REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Use the scheduling form on my website to view my current calendar and schedule an appointment. If you prefer to do things the old fashioned way, you can also call, text or email me. All of the relevant contact information is located on the Contact Page. The earlier you let me know of your need for real estate photos, the more convenient the appointment timing for you and your sellers.

Ideally, 2 – 3 days notice is enough advance to reserved your preferred date and time. If I have a cancellation, I can accommodate last minute requests, but that is rare. The more notice, the better.

It depends on the size of the home, but generally plan for the photography session to take around two hours. Smaller homes take less time, usually around an hour, while larger homes (larger than 2500 square feet) take between two and three hours. Why does it take so long? Rather than use quick run-and-gun techniques (that often produce cheap-looking results), I use a series of flashes carefully placed around each room to ensure the entire home is displayed as beautifully as possible. Because of this, some homes can be more challenging than others. A good rule of thumb is to plan for about an hour of photography time for each 1,000 square feet.

While most appointments are made based on your availability and the availability of the sellers, there are a few times of the day that make for better photographs than others. West-facing homes are best photographed in the early afternoon while east-facing homes are best photographed in the morning. North-facing homes are best shot in the early morning before the sun gets too high in the sky. No matter the direction of the home, every home can benefit from being photographed during twilight.

I can use a contractors lockbox (the ones with an alphanumeric code) to access the home for a photography session with the homeowner’s permission. Unfortunately I cannot use the Realtor’s standard blue lockbox. Otherwise, you or the homeowner will need to be on site to let me in at the time of the appointment.

Absolutely. It’s your seller’s home to tell them they are free to hang out while I am photographing. But please know I am able to produce better images in the short amount of time I am on the property when distractions are limited. Even if you or the seller are on site, please make sure all staging and cleaning is complete prior to the appointment. And please keep all children and pets away from equipment the appointment.

While homes are generally more attractive if they are furnished or staged prior to the real estate photography session, I can photograph a completely empty home as well. However, I encourage you to consider hiring a home stager if the home is vacant, at least to stage important rooms like the master bedroom (and bathroom), the living or family room, and the kitchen.

Yes and no. I can upload the listing photos if you purchase a virtual tour. For regular photography sessions without a virtual tour, I cannot upload the photos to the MLS, as I do not have access. If you prefer, I can also email the MLS-sized photos to your office assistant.

That’s great! If your friend or family member is seriously considering becoming a professional real estate photographer, then absolutely take them up on their offer. Practice makes perfect, as they say. However, you may still need to hire a professional photographer since it is in your best interest to have the highest quality images of the home to both market your current listing to potential buyers and market yourself to new sellers. Real estate photography is a highly specialized field that cannot be properly photographed by amateurs or some other types of photographers who lack the necessary lighting equipment and experience. Professional real estate and architectural photographers know how to display each home at its best.

I own the copyright to all photographs and other marketing materials I produce on your behalf. If you are my client, you are free to use the photographs and other marketing materials for any personal marketing purposes. However, any photographs or other marketing materials may not be used by any other party without my written consent. If a builder, stager, contractor, handyman, or anyone else asks you for the images, please refer them to me.

If you need to cancel and reschedule our real estate photography appointment for any reason, please call or text me at 714-712-0071 or email me at eric@ericnortonphotography.com as soon as possible. I charge a cancellation fee of $75 if the appointment is cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the appointment time.

If it rains, I can take photos of the home and produce very good results even in the (unlikely) event of rain. Photos of the interior are generally unaffected by poor weather, though visibility of ocean views will be obscured. Photos of the exterior will be darker. In the event of extremely heavy rain, I will start by photographing the interior of the home with the hope the rain will subside by the time I am finished. If the heavy rain does not stop, I may come back the next day to photograph the exterior. Please monitor weather forecasts and notify us as soon as possible if you would like to reschedule due to rain.