AnthonyRay
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Upload & Sell: Off
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As mentioned - and you do also - look to lighting.
I shoot Real Estate for my company doing virtual tours - as well as doing all the marketing for my wife (a Realtor). I also shoot hotels - which is great for the same reasons you do restaurants!
When I was using crop the Sigma 10-20 was my go-to lens. I came awfully close to getting the Sigma 8-16, as that little bit is actually an awful lot when you're talking about the wide end of things. While I could get a powder room into frame, the 8-16 would look like you could roller skate in there!
But, I went to FF with the 6D, and have the 17-40 which is an absolutely fantastic lens. Way better than I thought it would be. Before I went FF I was positive when I did I'd be getting the Tokina 16-28, but I thought better of it when I found out about their repair center (or lack thereof). Anyway, I've been delighted with the 17-40, and f4 is fine as you know. I've never needed fast. I did however just order the 16-35 f4L IS, so this could be the first time I've ever sold any of my equipment! I just don't think I'll need the 17-40 (it looks brand new - because it almost is!).
Anyway, I'd highly recommend getting into lights. There's no way I could do without a couple of flashes at least. I started with Triggers - and still use them. Great for exteriors at dusk/sunset/evening when I can walk around, trigger the camera and paint the house with a flash. Composite in Photoshop - masterpiece! For interiors, having at least one flash off camera can light up those hallways and other rooms that look like caves otherwise. It's just a necessity to be able to control the interior light so you can bring the outdoors in as well.
I also picked up the Rokinon 14mm, and with the Adobe Lens profiler I can pretty much eliminate the distortion. Another lens I've considered is the Sigma 12-24 - which is mind-bending on FF. While not particularly sharp it does have decent distortion - and it's pretty neat to get an entire room into a single shot without being a fisheye.
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http://www.icophos.com/junk/stratford-4432.jpg |
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http://www.icophos.com/junk/stratford-4657.jpg |
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http://www.icophos.com/junk/stratford-4456.jpg |
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The one just above I had a flash and umbrella down the hallway on the left - and triggered with Aputure Trigmaster Plus - 2 Yongnuo 565EX flashes. I've since gotten 600EX-RT's and the YN-E3-RT, but the triggers are still handy for activating the camera. I thought I had some better examples of lighting up other rooms, but I don't see any right off the bat - this should give you an idea though. Oddly (or perhaps not) I find the smaller homes and condos seem to the the ones that need extra lighting. I don't know if it's because they're just claustrophobic - but less windows, lower ceilings and fewer open spaces - but I make sure I bring along lightstands, umbrellas, softbox and tripod all the time now.
[edit] BTW, as much as I'd love a TS-E, I wouldn't get a lot of use out of it for what I do. I'm extremely limited by time, and for the virtual tours, I shoot several different angles per room (our tool is based on a floor plan). I'd run out of time or have to charge too much. Now, for the glamor shots (not virtual tours) no problem. But honestly, a little decent technique and I can literally shoot without having to adjust my verticals at all. I even impress myself. As you can see in the shots I've put up - it's not an issue. With outdoor shots if I'm really close to a house/building - I can fix it pretty easily in Photoshop. So, it's something I've survived just fine without. That doesn't mean I won't pick one up someday! The 17 (and even 24) lens itself (even if it didn't tilt) is remarkable.
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Another point is that if you are getting paid work then really try to nail it - work really hard at making beautiful images as your first few paid jobs can lead to a lot of other work. Don't screw up!