Q&A with Property Photographer David Gaffney | #Jan30 04
After Dave and I finished working on today’s property we had a sit down and chat about everything from Dave’s Photography style to the huge rise in demand for virtual viewing solutions such as professional photos, 360 tours and walkthrough videos. Are you in the property industry, how do you feel about the way viewings have changed and the solutions available? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Jasper:
Hello, everyone. Jasper from Yellow Glove Productions here. And today, we've got a very special guest on, Mr. David Gaffney.
Dave:
Hi, my name's Mr. David Gaffney, award-winning property and lifestyle photographer.
Jasper:
So today, Dave, we've been at one of Stylish Living's property. It's a lovely property, as you can see.
Dave:
It sure is.
Jasper:
I'll be playing some clips of you on the screen now. People can get sense of the space. So how has it been? How's it been today working with me?
Dave:
Well, it's been fantastic. It's always good fun working with Jasper. 10 months ago I asked my clients, what can I bring? What new things can we develop and evolve with my service? And they said two words, 360 tours and video.
Jasper:
Hear that.
Jasper:
You hear that?
Dave:
So over the lockdown, me and Jasper's been talking. I normally don't do video or 360 tours. Jasper normally doesn't do property, so it all came together. And here we are.
Jasper:
Have you found that you found a certain style in property photography? Is that something that you always strive to do within it?
Dave:
Well, we are shooting at the highest level when it comes to the designers that we work with, the HMO people. And you can't really go wrong, look around this room now. The fantastic properties that we've been doing since our first one that we did in Manchester, which is absolutely fantastic. And to this one here in the lovely, sunny Rugby.
Dave:
When my clients asked me for video in 360, you were the first person I thought of, bringing Yellow Glove Productions. How has it been for you as a company to come into the property space? Because usually, you used to do a lot of weddings like myself, and since the pandemic that's all pretty much finished now.
Jasper:
Well, it's been quite interesting as I said, learning all the little nuances of everything, setting up certain shots. And it was quite interesting to make objects look animated and make rooms come to life. So working with lighting and different settings on my camera, it's a whole different ball game when compared to shooting a wedding or a music video, for example. So at the start of lockdown, your clients started asking you about 360 and video. Now, why do you think that was? Do you think because more people can't view, essentially?
Dave:
That's exactly what it was. In the deep, dark, heart of the lockdown I did three massive student properties in Birmingham. We had someone in there spraying down everything with disinfectant, and those HMO owners were saying that there's no way that we're going to get people to come and view these properties now. Everything's completely changed. The only way you're going to view your property, view your student accommodation now, is virtually. So this is the way forward, and people are just banging down the door for our services now. So it's been great.
Jasper:
And have you found that it's more the HMOs and student properties, or are you getting also the same level of private houses on the market as well?
Dave:
Yeah, that's the thing. You would imagine that it would be mostly the HMOs and the student properties, and that's how it started out. But now it's really trickling down. Whenever I'm asked to do photography for... Let's say a normal property, a five bedroom house or something. I'll suggest to them, do you really want people coming around your house, and poking around, and doing viewings like that? Or should we do a virtual tour as well? And they're always like, "Brilliant. Yeah." So that's the way it's going.
Dave:
Ever since bringing video and 360 to my clients, the reaction has been absolutely fantastic. Especially in the marketing department. And I've been getting so many recommendations, new clients coming, and just asking about video and 360 tours, as well as my photography. So it's been a great success. And when my customers are happy, when my clients are happy, then I'm happy. Thanks, Jasper.
Jasper:
Well, I would say a massive thank you to David actually for actually bringing me into the property industry. So yeah, it's been a very interesting journey so far, like I said, from that first weekend we did in Manchester.
Dave:
Yeah, it's been fun.
Jasper:
And even before that, we were doing jobs with me doing the 360s.
Dave:
For Jade Did we go Derby? Was it Derby or Nottingham?
Jasper:
Nottingham.
Dave:
That was good fun. And she's been singing your praises ever since, and it's just been really recommendation after recommendation. So it looks like we're stuck with each other for now. And I'm looking forward to the rest of 2021. It's going to be fun.
Jasper:
The rest of our lives together.
Dave:
Yeah, let's get our heads down and keep on producing excellence.
Jasper:
That's great. There's a lot of knowledge there. And again, thank you for bringing me into property. And any final words to finish off?
Dave:
Well, I just want to say thank you Jasper for all your hard work, and it's always been great fun working with you. And I'm really looking forward to the rest of this year.
Jasper:
Brilliant. Well, thanks for watching, guys. And I'll see you again tomorrow.