Drone Real Estate Photography Guide: Showcase Properties Like Never Before!

Drones have transformed many industries, and the real estate industry is probably at the top of that list. 

Gone are the days of static, ground-level shots that fail to capture the true essence and grandeur of a property. With drone technology at your fingertips, you can now effortlessly capture stunning bird’s-eye views, sweeping panoramas, and awe-inspiring perspectives that will leave potential buyers mesmerized.

In this article, you will discover everything you need to know to master the art of drone real estate photography. From choosing the right equipment s to expert tips on composition and editing, we’ll guide you through each step of the drone real estate photography process. 

So, whether you’re a seasoned real estate professional looking to elevate your marketing game or a photographer looking to explore new horizons, let’s embark on this adventure. 

You will learn how you can showcase properties from unique perspectives, captivate your audience, and make an unforgettable impact.

First things first, let’s take a closer look at what drone real estate photography is and how it can impact your business. 

What is Real Estate Drone Photography?

Drone real estate photography involves using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to capture high-quality images and videos of real estate properties. 

Drones enable photographers to capture unique angles and perspectives, surpassing what traditional photography methods can achieve.

High-resolution cameras mounted on drones can capture stunning aerial views of a property from various angles and altitudes. 

The technology allows for encompassing the entire property in a single shot, along with the landscape, neighborhood, and surrounding areas.

Why Use Drone Photography For Real Estate Listings?

Here are some of the key benefits of using drone photography for real estate listings:

Stunning Aerial Views

Real estate drone photography presents an opportunity to captivate your audience with striking visuals. 

Drone aerial shots help to highlight the property’s surroundings. 

You can create a visually stunning experience that captures the attention of potential buyers by showcasing the property’s exterior and nearby amenities from an aerial viewpoint.

Enhancing Visual Appeal

Drone photography for real estate offers potential buyers a comprehensive overview of a more accurate understanding of the property’s layout, size, and location. 

Additionally, presenting properties from an elevated vantage point through aerial real estate photography provides a fresh visual appeal.

Increased Interest

Commercial real estate drone photography can boost interest in a property. Listings that incorporate drone photos attract more views and expedite sales compared to listings without such visuals. 

The uniqueness and comprehensiveness of drone photos enable potential buyers to envision themselves living in the property.

Furthermore, aerial drone photos effectively showcase amenities, such as the property’s proximity to schools, markets, and parks.

Competitive Advantage

In a saturated real estate market, differentiation is crucial. Incorporating drone photography in your marketing strategy provides a valuable competitive advantage, enticing a larger client base. Drone photos leave a lasting impression on buyers, elevating listings and maximizing the likelihood of a successful sale.

Captivating Virtual Tours

By combining drone real estate photography with videography, captivating virtual property tours come to life. These tours seamlessly blend aerial and ground-level shots, providing potential buyers with a holistic understanding of the property. The dynamic fusion of perspectives offers an engaging experience, allowing viewers to explore the property from multiple angles.

Saving Time and Money

Unlike traditional photography methods that often demand significant time and financial investment, real estate drone photography is efficient and cost-effective. With real estate drones, you can capture breathtaking aerial photos efficiently. You’ll save time by eliminating the need for extensive setup.

How to Take Real Estate Photos Using Drones 

Real estate drone photography involves taking photos that accurately and attractively represent a property for sale or rent. Taking great real estate photos can make the difference between a property selling quickly and lingering on the market for months.

Here are the steps to capturing media that make the property look its best and attract more buyers.

1. Choose the Right Drone

When choosing a drone for real estate photography, consider factors like image quality, battery life, and stability. To achieve exceptional results, here are some tips on choosing the right drone platform:

• Look for drones with advanced camera capabilities, stable flight controls, and extended battery life.
• Consider the drone’s weight and portability for ease of use and transportation.
• Opt for a drone with a high-resolution camera for sharp, clear, and vibrant images.
• Does the drone have features like adjustable exposure settings, manual focus control, and RAW format shooting for post-processing flexibility?
• Invest in extra batteries and memory cards to extend flight time and storage capacity.
• Consider accessories such as propeller guards, ND filters, and a landing pad to protect your drone and optimize image quality.

