How beneficial are drones for professional real-estate photographers?

Interview with professional photographer, Andre Ramoska

Q As a professional real estate photographer, how have you implemented the use of drones in your work?

A We use drones to get a higher perspective, from 15-feet high to 300-feet high. The higher elevation gives a different feel to photos and also shows the space more.

Q When you were buying a drone to use for real estate photography, what specifications or features of the drone were absolutely essential?

A We use them for photos, so we look for higher megapixels and good sensors. We do not shoot video for clients yet, so we have not cared too much about video settings like 4K.

Q Out of every ten new assignments, how often does the drone get used?

A For us we use a drone 1 out of every 10 assignments, sometimes 1 out of 15. For us, we do more high-quality photos of interiors. We do more model homes/ apartments, if we photographed single home listings, I would say I would use it every time.

Q Is having or not having a drone a make-or-break deal for some clients?

A A drone definitely gives you an upper hand. I don’t think it would break a deal if we didn’t have it because our company is so sought after for our interior photography that they would probably just hire a separate drone person. But I cannot say for sure because we have had a drone for a long time. I would say for smaller companies/ people not having a drone would most likely break a deal.

Q Are you ever worried about property damage if an accident occurs, what happens if the drone decides to fly into freshly painted drywall?

A We are always worried about crashing and damaging. It is a flying object that potentially could cause serious damage to property and/ or other people if you do not fly safely.