Real Estate Photography Business
Provide professional real estate photography and videography for listings
Overview
Real estate photographers charge $150-$500 per property shoot plus additional services (drone $75-$200, video $150-$400, virtual tours $100-$300).
Shooting 15-40 properties weekly generates $150,000-$600,000 annually with 70-85% margins after equipment and software.
In 2025, professional photography essential for real estate marketing with most buyers searching online.
Services include interior and exterior photography, twilight photography, aerial drone photography, property videos and walkthroughs, virtual staging, floor plans, 3D Matterport tours, and photo editing and delivery.
Successful real estate photographers invest in quality equipment (full-frame camera, wide-angle lenses, lighting, drone), edit photos professionally, deliver same-day or next-day (agents need fast turnaround), build relationships with real estate agents and brokerages, offer packages with multiple services, and maintain consistent availability.
Average shoot takes 45-90 minutes plus 1-2 hours editing.
Can shoot 3-6 properties daily.
Busiest during spring/summer.
Pricing packages common: basic photos $150-$250, photos + drone $250-$400, full service $400-$800.
Marketing through real estate agents, brokerages, and online presence.
Required Skills
- Photography
- Photo Editing
- Drone Operation
- Videography
- Real Estate Marketing
- Client Relations
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Creative work with variety of properties
- Can shoot multiple properties daily (high volume)
- Fast turnaround builds agent loyalty
- Add services (drone, video, virtual tours)
- Recurring business from repeat agent clients
Cons
- High equipment investment ($5,000-$15,000)
- Competitive market in most areas
- Weather dependent for exterior and drone shots
- Seasonal slowdown in winter
- Pricing pressure from competitors
How to Get Started
- Invest in quality camera, lenses, lighting, drone
- Learn real estate photography and HDR techniques
- Build portfolio shooting properties (friends, low-cost)
- Create website showcasing photography
- Network with real estate agents and brokerages
- Price competitively starting ($150-$250 basic)
- Scale to 15-40 weekly shoots and add services
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