Total newbie in the 3D modeling/rendering world, but I'm very interested in pursuing a freelance career modeling and rendering architects. My question is if that's even possible with the fact that I'm not an architect. My skills are at the point where I can model with confidence and deliver high quality work, but I'm not sure if I'm marketable in general.
1. Do licensed qualified architects just do their own 3D rendering?
2. Do architects even hire freelance 3D modelers who are not architects?
We do all our visuals in house. Most can do basic to advanced graphics but we have one person who specializes in producing high-quality presentation stuff. It's much easier to produce this stuff inhouse instead of relying on outside help but several offices farm-out... typically to people in countries with lesser (ie. non-existant) labour laws.
but you don't need to be architect to know what buttons to press to make the shiny rendering hamster wheel go brrrrr. Every fresh grad knows how and they are a dime a dozen. It's a strange and competitive space to get into.
I really hate the forum software if this website...pasted the wrong thing and hit enter too soon and can't delete...oh well. "but you don't need to be architect to know what buttons to press to make the shiny rendering hamster wheel go brrrrr." No, but you need some insight into construction and how design works otherwise you'll just wind up with renders with unaligned finishes, impossible window dimensions/details, etc
May 31, 23 7:35 am ·
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Non Sequitur
I'm aware that it takes more than button mashing but to me it seems there are far too many who claim to be 3D visual specialist who don't know shit about the real world. Software is easy. Design, not as much. Knowing how to use software in a way that makes design easier to understand while respecting the laws of physics... not so easy.
We do everything in house and do not get enough in fees to be able to farm it out. Client's already think they pay us too much but wont even blink and eye at realtor fees.
No, just dont like the fact that they charge 10% of sale price, and can sell the same building multiple times. We are lucky to get 5% of construction cost for engineering fees, and are liable for 10 years. It make absolutely no sense. Any idiot can become a realtor, why do we pay them so much?
I have had one good experience working with a realtor as a client, and one good experience working with a developer, and at least a dozen bad experiences working with either. I can't think of another category of client that I've had worse luck with. People complain about working with attorneys but I have had almost entirely good luck with them as clients, at least a couple dozen of them over the years.
And I also think that realtors are over-paid for what they have to know and do. I understand they take on risk and that it's a challenging job in ways, but the compensation is not commensurate with the skills required.
"No, just dont like the fact that they charge 10% of sale price, and can sell the same building multiple times. We are lucky to get 5% of construction cost for engineering fees, and are liable for 10 years. It make absolutely no sense. Any idiot can become a realtor, why do we pay them so much? "
So it's envy and jealousy, got it. If you're so envious why don't you become a realtor? You'd make more money and any idiot can do it.
I don't like working with realtors because
they tend to be shallow in terms of following popular building trends in order to increase project resale or lease prices. These trends rarely actually increase the value of the project though. Also they change their minds like a four year old with ADHD trying to pick an ice cream flavor.
Chad: Thanks for you 2 min psych analysis, as if I am the first person on Archinet to complain about professional fees. Im not jealous of realtors, I am annoyed that their work is valued higher than the work we do. Im surprised I had to spell that out for you.
Almosthip. Oh I know what you're saying. What I'm saying is that if you want to be valued more like a realtor then become one. Any idiot can do it.
May 31, 23 4:44 pm ·
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Almosthip
Chad, what I am saying is that I dont want to be valued as a realtor, I want my clients to realize the value in the work I provide for them, as I am tired of having my fees beat down.
So you're not upset with realtors, you're upset with yourself for not expressing the value you bring to your clients. Got it.
On a serious note: we architects tend to be really bad at conveying what we do and the value we add to a projects. I expect this is even worse in single family type projects.
We've have a few people a year walk into our office and say 'we just need you to draw up the permit set, we have it all figured out'. I've told these type of 'clients' that's great, you will need to sign this contract saying that you take on all of the liability then and can't hold us responsible for anything then. When they balk at this then I tell them if they want us to review their work and take responsibility for it our fee will be x.
