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Real Estate Photography Phoenix

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real estate photography phoenixI shot another house today, yes it’s a Saturday, I should be out with the family, but there is so much demand right now for good real estate video here in Phoenix – I am now working 6 days a week. Well, its actually more like 1. Ya see, Monday thru Friday I work for a title company. I shoot my clients real estate listing videos, help them with their real estate marketing (WordPress real estate websites, social media for BUSINESS) and they use me for title. Pretty good deal. But sometimes, like today, I get hired by a real estate agent that absolutely LOVES their escrow officer and will in no way, shape or form use any other. In those cases, I shoot real estate videos for them on weekends – for a fee. You can see my real estate video cost sheet here. Today was one of those cases.

Today’s video was in the community of Finesterra at Valencia, a gated community in south Chandler. The home, beautiful, was right inside, to the right of the gate. At almost 4,000 square feet, it was a big one. Have you ever been inside a house where everything looked perfect? That was this house. Beautiful hand carved wood floors, custom tile, 2 fireplaces. The kitchen had stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and a large gas range. I LOOVE gas ranges, I love them in part because I have an electric one and believe me when I tell you, if you cook, there is no substitute for gas. NONE. I wish I could have gas.

The backyard was like being at the JW Marriot Desert Ridge without leaving home. Beautiful pool with 3 water features, a raised patio overlooking the pool and a large yard with mature landscaping. Mature yards are awesome, they add so much personality and character to the otherwise drab of the desert – there is so much BROWN, we need more GREEN! Check out the video below.



This home was a pleasure to shoot.

When I was almost done, the real estate agent mentioned pictures would be taken on Monday by a rather well known company here in the valley. She casually mentioned, “I wish you did pictures” to which I replied, “I have been practicing my photography, it’s still not where I want it to be but if you want me to shoot some pictures for you, I will do it for free”. I was already there so why not. Besides, if the pictures came out good, I could use them in my portfolio or a blog post like this one, and if they sucked, well, they were free and everyone knows, you get what you pay for.

So I took about 25 photos. For feedback I showed them to the agent “here take a look at these, they are not color corrected yet but what do you think?”. OH. MY. GAWD. STEPHEN, they look great! she said. So, long story short, my real estate photography skills aren’t where I would like them to be but they are obviously good enough for this agent, so I’ve decided I will now be offering photo packages for the real estate agents I shoot for on the weekends. It will give me the practice I need, shooting different styles – flash, bounce, HDR, ambient light etc – different homes, different lighting conditions, etc. I guess it’s a win/win. So if you are a real estate agent here in Phoenix that want’s a KILLER real estate video for a listing and some “OK” pictures (they will be awesome soon) – I think I am your guy. Oh and in case you were wondering, I finished the shoot today with enough time to make Gabriella’s volleyball game and Hondo’s Karate. Phew… momma (Mrs G) wouldn’t have liked it at all if I didn’t make it, ya know.

Listing Video Order Form

Upon receiving your completed order form a representative of HMC will contact you to schedule your video at which time payment via credit card or PayPal will be due.
  • 1) Introduction A contract is formed between a customer (referred to as the “customer”) and HUB Media Company (referred to as "HMC") when an order is received from the customer. An order may be in written, verbal or electronic form. The product or service shall mean any product or service that is provided by HMC to the customer. 2) As Is Hub Media Company's {HMC} listing video's products, while customized, are designed for 48 - 36 hour turnaround and therefore are considered "as is" products, available under our flat rate structure. All other products through HMC, subdivision and community videos, green screen, screen cast are custom projects, and require a separate proposal of services. 3) Supply HMC agrees to supply the product(s) or service(s) to the customer as detailed in the order and according to the terms and conditions of this contract. 4) Payment HMC shall issue an invoice to the customer in respect of products or services supplied, or to be supplied, the payment terms for which will be stipulated on the invoice. HMC reserves the right to charge interest on overdue amounts at an annual rate of 5% above the Lloyds TSB Bank base rate ruling on the date payment is due. 5) Liability HMC accepts no liability for any loss or damage that may arise from the supply of the product(s) or service(s). In the unlikely event of HMC being unable to supply the product(s) or service(s) as specified in the order, liability shall be limited to the total invoice value – or monies already paid by the customer 6) Copyright Unless otherwise stated in the order, the HMC retains copyright in all their original material. Original material includes video recordings, graphics, soundtracks, printed material and any other design or artwork commissioned by the customer in relation to the order. The customer must ensure that permission is sought for the inclusion of any copyright material they supply to HMC to enable them to deliver the product(s) or service(s). The customer must also ensure that permission is sought for the inclusion of any performers or performances, trademarks and locations. HMC retains the right to use this material in its original and edited form as they see fit, unless otherwise agreed in the order. The customer agrees to indemnify HMC in the event of any breach of copyright claims being brought against HMC in respect of material supplied by the customer. 7) Care and Damage to Client Property While every care is taken in the handling of the customer’s property, HMC accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage, however caused, or any other loss by unforeseen circumstances while they are in the custody of HMC. Liability for such loss or damage will be limited to the replacement cost of the materials or media and in no circumstances will any liability attach to any claim for the value of the content. 8) Right of Assignment HMC retains the right to assign the supply and/or production of the product(s) or service(s) to the customer to another suitable company should they be unable to complete these terms and conditions. 9) Confidentiality Unless otherwise agreed HMC will treat any information gained during the supply of the product(s) or service(s) as being private and confidential. Likewise, the customer shall keep confidential any methodologies and technology used by the company to supply of the product(s) or service(s).

