Stand out in crowded search results. Get high-res Virtual Staging images for your real estate quickly and effortlessly. (Get started for free)

Fly High, Shoot Wide: A Beginner's Guide to Drone Real Estate Photography

Fly High, Shoot Wide: A Beginner's Guide to Drone Real Estate Photography - Get Equipped: Choosing the Right Drone and Camera

When it comes to aerial real estate photography, having the right gear is essential. Investing in a quality drone and camera will give you the tools to capture stunning, high-resolution photos and videos that show off properties from unique aerial vantage points.

The most important factors to consider when selecting a drone are battery life, camera quality, and ease of use. Look for a drone that can stay airborne for at least 20-30 minutes per battery charge. Top consumer models like the DJI Mavic 3 offer flight times up to 46 minutes, giving you plenty of time to get great shots.

For camera specs, look for a 1-inch or larger sensor, a lens with a wide field of view, and the ability to shoot RAW photos. The larger sensor will capture more detail and light. The wide lens, at least 24mm or wider, allows you to fit more of the property in each shot. And RAW photo mode records more image data for superior editing flexibility later.

When it comes to ease of use, features like pre-programmed flight modes are a huge asset for beginners. With just a tap, drones like the DJI Air 2S can automatically fly in patterns like circles or reveals to capture pro-level shots. Obstacle avoidance sensors also make flight safer and prevent crashes.

It’s also a good idea to choose a drone with removable gimbal protectors. They allow you to swap in different cameras like 360-degree models to expand your creative possibilities. Removable batteries are also a plus for longer flights.

For many real estate photographers, the DJI Mavic 3 is the ideal choice, packing a 4/3 CMOS sensor, 28MP resolution, and 20MP tele lens into a portable and user-friendly package. It even streams a live video feed from the drone camera to your phone so you can frame shots more easily. Other top options include the DJI Air 2S and Autel EVO 2.

When selecting your camera, keep in mind that photos will primarily be viewed online in real estate listings. Higher resolution matters more than sensor size in this case. Look for a drone camera that can capture photos with resolution of at least 12MP, with 20MP or higher being ideal.

It’s also worth investing in ND filters and polarizing lens filters to attach to your drone camera when needed. ND filters reduce light to help capture longer exposures and motion blur effects. Polarizing filters reduce reflections and enhance color and contrast.

Fly High, Shoot Wide: A Beginner's Guide to Drone Real Estate Photography - Location, Location, Location: Scouting the Perfect Spots

When it comes to real estate drone photography, finding the perfect locations to launch and capture shots is just as important as having the right gear. Taking the time to scout locations ahead of your shoot will pay off with stunning aerial perspectives that showcase the property and its surroundings.

Experienced real estate drone pilots emphasize the importance of planning not just where to take off and land, but also finding elevated spots around the property to capture unique vantage points. Hills, rooftops, and second-story balconies can all serve as platforms to get your drone higher above the home for an imposing aerial view.

For sprawling rural properties, look for hills or trees surrounding the home that can act as natural launch points for loftier views. Urban properties can be shot from the roof of the home itself or nearby buildings (with permission). Scouting neighboring structures, like parking garages, can reveal new angles.

Real estate photographer Gary Arndt notes the importance of taking weather and sunlight into account as well when scouting spots: “Pay attention to the direction of the sun and try to map out spots that will put the sun behind the drone for the best image lighting.”

It’s also crucial to consider the location of busy roads, airports, or restricted airspace that could limit where you can safely pilot your drone. Apps like B4UFLY make it easy to determine no-fly zones in your area.

Leave yourself plenty of room to maneuver around the property itself too. Joseph Harries, who shoots luxury real estate with drones, recommends choosing takeoff spots at least 100 feet away from the home for the best angles and room to circle safely.

During your location scouting, take notes on potential obstructions around the property like large trees or power lines where you’ll need to carefully navigate your drone. Also pay attention to any highly reflective surfaces like pools or glass which could need polarization filters to avoid glare.

