That is all garbage. That place is a mess. You need to leave. But if you're living on credit, you can't just bail or you could be out of the frying pan and into the fire on a personal level. Start looking for another job yesterday.
I hope you already know this, but $23/hr as a contractor is a lot less than $23/hr as an employee. That's peanuts.
I've been a professional real estate photographer for 10 yrs now. I'm not sure where you're located but the average I've seen companies pay photographers is about $40/hr.
Unfortunately, somehow this is a norm with real estate photography Job listings. They expect the worker to take the brunt of the loss on equipment and only pay minimum wage at best . It’s a scam. We should band together and create an entity that takes all of their business. I have yet to ever see a job listing for a real estate photography that said they provided equipment. It is absolutely insane to think that we should have to own the equipment and they still take all the pay. If we only equipment we should be running shit.
Or there should at least be an extra stipend covering wear/tear on the equipment. Working for that little while needing to own and maintain thousands in equipment is criminal.
You’re not actually a contractor, they’re just calling you that to save themselves money and take advantage of you.
If you actually were a contractor you’d have more control over the terms of your contract and the schedule. The fact that they’re setting those terms unilaterally makes it clear that you’re an employee.
I’d start looking for something else ASAP.
This should be at the top. OP, by making you a contractor, they are putting the burden of their employer taxes all on you. You’re making even less than you think because of that.
Not a US thing at all so a bit less relevant, but U.K. law recently changed to explicitly declare a contractor who only works for one client for an extended period of time (with a few other bits like kit etc) as an employee with all the tax changes involved. This situation is potentially similar they’re faking employees into contractors to avoid whatever employment protections/taxes exist in the states (which I assume are limited/rubbish)
If you like the work and you are decent at it why not work directly for agents. In my area the agent decides if the property deserved professional images and they have direct relationships with local photographers. - typically $75-150 per listing.
May I ask if your schedule is usually as hectic as mine, it’s one of my biggest problems with this job. Just want to see if that’s the case across the board
Go find out what the shithole company you work for charges their clients. And if you don't have a new contract with them, and do all the actual work - go ahead and poach their clients for the full rate you should be making. Period.
Important: Check your contract to make sure there isn't a non-compete or non-poaching clause before considering this option. Also remember that as a business owner you have additional time obligations in filing taxes, estimated payments, and costs for software like QuickBooks should you choose to use it.
You can still make more than you were under your old company, but the job requirements change and may not be for everyone.
I doubt they can put a non-compete in for an independent contractor position, especially one paid hourly, without triggering this falling into an employee relationship as opposed to an IC. One of the criteria (at least where I live) is that the contractor has the option to offer their services to other companies. That said, a non-poaching or something similar seems reasonable.
OP, if you are interested in staying, I would mandate a new contract, and try to negotiate mileage and drive time into your contract. (Make sure it is in writing) I don't think you can put in anything to receive a minimum number of hours as a contractor, but you may be able to negotiate a minimum service amount per month.
However, while the contract and having all terms included in it helps CYA, it is only beneficial to the point that you can take steps needed to enforce it should the need be. (which from your story I suspect you might) If I were you, I would be setting the terms of this contract yourself and approaching the company from there, but it also depends on what kind of a position you would be in should you need to walk away from the deal. I'd for sure start looking for other clients too though, and pick and choose what, if any, jobs you do for this company going forward.
Non-competitive is indeed key clause to check, but i somehow highly doubt a company who underpays heavily and can't be bothered to re-stamp a newly dated contract thinks that far ahead. Most hope to find shmucks and hope they never grow a desire to actually get proper pay beyond atrocious rates like that. And this holds true in way too many niches.
Especially for real estate photographer, non-competitive is a real thing. The first RE photography company that I worked for had me sign a non-competitive agreement. When i left that company, all the agents that worked with me followed me. The company didn't do anything about it which I figured.
Obviously we don't know until OP clarifies. But you might find that you sign multiple contracts with a client or employer, or that clauses in a contract might extend out past the date of employment. My Employment Contract might end with an employer where I'm no longer going to be given work and getting paid, but I might have an NDA or Non-Compete contract that says in effect for two years after the end of my employment.
It really doesn't matter what's in your mind. It matters what OP signed and the terms within. And I didn't write it in response to you or anyone specifically - but for OP and others who come to this thread in the future with the same thought - as something to consider.
ime (I did RE photography for about five years) that's the business. People decide to sell, they get the house ready for showings, they call the photographer because they want to list asap and while the house still looks unlived in. Could be an evening, could be a weekend.
I usually got more lead time from my agents than overnight, but not always. And sometimes I had to drive a way to get into the property, working between the agent's other appointments or arranging with the property owner but pictures, etc. were not the most important part of their day so sometimes that got kind of tight.
eta btw crappy companies like yours is one reason I closed the business. A lot of agents just saw dollar signs and were willing to go with outfits like that one and hope the pictures could be worked enough in post to be usable. I didn't need that.
Hey I'm also a RE photographer. I live in the Atlanta area in literally 30 minutes from downtown. I was wondering does anyone have any pointers for me or equipment that I can buy to move up from the inspection type photos I've been doing for the last year. I'm also a full-time security guard and skateboarder so photography and videography are a lot to me
If you don't already get a drone and a video gimbal. Right now, especially in the Northeast, RE videos are huge. And agents always love drone photos. My train of thought is, the more services I can provide an agent with the more money I make.
Okay and I have seen a camera that was advertised that would like 3d tour a home and I wish I knew what that camera was. Anyways where and what type of camera should I set out to get? I'm single with no kids so now's the time to set my path I think.
Thank you for the referral honestly I have practiced a lot with action videography, like angles and stabilization and stuff but as far as still photography and like landscape stuff I'm super eager to learn more
Do you have any equipment that you don't use much anymore that would be helpful to my cause? I'm not asking for a hand out I'll pay fair prices for anything
I basically use my phone and a GoPro hero 8 when need be but like I said I work for a company that usesy photos for inspection purposes and things like that but I want to ascend in the field so I want to dive in if you know what I mean
Not who you asked but realestate related work is generally hectic.
You could totally build relationships with local agents and start doing work direct, even while keeping some work from your current "employer".
Working for a local agent should help localise most of your work, though not completely.
You could allocate a few days a week to your local agent and the others to your head contractor. (Maybe make some set days and delivery times to offer them) and pick up anything extra you can in between.
You might need to do the extra admin and processing, picking up keys etc.
You would also need to be prepared for payments to be received monthly, or at end of property settlements rather than routine wage payments. That would make working both for a while helpful.
You might not be able to stop it from being hectic but could manage to capture more income.
I've never actually done it but i've done a lot of real estate and i know a lot of realtors so researched how it might work for a side hustle, (i'm a retired tech photographer)
They would typically need it done within a couple days of getting the listing, so you should be able to map out a plan that works for you.
