Planning drone photos for a cottage or waterfront listing

Aerial photos show what ground shots cannot: where the property sits on the water, how far it is to the beach, and how the lot lies among the pines. A little planning makes the difference between a nice picture and one that actually helps a listing, or that a cottage owner will want framed on the wall.

I’m Brent, and alongside my tech help, TechBrent offers drone photography around Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay. Here is how I plan a shoot, and what you can do to get the most out of one.

Who aerial photos are for

Real estate is the obvious one, but many of my favourite shoots are for private owners. People book aerials for all sorts of reasons:

• Cottage owners who want a record of the property, the dock and the view
• Families marking a last summer before a sale, or a first summer after a purchase
• Homeowners getting ready to list
• Short-term rental hosts who want a listing that shows guests exactly where they are going

Pick the light

Morning and late-day light is softer and makes water and trees look their best. Midday sun flattens everything and adds harsh shadows. I pick a window based on the way the property faces and keep an eye on the forecast.

Let the weather decide

Wind and rain have the final say. A small drone in gusty wind gives shaky, unusable footage, so it is better to move the shoot than force it. If conditions look doubtful, I say so early rather than settle for second-best results.

Shots buyers and owners care about

The whole property

One clear view of the house or cottage with its shoreline, dock and lot lines does more than a dozen close-ups.

Context

The harbour, beach or town it is close to. For real estate drone photography, this is often the shot that answers a buyer’s first question: where exactly is this?

The approach

The road in and the driveway help people picture arriving, which matters for cottages tucked away in the trees.

A short clip

A tight clip rather than a long flyover, sized for a listing, a social media post or a cottage welcome page.

What you receive

Rather than hundreds of near-identical frames, I choose the strongest stills and clips and prepare them so they are ready to use. That usually means:

• High-resolution aerial stills of the property and its setting
• Short clips for a listing, a social media post or a welcome page
• A few place-setting shots of the nearby harbour, beach or shoreline

If there is a particular angle you want, such as the view from the end of the dock, tell me when you book and I will plan around it.

Getting the property ready

1. Move cars, bins and clutter out of the driveway and yard where you can.
2. Tidy the dock and put away boat covers and loose gear.
3. Open blinds and turn on exterior lights for late-day shots.
4. Let neighbours know if the shoot will be close to their property.

Rules still apply

I fly a DJI Mini 3 Pro, which weighs under 250 grams. Even small drones have rules: staying in line of sight, away from airports and emergency scenes, and not over crowds. If the shoot is an advertised event such as a wedding or festival, say so up front, because that needs special permission.

Booking a shoot

If you have a listing or a cottage that needs a view from above, send a note through the contact page with the general location, what you would like captured and your timing. If you are opening up the cottage for the season, I can also sort out the internet while I am there; my page on home and cottage Wi-Fi setup explains that side of what I do.

Frequently asked questions

What time of day is best for aerial photos?

Usually morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer and the water looks its best. The right window depends on which way the property faces.

What happens if it is windy on the day?

We move the shoot. Strong wind, rain or poor visibility give poor results, so I would rather reschedule than deliver shaky footage.

Can you photograph a wedding or event with the drone?

Advertised events need special permission, so please mention it when you get in touch and we can work out what is possible.