Property Drone Stills Shots

How easy can it be to take aerial stills of a property?

When you get your CAA permission this has to be the first one to tick the box for getting work? It’s as easy as getting up in the morning. Just agree on a price, put the drone in the car, arrive set up, once in the air just push that button and take a number of shots in around 10 mins. Job done.

Back in office images are wetransfered to the estate agent or owner, they are going to be really happy with these you think.

An email pings back a little later with a message, “these are not quite what we are looking for” with the comments:-

1. The angles are all wrong
2. Too much roof
3. Sun should be lighting up this side
4. Cars in the drive
5. Bins in the drive
6. Too much neighbouring properties
7. Aspect shot is not there
8. Where are the views
9. Need shots at 3m high as well
10. Over exposed
11. Where is the sun and blue sky
12. You are in shot
13. There is a drone shadow
14. Too many cars going by

Carrying out a property shoot should be thought through and prepared for well in advance. If you have just got or already have your CAA permission and your about to carry out property shoot. Treat it like a film shoot. Not a quick earner.

Here are my tips.

Kit

1. Take at least two drones and use the latest higher quality gear. DJI Mavic Pro 2 is excellent as is the Inspire 1 with X3 camera
2. Plenty of SD cards (high speed)
3. ND Filters
4. At least 3 to 4 batteries per drone
5. Laptop to review
6. Do not use a smart phone with the drone use a decent tablet
7. Lens cleaning cloths
8. Spare props

Preparation

1. Check the property location with Google Earth
2. Research the property from information on the web, such as previous sales info
3. Call the owner and let them know you have been assigned the job and will give notice when arriving
4. Check the weather well in advance
5. Advise that cars and bin etc are to be moved
6. Check the location and seek permissions if required well inn advance
7. Print off all relevant information ready to be used on site
8. Check all your gear well before the day and that all gear works
9. Direction property faces
10. Urban or country side location
11. Railway or roads nearby
12. Is there land to the property that surrounds or in parcels away from property that also needs stills
13. Areas of interest to also film

Site Check

1. Arrive in good time to site check
2. Power lines
3. Telephone lines
4. Aerials
5. Buildings
6. Heights
7. Aspects of property
8. Let neighbouring property know your there, take a shot of their property as well to keep everyone happy
9. Has the owner or estate agent anything that need particular attention for filming
10. Has the sun lit up the best face of the property
11. Cars moved and other items
12. Walk the area
13. Best place to operate

The Shoot

1. First thing is a test shoot, take the drone up and get to know the property and where best to place the drone
2. Look for the aspect shot and take from various heights and distances
3. Make sure the exposure settings are correct and focus is correct
4. Try to shoot with the sun behind
5. Check that no drone shadow is there
6. Are you out of shot and your gear
7. Most of the drone shots do not have to be high, sometime only 3m will do the job
8. Make sure you get some high shots too show where the property is placed in relation to its location
9. Try to shoot when there are no people of cars in shot
10. Try to shoot the property at a 45 degree angle so no flat faces
11. Try to reduce the amount of shadow
12. Use a bit of artistic flare
13. If you have filters use them when shooting into sun
14. Add touches such as low level garden or pond
15. Shoot and shoot you should be taking at least 90 shots for a medium size property

Checking and Edit

1. Every image should be checked and edited if need be. Such as removal of a car or person in image
2. Adjust exposures and colours if need be
3. Crop if required
4. Remove repeat images
5. Allow the estate agent to decide on best image for their use. Every estate agent has their own idea
6. If you’re not happy go back and retake
7. Let the owner and estate agent know you have carried out the shoot
8. Send images as soon as possible to the estate agent or owner

Practice makes perfect

1. My advice is practice your property shots
2. Carry out a number of free assignments
3. Post your photographs if you have permission
4. Get to know the camera and drone

Pricing

1. If you are asked to carry out a shoot and you know your trade a reasonable price can be asked for
2. If you are asked to carry out a shoot for peanuts, walk away