Alaska Real Estate Photography Copyright Laws: What You Need to Know

“Can’t I just use photos of my client’s home that are in Google images?”

This is a question that we have gotten over and over again at DMD from realtors. And it kind of makes sense, right? After all, the pictures are just sitting there. And they’re free. Why wouldn’t you try to use them if they’re good? 

Here’s why: because it’s against the law. 

Quite simply put, if you take photos without a photographer’s permission, you could end up getting sued and lose a whole lot of money - even over just one image. 

How much money? Ask Zillow.

The real estate listing site has come under fire many times for violating copyrights. In the past few years, multiple photographers have come forward and filed claims against them for refusing to take down photos that photographers did not agree to let them use. 

Now, Zillow has won some of these cases and lost some of them, and the amount they have been required to pay has varied. In the past, they have had to pay $180 for each photo that was used unlawfully. In an ongoing case, a photographer is asking for $150,000 for each photo.

If the photographer wins, Zillow might have to fork over $81 million. 

What Photos Can Real Estate Agents Use?

At DMD, we see this as a horrible situation for everyone.

Obviously, no one wants to pay over $100,000 because they were unaware of copyright laws (or even if they blatantly disregarded them because they thought it was no big deal). But photographers don’t want to be put in this position either. 

What’s the solution? Learn what kinds of photos you can and can’t use in Alaska. 

Our state’s rules regarding photography copyright laws don’t stray from federal guidelines. The Professional Photographers of America sums up the rules quite succinctly: 

“Unless you have permission from the photographer, you can’t copy, distribute (no scanning and sending them to others), publicly display (no putting them online), or create derivative works from photographs.”

As photographers, we don’t have to purchase copyrights when we produce or distribute a photo. That copyright exists immediately, and anyone who uses the photo without permission can face a lawsuit. 

If you want truly free photos, we recommend using Google Advanced Image Search. You can filter photos by usage rights and choose photos that are free to use and share commercially. 

However, the reality of real estate photography is that the best photos are protected by copyright. The photos that are free usually aren’t the best ones, and finding good images is especially difficult if you need ones of a specific house or neighborhood.

You can use whatever “okay” pictures exist, but trust us when we say that poor photos will not pay off when you are trying to sell your client’s home.

Want Great Listing Photos without a Lawsuit? Work with DMD

Copyright is confusing and complicated. The effort it takes you to track down great pictures of a property (assuming they even exist) and ensure you won’t be sued is as least as much as it would take to just have us do the job for you.

And when you hire a professional real estate photography business like DMD to shoot a property, you’re not just paying for the right to use those images. You’re paying for our experience. Our skill. And to get a cohesive set of images that work together to help form the backbone of a fantastic listing.

Why wouldn’t you want that?

2019 Real Estate Photography Trends in Alaska

Over the years DMD has been photographing homes in Alaska, we’ve seen all kinds of shifts in what potential buyers expect when they click on a listing. Generic images of your client’s home - even really good ones - often aren’t enough anymore.

Evolving technology has given us all kinds of new, fun tools, but that means people start expecting them. Below, we’ll cover some of the hottest trends in real estate photography this year. 

When searching for a real estate photographer, ask about whether or not they offer these services (we do!). The more unique your listings are, the more likely they will catch the attention of buyers.

Drone Photography

Drones aren’t so well-loved at tourist attractions and theme parks, but they are a real estate photographer’s best friend!

Aerial photography, typically captured by drones, can beautifully show off a client’s property. A photo taken from above can show a home, the home’s backyard, and the surrounding area in a single shot. 

Buyers spend the most time looking at the photos of a home’s exterior. Make them count. 

Virtual Tours 

Professional real estate photographers like the professionals at DMD are not limited to just taking still photos of each room. Virtual tours give users a more interactive and thorough look at homes on the market. They’re not just more informative - they’re fun! 

And the stats show that this engagement helps to sell houses faster. When listings feature virtual tours, buyers will spend 5-10x longer taking a peek. 

This extra time not only helps the buyer remember the listing, it also makes them more familiar with the property - a factor that makes the property more likeable. A virtual tour can easily lift a property from a buyer’s top five to their top choice. 

Virtual Staging 

You understand staging. It’s what allows users to see what your clients’ home will look like when there’s actual furniture in it. Typically very nice, very visually attractive furniture. 

