If you are looking for real estate drone photography in Baltimore, this page explains when aerial photos help a listing, how I fly and what you get. I am an FAA-certified drone pilot, and I photograph listings across Baltimore City, Baltimore County and the rest of Central Maryland.
What aerial photos show that ground photos cannot
A photo from the ground shows a house. An aerial photo shows where it sits. Buyers can see how large the lot is, how close the neighbors are, where the pool or the outbuildings are and how the house relates to the trees, the street and the water. On a property with land, that is often what buyers care about most, and it is exactly what ground-level photos leave out.
Why add aerial photos to a listing
Drone images can improve every listing. Some properties really benefit from them: larger lots, corner lots, waterfront homes, houses with a pool or acreage and homes where the location is part of the pitch, such as a rowhome a few blocks from a park with the skyline behind it. New construction communities are another good fit, because buyers want to see how the homes sit along the street.
A better hero shot
My favorite reason to add drone photos is the hero shot. That is the exterior photo at the top of the listing, and the one buyers see as the thumbnail in search results. It has the most work to do of any photo in the set, and putting the camera 20 to 30 feet off the ground gives it a better angle.
Some properties benefit more than others. If the front lawn is a hill and the sidewalk sits far below the front door, a photo from the street has to look up at the house. A drone photo shows the whole front of the house, the way a buyer pictures it. That makes a big difference.
I fly under FAA Part 107
Flying a drone for business in the United States falls under a federal rule called Part 107, and photographing a listing counts as business use. To fly under it, a pilot has to hold an FAA remote pilot certificate, which means passing an FAA exam on airspace, weather and flight rules. I hold that certificate.
For you, that means the photos were taken legally. You are not putting images from an unlicensed operator on the MLS and in your brokerage's marketing.
Airspace restrictions that can stop a flight
The certificate does not mean I can fly anywhere. Some restrictions are temporary and some are permanent, and either one can keep me from flying over a property.
A Temporary Flight Restriction, or TFR, can go up with very little notice. TFRs are issued for things like a visit by a government official, a large public event or an emergency response, and they can cover the area around a property on the day of your shoot.
Other restrictions are permanent. Much of Central Maryland sits in controlled airspace around airports, such as BWI Marshall, and flying there requires FAA authorization. Special use airspace, which includes restricted and prohibited areas, is closed to drones unless approved. National Security UAS Flight Restrictions cover military bases and some other federal facilities. These restrictions often cover the surrounding neighborhoods. Any of these can limit or block a flight over your listing.
I check the address against these restrictions when you book, so you know early whether the drone can fly. If a TFR goes up before your shoot, I will let you know.
What is included
I guarantee at least six aerial photos with every drone shoot. Trees, airspace restrictions and other conditions can keep me from getting every one of these angles on every property, but this is the shot list I work from:
- The elevated hero shot
- An elevated three-quarter view from the right
- An elevated three-quarter view from the left
- A top-down shot of the roof and lot
- A pulled-back shot with the horizon visible
- A pulled-back shot with the horizon visible from the opposite angle
Aerial photos are color-corrected and sized for the MLS, the same as the rest of your photos. Aerial video is available too, on its own or as part of a listing video, and it is part of my cinematic walkthrough. I list pricing on request, so ask when you book.
Weather and flying conditions
Wind, rain and snow keep the drone on the ground. If conditions are not right on the day of your shoot, I will do the drone portion on another day, and the rest of the shoot can go ahead as planned.
Put it with the rest of the listing
Aerial photos work best next to good interior photos. See how my real estate photography works, or add a floor plan so buyers can see the layout as well as the lot. Everything is listed on the services page.
Questions agents ask about drone photography
Are you FAA certified to fly drones for real estate?
Yes. I hold an FAA remote pilot certificate under Part 107, which is required to fly a drone for business.
Can you fly at any address?
Not always. Temporary Flight Restrictions, and permanent restrictions near airports, military bases and federal facilities, can block a flight. I check the address when you book, so you know before the day of the shoot.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Wind, rain and snow mean I do the drone portion on another day.
How many aerial photos do I get?
At least six. I work from a shot list that includes an elevated hero shot, three-quarter views from the left and right, a top-down shot of the roof and lot and two pulled-back shots with the horizon visible. Trees, airspace and other conditions can keep me from getting every angle on every property.
Is drone video available?
Yes, as aerial clips or built into a full listing video.
How are the aerial photos delivered?
With the rest of your media, processed and sized for the MLS.
Which areas do you cover?
I fly in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford County, Carroll County, Howard County and parts of Anne Arundel County. If your listing sits just outside that area, ask.