Compare real estate work, then choose a photographer by the type of property, the area they cover and where the images will be published. A listing for sale, a holiday let and an architecture project do not need the same images: state your use to compare portfolios and quotes.
Which photographer for your property?
Choose a photographer whose portfolio shows properties close to yours and a comparable use. A sale or rental listing, tourist accommodation and a new development need neither the same views, nor the same preparation, nor the same publication rights.
Sale or rental listing
An effective series should make the flow, the volumes and the strong points understandable without distorting the property. Check that the portfolio shows spaces close to yours: a compact studio flat, a lived-in house, an empty property or an exterior that is hard to frame.
- Views to plan
- main rooms, bathrooms, access and relevant exteriors, in an order that helps people understand the property.
- Preparation
- agree on the rooms to clear, access to the home and the personal items to remove.
- Delivery and uses
- files suited to the chosen portals, the date the listing goes live and the owner's or agency's permission to publish, to be set out in the agreement.
Hotels and holiday lets
The reportage should help travellers understand the accommodation and what their stay actually includes.
- Views to plan
- room categories, shared spaces, facilities and details that matter for booking. Identify the differences between units to avoid an ambiguous series.
- Preparation
- rooms ready, linen in place and a time slot that fits around arrivals. Decide whether people should appear and with which permissions.
- Delivery and uses
- formats for the website, booking platforms and social media, listing any advertising campaign separately.
Architecture, interior design or new development
To present design work, also compare the portfolios of architecture photographers. The subject is as much the project and its materials as the property to market.
- Views to plan
- the lines of the building, its relationship with its surroundings, material details and the architect's intentions.
- Preparation
- works finished and accessible, light chosen with the photographer, spaces cleared for photography.
- Delivery and uses
- press kit, portfolio, competition or brochure, stating which partners may use the images.
For an agency that orders regularly, add a method shared by every shoot: crops, file naming, contact person and the delivery time agreed for each property.
How to assess a real estate portfolio
A reliable real estate portfolio shows natural verticals, readable windows and dark areas, and complete series of steady quality on properties comparable to yours.
- Perspective
- verticals stay natural and the wide angle does not give a misleading impression of the space.
- Light
- windows, interior lighting and dark areas keep readable detail.
- Complete series
- wide views and details tell the story of the property in an understandable order.
- Consistency
- several projects show steady quality, not just one spectacular image.
- Type of property
- the photographer shows experience relevant to your use and your level of finish.
Drone views, a 360° virtual tour, a floor plan or virtual staging are separate services. Each photographer sets out what they offer: check the profile and ask for confirmation.
Sample brief: an occupied flat to put on sale
This example is fictional and helps you prepare your request. It does not describe work carried out or a package every photographer offers.
- Property
- an occupied three-room flat with a balcony. Give the photographer the address, the floor area and a few scouting photos.
- Objective
- a sale listing that shows the volumes and the way rooms connect, without artificially enlarging the space.
- Organisation
- access arranged by the owner, personal items removed before arrival, time slot to confirm according to the light and occupancy.
- Images wanted
- living room, bedrooms, kitchen, shower room, balcony and a relevant exterior view. Have the number of finished files confirmed, without confusing rooms and number of images.
- Delivery
- name the portals used, their formats and the target publication date. Have the accepted delivery time written into the quote.
- Retouching and use
- agree on corrections, flag any request to remove objects and list the agency's and the owner's media.
Also prepare the place: clear surfaces, clean windows, working lights, tidy textiles and vehicles moved away from the front of the building. A list of priority rooms avoids omissions when time on site is limited.
Comparing quotes on the same scope
The scope depends on the size of the property, the number of images, travel, the level of retouching, timing and usage rights. On Graindevue, a photographer may offer a fixed price or quote after reading the brief. The contract should state the deliverables, the schedule, the permitted uses and the rescheduling terms.
Send the same brief to each photographer, then check:
- the spaces covered and any options, such as drone views or a 360° tour;
- travel costs and access conditions;
- the number of finished images, the formats and the level of retouching;
- timing, the feedback rounds included and the rescheduling terms;
- publication rights for each medium and each intended user.
For protected works, an assignment must set out the rights granted and their scope of use, in particular the purpose, place and duration. That is the framework of the French Intellectual Property Code (in French). Say whether an agency, an owner or a partner will use the images, and whether a paid campaign is planned. The photographer can attach to the contract an assignment of rights that sets out the purposes, media, territory and duration: it is signed with the contract.
Enter the city and date in the search, or browse the cities listed below. On a photographer's profile, look through their series and packages, at a fixed price or on quote, and send them a message to confirm travel and share your brief. Then choose the package closest to your property, the date, time and the property's address, and say who is billed: yourself, or "My business" so that the legal name and SIRET of the agency or company appear on the contract and the invoice. Add your brief to the booking request message. If they accept, the photographer sends you a contract drawn up from the booking, which you sign online before they do. Graindevue does not use price as a ranking criterion.
Frequently asked questions
Should the property be empty or furnished?
Both work. A furnished space gives scale and atmosphere, while an empty one makes the volumes easier to read. The right choice depends on the property and the target; share a few photos before the shoot to decide with the photographer.
How long does a real estate shoot take?
It varies with the floor area, the preparation, the exteriors and the services requested. Ask for an estimate in the quote rather than relying on a standard length.
Are the photos retouched?
The level of post-production depends on the offer. Perspective correction, light balance and colour work are common; removing objects, replacing the sky or advanced retouching must be agreed explicitly.