PropMedia Podcast

Pixlmob

PropMedia Podcast: Where Real Estate Media Professionals Build Better Businesses Hosted by Matty Fisher and Moses Nickerson, co-founders of Pixlmob and PropMedia.com, the PropMedia Podcast is the go-to show for real estate photographers, videographers, drone operators, and media professionals who are building businesses, not just taking pictures. Each week, Matty and Moses sit down with industry leaders who've scaled from solo shooter to successful media companies. We cut through the fluff to deliver actionable strategies on pricing, client acquisition, business growth, workflow optimization, and staying ahead of industry changes. Whether you're shooting your first listing or managing a team of photographers, this is where you'll learn how to expand your services, work with luxury clients, leverage new technologies like AI and 3D tours, navigate the off-season, and build the systems that turn your photography side hustle into a thriving full-service media business. This is where ambition meets execution in the real estate media world. New episodes drop every Thursday.

  1. 2D AGO

    The "Wow" Factor: Accelerating Success in Property Media w/ Harman Walia

    In this episode, the co-founders of PropMedia and Pixlmob interview Harman Walia, co-founder of Fotello, a leading AI product for real estate media. Harman shares his journey from being a Senior Product Manager at Angie’s List to revolutionizing the real estate photography industry with AI-driven solutions. The discussion explores Fotello's evolution into a comprehensive "book, edit, deliver" platform designed to simplify workflows and enhance customer value. Harman provides an outsider's tech perspective on industry pain points, the importance of building deep relationships with both realtors and homeowners, and how photographers can leverage AI to scale their businesses and focus on storytelling. Chapter Markers 0:00 - Introduction to the PropMedia Podcast and Harman Walia0:51 - Harman’s journey from University of British Columbia to Fotello2:41 - Transitioning from a Product Manager at Angie’s List to real estate media4:05 - Building a customer-centric business and the "wow factor" of AI6:05 - Surprises and appreciation for the hard-working photography community9:49 - Scaling Fotello from white-glove service to a self-serve platform11:23 - AD: Benefits of Pixlmob and Prop Media Pro membership13:07 - Overview of the Fotello "book, edit, deliver" platform14:26 - Creating a mobile-friendly, frictionless ordering process for realtors16:26 - First principles thinking and innovations in real estate tech20:11 - Deciding on a product roadmap based on customer feedback22:56 - Applying product rigor and relationship building to photography businesses24:50 - The value of engaging with homeowners and telling the home's story30:13 - The future of AI in real estate media: automation vs. human storytelling34:01 - Integrations with 3D tours and other media assets35:54 - Advice for photographers on choosing tools and letting go of control38:12 - What’s next for Fotello: Video creation and quality improvements40:14 - Where to follow Fotello and Harman’s journey

    42 min
  2. APR 16

    Transparency in the AI Era: How AB 723 Impacts Property Media w/ Assemblymember Gail Pellerin

    In this episode of the PropMedia Podcast, hosts Matty and Moses sit down with California Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin to discuss her landmark legislation, AB 723. This first-of-its-kind bill in the United States addresses the growing impact of AI and digital manipulation in real estate photography by requiring clear disclosures for materially altered images. **Key Discussion Points:**   * **The Inspiration Behind AB 723**: Pellerin shares a personal story of a staff member who drove hours to see a home that looked nothing like its digitally enhanced photos, sparking the need for stronger consumer protections.   * **Understanding the Bill**: A breakdown of what constitutes a "material change" (like adding a pool or remodeling a kitchen) versus standard professional editing (such as removing a trash can or enhancing a sunset).   * **Compliance and Enforcement**: Insights into how the Department of Real Estate handles enforcement and why the "buck stops" with the real estate broker rather than the photographer.   * **Future-Proofing Real Estate**: How the bill is designed to adapt as AI technology continues to evolve and its potential as a template for other states and federal legislation.   * **New Tools for Disclosure**: Matty and Moses highlight free and pro tools available at propmedia.com/disclosure and within Pixlmob to help photographers and realtors easily stay compliant using QR codes and digital badges. **Follow Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin:**   * **Website**: Search for "Gail Pellerin Assembly" to find her official site and monthly newsletter.   * **Track Legislation**: Visit the California Legislative Information portal to follow AB 723 and other upcoming bills. https://propmedia.com/disclosure

