Terms Of Service

Scheduling:

  • Please click on BOOK NOW on our website to schedule all photoshoots. Appointments are booked on a first-confirmed basis. To ensure you are able to schedule photos on the day of your choosing, please plan on notifying us at least 2-3 days prior to the requested scheduling date.

Cancellation:

  • If cancellation or rescheduling is necessary, please give 24 hours notice.  Appointments not canceled 24 hours prior to the scheduled shoot will be charged a $75 fee.

  • If events beyond the Homeowner’s, the Agent’s or Photographer’s control, disrupt, delay or cancel the shoot, the effected shoot may be rescheduled without penalty.

Payment:

  • Payment must be received before final pictures will be sent.  

  • Credit cards are accepted through our Viewshoot website. *If paying with cash or check please bring it to the photoshoot. Final pictures will not be sent until payment is received. 

  • Payment is due 7 days after the photoshoot. If payment is not made 30 days after the photoshoot a late fee of $75 will be added and an additional $75 will be added every 30 days after until full payment is made. Full photoshoot payment is still required even if the property sells before the agent can list the property.

Photoshoot:

  • If the photographer arrives and the agent is more than 15 minutes late or the property is not ready to be photographed then the photoshoot will be rescheduled and a fee of $75 will be charged.

  • The Agent or Representative of the Agent must discuss any special considerations such as what should be included or excluded in shots.

  • Unless specified, the standard shoot will include the front and back exterior and the major rooms such as living room, dining room, family room, kitchen, master bedroom, master bath and bedrooms. Multiple angles of the same room or area may be considered in the count of finished photos. Powder rooms, small bathrooms, utility rooms or garages are not a shooting priority unless you give direction otherwise.

  • All properties will be shot AS IS. The photographer will open blinds and turn on lights but is not a stager/decorator/home cleaner. Due to liability of potentially damaging furniture, flooring, walls, decor, etc., the photographer will not move furniture, treadmills, kitchen appliances, dog crates, etc. and will not stand on furniture to turn fans off. Also the photographer does not touch bathroom supplies so please be sure all personal hygiene items from showers and bathtubs have been removed. If the photographer notices something small he will try to make it look as best as possible, but overall the property needs to be 100% ready to go when your photographer arrives.

Post Production:

  • Photographer will have sole discretion to select the images for finish and delivery.

  • Only the selected photos will be processed for finished delivery.

  • Large photoshop jobs (removing a car from the driveway, removing a chair, adding in green grass, etc.) are not included in our quoted rate and are done at a rate of $75/hour.

Delivery:

  • Images will be delivered electronically via email and/or web link next day, usually late afternoon or early evening, unless otherwise specified.

Photo Rights and Usage:

  • All images are copyrighted to Home Exposure Photography. Images produced for an agent or broker (referred to as Agent) may be used by the Agent and Agent’s Parent Company, in accordance with local MLS rules, exclusively for the marketing of the active listing property. Any usage of the images beyond these purposes by the Agent, Agent’s Parent Company, Homeowner or any third party is strictly prohibited unless approved in writing by the Photographer.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get to choose the photos for processing & finishing?

Unfortunately, no. Due to the high volume of photos we take for each shoot, anywhere from 300-500 photos, there’s no efficient way to share and select photos in a timely fashion. What’s more, the HDR technique doesn’t lend itself to preview which photos are appropriate for finishing. However, we are always more than happy to have the client and homeowner follow along to preview the photos on the back of our camera during the actual shoot.

How and when do I get my photos?

Your photos will be delivered electronically via Viewshoot next day, usually in the evening. *If we shoot on Saturday the pictures will be sent Monday evening (our editing team takes off on Sundays). We will send you 2 sets of each photo. One large and one small for email and other MLS functions. 

How can I use the photos?

Under our terms, the photos can be used only the sale of the property. Because neither the current homeowner (the seller) nor the buyer will be signing a Location Release Agreement, neither you nor we have the right to use or sell the photos for any purpose outside of the realm of real estate. As the photographer, we retain all ownership of the photos, and the right to use the photos for self promotion as a Real Estate Photographer.

Who pays for the Real Estate Photographer?

Typically, the listing agent pays for the photography, but that’s not always the case. It may depend on the agent’s marketing plan for the property. Of course, a seller can always request professional photography and, frankly, should do so.

Do you upload the photos to the MLS?

Unfortunately we cannot. We are not licensed Realtor’s and do not have access to the MLS.

Should I hire a home stager?

Home Stagers and Real Estate Photographers really are two peas in the same pod where the goal is to help people sell properties by creating that emotional connection that attracts buyers, draws them to the property and gets them to pay a premium price for a well presented home.While each property’s needs are different, we always encourage any seller or agent to get a Home Stager’s opinion and estimate.

What exactly is Real Estate Photography?

Real estate photography is a branch of architectural photography that strives to accurately capture the layout and character of a residence to visually market to the widest pool of buyers. Unlike pure architectural photography which highlights shape, structure and artistic lines, real estate photography expresses the shape and size of the room and its context within the whole home. Interior photography, also a branch of architectural photography, focuses on contents, accents, textures and objects in a room― sofas, lamps, rugs, artwork― and how these design elements coordinate within the room. 

For more information, check out these links: WSJ.com - Get a Picture-Perfect Home Salehouzz.com - Attract Home Buyers Easily With Great Photography

Why does good photography matter?

We live in a visual world, intensified by the Internet. From your local MLS and Realtor.com to your own brokerage, buyers can search every area listing for their next home. But sameness can set in. Great photos stand out in a crowded marketplace.As your photographer, my emphasis is to create engaging and attractive photos that draw viewers attention to the merging of architectural and interior techniques. This approach offers a sense of not only how the home is laid out, but also the experience of living in the space.

Can you shoot a home with an iPhone?

You can, and many people do. And, under right circumstances, your iPhone can produce an acceptable image, but it will be severely limited in scope and lighting. To shoot an entire home, inside and out, and capture color range, details or special angles requires a robust professional camera with specialized wide-angle lens and expertise in shooting techniques like HDR.

Is Real Estate Photography expensive?

Expensive is a relative term, so it must be measured in the context of what it’s worth to present your listing in the best possible manner. While there are certainly less expensive photographers in our market, and taking your own photos is the least expensive option of all, we guarantee with every job that if you are not completely satisfied and felt you’ve received your money’s worth in professional photography that you are due a full refund.

Will professional real estate photography guarantee a better sale?

We wish we could say it would. But there are so many variables involved in what it takes to sell a home that it’s almost impossible to say what closes the deal. But there are some very interesting statistics that make a strong case for hiring a professional photographer.

Chicago Tribune - Quality photos make all the difference in marketing your home