2. Obtain Necessary Permits

To operate a drone for commercial purposes, it is necessary to acquire the required permits from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Obtaining the permits should be a priority before integrating drone real estate photography into your business.

Make certain to thoroughly review the regulations applicable to your area to ensure a smooth and legally compliant operation. In the United States, for instance, obtaining a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA is mandatory.

3. Before the Mission 

Before heading out for a drone photo shoot, conduct thorough research and visit the property to understand its layout and potential obstacles. 

Identify suitable takeoff and landing spots, as well as any no-fly zones or restricted airspace in the area.

Now that you are familiar with the terrain, it is time to do some homework :)! 

Create a list of potential shots based on the property’s unique selling points, such as landscaping, architectural features, or panoramic views. 

The list will help you plan your mission in advance and you’ll be able to take great shots without wasting a lot of time. Consider the time of day and weather conditions that will best showcase the property. Planning ahead ensures you capture the shots you need efficiently and effectively.

4. During the Mission 

Shoot During “Golden Hour”

The right lighting can make a significant difference in your drone photographs. Therefore, aim to shoot during the “golden hour,” which occurs shortly after sunrise or before sunset, to capture warm, soft lighting that enhances the property’s appeal. 

Avoid shooting in harsh midday sunlight, as it can create unflattering shadows and washed-out images.

Use Drone Shots Strategically

While drone shots can be incredibly effective, it is important to use them strategically. The aerial shots should be used to highlight the most important features of a property and capture unique perspectives.

On the other hand, you can use ground-level shots to showcase the interior and exterior of a property. Once you’ve captured your photos and videos, make sure to edit them to enhance their quality and create a compelling visual story.

To create visually appealing compositions in drone photography, apply traditional photography principles. Use the rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry to capture captivating images that draw viewers in. 

Experimenting with different angles, altitudes, and focal lengths will add variety to your shots and showcase the property from multiple perspectives.

5. Editing and Post-Processing 

Post-processing is the process of adjusting and enhancing images after they have been captured. It’s a way to make your photos look better and more appealing.

You can make your photos look amazing by using a variety of photo editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Lightroom. 

As you edit your photos, try to keep them looking natural and real. It’s important to be honest in how you present your pictures, so people can trust what they see. 

If you edit them too much, it might give a false impression and discourage people from liking or buying them.

Expert Tips on Drone Real Estate Photography and Videography 

Follow these simple tips to create stunning visuals that will help sell your property faster:

• Capture real estate drone photography and videography during sunrise and sunset for desirable lighting conditions. Embrace the golden hues of the sun in early morning shots, and capture depth and warmth in real estate videos during sunset.
• Consider shooting night time footage. Go the extra mile by using a portable lighting solution like Lume Cubes to light paint the property’s exterior.
• Capture property highlights by clearing any construction debris and turning on lights to enhance the appeal of your real estate photos and videos.
• Showcase the house’s relationship with the neighborhood and highlight nearby amenities, but avoid extremely high aerial shots.
• Aim for smooth, buttery footage by minimizing jerky movements during drone flights. Move the drone naturally, considering wind direction, to eliminate jerks in the footage.
• Use a higher frame rate to slow down video shots without sacrificing smoothness.
• Experiment with different maneuvers to enhance real estate videography. For example, start with a super-wide shot and slowly move through the front door for an engaging approach.
• Consider a “reveal” shot where the subject property is initially hidden from view. Begin without showing the subject property and then gradually reveal it for an intriguing effect.

Capturing Interior Real Estate Photos and Videos with DJI Osmo

DJI Osmo | Source: SLRLounge

Using Osmo to shoot interior real estate photography and videography certainly has its benefits. However, it is a mistake to carry the Osmo in your hand. Instead, consider mounting the Osmo on a suction cup or a slider, which will result in much better control and, hence, smoother movement.

Additionally, since you can tilt the Osmo through an App, you can easily get the shots you desire. This approach will also result in less post-production work.

