Drone Pilot or Drone Photographer. Which do I need for my listing?
As all realtors know, photos taken from the air are a great add-on to most listings. As a professional photographer I prefer to use the term “aerial photography” versus drone photos. Anyone with a $50 Wal-Mart drone can take a “photo”. It takes a true photographer to take proper aerial photos. Alright, I’ll get off my high horse but that doesn’t mean that I’m off the soap box just yet. In this blog I will outline the differences in a drone pilot and a drone photographer, the things realtors need to know before working with one, and why all of these things matter to a realtor specifically.
Let’s start by talking about the law. I know, everyone’s favorite subject, but it is very important to cover first and foremost because if you hire someone who is claiming to be a drone pilot and something goes wrong, the Federal Government could be in your inbox with a fine or worse. Now, to be a “legal” drone pilot who is accepting payment for services, that pilot needs two things (in the state of NC). A Part 107 permit from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and a small unmanned aircraft permit from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Both of these are required in the state of North Carolina to legally fly for commercial purposes. If you employ someone who does not posses either of these permits you could be held liable in the way of fines by the FAA and State authorities not to mention the pilot being liable to much stricter punishment. Do not be afraid to request a copy of both permits from the drone operator that you are employing as we are REQUIRED to keep both on us at all times when the drone is being flown. I’d recommend keeping a copy for your records just in case of an emergency.
”Why do I need a photographer? My Uncle Dave has a drone with a camera on it. He can take my drone photos.” No disrespect to your Uncle Dave but whenever I see drone listing photos and there is a person standing in the frame looking down at a screen or up at the drone, I know that’s the pilot. And for some reason, they park themselves directly across the street from the listing property so they’re always easy to spot. And now that you know what to look for I guarantee that you’re going to look for them from now on. Photographers know how to take properly composed photos and that applies to aerial photos as well. Yes, you want the home in the photo because that is the whole point. But, is there a beautiful horizon that can be included? What about other land marks like schools or areas of interest? A good selling point would be to mark the home with a drop pin and a nearby school with the distance listed between them. Good real estate photographers are always thinking about things like this. Presentation is everything with aerial photos as is the case with most listing photos.
Ultimately, aerial media is a mainstay when it comes to real estate listings in 2024. It’s one of those services that will grow interest in a listing while not only highlighting the listing itself but the surrounding landscape and community. If you take anything away from this blog, I want it to be this. First, make sure that whom ever you hire to be your drone pilot is properly licensed and insured. Second, hire a photographer. You’ll get the best results that way. Finally, you get what you pay for. Hire “Uncle Dave” if you like, but just know that the photos that Uncle Dave takes are a reflection of your professionalism as a realtor and not a reflection of Uncle Dave’s photography skills.
