How to Hire and Keep Photographers & Videographers

The Spiro Podcast: Managing your Real Estate Photography & Videography Business

Like almost any industry right now, finding qualified contractor and employee photographers & videographers to help grow your business is a challenge. Todd & Craig speak with Ryan Lieurance, VP of Training at WOW Video Tours to discuss how to not just find, but also retain photographers and videographers that can help you grow your real estate photography business.

Show Summary Notes:

0:00-4:16 Intro

4:17-5:47 Ryan’s experience as both a photographer and VP of Training

5:48-7:04 Challenges WOW has faced

• Picking the right person out of many good candidates
• Finding qualified people to hire out of a few candidates
• Don’t settle for someone who’s "okay"

7:05-09:54 Where do you start in looking for candidates?

• WOW uses Indeed.com
• Facebook groups can be a good resource

09:55-11:49 How do I use Indeed.com?

• Create an account
• They have a simple form to use
• Email [e-mail] for the form WOW uses

11:50-14:23 What are applicants looking for in the job?

• Most people are looking for consistent work
• Consistency is not guaranteed in the real estate media business
• Communication and expectations - be transparent and communicate exactly what the position is to build trust

14:24-17:51 How important is a good culture to employee retention?

• Culture is everything
• Treat people how you want to be treated
• Anyone wants to know they have people behind them who care about them
• Connect with your photographers and employees on a human level

17:52-23:15 How can business owners show that they care?

• Be available
• Check in with them, whether over the phone or in person, and find out how can you make their life better or easier
• Let them know you appreciate them
• Visit them at appointments if you can
• The little things go a long way - don’t underestimate the value of the small things
• Be deliberate
• We communicate and receive love and appreciation in different ways, or love languages - discover what makes different team members feel appreciated, write it down, and use it

23:16-26:32 What is a 1099?

• A 1099 contractor is paid per job
• The company and contractor sign a contract of compensation
• A W2 employee is paid hourly
• As a business owner, decide what works best for you and make sure you talk to an attorney so you can treat your hires legally - it is worth the cost
• You owe it to your company and employees to do it right
• It varies by state

26:33-29:11 Who do I hire?

• Hire for the quality of the person over the person’s experience
• You can teach someone to use a camera; you can’t always teach someone great attitude, character, and personality

29:12-31:19 Reach Ryan at [e-mail]

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