Just here to say nobody questions the value of design or knowledge and ability of architects. They question the effort and time it takes. All the iterations and coordination… clients want to skip those steps. Measuring an existing building… maybe we can skip that step too. In other words, it takes effort. I’ve never met a realtor who put forth any effort whatsoever. You ever notice you aren’t allowed to ask for qualities in a home you like? You ask for a porch. Realtor says there is no way to search the database for that criteria and your best bet is to buy a house and add a porch. No effort expended and that’s intentional.
Here’s another for you. “I’m a realtor. I’m an expert negotiator. I’m your agent and I represent you!” Comes time to negotiate, the same realtor, “You don’t want to negotiate. It might hurt their feelings.”
I had a realtor get earnest money from a potential buyer who tried to get his contractor buddy to say our basement water protection was substandard during the buyer inspection. Realtor told the person they were full of it and she would take him to court and make sure no realtor would ever work with him in future if he didn't pay up.
Lot's of people do it. I usually only work with visualization companies when the project needs marketing materials for tenants. Otherwise, clients are happy enough with internal renderings. People at visualization studios sometimes have art backgrounds, sometimes architecture.
Also, plenty of larger offices in large cities hire people specifically for modeling and visualization. Although that is getting to be a smaller and smaller job as Twinmotion and Enscape plugins have become so easy.
usually is the realtor who hires the external rendering images for marketing purposes - it depends on the market I guess, if it's a competition or client presentation you'd do it in-house.
May 26, 23 12:26 pm ·
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3D modeling
Total newbie in the 3D modeling/rendering world, but I'm very interested in pursuing a freelance career modeling and rendering architects. My question is if that's even possible with the fact that I'm not an architect. My skills are at the point where I can model with confidence and deliver high quality work, but I'm not sure if I'm marketable in general.
1. Do licensed qualified architects just do their own 3D rendering?
2. Do architects even hire freelance 3D modelers who are not architects?
1. yes
2. yes
The rendering service space is highly competitive. You have to be exceptional or cheap. But deliver a few jobs and your clientele will grow.
We do all our visuals in house. Most can do basic to advanced graphics but we have one person who specializes in producing high-quality presentation stuff. It's much easier to produce this stuff inhouse instead of relying on outside help but several offices farm-out... typically to people in countries with lesser (ie. non-existant) labour laws.
but you don't need to be architect to know what buttons to press to make the shiny rendering hamster wheel go brrrrr. Every fresh grad knows how and they are a dime a dozen. It's a strange and competitive space to get into.
>https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/jan/01/on-its-hundredth-birthday-in-1959-edward-teller-warned-the-oil-industry-about-global-warming
I really hate the forum software if this website...pasted the wrong thing and hit enter too soon and can't delete...oh well. "but you don't need to be architect to know what buttons to press to make the shiny rendering hamster wheel go brrrrr." No, but you need some insight into construction and how design works otherwise you'll just wind up with renders with unaligned finishes, impossible window dimensions/details, etc
I'm aware that it takes more than button mashing but to me it seems there are far too many who claim to be 3D visual specialist who don't know shit about the real world. Software is easy. Design, not as much. Knowing how to use software in a way that makes design easier to understand while respecting the laws of physics... not so easy.
We do everything in house and do not get enough in fees to be able to farm it out. Client's already think they pay us too much but wont even blink and eye at realtor fees.
You have an unhealthy disdain for realtors. Did you get a bad deal on some property? Did a closing go poorly for you? I must know the backstory!
No, just dont like the fact that they charge 10% of sale price, and can sell the same building multiple times. We are lucky to get 5% of construction cost for engineering fees, and are liable for 10 years. It make absolutely no sense. Any idiot can become a realtor, why do we pay them so much?
all disdain is healthy when it's directed to slimy realtors.
I have had one good experience working with a realtor as a client, and one good experience working with a developer, and at least a dozen bad experiences working with either. I can't think of another category of client that I've had worse luck with. People complain about working with attorneys but I have had almost entirely good luck with them as clients, at least a couple dozen of them over the years.
