Shooting on spec (on speculation) is a great way to get your foot in the door with any real estate agent and is often overlooked. What does shooting on spec mean anyway? It means that you're going to photograph a listing for an agent without the promise of being paid or contracted to do future work. Sounds like a bummer when it's phrased like that, but that's what it is - a calculated risk. Here's a more tangible example using specifics we can all relate to:

• Research a specific real estate agent and know their current (and past, if possible) listings
• Print out their listings straight from the MLS, most importantly, print out the photos of the property
• Schedule a meeting, make your pitch, explain your prices, then offer to shoot one of the many listings on spec
• If they like what they see, they can pay you for the photos
• If they really like what they see, they can hire you to shoot all of their listings
• You've likely just added a client and a good contact

By shooting an actual listing for an agent, you're combining your work with theirs and seeing if it's a good fit. The 'calculated risk' is a matter of time and energy, not money (if you already have equipment, that is). If the agent doesn't want the photos or your future services, the worst you've done is added to your portfolio and gained experience - not a loss in my book.