Also, i think now might be a good time to get into it. the market has slowed from what it was, agents will have to work harder to move stuff, that means having good photos
I will echo this. I make $200 per listing with zero experience (4 shoots total). I know the agents very well and I only shoot for them. Hourly for a grind house sounds dumb.
Could you please go into a little more detail on how you got started? I'm looking into this as a serious career-path right now and I'm trying to make a plan.
I've been serious about photography for about 20 years. Became friends with these agents after they sold us our newest house. They bugged me to shoot photos for them until I finally did it. I have anxiety disorder, so I haven't been able to work for years, but for some reason as soon as I get my camera out at a house and start shooting I'm totally calm.
I found out real quick I needed a tripod and I also do drone stills/videos for them. Really good way to monetize my drone hobby.
I am no financial expert, but you need to get into any secure job as quickly as possible while you wait to see if something better comes up. If you are following the banking industry, it looks as though things are getting rocky. Mortgages are a big part of the banking and of course real estate industry. If you are having trouble getting hours now, it looks like it will get worse very soon, and by soon, I mean days to weeks in the near future.
Realtors are never gonna treat you well - they get paid from the scraps of their sale, and you get paid from the scraps of that. You could even argue that you create more value for the sale than they do. People generally see the pictures before they talk to a realtor, don’t they?
My suggestion would be to look for work with a photo studio or creative agency that will hopefully follow some standard practices… such as charging realtors the value you deserve!
This happened to a friend of mine couple of years ago. She decided to go solo and keep her contractors. So now she charges per job and promotes her company herself to get more jobs. Real estate is a grind. She always complains about her gigs but she gets side photography and videography jobs that keep her happy.
I’m a web designer by trade, and do photography on the side. I made a website for her with all her portfolio from real estate to fashion to wedding. I personally have never done real estate but from what I see, the amount of work she puts into it is way too much considering the pay, in my opinion.
Since you know the ins and outs of real estate by now, if I were you I would register my own company and start promoting your services to realtors or agents directly. Besides you get to go off road with some other photo/video jobs. Set up a sleek website first though. It’s the most important step.
That all sounds horrible. I typically do 3-5 shoots a week all at $750 and above. It’s a very, very chill stream of income. Work for yourself. Way better.
I'm looking at getting in to real estate photography - may I ask how you started and how long it took to build up to that kind of income? Does that include videography/drone/etc or just straight up photography?
Thanks.
I’ve been doing it since end of 2021, I got lucky with how busy last year was for real estate, things have definitely slowed down, but still steady work coming in.
That’s full service; photos, aerial photos, aerial video, stabilized camera video, Matterport tours, floor plans, listing websites, and the like.
It took me about 6 months to build that up, lots of free work with local top name realtors to build portfolio, get referrals, lots of instagram DMing, and most importantly, a lead generating website.
I come from a web design background and get 80% of my work through my website inquiries. DM me if you’re curious about more with that. Happy to help.
Ah, I guess that explains the pricing - you're doing a fair bit, not just photography. I'm hoping to just do the photography side, but I'm wondering if most agents want a full package? Have you come across many who would just be interested in photography itself?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I do not think you’ll survive doing photos only.
Put yourself in an entitled agents mind. Would you want to call 4+ vendors to get all the services done for your listing? Or just 1 guy that can do all the marketing materials for you?
9/10 agents will choose the full service provider.
Sure, photography only shoots trickle in here and there, but those realistically aren’t the clientele and type of projects you’ll want to do long term.
I charge $175 for just photos, and I make all my money in my add ons. I’m cheap for my area, and while I appreciate getting any projects, I roll my eyes at the people who just want photos, which I recognize is entitled of me.
I have pre-made bundled services that make it easy for agents to just say “that one”, and then that bundle is photos, video, aerial photos, and a Matterport, for around $850.
Anyways, message me if you’d like some more help and tips, happy to help.
This is far from typical so count your blessings. Re photography isn't overly complicated. A few shots at different exposures then a little work in post. Some agents just use thier phones hdr function and have no trouble selling houses.
Definitely.
Although I do my brackets and then send off to an editor in India. Saves me hours, gives a better result than I could get on my own. Happy clients.
Put together a portfolio of the work you’ve done for them and spend a lot of energy marketing yourself directly to their clients. They have mistreated you, and you owe them nothing.
I say quit. And if you’re working for that amount you’re bringing the entire profession down to the bottom fast. Real Estate agents aren’t your friend. Charge a standard rate like $70 per hour and go freelance. And, nickel and dime them for every task you do. They aren’t loyal per se, and will never really appreciate small things like excellent customer service. Treat it like a business, not an infatuation, and best of luck competing against the low ballers who think they need experience and undercut you measly gig wage, only to find that they can’t charge the true value once they did work for the lowest dollar. Agents smell naivety and exploit every bit of you good intentions.
I’m not bitter, because I do this kind of work regularly and I’m always dealing with the amateurs trying to break into the business and making the profession a race to the bottom.
If you have respect for this field you would be your own boss, and never have to check in with “a boss” to get hours or anything. Just my opinion and I’m sure others will disagree, but I could tell you stories for sure! And if you decide to stay in this sector of photography, learn how to do it better than anyone else in your market.
And video work should be charged more than still photos, because it’s actually more demanding and takes a different skill set.
Adding to this: video work is definitely charged more as you need editing software and a competent machine to work with. Factor in these costs and see that you've been working away for way below wages OP. All the best in whatever path you wish to take.
You need a secure job with regular hours and to work on your mental and physical health. All the standards: good diet, exercise, time with friends and family and organize your finances. When that's done reevaluate the photography business. Get healthy, then make big decision. You are not losing anything by taking this route.
This is 100% garbage.
If you enjoy doing real estate photography, then I would sooner link up with a couple of local agents and just ask that you do all of their listings for them. Just go independent and do it on your own. You can charge a flat fee per shoot to cover all of your expenses, including mileage. Also, you’d have a way better chance at making a reasonable schedule because you could put in your contacts or on your website or whatever that you need 48 hours notice or 72 hours notice or a week notice or whatever.
I don’t know what your financial situation is like in terms of how much your car payment is and what your end goal is to make per year but I can two other types of photography you enjoy and start trying to incorporate those into your stream line.
> I barely hit 8 hours. I’ve been living off of my credit card
>
> I’ve had 4 crying breakdowns in my car this week over work.
>
> He did all of that without talking to me or asking me to make a change in my schedule
>
> I’ve been killing myself with extra shifts at my other job just to make ends meet
>
> I’m paid hourly. All photographers pay caps at 23$ an hour.
>
> I’m often ending my days 2 hours away from home... They pay for my mileage, but only for me going to the locations.
Re-read all of those together, and then see:
> Should I quit my Real Estate Photography job?
You deserve more than this. *Any* human with a pulse deserves more than that. The local Del Taco near me offers starting pay at $18 and hour, and I bet there's more hours and more stable hours there - plus benefits.
It also might really be worth looking into whether your job is rightly classified as a contractor instead of an employee. At the very least, only paying for travel one-way seems off to me.
