You’ve probably seen that incredible drone fly away and take stunning shots of homes and real estate listings, and you may be wondering how much it would cost to get your shoot done.
A good drone pilot can produce stunning results that show off a property in its best light. But what does it cost to hire a drone pilot for your real estate listing?
Let’s look at the average real estate drone photography pricing charged by professionals in the United States and the factors influencing the costs.
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Drone Real Estate Photography Pricing
Drones’ real estate photography prices range between $40 and $250 per hour. Alternatively, it can range from $150 to $350 per project for 15 high-resolution professional real estate aerial images. If you want to include a fully-edited drone video in addition to the photos, the price could rise to $500 or more.
Please keep in mind that this is the typical cost (as indicated by freelance sites and some drone service providers) and that it may be higher or lower depending on your requirements and the experience of your drone pilot. It also depends on how many photographs and aerial films are taken.
Hire a drone pilot for your real estate project only if they have previous experience and are a sector specialist. It is recommended that you request a portfolio of their previous work.
In most cases, independent real estate drone photographers will have set pricing packages for their services. For example, if a shoot takes longer than anticipated, your drone pilot may charge hourly rates ranging from $50 to $100 per additional hour, depending on their price.
Aerial video snippets are typically included in the more expensive packages.
On average, drone videography costs between $70-$250 per hour, but Revepix offers high-end drone photography for $150 and professional cinematic drone videography for $300.
What Factors Influence Real Estate Drone Photography Pricing?
Many factors can affect the pricing for a real estate drone shoot. For example, the type of listing, other general expenses, add-on services, expertise, location, number of photos and videos, and time of day are important factors to consider.
1. Type of listing:
One of the main things that will influence the price is the type of listing. For example, a property for sale will have different pricing than a property for rent. There are also different prices for basic and premium shoots.
Expect to pay more for high-quality shots if the listing is for luxury real estate. Some listings also necessitate more preparation due to more complex angles or being located in a busy neighborhood which may result in higher costs.
2. Type of drone used:
Professional drone photographers need the best drone for the job. Experienced quadcopter pilots need high-end equipment to capture the best possible images and videos, from as little as $1,000 to $12,000.
If you’re just getting started, there are a lot of terrific value drones available at a lesser cost. So if your photographer or filmmaker is using, say, Fimi X8SE, that’s acceptable.
Additional fees may include obtaining a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license.
3. General expenses:
Expenses are variable costs that cause real estate drone photography rates to differ between photographers. Premium software subscriptions, mileage, marketing, web hosting, SEO, and workforce, the cost of transportation, equipment rental, or post-production work costs are among them.
Some other additional costs are:
- Professional training and costs of CAA approval
Drone pilots must be trained and certified to fly legally for commercial purposes. However, this training can be expensive, depending on the provider. In addition, all pilots must have their drones registered with the CAA.
- External camera and lenses (optional)
Although many drones have built-in cameras, they may not be suitable for specific real estate shoots. However, if you need to use an external camera, you will need to factor in the cost of the lens and camera itself.
- Insurance
Drone pilots must have liability insurance in place before commencing any commercial flights. However, drone insurance costs can vary depending on the provider.
- Safety and additional equipment
For photographers to stay safe while watching drones fly away, they must have the proper safety equipment. This includes a first-aid kit, radio transmitter, and goggles/screen for viewing the live footage.
Additional items such as a tripod or carrying case may also be necessary.
- Computer and software for image editing software (Drone Safe Register, 2020)
Once you have the footage from your real estate drone shoot, you need to edit it before posting online or sending it to clients. This requires a computer and suitable image editing software, which can be expensive.
4. Add-on services:
Aside from shooting photos and videos, you may require additional editing, translation, and transcription services.
Music licensing and 3D mapping are add-on services that can raise the price. In addition, if you require a specialized pilot and photographer, the real estate drone photography pricing will be increased.
5. Expertise:
You should expect poor outcomes if you hire someone who has never operated a drone. For example, even though a drone’s high-resolution camera might produce stunning aerial drone shots, it’s essential to know how to take good pictures.
You aren’t just getting what you see when purchasing a digital product. When you hire someone to teach you how to fly a drone, you pay for their expertise and time: photographic and video editing talents and a creative eye for selecting the most eye-catching positions.
Depending on the nature of the work, a photographer may charge more than another for the same service. That indicates that they value their time and abilities more highly.
6. Location:
When discussing pricing, it is critical to consider the location and type of project. For example, if the photographer is unfamiliar with where he will be shooting, they will need to conduct research. Alternatively, they could add an hour or two to the total cost.
Drone operation regulations differ from city to state to country.
Some areas, mainly urban areas, attract higher quotes simply because market rates are higher.
A suggestion would be to look for someone local to the area. For example, if you request that your photographer travels to the photography location, travel fees may be added to your costs.
7. Amount of photos and videos:
Generally speaking, the more footage or photos captured, the higher the price. So it’s easier to request the right amount of pictures and movies when drone photographers charge a flat rate per photo and video.
This is because it takes more time to capture all the necessary shots, and drones are not cheap to operate; others demand a fee by the minute or hour.
Others will charge a flat rate for the entire shoot, with a predetermined number of shots and additional fees for additional images, while others will charge per image.
8. Time of the day:
Even though it is generally accepted that real estate images should be taken when natural light is abundant, some realtors prefer to have their photos taken early in the morning, at sunset, or at night.
Some photographers may charge more for their services due to the logistics and additional expertise and equipment like flashes.
Why Choose Revepix For A Drone Shoot Of Real Estate?
There are many reasons to choose Revepix for a drone shoot of real estate.
First, our real estate photographer team has the experience and expertise to capture stunning aerial footage of your property. We use only the latest and most advanced drones to ensure high-quality results. And our rates are competitive to get the best value for your investment.
Most importantly, we understand the importance of customer service. We always work closely with our clients to ensure they are happy with the final product. We want you to be thrilled with your drone shoot, and we’re confident we can deliver on that promise.
Contact Revepix today to learn more about our services if you’re interested in getting a drone shoot of your real estate. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have and provide a free quote. We look forward to hearing from you!
Final Thoughts
Although the cost of hiring a real estate drone photographer varies depending on your location and the photographer’s experience, you can expect to pay around $100-$500 per shoot.
Drone photography is becoming an increasingly popular way to showcase property listings, so if you’re looking to give your business a competitive edge, consider investing in this technology.
