Article Submitted by Hawk Edit Photography
Since VHT Studios officially closed its doors on August 31, 2025, the Chicagoland real estate photography industry has been thrown into a state of rapid change. Hawk Edit, a growing creative agency specializing in real estate and portrait photography, reports being inundated with calls from both realtors in need of listing photos and photographers suddenly seeking work.
For years, VHT Studios was a go-to resource for high-quality real estate photography and virtual staging across the country. Its sudden shutdown left many in the industry scrambling. Realtors with active listings now face a gap in professional photo services, while freelance and staff photographers once tied to VHT are searching for new opportunities.
“Within hours of VHT’s closure, our phones lit up,” said Joey Collazo, President of Hawk Edit. “Realtors are desperate to keep their listings competitive with professional visuals, and photographers are reaching out daily looking for work. The demand is overwhelming—but it also shows how critical strong visuals are in today’s real estate market.”
Industry analysts note that the void left by VHT Studios is creating opportunities for independent agencies like Hawk Edit to step in. The influx of demand could accelerate Hawk Edit’s growth trajectory while reshaping how real estate professionals source their photography needs.
For realtors, the situation highlights the importance of diversifying service providers rather than relying on one major company. For photographers, it presents both uncertainty and opportunity as smaller firms expand to fill the market gap.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the need for high-quality real estate imagery has never been greater—and Hawk Edit is quickly becoming one of the region’s most sought-after names.
