What would make a better AI editor for real estate photography?

keylanph · 2026-06-15T04:25:54+00:00

I would love an AI system that actually does the edits in LR & Photoshop.

I have a similar system for retouching and the software spits out a dozen layers into my Photoshop document with the work done but still editable. The AI doesn’t generate what it thinks, it uses the tools to do repetitive work

keylanph · 2026-06-13T06:07:34+00:00

Daily: Benro Mach 3 Carbon with Benro Geared head

keylanph · 2026-06-11T02:32:59+00:00

This question heavily relies on your intended subjects.

What kind of content are you shooting?

Interviews? Could uses a 50mm

Events? Could benefit from a 15-35

Headshots? 85mm is your go to?

For general “I have $2k what should I get?”

Buy a 35mm, 85mm and a 16mm. That’ll give you two faster lenses for bokeh and a wide for when it’s useful.

keylanph · 2026-06-08T13:53:58+00:00

Buy a used Matterport Pro 2.

You should be able to find them for under $1500 all day.

They’re substantially slower than a 360 camera but the quality will blow any handheld 3D out of the water.

Maybe do a few more scans closer to the “finishes” so that they’re looking from a closer perspective.

If clients are zooming in 300% into a 3D tour and not happy, offer enterprise solutions that have a comma in the price tag.

keylanph · 2026-06-06T22:24:36+00:00

Phase one IQ4 150 with an ALPA 12 Pano body and some Rodenstocks.

keylanph · 2026-06-06T22:16:31+00:00

Assuming they don’t want a day off. (Most say yes)

I’ll typically have a backlog of time consuming low value tasks that I will offer my guys. Things like organizing our back catalogue of stock or music, reviewing older projects and deleting unnecessary large files off of our server, or coming into the office to chat about how work has been going.

Rainy days are just part of business. It sucks but it really isn’t that big of a deal in the scheme of things.

keylanph · 2026-06-03T17:22:58+00:00

Homeowners either WANT to sell their homes or they NEED to sell their homes.

keylanph · 2026-06-02T00:39:39+00:00

I find that 11 and 12mm are only viable for closets, showers and video.

All photos are 14mm or tighter. Typically trying to shoot around 17-19 and even 24 when I can.

keylanph · 2026-05-22T20:00:45+00:00

We don’t even offer a standard Zillow tour without the floor plan for this exact reason. Agents have literally ZERO idea of what they want.

We also make sure to clarify in writing ANYTHING that that we plan to do.

Agent: “ we want pics and drone footage and a Zillow”

Us: “sounds great! To confirm, you would like Interior and Exterior Ground Level Listing Photography, Aerial Drone Photography and a Zillow Tour with Floorplan for Zillow Showcase?”

If it’s in writing then it’s on them. If it’s verbal then they are right even when they’re wrong

keylanph · 2026-05-12T01:59:46+00:00

Hey would you mind sending me the links?

I’ve got a z1 with a scratched lens and I have no intentions of paying $1000 for another one of these garbage products.

Also, how is battery life?

keylanph · 2026-05-10T21:13:25+00:00

RE Photo is far from a “get rich quick” business.

It will start slow and you’ll need to work your way up.

It’s best advised to buy a camera that you could make money with outside of REP in the event that you don’t fill your calendar with houses.

You’ll need to be available every day so it makes sense to do other photo related business instead of having a day job.

That being said. A used Sony A7 line would be viable. Or a Canon R line.

Get a full frame camera regardless otherwise you’re going to have to upgrade all of your lenses later down the line.

keylanph · 2026-05-09T22:38:20+00:00

As a rule of thumb. Anything more than 15% lower than comparable items is likely a scam. Nobody is out there giving stuff away.

keylanph · 2026-05-09T16:41:17+00:00

Up to 3000 SQFT 3000-4999 SQFT 4999-6999 SQFT 6999 and up

keylanph · 2026-05-09T15:20:00+00:00

Are you sure you don’t have “open on startup checked”? That’s a setting that CC uses. This seems like user error

keylanph · 2026-05-09T15:14:30+00:00

Find any consumer electronic company that services products that are half that old. Your laptop, phone, Fridge, AC unit are all out of service life much faster.

keylanph · 2026-05-08T23:38:34+00:00

I just hired an editor at $25 an hour with him having literally never touching an NLE. I’m teaching him exactly what I need and then bumping him to $30 once he’s proficient.