One effective technique is to mount the Osmo on a suction cup in the corner of a room. By doing so, you can capture the entire length and breadth of the room. 

Consequently, this will make the room appear bigger than it actually is, enhancing its visual appeal.

Shooting the interior of a property comes with its own set of problems. WiFi and ferromagnetic interference can hinder your flight. 

To overcome these challenges, resort to tricks such as turning on lights and fans. Additionally, focus on highlights such as the fireplace to further enhance the video quality.

Pro Tip: Set the Correct Exposure

DJI Z30 Camera Setting

On a bright sunny day, you should use aperture F16. The shutter speed should be reciprocal of the ISO value. So, if your ISO value is 100, then set the shutter speed to 1/100. 

Don’t mess around with the ISO on the Phantom or the Inspire. This tends to jack up noise levels substantially. 

On overcast days, the F8 aperture is recommended. Using the ND filter on overcast days should be avoided. You can use the polarizing filter instead.  

If you do not have adjustable aperture control, setting the white balance and Kelvin level will help you. You can also adjust the exposure value via your drone remote.

Also, remember that having slightly darker videos is perfectly fine. You can adjust the tones of the shadows separately from the mid-tones and the highlights in final cut pro. 

However, if your whites are too overexposed, you cannot pull data out of it.

Real Estate Drone Photography Pricing

Source: Ruby Home

One of the common questions aspiring drone photographers have is how much do real estate photographers make?

While the income of real estate photographers can vary depending on various factors, including their skill level, experience, and market demand, the earning potential is generally promising.

To begin with, it is a good idea to offer multiple options: a low-end option, an intermediate option, and a high-end option. Offering multiple options to the realtor is a smart negotiation strategy that can work in your favor. 

Moreover, not many realtors will opt for the low-end option, while the intermediate option is likely to be the most popular. In the high-end option, you can provide upsells such as slo-mo and 4K footage.

However, trying to market just aerial photos to realtors is not advisable at all. The entry barrier is low and competition is cutthroat.

Organizations like FotoVan are capturing the market by offering aerial photos for as little as $130. Nevertheless, you can provide aerial photos as an upsell to your clients.

Fotovan Real Estate Photography Pricing | Source: FotoVan

Now, let’s talk about pricing. 

So, how much to charge for drone real estate photography for a house? In a place like New Mexico, you should be able to charge $650 for a sub $500,000 house. 

However, if you are shooting in a place like Colorado, you can easily charge $1,000 for a house in this price range. 

In extremely small towns, you might have to lower your price to $500 per house.

Shooting luxurious properties is certainly a more lucrative option. It is not uncommon at all to charge $1,500 for a million-dollar house. 

For luxurious properties, the agents have fatter commissions and larger marketing budgets. 

Furthermore, properties marketed nationwide are likely to have higher quality requirements. For instance, a high-end ranch shoot is likely to net you $3,500 and upwards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone use drones for real estate photography?

Yes, anyone can use drones for real estate photography, provided they adhere to the local regulations and obtain the necessary permits and licenses.

How much does real estate drone photography cost?

The cost of real estate drone photography can vary depending on various factors, such as the location, size of the property, and the scope of the project. On average, prices can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. 

Are there any legal restrictions or regulations for real estate drone photography?

Yes, there are legal restrictions and regulations for drone photography for real estate that vary from country to country. So it is important to familiarize yourself with the local regulations before operating a drone for real estate photography.

How can drone photography for real estate benefit commercial properties?

Aerial photography for real estate can capture expansive views, showcasing a property’s proximity to main roads, transportation hubs, and other commercial centers. This can be especially advantageous when marketing office buildings, shopping centers, or industrial spaces.

Can drones for real estate be used for property inspections?

Yes, real estate drones can be used to conduct thorough property inspections, even in areas that are difficult or dangerous to access.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using drone photography for real estate can make a big difference in the competitive market. It’s a unique and innovative way to stand out from your competitors and attract more potential clients. To make the most of drone photography, you need to plan carefully, get the right equipment, and have an eye for good composition. By doing these things, you can open up many exciting opportunities and make your real estate listings even more impressive.