1890 Maple
Evanston, IL 60201
312.371.4488
chris@crdstudios.com
Quick Note
For any former VHT agents who are moving to another VHT-lite company ( I’m looking at you, Real Vision)- all we can do is ask, why??-give crd a chance to match their pricing. Not promising that we will, but ask anyway!
Who Is CRD Studios?
Principal photographer Christopher Dimock has been a professional photographer for over 30 years.. He has extensive experience shooting portraits, weddings, music, and product. For the past 8 years he has worked with VHT as a real estate photographer. When you contact crd, you will be in contact with Chris, not a AI voicemail system or a customer service rep based overseas who has little or no idea how the business of real estate photography works. When you make an appontment, you make it with Chris. If there are issues, you contact Chris, the person who was there. Chris does all the post production work (with the sole exception of major photoshop work like virtual staging and removing all the contents of a cluttered room. There are companies such as BoxBrownie that specialize in offering those services) that brings out the best in your properties.
Experience the crd difference! At crd studios, the agent is our primary concern. Let's count the ways.
Scheduling
Appointments are easy to make with crd studios. Simply text Chris at 312.371.4488 with your preferred time and boom! Consider it done. If there is a conflict with another appointment we will accommodate you with the closest time slot available. How easy is that?!
Pricing
At crd, there are no confusing or convoluted “packages”. We offer two tiers: Single Exposure (what VHT called ‘Silver”) and HDR (what VHT called “Gold”"). Need a 2D floor plan? Need a Matterport scan? Just add it. That's it! You can mix and match to your heart's content. We make knowing your photo costs easy and straightforward. There are no per photo charges, predetermined photo minimums or maximums, or surprise charges at billing . We take as many photos as are needed to do the job and you, the agent, chose the ones you want to list on the MLS and discard the rest. Change your mind later? Just go back to your Dropbox folder and add them to the listing. You and crd studios share the copyright so you have complete control over the images and how they are used. To see the detailed price list please click on the ‘price list” link to the left.
Turnaround
Single exposures are delivered same day, usually in the evening. HDR photos are delivered next day (the post processing is more labor intensive). All basic photoshop work is included in the price. This includes adding fire to fireplaces, blue skies, and removing objects. For more intensive work like removing the contents of an entire room or adding virtual staging we recommend BoxBrownie. Go to their web site to check our their pricing and turn around times.
Our Method
At crd studios we offer two tiers of photos:
Single Exposures
This is what VHT called the “Silver Package”. Each view is captured in a single exposure. But it is so much more than that. The original photo is only the beginning. Each image is optimized to its fullest potential. We adjust exposure, eliminate color casts, even the lighting, and sharpen the photo. In short we do all the work necessary to make your listing look the best it can. When the photos are delivered to your personal Dropbox (no account necessary) folder they are sized and ready to be placed on the MLS.
HDR
This what VHT called the “Gold Package”. HDR photos are distinguished by the number of exposures taken. Anywhere from 3 to 7 photos are taken of each angle to show the complete dynamic range of the scene. These exposures are then blended together into one stunning photo. HDR brings out the full potential of any property and is well worth the added expense. The photo practically jumps off the screen! HDR is especially suited to highlight a stunning view from a Loop condo, to avoid blowing out the beautiful backsplash in that million dollar property you just commissioned, or if you simply do not settle for less than the best.
Getting Your Photos
All photos are uploaded to Dropbox. A link will be sent the same day (for single exposures) or next day (for HDR photos). No account with Dropbox is necessary. Once the optimized photos are delivered they are yours to keep. No limited licensing. The copyright is shared between both crd studios and the realtor.
The RAW Difference
All photos shot by crd studios are taken in the RAW format. All the information in a particular scene can only be fully realized by shooting in RAW. It is in effect the “digital negative”. It takes extra time to process a RAW photo but the professional results are well worth the effort!
What We Don’t Do
1) Use Matterport photos. The Matterport camera is a marvel if you need a 3D scan of a property. But it is not a dedicated professional camera. We use only professional Nikon cameras and lenses.
2) Upsell. You know what you want. You’re a professional We are not here to pitch you a package or upgrade to an additional service. We are photographers, not sales people.
3) Charge per photo. If a job requires 20 photos, we take 20 photos. And 20 photos are delivered to your Dropx folder. If a job requires 60 photos we take 60 photos And 60 photos are deilvered to your Dropbox folder. Simple. Easy. Straightforward.
4) Have a non-responsive or uninformed customer service department. When you text crd you are in contact with the photographer who is doing the work. All texts are returned promptly. If we are at a job we will return the text at the earliest possible time, usually within an hour. Inquiries after 7pm are responded to the next day (sometimes we will text back immediately but we believe in a work/life balance). We have no frustrating layered voice mail system or minimum wage workers who don’t understand the business of real estate photography.
5) Have an imaginary package called “Platinum”. VHT used this term as a marketing gimmick to charge more for the same service under the guise of “only our best photographers are allowed to shoot this”, implying that anything else is “lesser”. At crd, all properties are given “Platinum” service.
Payment
Once we have your credit card on file you will be billed automatically upon completion of job. We also accept Zelle or Venmo electronic payment. All payment is due prior to delivery of the photos. No exceptions.
Thank you for choosing crd for your real estate photos needs. VHT was merely a well paid middle man. When crd shot your property under the VHT umbrella you were already using us-you just didn’t know it! So why stop now?