Why Professional Headshots Are So Important For Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents do more than help customers buy and sell homes. Like any professional earning commission or owning a business, real estate agents must sell their personal brand. Alaskan buyers and sellers have plenty of real estate agents to choose from. The right branding can help you stand out and show customers that you are the best in the biz. 

Personal branding doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. A simple, professional headshot is an ideal first step for any agent who wants to appear professional, polished, and prepared to make the sale. If you don’t have a headshot yet, you might be missing out on key opportunities to reach customers. 

Why Are Realtor Headshots So Important? 

They Show You Care. 

Headshots aren’t just a pretty picture. They tell the story of your personal brand and set expectations for customers. Buyers and sellers want to hire an agent who is on top of their game, professional, and knows how to go the extra mile. If you can’t be bothered to spend an hour working with a professional photographer to get a headshot, buyers will assume that you are not going to make extra efforts to help them, either. 

They’re Versatile.

Think of all the ways that you reach your customers: social media, “for sale” signs, your website, and so on. Headshots can be easily placed on all of these platforms. The right headshot will be appropriate to use on Twitter, LinkedIn, your website, and next to your listings. That’s a lot of value from one photograph. 

They Set You Apart. 

A clear, professional photograph makes you more memorable. If you have a specific brand that you promote, you will be even more memorable. A small detail or quirky accessory can set you apart from the other real estate agents in your area. Highlight your personality with a photographer who knows how to make you shine. 

Why You Should Go to a Professional

The best headshots pay great attention to detail: a great smile, the right clothes, and good lighting. But your iPhone can’t do as much as a professional photographer’s camera (and editing software). A professional can make the entire process of taking your headshot much easier because:

• They know how to set up the room. Don’t have natural light or a solid backdrop? Your photographer will. They have the equipment to set you up for the perfect picture. 

• They can retouch the photo. A little retouch never hurt anybody! Professionals will have editing and retouching software to highlight your best features (and downplay anything that you don’t want in your photo.) 

• You don’t have to do the work! No one loves running back and forth from their camera to click buttons or set timers. Let your photographer adjust you, adjust the shot, and give tips on how to put your best face forward. All you need to do is sit and smile! 

Ready to invest in your real estate career? Reach out to DMD Real Estate Photography for your next business headshot. 

What You Should Include on a Real Estate Listing Website

Real estate agents have always been looking for the next big way to showcase their listings. Some agents hold events at these listings, while others advertise the property on social media. A popular trend now is to give the listing its own website. 

Websites are easy to create, easy to share, and provide many opportunities to show off your listing in ways that ads or posts can’t usually do. A listing becomes that much more important when it has its own website. 

However, agents who are new to creating websites for listings may feel like there are too many ways to show off a listing. What is important? What does a listing website need? 

That’s why we have created a checklist for you as you use this digital marketing tool to drum up interest around your listings. 

Basic Home Page

Keep things simple. Include a picture of the house’s exterior, the address, and your information. The right website design will make your listing the focal point of the site, which is visually appealing and memorable to viewers. 

3D or Interactive Tour 

Buyers aren’t as excited to attend open houses or tours with agents anymore. (Wonder why?!)

Save everyone the trouble of putting on a mask by bringing a tour to them. 3D and interactive tours can allow buyers to see the property in a way that pictures can’t always do. 

When you include this information on your listing, you will eliminate buyers who are less interested or will not be satisfied when they see the property. 

Details About the Property

If websites like Zillow or Redfin think details are important, so should you. Provide a full list of details that buyers might want to know:

• How many bedrooms/bathrooms/square feet

• Type of home

• Amenities

• Heating and cooling information

• Year built

• Rental value

• Nearby schools 

• Nearby attractions or places of interest

• Information about the neighborhood 

Not sure what is most important to list? Think about your potential buyers. What questions will they have about the house? What is high on their list of priorities? Highlight the information that will draw them in and convince them that this house is one to remember. 

Photo and Video Gallery

Show off every angle of your listing with a full photo gallery. 

Professional photos can help you sell a home faster and for a higher price. The right photo gallery can give potential buyers a good idea of why your listing is so valuable and why they should be interested. 

The more photos you add, the longer viewers will stay on your site, which is good news if you want your listing to appear in search results. 

Map Of the Area

Location, location, location. Keep viewers on your website by bringing Google Maps to them. Show them where the listing is located (and point out hotspots nearby). 

Your Contact Information

So a viewer loves the listing — who do they call? Be sure to include your information, including your:

• Name

• Phone Number

• Email 

• Social media handles (if applicable)

• Headshot 

Social Media Buttons 

Do you want viewers to share this listing on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn? Include a list of buttons that can share your listing website with a click. 

This might seem like a lot of work, but you’ve got experts ready to help. Reach out to DMD Real Estate Photography for information on how we can provide you with a fresh, easy-to-use listing website that will attract attention and bring the right buyers to you. 

What You Can Learn From the Images in Redfin’s “Top Viral Homes”

Looking through real estate listings online can be overwhelming -- especially if you’re trying to sell. How do you make your house stand out? What can you do to get buyers to stop scrolling and learn more about your property? 

For the answers, let’s look to the homes that have done something right. Earlier this year, Redfin released a list of some of the top viral homes of 2019. 

These homes are absolutely stunning. The attractive pictures on the listing brought plenty of attention, competition, and high bidders. 

But you don’t have to have a home that is worth more than a million dollars to go viral. Take the best elements of these viral homes and bring them into your listing for more views, clicks, and bids. 

Show off the space. 

The photos of “The Modern Bungalow” and the “Urban Oasis” make the houses look like they go on for miles. Open-concept floor plans are in, and everyone wants to feel like they are buying a property with lots of space. Remove any obstructions and take photos from a position that makes your home look open and free-flowing. 

Stage appropriately. 

It’s quick and easy to take photos of your home as-is, but this doesn’t always translate into more interest. No buyer wants to feel like they are peeping into someone else’s home -- they want to feel like they are looking at their future home!

Stage the home and remove any personal photos, scattered toys, or evidence of pets. 

Follow the (natural) light. 

What do“The Queen’s View” in Seattle and the “Contemporary Townhouse” in Chicago have in common? Floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light and give the homes a more modern feel. Windows can also increase airflow, reduce energy bills, and add much more value to your listing. If you’ve got them, flaunt them! Get a photo that encompasses how much your buyers will be able to see when they open the curtains. 

Windows will also help you as you take photos. Plan to shoot when your rooms are filled with natural light. 

Zoom out. 

In order to truly get a sense of the “Rooftop Party Pad” in San Diego, you need to show off the rooftop. How do you show off a big, external space? Zoom out.

Drones are one of the best ways to do this. Use drone photography to capture the entire space that is going on the market. 

Use a professional photographer. 

Drones? Professional lighting? Staging? These equipment and practices can cost money, but significantly increase the value of your home. 

Don’t worry about learning how to operate a drone or take a professional photo yourself. Save time by recruiting a professional photographer who can show off your space appropriately. 

A cell phone camera or blurry photo may fail to capture the beauty, flow, and unique qualities of your property. Professional photos will share all of this and more. 

Make buyers stop and stare at your listing. Reach out to DMD Real Estate Photography today.