A practical planning guide
Should you request drone photos, video, or both?
You do not need to order a video simply because a drone can capture one. The right choice depends on where your media will appear and what people need to understand. Photos can explain features quickly. Video can show how a property or location connects. Choose both when each has a useful job to do.
Based in Panama City Beach · Bay, Walton, Okaloosa & Gulf counties
Overview
Choose photos when the viewer needs a clear reference
Aerial photos work well in listing galleries, website pages, brochures and project updates. Someone can study an outdoor feature, compare a view with an earlier image or place a photograph beside an explanation. A few purposeful images often say more than a large set of nearly identical views.
Think about the questions a viewer might have. Where is the driveway? How does the pool sit behind the house? What surrounds the building? A wide photo can show the overall setting, with closer photographs showing the features that deserve attention.
Choose video when movement helps tell the story
Drone video can introduce a property’s setting, follow an approach or show how a building relates to its grounds. The movement should help viewers understand the location, not simply circle the subject. For a rental or hospitality property, a short sequence might connect the exterior, outdoor amenities and surrounding setting.
Decide whether you want a finished edited video or footage for your own editor. If you need an edit, discuss its intended length, the main message and any text or branding before the shoot. If another person is editing, ask them which shots and file requirements they need us to plan for.
Plan for the screen where it will be seen
A wide website banner and a vertical social post need different compositions. Tell us about all the places you expect to use the media, including listings, a website, presentations or social channels. Do not assume that every horizontal shot will crop neatly into a vertical frame.
For a website banner with a headline on the left, ask for a composition that leaves that area clear. A vertical social video may need the subject centered more tightly. Send a screenshot or layout example if you have one, and identify the main placement first. Then discuss which alternate versions need their own framing rather than a simple crop.
Book both when each has a job to do
A real estate agent may use still photos throughout a listing and a short video to introduce the property elsewhere. A vacation-rental owner may need photos of the pool and parking plus a video showing the grounds. Those are clear reasons to plan both, rather than ordering an extra format with no intended use.
For construction documentation, dated photos may be the easiest way to discuss a particular area. Video can add a wider sense of the site, while ground-based 360 coverage may be more useful for reviewing accessible interiors. Match the format to the question rather than trying to collect everything.
Real estate drone photography Vacation rental and hospitality media Ground-based 360 construction walkthroughsPrepare a short, useful shot list
A useful brief names the subject, its purpose and the finished media. For example: “We need listing photos that show the rental, pool and parking together, plus a vertical video introducing the grounds for social media. We need a finished edit; our manager will coordinate access.”
Separate must-have views from extras. If showing the pool’s relationship to the house is the main reason for the shoot, put that ahead of additional coastline footage. A clear priority list is more helpful than prescribing every camera movement.
Identify the features that must be shown and any areas to avoid.
Name the publishing channels and share their orientation or file requirements.
Choose a finished edit, footage for an editor or both; include any requested titles, branding or music.
Include the address, publishing deadline and site-access contact.
See aerial photography and video optionsGood to know
Common questions
Can I use a frame from the video instead of booking photos?
A video frame may be useful in some situations, but it is not a dependable substitute for planned still photography. Framing, motion and image detail may not suit the finished use. If photos matter to your listing or website, include them in the request.
What if I am not sure which format I need?
Tell us what you are promoting or documenting and where you plan to use the media. You can choose Help me choose in the request form rather than deciding on a format first.
Your next step
Plan a shoot around your actual needs
Tell us about the property, the features you want to show and where the media will be used. Include any editing requirements so we can discuss them before the visit.
Plan your photos or videoMore drone services
Explore more services.
Photography & video
Aerial Photography & Video
Drone photos and video for personal properties, business websites, promotions, and other aerial shoots.
Explore service
Real estate
Real Estate Drone Photography
Show buyers the lot, driveway, outdoor features, and setting that interior listing photos leave out.
Explore service
Coastal imagery
Tourism Drone Photography & Video
Help guests understand your rental or hospitality property, amenities, grounds, and surrounding setting.
Explore service