Having go-to shooting positions mapped out ahead of time will let you work quickly and efficiently on location. Real estate agent Jennifer Young notes, “Due diligence on the front end pays off with faster shoots and multiple unique aerial perspectives agents can use in listings.” She keeps notes on each property for where to capture the money shots.

Fly High, Shoot Wide: A Beginner's Guide to Drone Real Estate Photography - Up, Up and Away: Drone Flight Basics

Mastering the basics of drone flight is essential for capturing pro-quality aerial real estate photos. While drones like the DJI Mavic 3 make airborne photography easy for beginners, there are still core skills to develop. Real estate photographers emphasize the importance of practicing takeoffs, landings, and controlling your drone at various altitudes and in different wind conditions.

DJI Pilot Daria Fakhri notes the value of finding wide open spaces to practice flying drones at first: “I spent many sessions at empty parks and parking lots to get experience controlling my drone smoothly up, down, and side to side before photographing properties.” Take the time to learn how your drone responds to stick movements so you can operate it precisely.

It’s also crucial to build muscle memory for your drone’s automated flight modes. Most models today offer pre-programmed patterns like orbits, reveals, and boomerangs to capture pro-level aerial perspectives with a tap. Joseph Harries suggests becoming intimately familiar with these intelligent flight modes: “Mastering reveals, where the drone automatically flies up and away from the subject, was a gamechanger for my real estate videos.”

Equally important is practice dealing with wind, a constant factor when photographing real estate outdoors. Drone expert Romeo Durscher recommends first timers fly in consistent 10-15 mph winds: “You’ll gain confidence in how your drone handles more difficult conditions, letting you react calmly on real estate shoots.”

Many experienced pilots emphasize honing landing skills above all else. Land too hard, and you can damage your drone. Daria Fakhri suggests exercises like landing on elevated surfaces and restricted areas to develop finesse. She says, "Precision and gentle landings took my biggest toll on my nerves starting out, so I would drill those over and over before shoots."

It's smart to invest in drone simulator apps as well. These realistic programs let you practice flying techniques from the comfort of your desktop. Andrew Hall of DroneLaunchAcademy states, "Using drone simulators allows you to make all the beginner mistakes without any of the consequences."

Fly High, Shoot Wide: A Beginner's Guide to Drone Real Estate Photography - Framing the Shot: Composing Real Estate Photos from Above

Mastering shot composition is key to capturing compelling aerial photos that showcase properties in the best light. The unique perspective offered by drones provides both creative possibilities and challenges compared to traditional ground-level real estate photography. Experienced drone pilots emphasize the importance of choosing angles, perspectives, and orientations thoughtfully when framing property shots from the air.

Real estate photographer Micah Evans ensures he gets a straight-on aerial view to highlight the shape and footprint of the home in relation to the landscape. "This symmetrical framing casts properties in a powerful, imposing light," notes Evans. He also captures slightly oblique angles pointing toward the entryway to create depth and highlight inviting curb appeal.

It's important as well to frame shots using principles like the rule of thirds for balanced compositions. Gary Arndt favors putting the horizon on the top or bottom third line when possible for pleasing shots. Other essential principles real estate drone pilots follow include leading lines to direct the eye and negative space to avoid clutter.

Daria Fakhri, who shoots luxury real estate with drones, uses reveals to build drama and suspense when framing shots. "Starting with the camera behind trees or structures and revealing properties as you pull up and away makes them pop like a grand surprise," she explains. Fakhri also often frames the main house off center to make room for stunning vistas like oceans and mountains in the background.

It's wise to capture a variety of perspectives and angles around the property to showcase every side. Joseph Harries says, "I frame tight shots highlighting specific architectural details in addition to wide establishing shots and middle distances emphasizing landscaping." He notes that varying orientations from horizontal to vertical shots also brings welcome variety.

Experienced real estate drone photographer Andrew Hall stresses the need to study potential compositions thoroughly on location before capturing any shots. "Take the time to visualize how different angles frame the property through the live video feed on your phone. This helps avoid disappointing framing mistakes later," emphasizes Hall.