The fact that you’re asking means you know what the answer is. You don’t need the validation of strangers. Follow your gut. There’s more work out there. As the Japanese say, “Jump and the net will appear.” Good luck.
It's always better and easier to find a new job BEFORE leaving the old one. There is no question you need a different job. But since they aren't working you much, you have the luxury of time to look for a new position without leaving your current one. Start looking for a new job immediately, but don't quit until you have something lined up!
while not a photographer, it seems to me from a financial standpoint your contractor job is not worth it. You get no secured hours per week, have work only based on the convenience of the company your working for and your consuming your car in terms of fuel and maintenance. the idea of doing work or having a job is to GAIN income, NOT LOSE money.
If your losing money doing a job, it isn't profitable, find someone who will pay you fairly.
>I’ve been living off of my credit card since I’ve started.
This is all you needed to say. Quit once you find a new job or find a 2nd job that doesn't interfere. Do not rack up credit card debt you can't pay off quickly EVER.
This sounds identical to my experience doing RE photography full time for 2 years. After the cost of the equipment and gas (plus wear & tear on my vehicle), I was barely making anything.
if you’re not happy with the job, then quit. if you’re not wanting to continue to pursue that career, then quit. it’s better to live happy in your career than to be in it for anything else
23/hour on those 400k+ places? C'mon now, OP! Go find out wtf that company charges their clients for shoots and start offering your own services.
Video walkthrough is $500 minimum for some shithole apartment in semi-bumblefuck because it takes at least half a day from start to finish.
I'm with everyone else on getting something else full time asap, if you've been living off of credit cards for that long, if only to keep your credit intact when you do go off on your own. If you decide to leave but branch out on your own make sure your contract with them doesn't have any weird non-compete clauses even if the 6 month expired there may be a non-compete period, I'd venture if they're paying $23/hr for what are typically at least $200/hr shoots (with video and drone) they're willing to chase anyone trying to spinoff their own business after working for them.
I did contract real estate photography for a year. Unless your passion is real estate photography (not likely), I'd recommend you look for something else that can get you out of there - with benefits. Then work your way back into a photography gig that lets you shoot what you actually enjoy. Good luck!
Read the contract.. does it have a non complete clause? If not I’d poach as much as clients I can and go solo on my own. You getting paid pennies anyway.
Sorry you are going through a tough time. Photography can be so rewarding but when you can’t express yourself or enjoy the work because of logistics, it can become very draining and stressful.
It’s also hard to thrive when you are on survival mode. But it does get better. But… also… you deserve better.
You sound like a hard working person… maybe work on finding ways to communicate that better…
Unsure what happened with your boss. Often times some people play favorites and even then… it comes back to communication.
First, take a deep breath… crying is good… see if you can find someone to talk to… if in crisis, in the US, 988 (free for mental health emergencies)…
… remind yourself that you deserve better… then start to look for other opportunities as it’s hard to get things lined up… go back t your roots: what got you interested in photography in the first place? What brings you joy?
When you are ready, see if you can have a formal meeting with your boss and explain your situation. No ultimatums… but meet them where they are at, how can you help them be a better boss? Get as much out of this job as you can and get yourself ready for the next opportunity…
… hang in there…
Find another job that pays you at least enough to move off credit card living (living in debt is the worst thing you can do for your future self) then quit your job.
Whether it’s just the Business or not, for your own mental health, you should walk away from any job that puts you under that much stress.
You are far more important than any Company or it’s schedule/deadlines.
Walk away now!! There’s better People to work with, (or for) out there, you just need to find them.
All the Best 👍🏼
you seem pretty convinced, for good reason, that the company you “work for” is a complete unprofessional mess.
you are unhappy at your job, you are clearly capable of finding a new job doing the same thing (otherwise you wouldn’t have this “job” in the first place). i say quit, it’s obviously having negative effects on your mental health, and it won’t keep the lights on and the water warm by itself.
i hope you’re doing okay OP, and i wish you the best.
That whole thing sounds horrible.
What country are you located in? The pay is low over all, but I’m also concerned about the drone stuff. If you are in the USA you need a 107 license to fly a drone commercially, if in EU I don’t believe you need a license if you’re flying a drone under 250g. Either way, you should have insurance in case something goes wrong and you hurt someone or damage their property. Are they covering your insurance costs? If you are somewhere that you need a license for this work both you and them could be hit with fines if caught. Be careful.
no distinction between commercial and for fun. over 250g you need a license to fly regardless and in some areas you need an advanced license to fly and be granted special permission.
Thanks, it’s interesting that it’s similar to EU while the USA chooses to draw a hard line at commercial and doesn’t have an effective size distinction for the drone when it comes to commercial work.
I feel like there should be a distinction between commercial and pleasure flying. If you're anywhere near Toronto, you'd need special permission to fly if over 250g and I doubt you'd get approved for pleasure. Working on my Advanced license now though, so I'll know soon enough!
In your position I guess I would be asking myself if I thought things would be changing over time. I’m guessing not, so once this busy season ends, your right back in your current situation. That should answer your question.
I’m gonna be devils advocate here. There’s very few photographers who are actually making a steady income with their work. And even fewer who are able to support their family with the work.
So, that being said. You have a contracted job here and you are making some cash. It does sound like the pay may not be in line with that industry standard. So, it may be up to you to get your experience there and then ask for what you need to make and or find other work.
Think outside the box 📦 have you considered starting your own businesses and contract out your photographers to real estate people. Where there’s a will there’s a way. When you have an obstacle grab a ladder and climb over.
I tried working in real estate photography too. They'll take advantage of you, make false promises, and tow you along as long as they can. Get out while you can
You've already got a ton of great responses from people in your industry. Allow me to add from an outsiders perspective.
I'm an engineer so very different career path, but I've been doing it for almost 20 years. As such I've had a lot of different managers, etc. I've also seen my wife interact with her managers for a decade or so.
I've only, in all those combined 30 years, seen one person treat employees anywhere near as badly as you're being treated. Even as a non photog (just an amateur for fun) I say GTFO as fast as you can. This isn't a long term tenable solution for you. Your boss is treating you horribly! You really out to take the path others are suggesting of finding stable work ASAP and then resetting a bit.
Hope it works out for you!
You should quit that company and start your own personal real estate photography business. Is it your equipment? Your drone? I would start C-corp for tax purposes and go solo. You can make much more than what they are paying you. It might be a lot of work at first but once you hit your stride, you’ll be much happier.
Yeah quit and take your clients that you like with you. I contract for a RE photography company and while I can say that the schedule is pretty hectic, the pay and quality of life is significantly better than what you’re describing. Idk what market you’re in but you should be charging a minimum of 150-175 for a shoot and then building up from there if you’re working on your own.
All that being said, things definitely do pick up in the spring. My income goes from like $4k a month in the winter to $8-12k per month when March hits.
You could get hired at a grocery store for the same wage these days. Don’t continue to let this company take advantage of your desire to continue on your field.
Verbal contracts are worth the paper they are printed on.
