Is There Any Money in Luxury Home Photography?

[TackSharp]

I live in Allen, TX (North of Dallas) and I really enjoy taking pictures of Luxury Home exteriors, as this area is full of beautiful luxury homes from $400,000-$4 million. I was wondering about everyone's opinions regarding whether or not you think there might be any money to be made in this genre of photography...where the clients are homeowners who want their luxury homes photographed and framed in say 16X20 or larger sizes to hang as art in their houses. I'm thinking that I could command $300-$500 per client for this type of service.

At first I was thinking that this idea would target regular wealthy families with luxury homes...but the more I think about it, Celebrities and Athletes is probably the best place to start.

We can credit MTV Cribs for showing us that Athletes and Celebrities are more than eager to showcase their Luxury Homes. In fact, the presence of MTV Cribs has caused many Athletes and Movie Stars to upgrade their homes after seeing the homes of other millionaires who "Got it Right". So my thinking is that these same vanity driven celebrities and athletes would love to have an artful (a photo transposed onto a canvas or turned into an oil painting) representation of their multi-million dollar home to display either on an easel or on the wall. I would think that if I am able to get two or three high profile athletes as clients, this would probably result in a number of referrals as I try and grow my client base.

As one photographer I know says, "Vanity is a drug, and I'm Trying to Be the Drug Dealer".

What are your thoughts?


Here are some examples of what I've done on my own so far. Let me know what you think about this potential market.

[brad]

No answer to your question, but there is no need to post the same message to every forum.

[TackSharp]

Sorry about posting in multiple places, but this topic really doesn't fit into any particular category. It's not really City/Urban, it's not landscape, its sort of business, but I thought the only way to get multiple responses was to spread it around a bit.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by TackSharp

Sorry about posting in multiple places, but this topic really doesn't fit into any particular category. It's not really City/Urban, it's not landscape, its sort of business, but I thought the only way to get multiple responses was to spread it around a bit.

I think that most viewers of this forum go to "new posts" first to see what's up, and then to specific forums of interest. If you post in one forum, most people will see it right away in the "new posts" section.

[friscophotoguy]

I have a business that provides 360 virtual reality tours of homes for real estate professionals. I can tell you that there is little money to be had in this business. There is one company in the DFW area that has most of the market share. Also, over the past few years, quite a few do-it-yourself tour providers and "Walmart" priced tour providers have sprung up. It has made it more difficult for all involved in the business.

I don't know if this is exactly what you are looking for, but I thought I would share this info with you.

[Rick Waldroup]

John is right, there is little money in this venture, especially trying to sell to the home owner. I shot commercial and residential real estate for years, including 360 tours and so on. You might be able to make a little money in volume, but that is about it.

You've got some really nice images, but very few people will pay for excellent quality. Most realtors, builders and such usually will pay for nothing more than a decent image at a rock bottom price.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Only real way that you would be able to sell to the home owners is if you had a way to have the photo painted onto a canvas in some manner and then they may want the painting otherwise your market is between slim and none.

Now the other approach is working with an upscale builder who is building on spec and trying to sell a house but they probably already are doing their own shooting or have a service doing the job so you would have to break through that bubble either with a superior product or a well below current market price for your services.

Also I agree no need to post the same thing under multiple topics. If you can't pigeon hole it put it under the Open section.

[LadyShutterBug]

i did real estate photography fo ra company that did high-end remodels (i mean really high end, like remodel for a minimum of $50K and spare no expense).

i did exterior and interior shots, as well as dusk shots where you wet down the driveway and do longer exposures... and i got paid $500 per home. Some weeks I did 6 homes, some weeks none or one.

so there's money in that... but i doubt people are going ot pay for an elevation of their home.

[Wes]

HEY!! That last pic is of MY house!


(not)

[TackSharp]

Thanks to everyone who chimed in...but this idea is not as much about trying to do realtor or builder related photography as it is about appealing to the Vanity Driven Consumer with a Unique Product Offering. Why do women let backyard photographers take nude photos of them? Its because they love vanity and if you can show that you can make them look better than they've ever looked before, they are more than happy to throw themselves at the camera.

At first I was thinking that this idea would target regular wealthy families with luxury homes...but the more I think about it, Celebrities and Athletes is probably the best place to start.

We can credit MTV Cribs for showing us that Athletes and Celebrities are more than eager to showcase their Luxury Homes. In fact, the presence of MTV Cribs has caused many Athletes and Movie Stars to upgrade their homes after seeing the homes of other millionaires who "Got it Right". So my thinking is that these same vanity driven celebrities and athletes would love to have an artful (a photo transposed onto a canvas or turned into an oil painting) representation of their multi-million dollar home to display either on an easel or on the wall. I would think that if I am able to get two or three high profile athletes as clients, this would probably result in a number of referrals as I try and grow my client base.

As one photographer I know says, "Vanity is a drug, and I'm Trying to Be the Drug Dealer".

What are your thoughts?

[TackSharp]

Hey Wes,

You must live in Newport, Rhode Island and spent about $5 Million if so.

[LadyShutterBug]

Why do women let backyard photographers take nude photos of them? Its because they love vanity and if you can show that you can make them look better than they've ever looked before, they are more than happy to throw themselves at the camera.

a grand majority of my boudoir clients come to me so they can have a unique gift for their significant other.

At first I was thinking that this idea would target regular wealthy families with luxury homes...but the more I think about it, Celebrities and Athletes is probably the best place to start.

because they want stalkers to know exactly which home they live in?

[TackSharp]

Kasey:

I'm not talking about taking pictures and publishing them somewhere. I'm talking about taking a Portrait of the exterior of someone's home for their own personal use. The only person they would have to worry about stalking them would be me or you the photographer. If the client base I'm talking about has to worry about stalkers, your clients who come to you for nude photos need to worry about you showing your photos to your friends or leaking them to the internet.

[adirty1]

the people to really talk to are the builders... custom builders are willing to pay to have great images of a custom house to get the other buyers. you would have to do one for free and get in with a builder from the ground up and do an illustration of whole building process.

[LadyShutterBug]

Originally Posted by TackSharp

Kasey:

I'm not talking about taking pictures and publishing them somewhere. I'm talking about taking a Portrait of the exterior of someone's home for their own personal use. The only person they would have to worry about stalking them would be me or you the photographer. If the client base I'm talking about has to worry about stalkers, your clients who come to you for nude photos need to worry about you showing your photos to your friends or leaking them to the internet.

i'm just not sure where/who your market would be. people show off their fabulous homes by having parties in them... not by pulling out a pic. even if they did want this, right after they purchase or build is going ot be your best tiem to get in in the deal, hence the advantage of getting in with the builder or remodeler.