    41 min
  3. APR 2

    The Calm vs. The Chaos: Scaling a Property Media Business

    In this episode of the PropMedia Podcast, hosts Matty and Moses go behind the scenes of Pixlmob to explore how the platform has evolved from a simple editor marketplace into a comprehensive post-production ecosystem. They dive into the "business owner's mindset," discussing how to transition from the "frenetic hustle" of putting out daily fires to achieving calm, controlled business growth through automation and redundancy. Key topics covered in this episode include: Beyond Photo Editing: Discover the wide range of services now available, from video editing and 3D floor plans to headshot retouching and natural twilight edits.The Power of Templates and Teams: Learn how to eliminate decision fatigue by building order templates and curated editor rosters tailored to your specific products.Streamlined Workflows: How direct integrations with Dropbox and Google Drive, along with a granular revision tracking system, remove the "noise" of fractured communication.The AI Revolution: A look at Pixlmob’s "marketplace ethos" regarding AI—partnering with leading models to offer photographers hybrid human-AI workflows.Legal and Ethical Disclosures: Understanding the new built-in tools for disclosing AI alterations and object removal to keep realtors compliant with evolving regulations.Building Redundancy: How features like ASAP editing and instant AI tools act as fail-safes, ensuring you never have to pull an all-nighter to meet a client deadline again.PropMedia Directory: How to leverage a free, SEO-optimized profile to generate leads and showcase your specific technical capabilities to realtors.Stop being the "hustle bro" with your hair on fire and start building a scalable media empire. Tune in to learn how to reclaim your evenings and focus on what truly moves the needle for your business.

    48 min
  4. MAR 26

    The Godfather of Property Media: 17 Years of Scaling w/ Phil Maurion

    In this episode of the PropMedia Podcast, founders Matty and Moses sit down with Phil Maurion, the founder of Visual Advantage. With over 17 years of experience in the real estate media space, Phil is often considered a "godfather" of the industry. He shares his journey from being a single shooter to scaling his business across four different locations and managing thousands of shoots annually. Phil provides deep insights into the complexities of scaling a team, maintaining quality control, and the importance of building genuine relationships with real estate agents. He also discusses his preference for iGuide technology over other 3D platforms and how integrated workflows are essential for handling high volumes of work. Whether you are a solo photographer looking to make your first hire or an established business owner looking to expand into new markets, Phil’s wisdom on retention, marketing, and navigating a changing real estate landscape is invaluable. **Connect with Phil Maurion:**   * **Website:** visualadvantage.ca   * **Instagram:** @Visual_advantage_CA   * **Facebook:** Visual Advantage **Chapters:**   * **00:00** - Introduction to the Prop Media Podcast   * **00:10** - Meet Phil Maurion of Visual Advantage   * **01:07** - Phil’s 17-Year Journey in Real Estate Media   * **04:09** - Challenges and Realities of National Scaling   * **06:55** - Maintaining Quality Control Across Large Teams   * **08:31** - Developing Fast Editing and Training Workflows   * **11:32** - The Power of Repeat Business and Relationships   * **13:12** - Beyond Social Media: Networking and Presentations   * **15:52** - Advice for New Business Owners: "Hang Out Where They Hang Out"   * **18:48** - Understanding the Real Estate Agent Demographic   * **21:26** - Pixlmob Feature Spotlight   * **22:53** - Why iGuide? Comparing 3D Tour Platforms   * **26:00** - The Importance of Integrated Workflow Systems   * **30:23** - A Playbook for Expanding into New Markets   * **31:17** - Photographer Retention and Finding the Right Talent   * **39:01** - Where to Follow Phil Online

    40 min
  5. MAR 19

    From 3 Months to 6 Years: the Evolution of AI Photo Editing w/ Autoenhance.AI

    In this episode of the PropMedia Podcast, Pixlmob co-founders Moses and Matty welcome their first-ever in-person guests to the studio: Jamie, founder and CEO of Autoenhance.ai, and Josh, the Head of Growth. Together, they dive into the evolution of AI-driven photo editing and its growing impact on the property media landscape. The Big Reveal: Unmasking Omni A highlight of this episode is the official announcement that Pixlmob’s “Omni” model has been powered by Autoenhance.ai since its launch in August 2024. The team discusses the upcoming rebranding effort that will allow the Autoenhance.ai brand to shine directly on the Pixlmob platform, offering users more clarity and access to their cutting-edge technology. Key topics discussed in this episode include: The Origins of Autoenhance.ai: Jamie shares the backstory of starting the company in 2020 and the challenging process of refining AI to meet the high quality standards of the American real estate market, such as perfect white balance and punchy colors.The AI Adoption Curve: The guests discuss the shift from early innovators to mainstream adoption, noting that while AI editing currently accounts for roughly 20–30% of the market, that number is rapidly climbing as the technology matures.Human vs. AI Editing: A look at the role of human editors in an AI world, exploring how AI serves as an "amplification" tool that empowers solo photographers and small businesses to compete at scale while still allowing for a "human touch" in quality control.The "SAS Apocalypse" and Burnout: A candid conversation on how AI can either lead to burnout through an obsession with productivity or offer "time back" to spend with family and focus on high-value business tasks.What’s Next for Autoenhance: Jamie and Josh tease upcoming releases for 2026, including a new "PostEdit" product designed to give users even more granular control and customization over their final images.To learn more about Autoenhance or to try their AI photo editing services, visit autoenhance.ai.