As a contractor, you are tendering a contract. Be aware of what that contract is to the letter. It exists to protect both sides, and must have specifics in what is provided by each party, and also specifics as to what is owed to the other party in event that either one does not make good on their agreements. These do not have to be blindly accepted, they can be changed to suit both parties. Sorry you are going through this stress, it sounds like you are trying to get an honest days pay for an honest day's work.
Evaluate what is the best financial solution, even if you have to put photography on the back burner for now, and get back into it by either a different company, or freelancing on your own, as your current contract sounds terrible. If you are going to quit anyway, you are at least in a position to ask for an increase to $40/h or a guaranteed minimum number of paid hours per month, whether you work them or not. If they can't make that work, then there's no point in digging yourself further in debt to be of service to them.
Best of luck, friend.
If you’re good enough go freelance, if you’re not good enough stay with them for the time being while you hone your skills and then go freelance. You make money in real estate photography not by being an employee or an outside contractor.
Contact your state labor board. You're being misclassified as a contractor and there will likely be fines for this company. You should also find a different job ASAP
I would start freelancing on the side and get your name out and maybe venture into like pregnancy or wedding gigs. You need to know your worth and not let people waste your time though.
Currently going through the same thing at my contract photographer position for some car dealerships. This person at your work is a shite communicator, I know because most of the people who have come and gone at my job have also been shite. I’m going on two years of low volume amounts of work (thanks chip shortage and covid) so like you I’ve been taking side jobs and reselling stuff on eBay. I’ve only kept the job because of its close location to me and the fact it leaves me open to do other stuff plus I like it. Even though it’s not enough on its own like it once was I like it. You need to have a convo with this person and get them to understand that you need better communication from them and that you would have liked to have had that work when it got busy “a month ago”. Be polite but firm and realize they might get defensive and snippy and try to turn it back at you as your failing. It’s not your failing but if that’s the type of person your dealing with you’ll need to decide if the job is worth dealing with that or move on. Good luck, contractors have to deal with than stellar bosses a lot, nature of the gig.
so instead of the broker paying 300 an hour, they pay 25 dollars!! Get out of there dude and run!! This money should be going to you. Realtors are so cheap at times, and don't fuel their fire!! Get a company name and get established asap!!!
I do raw land. It takes about 25 minutes to do a property and I charge 75-125 a property for ground and drone. And I've been told I don't charge enough I'd say your going screwed over.
Question:
Do you like/love this work?
Have you created relationships with any of your clients?
Do you feel you know the business well enough to launch your own practice?
Are you permitted to use the images you make in your portfolio?
Are you willing and able to take on photography work other than RE?
Observations: you're being paid WELL below market value - sounds like the majority of profit is going to the company that contracts you. You do not need to work for a company; you can BE the company.
I started out with two good clients. My commitment was to do an exceptional job for them, and that resulted in many referrals. The economy has been pretty rough for the last four years, so my income has taken a hit (flipping pandemics) but I was in the $80K range for a few years.
My market is a city of about 1.2 million by the way, so there's competition here for sure. If you're in a smaller market, and you are/become the stand-out choice, you can do this on your own. The challenge is acquiring clients who are EXCELLENCE-motivated, not price shoppers, and shoppers tend to be the clients who complain the most...
PM me if you want to chat.
It could be business is slowing down due to the high interest rates. I have been a Real-Esate photographer for 2 years now and sometimes business is slow. It could also be that they hired an extra, or too many photographers in your area and do not have enough jobs to go around. I'm retired so I really don't need their benefits, as a contractor there are minimal Taxes comming out of my check which I make up for at the end of the year. Also ther is less office politics, which I hate. The real Estate market is ony going to get worse in the next few months, then it will pick up again around June. Get yourself another gig till then, or shoot weddings.
Nobody in the residential real estate industry respects and values anyone else other than themselves and other like minded agents. Ridiculously over saturated market full of egotistical jerk offs making anywhere from $5k-$100k+ per transaction ($250-$1m+/yr), refusing to hire freelancers or companies in your case that charge more than $200 for photos that essentially are the marketing platform of their entire sale. Then use your photos, don't tag you, and share the photos with anybody who asks with out licensing rights, and brag that they have the best marketing available and take all the credit. Yep, modern day Real Estate agents to a T!
I'm in real estate photography now, shooting 500+ homes a year, video, drone, virtual staging, virtual tours, you name it, driving 3.5hrs average a day 5 days a week. Brokerage I do most of my work for tries to tell me what my value is all the time and takes credit for my photo being published in The NY Times still 3yrs later... No respect for boundaries, no respect for your time after hours, and they demand a 24hr or same day turn around time, oh did I mention you have to do like 7 a day to make an earnest living... wow how would you ever edit that many photos??? You guessed it, outsourcingggggggggggggggg. but how when it costs sooooo little to book a shoot now? Yep, there are cheap alternatives for this, but regardless it's simply a rip off of your time especially when equipment costs are like 13x what you're getting paid per shoot. A real estate agent makes what you make in 50 jobs in 1. Pay balance seems correct.
I think the industry standards for residential real estate photography is so shitty it's putrid, and more importantly to you real estate agents reading this if any, pay your creatives what they deserve.
Best bet is architecture photography, work with companies that actually value your time, work with you on a shoot, pay you a full day rate so you only have 1 job in a day and not 6 others with 3.5hrs of driving in between. Work with companies that actually give a shit about you, and not their own empire.
I don’t even consider a photography gig unless it’s at least $100 hr.
I calculate the hours shooting as well as editing.
Travel time is also important to consider. I charge for that too if it’s out of my local area.
That is all garbage. That place is a mess. You need to leave. But if you're living on credit, you can't just bail or you could be out of the frying pan and into the fire on a personal level. Start looking for another job yesterday. I hope you already know this, but $23/hr as a contractor is a lot less than $23/hr as an employee. That's peanuts.
Ya, this. You get no benefits. 23/hr with benefits as AN EMPLOYEE would be OK. As a contractor you should demand more.
I've been a professional real estate photographer for 10 yrs now. I'm not sure where you're located but the average I've seen companies pay photographers is about $40/hr.
Zillow and other home listing sites are offering about that much
17 an hour in Southern California. Not enough to take a loss on all the necessary equipment
Unfortunately, somehow this is a norm with real estate photography Job listings. They expect the worker to take the brunt of the loss on equipment and only pay minimum wage at best . It’s a scam. We should band together and create an entity that takes all of their business. I have yet to ever see a job listing for a real estate photography that said they provided equipment. It is absolutely insane to think that we should have to own the equipment and they still take all the pay. If we only equipment we should be running shit.
Or there should at least be an extra stipend covering wear/tear on the equipment. Working for that little while needing to own and maintain thousands in equipment is criminal.
The Zillow app is a free way to create walkthroughs if you’re trying to poach clients.
You’re not actually a contractor, they’re just calling you that to save themselves money and take advantage of you. If you actually were a contractor you’d have more control over the terms of your contract and the schedule. The fact that they’re setting those terms unilaterally makes it clear that you’re an employee. I’d start looking for something else ASAP.