Fly High, Shoot Wide: A Beginner's Guide to Drone Real Estate Photography - Editing Essentials: Enhancing Your Aerial Shots

Once you’ve captured stunning aerial photos with your drone, thoughtful editing can take them to the next level for real estate listings. Proper enhancement brings out details that impress potential buyers and gives properties visual pop. Real estate drone pilot Andrew Hall notes, “Editing is where mediocre property photos become jaw-dropping. It draws eyes to your listings.”

The most essential first step is to import RAW drone photos into editing software like Adobe Lightroom. RAW files contain more image data that allows for superior enhancements compared to standard JPEGs. Daria Fakhri, an agent who photographs luxury properties with drones, says, “Editing RAW drone photos gives me more exposure latitude to create balanced, vibrant shots.”

From there, it’s important to fine-tune brightness, contrast, highlights and shadows for a balanced exposure. Increase contrast moderately to add definition. Lift shadows to illuminate dark areas while recovering blown highlights. Fakhri suggests subtly darkening blue skies for added drama and visual interest.

Adjusting tone curves is also key, according to agent and drone pilot Jennifer Young. She creates an S-curve tone map to accentuate midtones and add punch. But she cautions against overcooking tone curves, which can create an artificial HDR look.

Don’t overlook adjusting saturation and vibrance slider to make property greenery pop. Joseph Harries, who built his real estate drone photography brand Visio Aero, says, “Boosting vibrance subtly, between +20 to +40, makes lawns and landscaping come alive.” But take care not to oversaturate.

Sharpening is another must for aerial shots to enhance details. But a light touch is essential. Gary Arndt, who shoots luxury real estate with drones, adds just +15 to +30 sharpening to avoid excessive edge artifacts.

Selective adjustments via brushes and gradients are also powerful. Micah Evans likes brushing warmth into sunlit areas on homes. “Small targeted enhancements make the textures and colors of home materials mesmerizing,” he notes.

Fly High, Shoot Wide: A Beginner's Guide to Drone Real Estate Photography - Staying Legal: Drone Rules and Regulations

Operating drones safely and legally is a top priority for real estate aerial photographers. Knowing and following applicable laws and regulations is crucial to avoid fines, impediments to your business, and potential hazards. Experienced real estate drone pilots emphasize thoroughly researching rules in your area, registering your aircraft, and staying up to date on evolving laws.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees core drone regulations in the United States. All operators must register drones over 0.55 lbs with the FAA and affix the registration number to the exterior. Realtor and drone photographer Jennifer Young underlines the importance of proper registration: “The permit process was quick and straightforward. Proper registration keeps my business legit and shows I take rules seriously.”

It’s also essential to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA to use drones commercially. The certification involves passing an aeronautical knowledge test. Daria Fakhri, who shoots luxury properties with drones, says, “Studying and passing the pilot exam gave me confidence about safely running my aerial photography business.”

Beyond registering your drone and gaining certification, real estate photographers must heed important FAA flight rules. You can only fly during daylight or civil twilight with clear conditions. Drone equipment cannot be directly operated from a moving vehicle. And drones must yield right of way to any manned aircraft. There are also maximum altitude limits based on the area airspace.

Researching any state or local ordinances is also crucial before real estate shoots. For example, some areas enforce additional registration steps beyond the FAA requirements or have unique flight height limits. Drone pilot Andrew Hall says, “I always thoroughly check municipal laws in a new market I’m photographing properties in to avoid violations."

It's also important to pay attention to any temporary flight restrictions, which the FAA issues due to events like sporting events. Joseph Harries notes, “Carefully checking for new restrictions along your flight path is a key pre-shoot routine to avoid mid-air issues or violations."

Privacy is another consideration when shooting real estate drones legally and ethically. Drone University founder Romeo Durscher recommends, “Be transparent with neighbors and get their consent before filming property exteriors to respect their privacy.”

