How to Prepare Your Property for a Drone Shoot

Most of the prep for a drone shoot is simple, but it makes a noticeable difference in the final photos. Here's what I recommend to clients before I arrive.

Clear the driveway and remove obvious clutter

From 150 feet up, a car in the driveway or garbage bins left out are more visible than you'd expect. Aerial shots compress the whole property into a single frame, so anything that's out of place tends to draw the eye. Move vehicles if possible, bring in trash cans, and put away any equipment or hoses that are sitting out. Same goes for lawn equipment, garden hoses, kids' toys — anything that wouldn't be in a listing photo is worth putting away.

Mow and tidy the lawn

The condition of the lawn is very obvious in drone photos. If you have a week's notice before a shoot, it's worth a fresh mow and edging around the driveway and beds. I've had clients tell me they never realized how good their property looked until they saw it from the air after a fresh cut — it's one of those things that photographs better than it looks on the ground.

Think about what you want to highlight

Before I arrive, it's useful to have a few things in mind: Is there a particular view you want captured? A back of the property that shows the lot depth? A pool or outbuilding that adds value? I'll always do a full coverage flight, but knowing what matters most to you helps me prioritize angles during the shoot and in editing. A two-minute conversation when I arrive is usually enough to align on this.

Weather and timing

I monitor weather closely and will reach out to reschedule if conditions aren't right — strong winds, rain, or overcast flat light that would make the photos look flat. Morning and late afternoon flights typically produce the best light; I'll factor this in when we schedule. If you have a preferred time for staging or showing purposes, just let me know and I'll work around it.

For occupied properties

If the home is occupied, it helps to have cars out of the driveway and lights on inside for any exterior shots that show windows. Having people out of the yard during the flight isn't required, but it keeps the photos cleaner — buyers generally respond better to shots that show the property without people in them.

Questions before your shoot? Get in touch — I'm always happy to talk through the plan in advance.