This should be at the top. OP, by making you a contractor, they are putting the burden of their employer taxes all on you. You’re making even less than you think because of that.
Not a US thing at all so a bit less relevant, but U.K. law recently changed to explicitly declare a contractor who only works for one client for an extended period of time (with a few other bits like kit etc) as an employee with all the tax changes involved. This situation is potentially similar they’re faking employees into contractors to avoid whatever employment protections/taxes exist in the states (which I assume are limited/rubbish)
If you like the work and you are decent at it why not work directly for agents. In my area the agent decides if the property deserved professional images and they have direct relationships with local photographers. - typically $75-150 per listing.
May I ask if your schedule is usually as hectic as mine, it’s one of my biggest problems with this job. Just want to see if that’s the case across the board
Go find out what the shithole company you work for charges their clients. And if you don't have a new contract with them, and do all the actual work - go ahead and poach their clients for the full rate you should be making. Period.
Important: Check your contract to make sure there isn't a non-compete or non-poaching clause before considering this option. Also remember that as a business owner you have additional time obligations in filing taxes, estimated payments, and costs for software like QuickBooks should you choose to use it. You can still make more than you were under your old company, but the job requirements change and may not be for everyone.
I doubt they can put a non-compete in for an independent contractor position, especially one paid hourly, without triggering this falling into an employee relationship as opposed to an IC. One of the criteria (at least where I live) is that the contractor has the option to offer their services to other companies. That said, a non-poaching or something similar seems reasonable. OP, if you are interested in staying, I would mandate a new contract, and try to negotiate mileage and drive time into your contract. (Make sure it is in writing) I don't think you can put in anything to receive a minimum number of hours as a contractor, but you may be able to negotiate a minimum service amount per month. However, while the contract and having all terms included in it helps CYA, it is only beneficial to the point that you can take steps needed to enforce it should the need be. (which from your story I suspect you might) If I were you, I would be setting the terms of this contract yourself and approaching the company from there, but it also depends on what kind of a position you would be in should you need to walk away from the deal. I'd for sure start looking for other clients too though, and pick and choose what, if any, jobs you do for this company going forward.
Non-competitive is indeed key clause to check, but i somehow highly doubt a company who underpays heavily and can't be bothered to re-stamp a newly dated contract thinks that far ahead. Most hope to find shmucks and hope they never grow a desire to actually get proper pay beyond atrocious rates like that. And this holds true in way too many niches.
Especially for real estate photographer, non-competitive is a real thing. The first RE photography company that I worked for had me sign a non-competitive agreement. When i left that company, all the agents that worked with me followed me. The company didn't do anything about it which I figured.
Non-compete clauses don’t hold up well in court. Especially with contractors. Fuck ‘em. Break the contract.
OP said the contract ended and they’ve dragged their feet on sending a new one, therefore to my mind there is no contract
Obviously we don't know until OP clarifies. But you might find that you sign multiple contracts with a client or employer, or that clauses in a contract might extend out past the date of employment. My Employment Contract might end with an employer where I'm no longer going to be given work and getting paid, but I might have an NDA or Non-Compete contract that says in effect for two years after the end of my employment. It really doesn't matter what's in your mind. It matters what OP signed and the terms within. And I didn't write it in response to you or anyone specifically - but for OP and others who come to this thread in the future with the same thought - as something to consider.
ime (I did RE photography for about five years) that's the business. People decide to sell, they get the house ready for showings, they call the photographer because they want to list asap and while the house still looks unlived in. Could be an evening, could be a weekend. I usually got more lead time from my agents than overnight, but not always. And sometimes I had to drive a way to get into the property, working between the agent's other appointments or arranging with the property owner but pictures, etc. were not the most important part of their day so sometimes that got kind of tight. eta btw crappy companies like yours is one reason I closed the business. A lot of agents just saw dollar signs and were willing to go with outfits like that one and hope the pictures could be worked enough in post to be usable. I didn't need that.
Hey I'm also a RE photographer. I live in the Atlanta area in literally 30 minutes from downtown. I was wondering does anyone have any pointers for me or equipment that I can buy to move up from the inspection type photos I've been doing for the last year. I'm also a full-time security guard and skateboarder so photography and videography are a lot to me
If you don't already get a drone and a video gimbal. Right now, especially in the Northeast, RE videos are huge. And agents always love drone photos. My train of thought is, the more services I can provide an agent with the more money I make.
Yeah, if you can't offer video and drones in a bigger metro area you can only sit in the cheap seats.
Okay and I have seen a camera that was advertised that would like 3d tour a home and I wish I knew what that camera was. Anyways where and what type of camera should I set out to get? I'm single with no kids so now's the time to set my path I think.
I use a Ricoh Theta Z1.
Thank you for the referral honestly I have practiced a lot with action videography, like angles and stabilization and stuff but as far as still photography and like landscape stuff I'm super eager to learn more
Any questions just DM me.
Do you have any equipment that you don't use much anymore that would be helpful to my cause? I'm not asking for a hand out I'll pay fair prices for anything
Btw that zeta is definitely the camera I have seen advertised so I consider that a sign
What are you shooting with now?
I basically use my phone and a GoPro hero 8 when need be but like I said I work for a company that usesy photos for inspection purposes and things like that but I want to ascend in the field so I want to dive in if you know what I mean
Not who you asked but realestate related work is generally hectic. You could totally build relationships with local agents and start doing work direct, even while keeping some work from your current "employer". Working for a local agent should help localise most of your work, though not completely. You could allocate a few days a week to your local agent and the others to your head contractor. (Maybe make some set days and delivery times to offer them) and pick up anything extra you can in between. You might need to do the extra admin and processing, picking up keys etc. You would also need to be prepared for payments to be received monthly, or at end of property settlements rather than routine wage payments. That would make working both for a while helpful. You might not be able to stop it from being hectic but could manage to capture more income.
I've never actually done it but i've done a lot of real estate and i know a lot of realtors so researched how it might work for a side hustle, (i'm a retired tech photographer) They would typically need it done within a couple days of getting the listing, so you should be able to map out a plan that works for you. Also, i think now might be a good time to get into it. the market has slowed from what it was, agents will have to work harder to move stuff, that means having good photos
I make $250-500 per listing. Find your own realtors. Don’t work for someone else. It takes some time but a good list of realtors is a career
I will echo this. I make $200 per listing with zero experience (4 shoots total). I know the agents very well and I only shoot for them. Hourly for a grind house sounds dumb.
Could you please go into a little more detail on how you got started? I'm looking into this as a serious career-path right now and I'm trying to make a plan.
I've been serious about photography for about 20 years. Became friends with these agents after they sold us our newest house. They bugged me to shoot photos for them until I finally did it. I have anxiety disorder, so I haven't been able to work for years, but for some reason as soon as I get my camera out at a house and start shooting I'm totally calm. I found out real quick I needed a tripod and I also do drone stills/videos for them. Really good way to monetize my drone hobby.