But as you’re also probably aware, staging can put a big dent in your budget. All that furniture doesn’t come for free, after all. 

Virtual staging is just what it sounds like. We take pictures of empty rooms and then digitally insert the furniture you want during the editing process. 

Not only do you not have to pay to rent and move actual furniture, we have lots of style options for you to choose from. 

Mobile-Optimized Images for Listings

It’s easy to upload your photos online through your computer and call it a day. But these days, your real estate photos need to be optimized for mobile to give you the best possible chance to reach people (especially millennials) searching for homes on their smartphones and other mobile devices. 

How do you do this?

Changing the dimensions of the photo can help to make the photo more responsive across all devices. This means the photos will load faster, making it easier for mobile users to look at your clients’ homes and make a decision.

Talk to your real estate photographer about the responsiveness of their photos and how you can optimize them for mobile devices. 

Reach out to DMD for more information on how you can take advantage of these trends and sell your clients’ homes faster.

The Problem with DIY Real Estate Photography

You know that having good pictures for your listings is hugely important in getting them to sell. But do you really need to pay for a professional real estate photographer? 

After all, you’ve got a smartphone that takes really good pictures. Maybe you even took a photography course or two in high school or college.

Isn’t it smarter to save a few bucks and just do it yourself?

As professional real estate photographers who have captured images of thousands of homes across Alaska since 2009, we at DMD have encountered this line of thinking countless times. And we get it. 

After all, everyone takes pictures, right? You know the basics. And you’ve even gotten some good shots, if you do say yourself. Why not just cut out the middleman?

Obviously, the ultimate decision is up to you. But we wanted to give you a little taste of problems that clients have told us about when they decided to go this route.

Let’s dive in.

Non-Professional Photographers Are More Likely to Make Technical Mistakes

This is obvious, right? It’s something that’s true in just about every profession and industry. So why should it be any different for photography?

Yes, everyone knows how to take a picture. But are you trained in the art of lighting, framing, and other techniques that help them show off the potential of a home? 

Chances are, the answer is no.

But our real estate photographers at DMD are. And they’ll make sure you get the best possible image every single time. Which brings us to... 

It’s Not Just Quality, but Consistency

Anyone can take a good photo or two. But that’s not what you need from your home listing gallery.

You need a complete set of flawless images that feel like they’re telling a house’s story. In other words, you need them to be consistently good.

No shots where you accidentally caught your reflection in a mirror. No pictures where the sun or a lightbulb resulted in glare. No low-light shots where things are difficult to see.

If you let in even one bad apple, it can spoil the whole bunch and turn potential buyers off. DMD won’t let this happen.

High-Quality Photos Require High-Quality Gear 

Your smartphone can do wonders - but not when you need the best-looking photos possible. 

In order to showcase a home in the best lighting, properly show the space available, and get a good view of the land, you’ll need a lot of gear. Drones. The best cameras on the market. Stands and stabilizers. You name it. 

Renting (or buying) that gear is probably not something that you have in your budget even if you do know how to use it.

At DMD, it’s part of the overall package.

Professional Real Estate Photographers Know the “Rules”

Why spend the time taking your own curb shot when Google Street View already has one? Wouldn’t it make your pictures more interesting and festive to include a Christmas lights or other holiday decorations?

If you’re not a professional real estate photographer, these might seem like good ideas. But they’re really not.

Why?

Well, take Google Street View images, for example. Yes, you get a curb shot. But is it a good one? Most have poor lighting. They usually aren’t framed well. And they often capture vehicles or other obstacles to truly seeing the home’s curb appeal. Not exactly how you want to appeal to potential buyers.

As for including holiday decor, think about the season. Christmas lights might play well heading into the season (maybe). But how do you think it will look if potential buyers are perusing your listing in January? Plus, it doesn’t give buyers the chance to see what the house looks like without those decorations. Generally speaking, it’s best to stay away from images that include items that will only be up for a short time like decorations.

With DIY Real Estate Photography, You’re Selling Yourself Short

Still not convinced? Worried about the cost of real estate photographers?

How about this little tidbit… homes with high-quality images get 47% more per square foot than homes without them. You’re literally costing yourself money by going the DIY route.

Don’t do it! 

The team at DMD Real Estate Photography is ready and willing to help — you just have to call. We offer services in Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, and Fairbanks. Hope to hear from you soon.