Meet Bobby Lawrence | Real Estate Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bobby Lawrence and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bobby, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I always had a desire to start my own business, but fear held me back. I had a secure job in the shipbuilding industry, and that stability made it hard to walk away. Offshore design was something I truly enjoyed, but over time, I developed a hunger to try something new. Photography started as just a hobby. I would occasionally take photos at my local church, but I never imagined it becoming anything more. One day, a friend of mine, who is a realtor, asked if I’d be interested in photographing one of her listings. I was honest and told her I’d never done real estate photography before, but I was excited to give it a shot. Thankfully, she gave me the opportunity. That was my first project. Soon after, other realtors started reaching out. What began as a hobby slowly turned into a small part-time gig. It was great to have some extra money, but I still didn’t feel ready to take the leap. I didn’t have the client base, and I was afraid I couldn’t match the income I was earning in my full-time job. Then something unexpected happened, something out of my control that pushed me to make the change. Suddenly, I found myself doing real estate photography full-time. It wasn’t part of some carefully crafted plan, and I didn’t have the client base to fully sustain it, but I knew if I was going to make it, I had to step up. I began reading, researching, and learning from experienced real estate photographers. I realized that if I wanted to compete and succeed, I had to grow my skills and stay committed to constant improvement. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t let fear dictate my path. I now understand that sometimes you have to step out in faith and chase that dream even when it’s uncomfortable. Life is short. You only get one shot, so make it count and go after what truly inspires you. I always had a desire to start my own business, but fear held me back. I had a secure job in the shipbuilding industry, and that stability made it hard to walk away. Offshore design was something I truly enjoyed, but over time, I developed a hunger to try something new. Photography started as just a hobby. I would occasionally take photos at my local church, but I never imagined it becoming anything more. One day, a friend of mine, who is a realtor, asked if I’d be interested in photographing one of her listings. I was honest and told her I’d never done real estate photography before, but I was excited to give it a shot. Thankfully, she gave me the opportunity. That was my first project. Soon after, other realtors started reaching out. What began as a hobby slowly turned into a small part-time gig. It was great to have some extra money, but I still didn’t feel ready to take the leap. I didn’t have the client base, and I was afraid I couldn’t match the income I was earning in my full-time job. Then something unexpected happened, something out of my control that pushed me to make the change. Suddenly, I found myself doing real estate photography full-time. It wasn’t part of some carefully crafted plan, and I didn’t have the client base to fully sustain it, but I knew if I was going to make it, I had to step up. I began reading, researching, and learning from experienced real estate photographers. I realized that if I wanted to compete and succeed, I had to grow my skills and stay committed to constant improvement. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t let fear dictate my path. I now understand that sometimes you have to step out in faith and chase that dream even when it’s uncomfortable. Life is short. You only get one shot, so make it count and go after what truly inspires you.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
There are several factors that have contributed to the success of my business, but one that stands out the most is the process I use to develop images.
Many real estate photographers rely on a technique called HDR (High Dynamic Range), which involves merging three images taken at different exposures. These are then edited to create the final image. While this method is efficient and produces acceptable results for real estate, I chose to take a different approach. I use a method called Flambient—a combination of flash and ambient exposures, often layered with HDR. This process blends multiple exposures with added flash to produce more balanced, true to life images with greater detail and color accuracy. It takes more time and effort, but the result is a higher-quality image that has a more polished, professional feel.
From my perspective, Flambient is a more artistic approach, and while HDR may be quicker and more common, I’ve found that many clients specifically request the style and quality that Flambient delivers. It’s a key part of what sets my work apart and keeps clients coming back.
It took me many years to learn the techniques of HDR and Flambient photography. When I first started, I would look at my images and wonder why they lacked the punch and polished look that’s essential in real estate photography. I dedicated countless hours, day and night, researching and practicing on my own. At the time, there weren’t many people in the industry willing to share their knowledge, so I had to rely on trial and error and the occasional article I could find online. This was over eight years ago, and resources were much harder to come by than they are today. Looking back, I now see that challenge as a blessing which allowed me to truly understand the process, from capturing the shot to delivering a final image that meets professional standards.
I would like my clients to know that their satisfaction and the quality of my work are the most important things to me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First of all, I would spend a day on my back patio grilling, talking, and swimming in the pool. Honestly, I do not have as much time as I would like to find all the exciting places, but I would certainly try to make it memorable. For instance, I may take them to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo, an Astros game, and eat at one of my favorite places, Pappasitos. As for dessert, I would locate Dirty Dough for their fabulous cookies. Then, we could move toward the NASA area and visit the space museum. Eventually, we would head to the beach in Galveston and after a day of sand and water, we could find a great seafood restaurant on the Strand. Lastly, we could visit Moody Gardens in Galveston before going back home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been many people who have supported me throughout this journey, but the one who has always encouraged me through both the highs and the lows is my beautiful wife, Cindy Lawrence. She has been by my side every step of the way. Cindy helps me stay focused on what truly matters not just in business, but in life and I’m incredibly thankful and blessed to have her as my partner.
I also want to recognize my amazing support team: Brennan and Skyler Lawrence. They continuously offer fresh perspectives and creative solutions whenever challenges arise. Also, a special thank you to Brennan for being the tech wizard who keeps all my equipment running smoothly, minimizing downtime and ensuring everything is ready to go.
To all of you thank you for being my foundation.

Website: https://www.graphotodesign.com

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