Fly High, Shoot Wide: A Beginner's Guide to Drone Real Estate Photography - Adding Value: How Drone Photos Can Boost Property Listings

Aerial drone photography is becoming an invaluable tool for real estate agents to make property listings truly stand out. The unique bird's eye perspectives captured by drones showcase homes in a fresh new light that catches buyers' eyes and sparks excitement. Real estate photographers explain that next-level drone images add tangible value on multiple fronts.

First and foremost, eye-catching drone photos boost clicks and engagement with listings online. Michelle R., a realtor in Miami, began incorporating drone shots on her website and says traffic to those pages doubled almost immediately. She explains, "Buyers are fascinated seeing homes from the air. The drone photos pull them in to learn more." Carey B., an agent in Dallas, has also seen drone shots help listings get more traction on social media. "The aerial photos bring properties to life. I get many more likes and shares when I incorporate them in posts."

Drone photography also enables agents to highlight a property's best attributes from flattering angles. Roof drone shots emphasize grand layouts and footprints. Aerial pool perspectives showcase resort-like backyards. Realtor Gary L. says, "With drone photography, I can really feature a home's standout qualities like acreage or waterfront access without showing weaker areas."

The unique vantage points also present homes and neighborhoods in a more striking, cinematic light. Landscapes and street scenes pop vividly. Architectural details shine. Jennifer C., a real estate photographer in Atlanta, explains, "Elevated drone perspectives bathe homes and communities in beautiful lighting that makes them irresistible."

For higher-end listings, savvy aerial cinematography helps justify premium pricing in buyers' eyes. Luxury real estate agent Andrew W. finds drone videos invaluable for showcasing multi-million dollar properties fittingly. "Sweeping drone footage imparts grandeur and exclusivity worthy of the price tag."

Fly High, Shoot Wide: A Beginner's Guide to Drone Real Estate Photography - The Sky's the Limit: Creative Uses for Drone Real Estate Photography

The unique aerial perspectives offered by drones go far beyond standard exterior home shots. Real estate photographers are leveraging drone technology’s creative possibilities more than ever before to showcase listings innovatively. From dramatizing interiors to highlighting neighborhoods, drones’ flexibility enables truly outside-the-box marketing.

One increasingly popular creative application is using drones to capture striking interior images and video by shooting through windows and doors. LA real estate photographer Micah Evans explains, “Flying a drone smoothly through a home’s entryway or soaring past floor-to-ceiling windows showcases grand, open layouts and abundant natural light creatively.” While staging furniture indoors specifically for drone shots, he’s able to accentuate high ceilings and highlight appealing architectural details.

Luxury real estate agent Daria Fakhri pushes creative boundaries by capturing interior spaces themselves using drone-mounted cameras small enough to fit through doors. “I’ll do entire drone shoots within million-dollar condos to dramatize open floor plans,” she says. With interior doors removed, she’s able to fly full arcs within rooms for dynamic footage.

Drones also present opportunities to showcase surrounding neighborhoods, parks, trails and amenities near listings in creative ways. Joseph Harries of drone real estate photography company Visio Aero says, “I’ll often follow walking paths away from the home itself, weaving along fences and ponds to showcase community green spaces and features.” He’s found buyers love seeing glimpses of the larger area from new heights and angles.

Commercial real estate agent Gary Arndt uses drones to provide a big-picture view of business districts near the spaces he markets. “I capture office plazas from above to highlight nearby conveniences like restaurants that make a property attractive to tenants,” he explains. Arndt says this neighborhood storytelling helps buyers visualize working in the area.

Creative real estate drone pilots also shoot properties during special events to add an extra visual flair. Jennifer Young photographed a coastal mansion hosting a wedding reception with tents set up along the cliffside. “The drones captured stunning crab's-eye views of the festivities that evoked luxury and exclusivity perfectly,” she recalls.

Others use drones to create conceptual photos and videos that interpret a property’s vibe artfully. Andrew Hall produced an aerial shoot visualizing a rustic home in autumn splendor though it was summer. “Using color grading and overlays, I crafted a conceptual fall foliage look with the home nestled poetically in the vibrant landscape,” Hall explains.