ASK THE EXPERT

Q: I’m trying to sell my house. It’s listed for $490,000. I want to have great photos of my house. I think it would help to sell it. I know Realtors hire professionals for this. But it’s mostly for only very high-end luxury homes. I think my home is nicely staged and has a beautiful look. Can I hire my own photographer? How do I go about this, and how much would it cost?

A: As a professional photographer, I have worked with dozens of real estate agents. Most of my clients handle mid- to high-end homes from $500,000 to $12 million.

The cost of a real estate photographer averages around $300 for two hours. A professional architectural photographer commands about $1,500 for a full day.

As photos are the first thing that people see in your listing they have the most emotional impact when making the decision of buying your dream home.

It does not matter if the owner or the Realtor brings the photographer into the marketing plan. You should always insist on a full day photo shoot by a professional photographer and not compromise with a quick photo shoot for the listing, as many homeowners do.

At the end of the day, there are many properties on the market competing for a small group of clients, and the most compelling property will be the first to be considered.

Professional photography tends to shorten the selling time, fetch higher offers and attract qualify clients, who like to see what they are buying.

TIP: Always ask to see the photographer’s work before you hire him. When looking at his portfolio think about if you would buy the homes he has photographed.

—Shay Velich, architectural and interior design photographer