Hey there! Elijah here from Allison Media Co. Have you been struggling to keep up with editing demands in your real estate photography business? If so, you’re in the right place. In this post, I’ll walk you through the ins and outs of outsourcing your photo editing. And if you’re more of a visual learner, check out the full YouTube video linked below—where I dive even deeper into everything you’ll read here.
In this post, I’ll share:
How to Find the Right Editor (and avoid the mistakes I’ve made).
Why Outsourcing Matters and when to start.
Cost Ranges, common concerns, and rapid-fire Q&A about outsourcing real estate photo editing.
So whether you’re ready to scale your real estate photography business or just want more time with friends and family, read on!
1. Finding the Right Real Estate Photo Editor
Where to Look
The first step is locating a great editor who can consistently deliver the style you want. I’ve personally found editors on:
Fiverr
Facebook Groups for real estate photography
Instagram DMs (yes, it works!)
Pixlmob (a marketplace dedicated to real estate editors)
Direct Google Searches
Don’t be shy about casting a wide net. It’s better to gather 15–20 potential editors so you can compare their quality, pricing, and turnaround times—rather than hiring the first person you stumble upon.
Initial Requirements: Price & Turnaround
Before you even test them, ask about:
Price Range: Hand-blended real estate photo edits typically range $0.30–$0.80 USD per image. In my experience, $0.30–$0.50 may yield okay edits but often poor communication or slower turnaround. Around $0.60–$0.80 tends to be the sweet spot for consistent quality and reliability.
Turnaround Time: If you want photos delivered by the next morning, you might need 8–12 hour delivery. Remember, many editors are based in India or the Philippines, which can actually work to your advantage time-zone-wise.
Create a Checklist Document
To maintain your specific style, I highly recommend putting together a photo editing requirement document—and to make it easier, I’ve even created a free Google Docs template you can copy and customize. Just follow the link, hit “Make a copy”, and edit to fit your brand’s needs. Here’s what you’ll want to include:
Reference Images: Show exactly how you want final photos to look. This can be your past work or even another photographer’s images that match your style.
General Style Paragraph: Describe the vibe you’re after—warm and inviting, bright whites, minimal color casting, etc.
Detailed Checklist: Note must-haves like fires in fireplaces, removing dust spots, color corrections for walls/floors, TV screen replacements, and window pulls or sky replacements.
This simple document ensures less back-and-forth later, protects your brand consistency, and helps your editor deliver exactly what you need—every time.
Test Batches
Drop a handful of 5 test images (including tricky shots with color casts, dusty sensors, or bracketed exposures) into a Dropbox or Google Drive folder. Include your checklist document and any sky or window view files you want them to use. Then send that folder link to each candidate.
Pro tip: Once you get these test edits back, immediately cut anyone who:
Misses obvious mistakes (like huge dust spots).
Fails to follow your checklist.
Delivers well past the deadline without a good reason.
Narrow it down to 3–4 great editors. If your favorite’s communication or speed drops in the future, you’ll already have backups!
2. Why Outsource Your Editing (and When to Start)
Time is Money
If you’re editing your own real estate photos for 8 hours a day, that’s time not spent shooting more listings, perfecting drone shots, or booking new clients. Outsourcing immediately frees you to focus on high-value tasks like customer acquisition or adding 3D iGuide tours to your services.
Better Quality
Many professional editors specialize in tasks like manual HDR blending or color-cast corrections. They’re faster and often more precise than we can be on our own. Your final product ends up looking more polished.
Scale Your Business
Whether you’re solo and only shoot one home a week or you’re doing several listings daily, outsourcing ensures you won’t be limited by your editing capacity. You can keep growing your brand without sacrificing your personal life.
When to Outsource
Honestly, the best time is yesterday. Even if you’re brand new, you can spend your energy improving your shooting technique or marketing to potential clients. Let someone who loves editing (and is great at it) handle the post-processing.
3. Common Concerns (Costs, Quality, Style)
Isn’t This Expensive?
Think of it as an investment. Even if you’re paying $40 for a 40-photo shoot, chances are you’re charging the client around $200–$300. Plus, you can upsell them on drone photos, videography, iGuide 3D tours, or floor plans—without worrying about spending all night editing.
Will They Match My Style?
That’s precisely why you create a photo editing requirement document. You also do final tweaks to each image before sending them off to the client. The editor gets you 80–90% there, and you do the finishing touches.
What About Quality Control?
Think of outsourcing like having a team. You still review your editor’s work—especially at the beginning—to ensure they’re living up to your standards. Clear communication and consistent feedback go a long way.
Losing Your Personal Touch?
Your brand identity and signature style aren’t going anywhere. You’re simply delegating the bulk of the editing workload. If anything, you’ll have more energy to refine and push your creative boundaries.
4. Rapid Fire Q&A
Q: Do I send RAW or JPEG files?A: RAW is best for maximum quality. If upload speeds are a concern, look into faster internet options. Quick tip: Starbucks Wi-Fi can be a lifesaver if you’re ever in a pinch.
Q: How do I pay editors—upfront or after delivery?A: It varies. When I was smaller-scale, I paid after each job. Now we’re on a bi-weekly schedule. Get clarity on expectations from your editor before you begin.
Q: Do I pay per bracket or per final image?A: You typically pay per final image. For instance, if you shoot 5-bracket interiors for a total of 200 RAWs, but only receive 40 final merged images, you pay for 40.
Q: What about editors overseas?A: India and the Philippines are common. Most of these editors have excellent internet and are used to large file transfers. PayPal and Payoneer are typical payment methods.
5. Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Outsourcing is a game-changer for any real estate photography business, from Niagara region pros to larger teams serving Toronto and beyond. It’s the difference between late-night editing marathons and having actual free time to spend with family or to focus on growth strategies.
If you’re on the fence, give it a try:
Gather 15–20 potential editors.
Send a test batch using a clear checklist.
Evaluate turnaround, price, and quality.
Choose your favorite + a couple of backups.
Need More Help?
If you have questions or want to see how Allison Media Co. manages its real estate photo editing workflow, feel free to comment below or reach out to me at hello@allisonmediaco.com.
Want more tips on drone photography, 3D tours, or creating killer floor plans? Stick around and explore our blog—there’s plenty more to come!
Remember, the key is consistency and communication. Once you’ve got your editing pipeline nailed down, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Here’s to scaling your real estate media business—and actually sleeping through the night!
Elijah,
Allison Media Co.Real Estate Photography Niagara | iGuide 3D Virtual Tours | Drone Photographer | Construction Media
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