When a Watchful Owner Becomes a Problem: A Real Estate Photographer's Lesson in Patience

When I first started real estate photography, I didn’t mind if the homeowner stayed to watch me work. In fact, in many cases, it was helpful. They’d move furniture, straighten up pillows, and make sure their home looked its best. I never saw an issue with it.

Then, I started reading about other photographers’ experiences—homeowners hovering over their shoulders, offering unwanted "advice," micromanaging every shot. I thought to myself, That’ll never happen to me.

I was wrong.

The Veteran Who Tested My Patience

This particular shoot was with an older gentleman. A Vietnam-era vet. And as a veteran myself, I thought we’d find common ground. I figured we’d swap some stories, maybe share a few laughs, and he’d trust me to do my job.

At first, that’s exactly how it went. We had some good conversation. Found a few things in common. But there was one problem—he was used to giving orders, not taking them.

Every time I set up for a shot, there he was—standing either in the middle of my frame, arms crossed, watching like a drill sergeant or standing over my shoulder like he was evaluating a recruit.

"Sir, could you move here so I can get this shot?" He'd nod, shuffle a few feet over, and then—boom—right back at it again.

It was almost like he needed to oversee the whole operation. Even when I explained the process, he’d eye me with that look—like he had already decided how this should go, and I was just taking too damn long to figure it out.

And behind his smile? I could tell there was something else.

Unresolved issues.

It takes one to know one.

The Garage Escape… and the Boiling Point

After about 30 minutes of this, I think he had enough of me asking him to move. With an exaggerated sigh, he threw his hands up and said, “I’ll just wait in the garage.”

Perfect! Now I could move through the house freely without dodging him in every frame.

Or so I thought.

Even though he was out of the way, I still had a lot of work to do. I had to move things around to make sure the space looked its best before each shot. He had done his best to prepare the home, but he had a walking stick, so it wasn’t exactly photo-ready. There were still chairs out of place, clutter on counters, and things that needed tidying up.

I’ve seen real estate photography where the photographer took no pride in their work—or worse, when the agent took the photos themselves. And let me tell you, it shows.

You can spot the amateur shots a mile away:

• Harsh shadows from bad lighting.

• Garbage cans left in the middle of a beautiful kitchen.

• Open toilets—because nothing says "dream home" like a wide-open bowl.

• Ceiling fans running, creating weird motion blur.

• Shots with way too much ceiling or floor, like the room is 80% tile.

• The underside of cabinets—why??

• Their own reflections — "is this a self portrait session?"

• And last but not least : distractions like bras and underwear just hanging out in the shot.

That was never going to be me.

The Boiling Point

Fifteen minutes after he left, the garage door swung open like a scene out of an action movie, and in he came—hot, sweaty, and pissed.

"What the hell is taking so long?!"

The words weren’t just a question—they were an accusation. A full-frontal assault on my process.

From “Perfect Shot” to “Just Get A Shot”

Now, to be fair, this was a two-story home, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and 2,200 square feet. I had been working for about 45 minutes total and still needed to tackle the second floor.

But the moment he barked at me, my mindset shifted.

Instead of focusing on getting the best shots, I just focused on getting a shot. My creative flow was officially dead. I went from carefully composing each frame to a snap-and-go mentality.

To make matters worse, he threw in a parting shot:

"I've sold plenty of houses, and photographers are usually in and out in 30 minutes!"

I forced a smile and apologized for taking too long. But in my mind? Sir, you must’ve only sold tiny homes, because there’s no way you’re getting quality photos of a place this size in half an hour.

The Policy Change: “Owners Need to Be OUT”

That day, I made a decision:

From now on, my prep-list would include this rule—"The owner needs to be OUT of the property for at least two hours."

Of course, this depends on the size of the home. But the principle remains—if you want the best results, let the photographer work in peace.

This experience also taught me to:

• Communicate expectations upfront. Let agents and owners know how long the process takes.

• Manage moods. Keep people in a good headspace so frustration doesn’t kill the workflow.

• Be efficient. If an owner sticks around, work smarter, move faster, and avoid unnecessary delays.

Lessons Learned

At first, this shoot felt like a headache, but the truth is, every experience has a lesson in it. Even the difficult ones. Maybe especially the difficult ones.

This one helped me refine my process, shape my prep-list, and, most importantly, understand that every homeowner is different.

I also realized that some people are just wired differently, and you never know what someone is going through.

Yes, he was impatient. Yes, he was used to calling the shots. But maybe he wasn’t just frustrated with me—maybe he was frustrated with life.

So to all the future homeowners I’ll photograph: If you want magazine-quality photos, step outside, grab a coffee, and let me work my magic.

Because if I hear “What the hell is taking so long?” again… I might just start charging by the attitude.