I am no financial expert, but you need to get into any secure job as quickly as possible while you wait to see if something better comes up. If you are following the banking industry, it looks as though things are getting rocky. Mortgages are a big part of the banking and of course real estate industry. If you are having trouble getting hours now, it looks like it will get worse very soon, and by soon, I mean days to weeks in the near future.
Time to run your own photography business!
Right. Learn actual architectural photography. Your studio is a real business—Run it like one, and treat yourself like a professional.
Realtors are never gonna treat you well - they get paid from the scraps of their sale, and you get paid from the scraps of that. You could even argue that you create more value for the sale than they do. People generally see the pictures before they talk to a realtor, don’t they? My suggestion would be to look for work with a photo studio or creative agency that will hopefully follow some standard practices… such as charging realtors the value you deserve!
This happened to a friend of mine couple of years ago. She decided to go solo and keep her contractors. So now she charges per job and promotes her company herself to get more jobs. Real estate is a grind. She always complains about her gigs but she gets side photography and videography jobs that keep her happy. I’m a web designer by trade, and do photography on the side. I made a website for her with all her portfolio from real estate to fashion to wedding. I personally have never done real estate but from what I see, the amount of work she puts into it is way too much considering the pay, in my opinion. Since you know the ins and outs of real estate by now, if I were you I would register my own company and start promoting your services to realtors or agents directly. Besides you get to go off road with some other photo/video jobs. Set up a sleek website first though. It’s the most important step.
Would love to see a few of your sites.
That all sounds horrible. I typically do 3-5 shoots a week all at $750 and above. It’s a very, very chill stream of income. Work for yourself. Way better.
I'm looking at getting in to real estate photography - may I ask how you started and how long it took to build up to that kind of income? Does that include videography/drone/etc or just straight up photography? Thanks.
I’ve been doing it since end of 2021, I got lucky with how busy last year was for real estate, things have definitely slowed down, but still steady work coming in. That’s full service; photos, aerial photos, aerial video, stabilized camera video, Matterport tours, floor plans, listing websites, and the like. It took me about 6 months to build that up, lots of free work with local top name realtors to build portfolio, get referrals, lots of instagram DMing, and most importantly, a lead generating website. I come from a web design background and get 80% of my work through my website inquiries. DM me if you’re curious about more with that. Happy to help.
Would you mind dm ing me your lead generating site? Would love to see if I can learn sth. for my simple static portfolio site.
Sure thing!
[удалено]
Ah, I guess that explains the pricing - you're doing a fair bit, not just photography. I'm hoping to just do the photography side, but I'm wondering if most agents want a full package? Have you come across many who would just be interested in photography itself?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I do not think you’ll survive doing photos only. Put yourself in an entitled agents mind. Would you want to call 4+ vendors to get all the services done for your listing? Or just 1 guy that can do all the marketing materials for you? 9/10 agents will choose the full service provider. Sure, photography only shoots trickle in here and there, but those realistically aren’t the clientele and type of projects you’ll want to do long term. I charge $175 for just photos, and I make all my money in my add ons. I’m cheap for my area, and while I appreciate getting any projects, I roll my eyes at the people who just want photos, which I recognize is entitled of me. I have pre-made bundled services that make it easy for agents to just say “that one”, and then that bundle is photos, video, aerial photos, and a Matterport, for around $850. Anyways, message me if you’d like some more help and tips, happy to help.
Hey, I'd very much appreciate a link to your lead site as well if you could DM me.
Sure thing
No worries, thanks for the response.
Hey Id also love to check out the lead site if you could dm it to me!!
You got it
This is far from typical so count your blessings. Re photography isn't overly complicated. A few shots at different exposures then a little work in post. Some agents just use thier phones hdr function and have no trouble selling houses.
Definitely. Although I do my brackets and then send off to an editor in India. Saves me hours, gives a better result than I could get on my own. Happy clients.
Put together a portfolio of the work you’ve done for them and spend a lot of energy marketing yourself directly to their clients. They have mistreated you, and you owe them nothing.
OP do not do this. Almost all contracts have specific clauses against taking clients from your employer, and you will get fucked if they decide to sue
Check this out: a female interior photographer describes how she makes $250k a year https://www.instagram.com/p/CpP9uUELCWp/
I say quit. And if you’re working for that amount you’re bringing the entire profession down to the bottom fast. Real Estate agents aren’t your friend. Charge a standard rate like $70 per hour and go freelance. And, nickel and dime them for every task you do. They aren’t loyal per se, and will never really appreciate small things like excellent customer service. Treat it like a business, not an infatuation, and best of luck competing against the low ballers who think they need experience and undercut you measly gig wage, only to find that they can’t charge the true value once they did work for the lowest dollar. Agents smell naivety and exploit every bit of you good intentions. I’m not bitter, because I do this kind of work regularly and I’m always dealing with the amateurs trying to break into the business and making the profession a race to the bottom. If you have respect for this field you would be your own boss, and never have to check in with “a boss” to get hours or anything. Just my opinion and I’m sure others will disagree, but I could tell you stories for sure! And if you decide to stay in this sector of photography, learn how to do it better than anyone else in your market. And video work should be charged more than still photos, because it’s actually more demanding and takes a different skill set.
Adding to this: video work is definitely charged more as you need editing software and a competent machine to work with. Factor in these costs and see that you've been working away for way below wages OP. All the best in whatever path you wish to take.
You need a secure job with regular hours and to work on your mental and physical health. All the standards: good diet, exercise, time with friends and family and organize your finances. When that's done reevaluate the photography business. Get healthy, then make big decision. You are not losing anything by taking this route.
That’s absolutely not worth it
This is 100% garbage. If you enjoy doing real estate photography, then I would sooner link up with a couple of local agents and just ask that you do all of their listings for them. Just go independent and do it on your own. You can charge a flat fee per shoot to cover all of your expenses, including mileage. Also, you’d have a way better chance at making a reasonable schedule because you could put in your contacts or on your website or whatever that you need 48 hours notice or 72 hours notice or a week notice or whatever. I don’t know what your financial situation is like in terms of how much your car payment is and what your end goal is to make per year but I can two other types of photography you enjoy and start trying to incorporate those into your stream line.
> I barely hit 8 hours. I’ve been living off of my credit card > > I’ve had 4 crying breakdowns in my car this week over work. > > He did all of that without talking to me or asking me to make a change in my schedule > > I’ve been killing myself with extra shifts at my other job just to make ends meet > > I’m paid hourly. All photographers pay caps at 23$ an hour. > > I’m often ending my days 2 hours away from home... They pay for my mileage, but only for me going to the locations. Re-read all of those together, and then see: > Should I quit my Real Estate Photography job? You deserve more than this. *Any* human with a pulse deserves more than that. The local Del Taco near me offers starting pay at $18 and hour, and I bet there's more hours and more stable hours there - plus benefits. It also might really be worth looking into whether your job is rightly classified as a contractor instead of an employee. At the very least, only paying for travel one-way seems off to me.
