Drone use in the real estate industry has been adopted for some time now. The ability of a commercial drone and drone pilot to take high-quality aerial photographs and videos from various angles has made them a natural choice for real estate photography.
These factors have popularized real estate drone photography but still some aspects of this niche sector still have unknown variables. One of them relates to how drone photographers price their services.
The rates vary from about a hundred to several hundreds of dollars per drone gig. Figuring out how much such drone shoots should cost varies due to several circumstances.
Real Estate Drone Factors Determining Shoot Costs
Professional drone photographers consider the following aspects:
Type of Listing
Every project will have unique challenges, so no matter how much you try to standardize rates there is still some uncertainty.
Quotes are influenced by factors such as the size of the property being photographed, as well as any special request the realtor might have.
If the listing is for luxury real estate, expect to pay more for extremely high-quality shots.
Some listings require more preparation due to having more complex angles, or being nestled in a bustling neighborhood. This can increase costs.
Setup Costs
Costs associated with real estate photography include buying the drone itself, training to operate it, and acquiring a commercial drone pilots license. All professional drone operators should always fully comply with part 107 regulations for commercial drone use.
A real estate photographer may also charge more depending on the kind of drone they have.
Premium drones such as the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom, Parrot Anafi, DJI Mavic Air, and DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 may increase the quoted price.
General Expenses
Expenses are variable costs that make real estate drone photography rates vary from one photographer to another. They include premium software subscription, mileage, marketing, web hosting, and manpower costs.
Another added cost is drone insurance. Having coverage assures clients that drone operators are responsible for any liability arising from potential drone mishaps.
Though the photographer will probably not charge you directly for insurance, they could pass some of the cost to you in their pricing.
Add-On Services
Other than shooting photos and videos, you may need some complementary such as editing, translation, and transcription services. These will increase the cost of the shoot.
Expertise
Although a drone’s impressive camera resolution might give you exquisite aerial drone photos, photography skills also count.
One photographer might charge higher than another for the same type of work. That means he or she places a higher value on their time and skills.
Location
Some locations, especially urban areas, attract higher quotes than others simply because the market rates are higher and obstacles are more prevalent..
Some areas with competing real estate photography services you might be lucky to find some pretty affordable quotes.
Number of Photos and Videos
Some drone photographers charge a fixed rate per photo or video. This makes it easier to ask for the right number of images or videos that fit your budget.
Others will charge a fixed base rate for the entire shoot with a specified number of photos and extra charges for additional images.
Time of Day
Although the general assumption is to shoot real estate photos when natural lighting is abundant. Some realtors ask for early morning, dusk or night shots. Because of the logistics and extra skills required, many photographers charge more for these services.
Drone Photography Costs
See Picture Perfect Photography Drone costs >>
Your final quote will vary based on location, the type of real estate, the kind of logistics involved, and whichever complementary services our photographer will need to provide.