    51 min
  6. MAR 11

    AI Editing: Is It Legal to Use?

    In this episode of the PropMedia podcast, hosts Moses and Matty, co-founders of PropMedia.com and Pixlmob, discuss AI editing and the question: "Is it legal to use AI editing?" The conversation explores the distinction between generative AI and other machine learning technologies and the ethical implications of using AI editing in property media. The hosts emphasize that AI editing is a tool, and its legality depends on how it is used. They discuss scenarios where using AI editing can lead to fraud or misinformation, such as removing non-real estate objects like bar stools or boxes, which can inadvertently alter important details about the property. The responsibility for misrepresentation ultimately lies with the person listing the home, not the photographer. The discussion highlights California's current law, which does not ban editorial changes but requires disclosure of those changes by the advertisers of the property. The hosts argue that external legislation and enforcement are necessary to protect the public and restore trust in imagery, advocating for systems that link images back to the camera and disclose any alterations. They also explore the broader ethical issues, drawing a parallel between image manipulation and the difference between persuasion and propaganda: transparency in reasoning is key. The episode concludes by stressing that the authenticity of images in real estate media is increasingly important given the speed and convincing nature of AI editing. For more on disclosures, visit https://propmedia.com/disclosure.

    36 min
  7. MAR 5

    Press for Property Media: How Photographers and Videographers Can Get Local Media Coverage w/ Mickie Kennedy

    Mickie Kennedy, founder of e-releases, joins the PropMedia podcast to discuss how small businesses, particularly real estate photographers and videographers, can successfully get media coverage and grow their business through Public Relations (PR) and press releases. Learn how local companies can compete with big names like Coca-Cola or National Geographic by leveraging their niche and local appeal. Mickie shares how he has helped thousands of clients with PR, including generating over $132 million in earned media, and specialized in helping local businesses get into the news. Chapter Markings: 00:00 - Introduction to Prop Media Podcast 00:12 - Introducing Mickie Kennedy of e-releases 00:27 - How a small business can get press (the focus of the conversation) 01:20 - Mickie Kennedy’s background in press releases 02:27 - Why PR matters for real estate photographers and videographers 02:48 - Why niche and small businesses have an easier time getting media coverage 03:58 - Using data points and before-and-after photos for real estate PR 05:31 - Leveraging historic, celebrity, or architecturally significant homes for news 08:09 - The advantage of media coverage (credibility and authority) 09:40 - The ROI of PR (largely anecdotal, but helps attract and keep clients) 10:59 - The "Pay-to-Play" scenario in real estate media 13:02 - Why press releases commonly fail (not newsworthy to the media) 14:09 - Putting the spotlight on the client, not just yourself 15:54 - Building an ongoing relationship with local media 18:48 - The non-daunting strategy: focusing on less than 10 people quarterly 19:51 - Press Releases 101: What is a press release? 21:41 - How press releases are distributed today 24:32 - The Duopoly of Newswires (BusinessWire and PR Newswire) 27:46 - Timing your pitch to local news 28:27 - Product/Service announcement failures and the power of a use case study 30:37 - Strategic ways to make your story compelling (contrarian viewpoint, data points) 33:42 - The power of a strong quote and collaboration with agents 35:38 - Realistic expectations for press release success 36:43 - Case Study: Finding a successful, repeatable PR strategy 39:43 - Is all press good press? 40:56 - Where to find Mickie Kennedy and e-releasesConnect with Mickie Kennedy and e-releases: Website: e-releases.comGet the free guide on strategic press releases: e-releases.com/planConnect with Pixlmob: pixlmob.compropmedia.com

    42 min

Ratings & Reviews

About

PropMedia Podcast: Where Real Estate Media Professionals Build Better Businesses Hosted by Matty Fisher and Moses Nickerson, co-founders of Pixlmob and PropMedia.com, the PropMedia Podcast is the go-to show for real estate photographers, videographers, drone operators, and media professionals who are building businesses, not just taking pictures. Each week, Matty and Moses sit down with industry leaders who've scaled from solo shooter to successful media companies. We cut through the fluff to deliver actionable strategies on pricing, client acquisition, business growth, workflow optimization, and staying ahead of industry changes. Whether you're shooting your first listing or managing a team of photographers, this is where you'll learn how to expand your services, work with luxury clients, leverage new technologies like AI and 3D tours, navigate the off-season, and build the systems that turn your photography side hustle into a thriving full-service media business. This is where ambition meets execution in the real estate media world. New episodes drop every Thursday.

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