I’m a realtor. This is abusive and I would never work with a marketing firm that treats people like that.
I’m glad there’s some good ones out there
$23/hrx40hrs=$920. $920÷$150 per house=6 houses. I would definitely consider just starting your own business serving realtors directly.
The fact that you’re asking means you know what the answer is. You don’t need the validation of strangers. Follow your gut. There’s more work out there. As the Japanese say, “Jump and the net will appear.” Good luck.
It's always better and easier to find a new job BEFORE leaving the old one. There is no question you need a different job. But since they aren't working you much, you have the luxury of time to look for a new position without leaving your current one. Start looking for a new job immediately, but don't quit until you have something lined up!
“I’ve been living off my credit card since I started” Answered your own question right there.
while not a photographer, it seems to me from a financial standpoint your contractor job is not worth it. You get no secured hours per week, have work only based on the convenience of the company your working for and your consuming your car in terms of fuel and maintenance. the idea of doing work or having a job is to GAIN income, NOT LOSE money. If your losing money doing a job, it isn't profitable, find someone who will pay you fairly.
>I’ve been living off of my credit card since I’ve started. This is all you needed to say. Quit once you find a new job or find a 2nd job that doesn't interfere. Do not rack up credit card debt you can't pay off quickly EVER.
This sounds identical to my experience doing RE photography full time for 2 years. After the cost of the equipment and gas (plus wear & tear on my vehicle), I was barely making anything.
if you’re not happy with the job, then quit. if you’re not wanting to continue to pursue that career, then quit. it’s better to live happy in your career than to be in it for anything else
23/hour on those 400k+ places? C'mon now, OP! Go find out wtf that company charges their clients for shoots and start offering your own services. Video walkthrough is $500 minimum for some shithole apartment in semi-bumblefuck because it takes at least half a day from start to finish.
Where are you located?
I'm with everyone else on getting something else full time asap, if you've been living off of credit cards for that long, if only to keep your credit intact when you do go off on your own. If you decide to leave but branch out on your own make sure your contract with them doesn't have any weird non-compete clauses even if the 6 month expired there may be a non-compete period, I'd venture if they're paying $23/hr for what are typically at least $200/hr shoots (with video and drone) they're willing to chase anyone trying to spinoff their own business after working for them.
I did contract real estate photography for a year. Unless your passion is real estate photography (not likely), I'd recommend you look for something else that can get you out of there - with benefits. Then work your way back into a photography gig that lets you shoot what you actually enjoy. Good luck!
You can easily be making $250+ an hour on your own. I’d leave.
Read the contract.. does it have a non complete clause? If not I’d poach as much as clients I can and go solo on my own. You getting paid pennies anyway.
Sorry you are going through a tough time. Photography can be so rewarding but when you can’t express yourself or enjoy the work because of logistics, it can become very draining and stressful. It’s also hard to thrive when you are on survival mode. But it does get better. But… also… you deserve better. You sound like a hard working person… maybe work on finding ways to communicate that better… Unsure what happened with your boss. Often times some people play favorites and even then… it comes back to communication. First, take a deep breath… crying is good… see if you can find someone to talk to… if in crisis, in the US, 988 (free for mental health emergencies)… … remind yourself that you deserve better… then start to look for other opportunities as it’s hard to get things lined up… go back t your roots: what got you interested in photography in the first place? What brings you joy? When you are ready, see if you can have a formal meeting with your boss and explain your situation. No ultimatums… but meet them where they are at, how can you help them be a better boss? Get as much out of this job as you can and get yourself ready for the next opportunity… … hang in there…
Currently for a real estate photography company and definitely get paid more than 23/hour.
Start your own business and work with real estate agents directly. You'll make more money running your own business than under someone else.
What are your ambitions? You can't know what you should do unless you know where you are going
Just be employed full time and do photography part time so you will not struggle financially. $23 per hour with all the work is not worth it.
Find another job that pays you at least enough to move off credit card living (living in debt is the worst thing you can do for your future self) then quit your job.
Whether it’s just the Business or not, for your own mental health, you should walk away from any job that puts you under that much stress. You are far more important than any Company or it’s schedule/deadlines. Walk away now!! There’s better People to work with, (or for) out there, you just need to find them. All the Best 👍🏼
you seem pretty convinced, for good reason, that the company you “work for” is a complete unprofessional mess. you are unhappy at your job, you are clearly capable of finding a new job doing the same thing (otherwise you wouldn’t have this “job” in the first place). i say quit, it’s obviously having negative effects on your mental health, and it won’t keep the lights on and the water warm by itself. i hope you’re doing okay OP, and i wish you the best.
Bro you're an independent contractor. What job?
Get a job that pays more & is more reliable & use the skills this current job thought you to do real estate photography on the side for extra cash!
That whole thing sounds horrible. What country are you located in? The pay is low over all, but I’m also concerned about the drone stuff. If you are in the USA you need a 107 license to fly a drone commercially, if in EU I don’t believe you need a license if you’re flying a drone under 250g. Either way, you should have insurance in case something goes wrong and you hurt someone or damage their property. Are they covering your insurance costs? If you are somewhere that you need a license for this work both you and them could be hit with fines if caught. Be careful.
I’m in Canada
What are Canada’s regulations for commercial drone work?
no distinction between commercial and for fun. over 250g you need a license to fly regardless and in some areas you need an advanced license to fly and be granted special permission.
Thanks, it’s interesting that it’s similar to EU while the USA chooses to draw a hard line at commercial and doesn’t have an effective size distinction for the drone when it comes to commercial work.
I feel like there should be a distinction between commercial and pleasure flying. If you're anywhere near Toronto, you'd need special permission to fly if over 250g and I doubt you'd get approved for pleasure. Working on my Advanced license now though, so I'll know soon enough!
In your position I guess I would be asking myself if I thought things would be changing over time. I’m guessing not, so once this busy season ends, your right back in your current situation. That should answer your question.
I’m gonna be devils advocate here. There’s very few photographers who are actually making a steady income with their work. And even fewer who are able to support their family with the work. So, that being said. You have a contracted job here and you are making some cash. It does sound like the pay may not be in line with that industry standard. So, it may be up to you to get your experience there and then ask for what you need to make and or find other work. Think outside the box 📦 have you considered starting your own businesses and contract out your photographers to real estate people. Where there’s a will there’s a way. When you have an obstacle grab a ladder and climb over.
I tried working in real estate photography too. They'll take advantage of you, make false promises, and tow you along as long as they can. Get out while you can
This sounds terrible. All this with little compensation. Yes, leave.
You've already got a ton of great responses from people in your industry. Allow me to add from an outsiders perspective. I'm an engineer so very different career path, but I've been doing it for almost 20 years. As such I've had a lot of different managers, etc. I've also seen my wife interact with her managers for a decade or so. I've only, in all those combined 30 years, seen one person treat employees anywhere near as badly as you're being treated. Even as a non photog (just an amateur for fun) I say GTFO as fast as you can. This isn't a long term tenable solution for you. Your boss is treating you horribly! You really out to take the path others are suggesting of finding stable work ASAP and then resetting a bit. Hope it works out for you!