Real Estate Video Production: Getting Over Fear Of Being On Video

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When I was a kid, the Chicago Bulls were it. There was no team better. When I say “team” I am actually referring to Michael Jordan. He couldn’t miss! It seemed like everything he touched was good. He dunked with ease. So much so that I (and countless hundreds of thousands of other kids) thought, if we had his sneakers – “Air Jordan’s” or a Chicago Bulls Starter – we could be “like Mike”. Well, it didn’t take long to realize, “white men can’t jump” is not just a movie if ya know what I mean.

Mike made it look EASY. What we didn’t see is the thousands of hours he practiced to get better. The first in/ last out of the gym every day. The playing hurt, the missed shots, we didn’t see any of that, only the end result. Perfection.

It’s the same with real estate video. As you know, video is only getting bigger. I make this bold prediction…. Those real estate agents NOT using video in their real estate business will be irrelevant. They will be irrelevant for one reason and one reason only – CONSUMERS ARE DEMANDING IT. It used to happen once in a while, now it happens at least 3 times a month; an agent calling me franticly to shoot their listing because the seller demanded video as a condition of listing.

Real estate agents are a commodity in the eyes of most consumers. It’s why a buyer can walk into an open house and choose the first agent they find to represent them in what is the largest financial decision most of us will ever make. But video can differentiate you from your competition. One of the best ways to use video in real estate is to appear in your listing videos. When it comes to marketing, it’s (in my opinion) the BEST use of video in real estate. Priceless marketing actually. Pricless because the seller will be sharing the video with their friends and family through email and social media, it will be indexed by search engines like Google, Yahoo & Bing. And WHO is in the video??? Yep.

I meet so many real estate agents that are scared of being on video. They may have tried but couldn’t get it done and thought there was something wrong with them, that they were not suited for video in real estate. Well, to dispel this myth (and it is a myth) I have created the video below to hopefully not only put video in the proper perspective, but to get you out of your own way as well.


Schedule Your HD Property Tour

Ready to take your real estate marketing to a new level? Ready to have YOUR sellers sharing their property video (with you in it) with everyone they know - on Facebook, Twitter, email, Pinterest? The fill out the form below to schedule your HD Property Tour. Your sellers will thank you for it.

EDDM Cost Increase January 26th 2014

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EDDM or Every Door Direct Mail costs will increase one cent to 17.5 cents per piece on January 26th 2014. For those of you not familiar with EDDM, I think it is best I let the USPS explain it.

From the USPS website:

Every Door Direct Mail® from the U.S. Postal Service®, is designed to help you reach every home, every address, every time. Now it’s even easier using our redesigned tool!

You can map out a target area, use demographic data (e.g. age, household income, and size) to select a delivery route, choose a mailing drop off date, and pay online—all from your computer. And, you can create your mailings up to 30 days before you plan to mail them.

 

EDDM is a cost effective method of reaching your target audience . You simply log in to the USPS website, enter an address, select a carrier route around the address and the USPS will drop one of your marketing pieces in every mailbox of the residences and/or businesses on the route.

I’m not a fan of direct mail. By “not a fan of” I mean – I hate it. I hate to be SOLD TO. I hate that it becomes a chore to sort my mail – junk over here, bills over here. I really hate that I have to SHRED these unwanted and unsolicited messages (to prevent identity theft). All of this takes time. Time I don’t have. Time I would rather spend online – WHERE I ACTUALLY GO WHEN I HAVE A NEED FOR A PRODUCT OR SERVICE.

Maybe this is why I only check my mail every 4 days.

Maybe I wouldn’t hate direct mail so much if the messages I received wire actually of value. Maybe I would think differently if the messages actually pertained to me. But they don’t. The bras ads and the Boston Proper and the Pottery Barn magazines don’t pertain to me. These marketers simply spam all of us with the hope their message lands at the moment we have a need. It’s a challenge to reach consumers like me as I only check my mail every 4 days – remember.

I think direct mail could be effective IF it was part of a bigger plan. Not THE plan. For instance, if I was a small business owner who was so inclined to use direct mail as a marketing method, I would first target a specific demographic or geographic area where those that lever there would be most interested in my offering.  Then I would create a message that pertained specifically to them. “Residents Of”.. Fans of.”.. etc. Then I would make the message more about them than ME. I personably HATE marketers that only talk about them. I want them to talk about ME. How are they going to help ME? How are they going to make my life easier? Save me time or money?  But no, they only talk about themselves. Wow, that’s great that you are a TOP PRODUCER Mrs Real Estate Agent but how does that help ME? If its all about them it can’t be about ME. Then I would encourage them to visit my website, for an exclusive coupon or to learn more information or to watch a video.

It is there – on my website where they will be educated and informed. It is on my website where they will learn more about me and how I can help. What problem I solve. It is on my website where they will sell them-selves. They can watch my testimonial videos of other satisfied customers (social proof). They can watch the videos of others (just like them) enjoying my product or service. They can watch my website introduction video where I welcome them and tell them what to expect and most importantly – HOW it will help them.  It is on my website there they can fill out inquiry forms.

Direct mail is part of the PLAN, it is not and should not be the THE PLAN. It’s all about getting traffic (your ideal client – those that would be most interested in your product or offering) to your website.

Businesses will always be subject to increasing costs in broken models – US Mail, TV, Radio, Magazines, Yellow Pages. They will always be reliant on third parties like the US Mail until they learn HOW to market where the consumer is. Not at their mailbox but ONLINE. The great thing about the internet is, IF you know how to leverage it, and you know how to create content (blog posts, videos, pictures) your ideal client would look for, those that will be finding you online are those that actually needed your product or service.

Now all you need is a website and the knowledge to use it. You probably want someone that can help you create the video content your ideal client is looking for too right?. As luck would have it – we can help with all of that. Please fill out the form below. Lets talk.

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Thank you for your interest in HMC. We provide the highest quality business, commercial, event video productions, classes and services. We look forward to meeting you. Please fill out the form below or call 480.223.8113