There seems to be no end of new real estate photography technology sprouting up everywhere. In fact, several of these technologies are seen and used every day! Those who are in the real estate photography industry need to take into account the continuous advancements of technology as well as the ever-changing behaviors of home buyers and sellers.

Let’s take a look at 6 important trends a real estate photographer must take into account in 2018 and beyond.

1. Real estate buyers are searching listings and real estate services online more than ever before

The days of checking out listings from magazines or newspapers are numbered. Those who want to buy properties or need someone to take photos of their listings are looking to the internet first. In fact, Google and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) made a joint study titled “The Digital House Hunt: Consumer and Market Trends in Real Estate,” which showed some important revelations:

• 90% of buyers searched the web for properties

• Google reported an increase of 253% on real estate related searches over the past four years (2013 to 2017)

• Local search terms were important for buyers

Why is this important With the players of the real industry taking on the web, it is vital for you to have a strong and attractive online presence. Your website should be well organized, filled with high-quality photos, and contain engaging content.

2. Players in the real estate industry are increasingly using mobile devices

Real estate photographers, agents, sellers, and buyers are always on the move. Thus, they update themselves on the industry, search for listings, and transact business using convenient mobile devices. Indeed, the world is going mobile; and based on Google’s findings, people are using their phones, tablets, and notebooks more than desktops.

In a study by the NAR, 56% of Millenials and 46% of Gen X’ers find their homes, look for directions, communicate with their agent, and more using their mobile devices.

Why is this important Your website should be mobile responsive. That means your site can be displayed in a readable, navigable format for a mobile device’s screen. On the other hand, a non-responsive site is difficult to navigate, and readers will simply give up trying to decipher the content or go from one page to another.

3. Partnerships between photographers and real estate databases are flourishing

Real estate databases such as Zillow are offering mutually beneficial partnerships with real estate photographers. After submitting the requirements and passing some quality checks, the photographer becomes Zillow certified.

Why is this important Being one of the biggest real estate databases in the US, Zillow has massive traffic. By being a Zillow-certified photographer, you can market your business to Zillow’s real estate agents, enhance your portfolio, attract more clients, and more.

4. Promote real-estate related services through social media

In a 2017 study done by NAR, 80% of the players of the real estate industry use Facebook to promote and advertise their services as well as interact with buyers. Others use platforms such as LinkedIn, Google, YouTube, and more.

Why is this important Social media has become the fastest, cheapest, most far-reaching, and a most effective way for real estate photographers to get their message out. Many platforms also have functionalities such as sharing options and instant messaging tools that allow you to interact with prospects and clients in real time.

An effective social media marketing campaign, coupled with SEO, is definitely essential in promoting your real estate business.

5. Photographers are using drones to take awesome aerial photos

Drones offer unique perspectives and possibilities in real estate photography. You can capture amazing aerial images and videos of a property. Encompassing views of the land surrounding the property can be captured easily and cheaply. Additionally, if you are a skilled pilot, you can take videos of interiors, creating a short real estate marketing video.

Why is this important Being a relatively new technology, drones definitely have that “cool factor”. You can add another type of photography service to your tool belt and up-sell your clients who are looking for the latest and greatest in real estate photography. Adding drone photography to your real estate arsenal is another way to help differentiate you from your local competition.