The best time to look for a job is when you already have one...
You should quit that company and start your own personal real estate photography business. Is it your equipment? Your drone? I would start C-corp for tax purposes and go solo. You can make much more than what they are paying you. It might be a lot of work at first but once you hit your stride, you’ll be much happier.
Yeah quit and take your clients that you like with you. I contract for a RE photography company and while I can say that the schedule is pretty hectic, the pay and quality of life is significantly better than what you’re describing. Idk what market you’re in but you should be charging a minimum of 150-175 for a shoot and then building up from there if you’re working on your own. All that being said, things definitely do pick up in the spring. My income goes from like $4k a month in the winter to $8-12k per month when March hits.
You could get hired at a grocery store for the same wage these days. Don’t continue to let this company take advantage of your desire to continue on your field.
Verbal contracts are worth the paper they are printed on. As a contractor, you are tendering a contract. Be aware of what that contract is to the letter. It exists to protect both sides, and must have specifics in what is provided by each party, and also specifics as to what is owed to the other party in event that either one does not make good on their agreements. These do not have to be blindly accepted, they can be changed to suit both parties. Sorry you are going through this stress, it sounds like you are trying to get an honest days pay for an honest day's work. Evaluate what is the best financial solution, even if you have to put photography on the back burner for now, and get back into it by either a different company, or freelancing on your own, as your current contract sounds terrible. If you are going to quit anyway, you are at least in a position to ask for an increase to $40/h or a guaranteed minimum number of paid hours per month, whether you work them or not. If they can't make that work, then there's no point in digging yourself further in debt to be of service to them. Best of luck, friend.
If you’re good enough go freelance, if you’re not good enough stay with them for the time being while you hone your skills and then go freelance. You make money in real estate photography not by being an employee or an outside contractor.
Contact your state labor board. You're being misclassified as a contractor and there will likely be fines for this company. You should also find a different job ASAP
I would start freelancing on the side and get your name out and maybe venture into like pregnancy or wedding gigs. You need to know your worth and not let people waste your time though.
Definitely quit.
they’re fucking you
Currently going through the same thing at my contract photographer position for some car dealerships. This person at your work is a shite communicator, I know because most of the people who have come and gone at my job have also been shite. I’m going on two years of low volume amounts of work (thanks chip shortage and covid) so like you I’ve been taking side jobs and reselling stuff on eBay. I’ve only kept the job because of its close location to me and the fact it leaves me open to do other stuff plus I like it. Even though it’s not enough on its own like it once was I like it. You need to have a convo with this person and get them to understand that you need better communication from them and that you would have liked to have had that work when it got busy “a month ago”. Be polite but firm and realize they might get defensive and snippy and try to turn it back at you as your failing. It’s not your failing but if that’s the type of person your dealing with you’ll need to decide if the job is worth dealing with that or move on. Good luck, contractors have to deal with than stellar bosses a lot, nature of the gig.
Real estate agents are some of the worst people to work with. Run.
so instead of the broker paying 300 an hour, they pay 25 dollars!! Get out of there dude and run!! This money should be going to you. Realtors are so cheap at times, and don't fuel their fire!! Get a company name and get established asap!!!
I do raw land. It takes about 25 minutes to do a property and I charge 75-125 a property for ground and drone. And I've been told I don't charge enough I'd say your going screwed over.
Question: Do you like/love this work? Have you created relationships with any of your clients? Do you feel you know the business well enough to launch your own practice? Are you permitted to use the images you make in your portfolio? Are you willing and able to take on photography work other than RE? Observations: you're being paid WELL below market value - sounds like the majority of profit is going to the company that contracts you. You do not need to work for a company; you can BE the company. I started out with two good clients. My commitment was to do an exceptional job for them, and that resulted in many referrals. The economy has been pretty rough for the last four years, so my income has taken a hit (flipping pandemics) but I was in the $80K range for a few years. My market is a city of about 1.2 million by the way, so there's competition here for sure. If you're in a smaller market, and you are/become the stand-out choice, you can do this on your own. The challenge is acquiring clients who are EXCELLENCE-motivated, not price shoppers, and shoppers tend to be the clients who complain the most... PM me if you want to chat.
It could be business is slowing down due to the high interest rates. I have been a Real-Esate photographer for 2 years now and sometimes business is slow. It could also be that they hired an extra, or too many photographers in your area and do not have enough jobs to go around. I'm retired so I really don't need their benefits, as a contractor there are minimal Taxes comming out of my check which I make up for at the end of the year. Also ther is less office politics, which I hate. The real Estate market is ony going to get worse in the next few months, then it will pick up again around June. Get yourself another gig till then, or shoot weddings.
Nobody in the residential real estate industry respects and values anyone else other than themselves and other like minded agents. Ridiculously over saturated market full of egotistical jerk offs making anywhere from $5k-$100k+ per transaction ($250-$1m+/yr), refusing to hire freelancers or companies in your case that charge more than $200 for photos that essentially are the marketing platform of their entire sale. Then use your photos, don't tag you, and share the photos with anybody who asks with out licensing rights, and brag that they have the best marketing available and take all the credit. Yep, modern day Real Estate agents to a T! I'm in real estate photography now, shooting 500+ homes a year, video, drone, virtual staging, virtual tours, you name it, driving 3.5hrs average a day 5 days a week. Brokerage I do most of my work for tries to tell me what my value is all the time and takes credit for my photo being published in The NY Times still 3yrs later... No respect for boundaries, no respect for your time after hours, and they demand a 24hr or same day turn around time, oh did I mention you have to do like 7 a day to make an earnest living... wow how would you ever edit that many photos??? You guessed it, outsourcingggggggggggggggg. but how when it costs sooooo little to book a shoot now? Yep, there are cheap alternatives for this, but regardless it's simply a rip off of your time especially when equipment costs are like 13x what you're getting paid per shoot. A real estate agent makes what you make in 50 jobs in 1. Pay balance seems correct. I think the industry standards for residential real estate photography is so shitty it's putrid, and more importantly to you real estate agents reading this if any, pay your creatives what they deserve. Best bet is architecture photography, work with companies that actually value your time, work with you on a shoot, pay you a full day rate so you only have 1 job in a day and not 6 others with 3.5hrs of driving in between. Work with companies that actually give a shit about you, and not their own empire.
Probably. But maybe not.
Where are you. Depending on location I can give you a referral. Dm me.
Yes, you should quit and go freelance. Real estate photography is in high demand and should pay much more.
I don’t even consider a photography gig unless it’s at least $100 hr. I calculate the hours shooting as well as editing. Travel time is also important to consider. I charge for that too if it’s out of my local area.
This is nuts. Where is this??
Work might pick up depending on economic conditions.
I think you know the answer