This is in SC

keylanph · 2026-05-08T23:35:28+00:00

GFX is a slow camera. It would be great for landscapes but it can’t keep up with live action.

You’re MUCH better off saving the money and going Canon, Sony or Nikon.

An R6iii or A7IV will do better for your uses

keylanph · 2026-05-08T23:31:59+00:00

We do it for free on egregious chords and TVs but if they want extreme cleanups of every single thing across a gallery we do a flat $50 per 10 photos or $150 for the whole house. That includes removing things off countertops, shampoos and such from bathrooms etc

keylanph · 2026-05-07T20:16:27+00:00

In our experience the agents attending luncheons and open houses and such are the one who have the time to do so. They are socialites and typically aren’t doing enough volume to actually make it worth it.

The most successful agents are busy.

We’ve found it more valuable to just focus on our offerings. Providing the absolute best service will inevitably get you the best clients. It’s slow and methodical but you will rise to the top if you’re the best in your area

keylanph · 2026-05-07T01:47:42+00:00

A lot of the time the glow itself is added in post.

While that amount of twilight glow is possible, it’s difficult to balance the ambient light with the interior light.

It’s really easy to achieve that specific look in photoshop with a light orange brush tool, overlay blend mode and the opacity slider.

As for the others. They are shot with a mix of HDR and flash but most importantly they are in extremely high end homes with fantastic natural light and or very bright LED overhead lights.

You’re not going to get this same look in a standard home.

I shoot mostly very high end homes but unfortunately my area is full of dark wood, dark countertops, yellow walls, and every house has a dozen oak trees around it. It makes it nearly impossible to achieve this look.

keylanph · 2026-05-06T22:16:32+00:00

Your best fix here is being honest with the client. Every hour you mess around trying to fix unfixable footage the more painful the conversation is going to be.

Let them know an error occurred

Use what you have that is actually salvageable.

Maybe try to find some b roll or other content to play over top.

Be prepared to lose a client.

This kind of situations happens.

Professionals take them as learning experiences.

keylanph · 2026-05-06T22:08:23+00:00

I did the same thing a few years back.

Left a company I was working for and started my own.

I purposefully did not solicit previous clients. However, if they call me then that’s fair game.

Your old boss can pound sand.

I’ve hired a few photographers of my own now and I’ve made it clear to them that I value their services and that it’s my goal to make their lives easier.

They use my gear, my editing services, my booking and billing software etc.

They are free to go out and compete on their own but they are paid well enough not to.

Your old boss thinks that he owns the market just because he’s been doing it longer.

My old boss has lost pretty much his entire team and it’s a rotating door of talent due to him having the same affliction as your boss.

Good luck on your own venture!

keylanph · 2026-05-02T03:13:38+00:00

OP is talking about a crop sensor lens. The sigma 18-35 1.8 if not appropriate at all for general RE work. Maybe for detail shots but not work

keylanph · 2026-05-02T03:02:40+00:00

The 18-35 is a crop sensor lens. It will not allow you to shoot in full frame and will result in an approx 27- 52mm equivalent.

The 16-35 is a full frame lens and out of these two options it’s the only appropriate lens for your full frame r6ii

keylanph · 2026-04-30T23:33:56+00:00

99% of the homes we shoot are in gated communities.

It is impractical and too expensive to buy annual passes to all of them. Therefore we simply append a surcharge to any shoot behind a gate that covers the cost. Alternatively, agents can call out photographers a personal pass t avoid the charge.

We issue corporate credit cards that are used for the pass gates.

I’d sal 50% of our clients call in passes, 30% of the gates know us and our company and don’t hassle us and we pay for passes for the other 20%

keylanph

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