It is no longer necessary to place a “FOR SALE” sign in front of the property or schedule an open house tour. Marketing in the real estate business has evolved to a new level thanks to technology, with one of the most effective approaches becoming a trend among home sellers – virtual tours.
However, gambling on something you don’t understand may make you feel insecure. Should you do the virtual tour yourself or employ a professional? What you should know about hiring a virtual tour photographer?
Don’t worry! To cut to the chase, we’ve created a concise checklist of questions you should ask your photographers before making a pick.
The types of their using equipment
The equipment a professional photographer uses for work is one of the most crucial factors distinguishing them from amateurs. To create qualified virtual tours, a professional photographer needs:
- A 360 Camera A “must-have” device for doing work is a dedicated 360 camera (Ricoh Theta Z1, Insta360 One X2, Insta360 Pro 2) or a DSLR/mirrorless camera with 360 rigs (Insta360 Pro 2 Spherical Camera Bundle, Kandao Obsidian Pro Bundle)
- Software: Most 360 cameras come with bundled software, but some photographers might use standalone options like PTGui or pano2VR, which offer more flexibility.
- A tripod
- Rig/Mount
Scope of work
When it comes to virtual tour photography, it is critical to specify which rooms will and will not be photographed. Setting a clear scope of work will make it much easier for both parties to track progress and eliminate potential complications.
From our experience working with various cases, some photographers believe that photographing the entry to a room is sufficient, and others will not only picture the room around the door but will also go to the back of the room.
You must be the one who clearly defines how far into the room the photographer will go and the charge for doing so. Once they leave, the work is over, and you will not see the results until the virtual tours are completed.
Prior work experience
Asking for the portfolio is one of the best ways to discover whether you and the photographer are a good fit. Furthermore, the number of virtual tour shoots they have accomplished may indicate their level of experience. While exploring your photographer’s portfolio, keep an eye on the following:
- Credit: Ensure that the virtual tours they show you are credited to their name or company. Some untrustworthy photographers may provide you with virtual tours that they did not develop for a variety of reasons.
- Transitions: When moving from room to room on the tour, don’t miss out on the transition. A qualified photographer with the ability to tell a story will know how to make a smooth transition with minimal misunderstanding.
- Lighting: Lighting is the most important factor in producing high-quality virtual tours. The way photographers set the light before shooting reveals a lot about their professional experience.
- Details: Look for elements that you shouldn’t be seeing, such as garbage cans, dark rooms, people’s faces, and sensitive information. Blame it on the photographers, whose duty it is to ensure that the tour is in ideal condition for a picture session.
Work requirements
If the photographer has sufficient experience, they will proactively create requirements for you before beginning work. However, just in case, clarify explicitly what you can do to help achieve the greatest results.
For example, do you need to maintain the area free of personnel and clients when providing a virtual tour? Discuss your goals with them, seek opinions, and make the final decision.
Service after work
What if you are dissatisfied with the completed work? You try to contact your photographer, but they declare their task is finished and they are no longer responsible for it. How should you handle the situation?
As a result, consult with your photographers about the service after work before signing any contracts. There are several reasons why you should request a re-do: low-quality images, misunderstanding virtual tour transitions, unnecessary details in tours, etc.
Don’t forget about the price
Price can have a huge impact on work; however, you should not always choose the lowest option. It makes no sense to hire an unqualified photographer and pay for their services just to have to start over. Do it once and pay extra for higher quality, but at least you won’t have to deal with any headaches.
Create a virtual tour on your own with Panoee
If you’re on a small budget but yet want a house virtual tour, Panoee could be a good option. Begin by capturing your location with a simple 360 camera, then sign in to Panoee and follow a few steps to make a virtual tour.
- Step 1: Plan your virtual tour by writing a narrative or storyboard.
- Step 2: To create a virtual tour, click the “Create a project” button. Alternatively, you can proceed by watching a tutorial video with detailed steps.
- Step 3: Publish Your Virtual Tour
