Real Estate Photography Services and Pricing

As someone who are regularly contracted by various photo agencies to do MLS photography for their real estate partners, I’m very familiar with the packages they are offering. Unlike them, I do not have a tier system with artificially limited number of shots and HDR / non-HDR shot ratio. Only 2 base packages to choose from, plus travel fee. And various options that are indeed optional. Let’s dig in!

Base Packages

• Standard – $210. This is the most common package for both MLS and other listings such as Airbnb/Vrbo. All photos are HDR (so you can see details in both extreme shadows and extreme highlights) and undergo full geometry corrections in post. Standard delivery time is 48 hours after the shoot, usually faster.
• Internal Use / Assessment / BPO – $110. Created for internal use by investment firms. Despite being a “shoot and burn” package providing files straight from the camera, I’m still using a steady tripod, which is an absolute necessity when it comes to investment properties with no power and/or boarded windows. This package does not include any geometry corrections or HDR processing, but the photos will be available overnight (usually same evening) with no rush surcharge. Please make sure to specify what other objects and scenes that are not typically covered by MLS photography you want photographed – for example an AC unit, water heater, breaker box etc. Roof & gutter evidentiary photography is also possible, but will incur a PAP surcharge (see below under Options). BPO option includes standard exterior views from public street only, along with “street up and down” views.

You might be wondering, how many photos are included and what do I charge for the extra shots?… Some spaces only require 1-3 photos per room, while the others may need 5 or even more. It’s next to impossible to determine in advance, so there’s no upper limit. Expect at least 3-4 exterior shots and 1-3 shots per room, likely more. For example, small rooms (and especially bathrooms) often only require one photo, while open space living/dining areas usually take at least three. None of it affects the package price.

Travel Surcharge

Travel is calculated as a ground route to the property address, not a straight line on the map. This is important to note as the mountains and rivers oftentimes turn a 5-mile “crow’s flight” distance into a 20-mile scenic tour. The rate is equal to the current IRS deduction for business use is (70 cents/mile at the moment) or $30/hr, whichever is greater. Base for a calculation is the zip code 30735 (Resaca GA), which is close enough to my home office.

Important: travel will be charged as a round trip, unless you have more than one property to photograph consecutively, in which case travel will be calculated for a specific route. Same for the cases where my starting point is not 30735 due to prior arrangements with other clients. 

But what about that $30/hr travel charge? It’s there to make up for the time lost in traffic (and hopefully to dissuade some of my clients from scheduling 9am appointments in congested metros). After plugging various routes into a formula above I’ve determined that the highway travel at $0.70/mi translates into approximately $41/hr, while country roads average about $33/hr. So a $30/hr will only come into play if there’s a significant traffic delay.

Other Surcharges

• Non-Photography Services. Buying and bringing a lockbox, printing and delivering a document, etc. $55/ea or $75/hr, whichever is greater.
• Rush Processing. Normal processing time for a standard package with any options is up to 48 hours, but if you want your files sooner… “24 hours or sooner” will require an additional $55 investment.
• Large Property Surcharge. 5-7 bedrooms or 3,500-5,000 sq ft will incur a $115 surcharge on Standard package or $85 on Internal Use package.
• XL Property Surcharge. 8+ bedrooms or over 5,000 sq ft will incur a $250 surcharge on Standard package or $200/hr for time spent on site, whichever is greater.

Options

• PAP (Pole Aerial Photography). My regular camera is elevated on a 15′ long pole, providing aerial photos with “ground” quality and consistent look across the entire shoot. This is a very popular option for properties that are located on top of the hill, or have a lot of landscaping elements that obstruct the facade when viewed from the ground level. $55 for the first 3 PAP photos, then $15/ea.
• Manual Exposure Blending. Typically sold by photography agencies as part of their ultra-luxury packages, this technique provides an interesting look that brings out the shadows and mutes highlights without typical HDR “greasiness”. $120 per property.
• Flambient. One of the latest buzzwords in real estate photography. It’s a combination of manual exposure blending in post with special use of strobes while photographing the interior. The aim here is to preserve natural colors of the scene while eliminating color casts. Works best when we’re dealing with unique designer interiors or furnished high end apartments. $240 per property (with $170 extra surcharge for large properties as defined under Other Surcharges).
• Twilight (real). Absolutely stunning imagery that sells like crazy, but the logistics of such photoshoots are highly dependent on weather and terrain. When scheduled on the same day as regular photography, it adds $110 to the total plus $30/hr for the gap time between daylight photos and sunset. When scheduled on a separate day, it adds $115 (exterior only) plus travel fee.
• Twilight (digital). Done in post, it’s better than no twilight and “good enough” in most cases. May affect the scheduling (as I’ve to make sure that the Sun is not in the frame). $55 per photo (most properties only need one).
• Panoramic Shots. Sometimes the space is so small that an ultra wide angle lens is just not wide enough, for example in houseboats and “tiny homes”. In these scenarios, a panoramic shot may be required. $47/ea.
• Floor Plan Scan. Just a regular old fashioned 2D floor plan scan, typically done in Cubicasa and delivered as a standard image file to be included with your listing. $80.
• 360 tour. Provided as separate panoramic image files, it’s up to you to upload and assemble it into an interactive presentation using your favorite platform (eyespy360, Zillow etc). $110 (with $90 extra surcharge for large properties as defined under Other Surcharges).
• FLIR photography (thermal imaging). Useful add-on for Internal Use packages that lets you assess the property’s insulation efficiency as well as highlight possible hazards such as faulty circuit breakers. Priced on per-project basis.
• MLS Compliant Alternations. Sky replacement, removal of temporary items such as trash cans or tools etc. $5-15 per photo, depending on a specific task.
• Advanced Alternations. Covering significant imperfections (making a sparse lawn appear lush, removing structural defects etc) goes against MLS rules, but not all real estate photography is created specifically for MLS. Advanced alternations are priced on a per project basis.

Video

• Walkthrough video (unguided and with no voiceover) as an add-on to photography package – $130, or as a standalone service – $230. In both cases, if the property is large (as defined in Other Surcharges), an $85 surcharge will be applied.
• Guided video tours and complex video productions are priced on a per-project basis.

Rescheduling, Cancellation and No-Show Policy

• Rescheduling for any reason, up to 24 hours before the appointment: up to 3 times per property at no extra charge, then $30/ea.
• Late Rescheduling: less than 24 hours before the appointment and up to the moment I leave for it. Flat fee of $40. Rescheduling while en route or after I arrived at the property – $60 plus travel surcharge for the actual distance or time traveled.
• Cancellation: up to 24 hours before scheduled appointment – free. Cancelling in less than 24 hours and up to the moment I leave for an appointment – $50. Cancellation while en route – $80 plus travel surcharge for the actual distance or time traveled.
• No-Show or No Access: $80 plus travel surcharge for the actual distance or time traveled.