Josh Frick was an aircraft mechanic when he became interested in real estate in 2014 after connecting with friends and family who were in the industry.
Frick partnered with a friend who worked in wholesale real estate and began taking photos of properties. They soon discovered that investors were more interested in the photos than in the quick-sale real estate.
“They said, ‘We’ll pay you for the photos,’ and they started hiring us to do the listings,” said Frick, who admitted that he didn’t have a graphic design background or any experience in photography but decided to give it a year and go all in.
They began by taking photos for free to build their portfolio. Frick and his then business partner also sought instruction from an award-winning architectural photographer in Los Angeles. To fund the business and save money, he and his wife sold their house and moved in with his parents.
Soon, they noticed that with solid, detailed photography, a house that would normally sit on the market for six or more months was selling in three or less. “We were the first to pay attention to good, quality photos,” he said, adding that Fotovan likely raised the bar for real estate photography in Albuquerque.
Their business model includes a quick turnaround, delivering high-quality photos to clients the next day. Fotovan also now offers 3-D tours, floor plans, and any visual content that realtors need.
Since creating Fotovan, they have photographed over 10,000 properties. Frick has since expanded to Northern New Mexico and are now tapping into the Tucson, Ariz., market, which is similar in size and geography to Albuquerque.
Fotovan employs 16 part-time and full-time employees and has contractors in Santa Fe, Taos, and Arizona, with some working on a seasonal basis. Frick says he has cracked the code on recruiting quality, dependable photographers by hosting meet-and-greet sessions to lay out Fotovan’s business model, training, payment structure, and expectations upfront. Photographers who like what they hear are quick to sign up.
Frick calls The Loan Fund a longtime accountability and strategic partner, which is helpful for business owners who may feel isolated if they lack a big leadership team.
“They want to hear what your challenges are and figure out how they can help because they have so much experience in business,” he said. “That is the biggest help—having that accountability, meeting with them quarterly, showing them that the money has been put to good use and that progress has been made.”
“The Loan Fund as a lender is the most personable group to work with,” he said. “You’re not just another account. They want to see you succeed.”