And I also think that realtors are over-paid for what they have to know and do. I understand they take on risk and that it's a challenging job in ways, but the compensation is not commensurate with the skills required.
Almosthip wrote:
"No, just dont like the fact that they charge 10% of sale price, and can sell the same building multiple times. We are lucky to get 5% of construction cost for engineering fees, and are liable for 10 years. It make absolutely no sense. Any idiot can become a realtor, why do we pay them so much? "
So it's envy and jealousy, got it. If you're so envious why don't you become a realtor? You'd make more money and any idiot can do it.
I don't like working with realtors because they tend to be shallow in terms of following popular building trends in order to increase project resale or lease prices. These trends rarely actually increase the value of the project though. Also they change their minds like a four year old with ADHD trying to pick an ice cream flavor.
Relax
Chad: Thanks for you 2 min psych analysis, as if I am the first person on Archinet to complain about professional fees. Im not jealous of realtors, I am annoyed that their work is valued higher than the work we do. Im surprised I had to spell that out for you.
Almosthip. Oh I know what you're saying. What I'm saying is that if you want to be valued more like a realtor then become one. Any idiot can do it.
Chad, what I am saying is that I dont want to be valued as a realtor, I want my clients to realize the value in the work I provide for them, as I am tired of having my fees beat down.
So you're not upset with realtors, you're upset with yourself for not expressing the value you bring to your clients. Got it.
On a serious note: we architects tend to be really bad at conveying what we do and the value we add to a projects. I expect this is even worse in single family type projects.
We've have a few people a year walk into our office and say 'we just need you to draw up the permit set, we have it all figured out'. I've told these type of 'clients' that's great, you will need to sign this contract saying that you take on all of the liability then and can't hold us responsible for anything then. When they balk at this then I tell them if they want us to review their work and take responsibility for it our fee will be x.
“We just need a permit”
“We don’t need a DD phase”
“We just need some blueprints”
“I already drew a plan / we know what we want”
Or
https://www.theonion.com/man-who-s-been-in-a-bunch-of-buildings-figures-he-d-be-1834753863
Just here to say nobody questions the value of design or knowledge and ability of architects. They question the effort and time it takes. All the iterations and coordination… clients want to skip those steps. Measuring an existing building… maybe we can skip that step too. In other words, it takes effort. I’ve never met a realtor who put forth any effort whatsoever. You ever notice you aren’t allowed to ask for qualities in a home you like? You ask for a porch. Realtor says there is no way to search the database for that criteria and your best bet is to buy a house and add a porch. No effort expended and that’s intentional.
You get to ask for # of beds, # of baths, lot and house size. Imagine how well we’d be paid if we took our fees for that level of service. Lol!
Oh and you’d have the client enter the criteria in the software yourself. Send them a link.
Themselves. Dang. It’s a good day today.
Here’s another for you. “I’m a realtor. I’m an expert negotiator. I’m your agent and I represent you!” Comes time to negotiate, the same realtor, “You don’t want to negotiate. It might hurt their feelings.”
I had a realtor get earnest money from a potential buyer who tried to get his contractor buddy to say our basement water protection was substandard during the buyer inspection. Realtor told the person they were full of it and she would take him to court and make sure no realtor would ever work with him in future if he didn't pay up.
yes.
yes.
Lot's of people do it. I usually only work with visualization companies when the project needs marketing materials for tenants. Otherwise, clients are happy enough with internal renderings. People at visualization studios sometimes have art backgrounds, sometimes architecture.
Examples of larger companies:
https://www.aldenstudios.com/
https://volleystudio.us/
http://www.factoryfifteen.com/
https://avr.london/
https://www.the-boundary.com/
https://zoa3d.com/
Also, plenty of larger offices in large cities hire people specifically for modeling and visualization. Although that is getting to be a smaller and smaller job as Twinmotion and Enscape plugins have become so easy.
usually is the realtor who hires the external rendering images for marketing purposes - it depends on the market I guess, if it's a competition or client presentation you'd do it in-house.
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