n mind that handheld flash may not be powerful enough for a large rooms. You would need a storage light for large rooms.

I use one of these and it's solid without being too heavy. Was previously using the Vanguard Alta Pro which was about 5.5lbs

https://www.amazon.com/Business-Techniques-Real-Estate-Photography-ebook/dp/B07FB47JRT/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&amp;keywords=nathan+cool&amp;qid=1601943956&amp;sr=8-4

I just use a light stand. I do also own this monopod though and it works.

IFOOTAGE 71" Carbon Fiber Camera Monopod Professional Telescopic Video Monopods Base Tripod Compatibility DSLR Cameras Camcorders https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GW5G1GX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bOMfFbGAEDSH4

It looks like it takes a standard manfrotto video plate. If you wanted to get a head that would accept this, your probably need to get a video head. Depending on your budget, you could get a 75-100mm bowl tripod and a bowl bottom video head so that you could level it for shots since most RE work is horizontal orientation.

I went the other way with my gimbal and video head and put small Arca Swiss clamps on my video plates so I wouldn’t need to change the plates on my cameras.

Add this diffuser to your ad200. Perfectly blankets the light evenly. Able to then combine the ambient and flash shot using a luminosity mask in Photoshop.

https://www.amazon.com/Godox-Diffuser-Speedlite-Witstro-Pocket/dp/B00F15W3B8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1541279640&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=ad200+diffuser

D3200 refurb is currently $249 on Amazon.

Tonika 12-28 f/4 is currently $449 on Amazon.

I have a $100 giftcard to amazon, bringing everything to $600 ish.

Gotta keep the sensor plane parallel to the walls to prevent that keystoning. Once you've got that you can change the tripod height to determine the proportion of floor to celing you have in your frame. If you've got nothing in the hot shoe, get one of those bubble levels, they're not perfect but they're plenty close enough for Lightroom to fix the rest.

The D7200 is an excellent camera for RE. 9 frame bracketing and wifi tethering if you want to put it on a pole or just back your tripod up into a corner. I have a D7000 and really want to switch for the 7200.

Of course the only thing I want more than a 7200, is the D810. I don't think full frame is necessary for RE work, but it would give me the actual 11-16 range on my lens over a crop sensor. It also has better video if you go that direction, 60fps would give me more editing leeway.

Money goes the furthest first on a wide lens. I have the Tokina 11-16, though they have a newer 11-24 I think that I'd rather have. Being able to get all of the room without weird crops that leave half of the fridge missing is what a RE photographer offers that no one else can.

Also essential to me is a hot shoe bubble level. Keeping your sensor plane parallel to the walls is what keeps them from keystoning and looking like they’re falling in. The first 3 rules of RE photography are, keep your verticals vertical.

Equipment after that just makes your life easier. I’d love a nicer tripod and ballhead, but I’m still using the dolica and my photography won’t be any better when I upgrade. As far as lighting, you either go for exposure fusion and shoot ambient light brackets that you combine in photomatix or enfuse. Or flash and need a couple speed lights and wireless triggers, which I haven’t gotten into yet. You’ll need Lightroom too if you don’t already have it.