How much to charge for real estate photography
Updated 26 September 2026
Real estate photographers usually price a listing by the size of the property, since a bigger home means more rooms to shoot and more photos to edit. Drone photos, floor plans, video, twilight shots and virtual staging are sold as add-ons. Agents order again and again, so they want prices they can check without calling you.
Example real estate photography prices
| Job | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment under 1,500 sq ft, photos only | $150 | £120 | A$230 | CA$200 |
| Family home of 1,500 to 3,000 sq ft, with drone photos and a floor plan | $425 | £340 | A$640 | CA$580 |
| Home of 3,000 to 5,000 sq ft, with drone, video, twilight shots and 5 virtually staged photos | $925 | £745 | A$1,395 | CA$1,250 |
Priced with the starting rates in our real estate photography template, in each country's currency. They're a starting point, not a survey of local rates, so set your own from what your jobs take and what others charge near you.
How real estate photographers set their prices
By property size
A package price for each size band, based on floor area or the number of bedrooms. Agents know the size from the listing, so they can see the price before they book.
By photo count
A set number of edited photos for a set price, with extra photos charged each. It works for small jobs, but agents may order too few photos for a large home.
Agency rates
A lower price per listing for agencies that book a set number of shoots each month. It keeps your calendar full, but check the rate still pays on days you drive between listings.
Sample real estate photography price list
The prices in our template, as a list you can adapt. Percentages change the price of the job; fixed-price extras are added on top.
| Item | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property size: Under 1,500 sq ft | $150 | £120 | A$230 | CA$200 |
| Property size: 1,500–3,000 sq ft | $200 | £160 | A$300 | CA$270 |
| Property size: 3,000–5,000 sq ft | $275 | £220 | A$410 | CA$370 |
| Property size: Over 5,000 sq ft | $350 | £280 | A$530 | CA$470 |
| Drone photos | +$125 | +£100 | +A$190 | +CA$170 |
| Floor plan | +$100 | +£80 | +A$150 | +CA$140 |
| Walkthrough video | +$250 | +£200 | +A$380 | +CA$340 |
| Twilight shots | +$125 | +£100 | +A$190 | +CA$170 |
| Virtually staged photos, per photo | $30 | £25 | A$45 | CA$40 |
| Minimum job price | $150 | £120 | A$230 | CA$200 |
Put this price list on your website
Customers answer a few questions about the job, see the price and send you their details. This is our real estate photography quote form with the prices above. Try it as a customer would, then start from these prices and change any of them.
Bright Listing Photos
Listing photography price
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Quoting a large house like a studio apartment. A big home keeps you on site longer and fills more of your evening with editing. Our template starts at $150 for homes under 1,500 sq ft and goes up to $350 over 5,000 sq ft in the US.
- Underpricing the editing. Each room is often shot as several exposures that you blend and colour-correct later. Price for the photos you deliver as well as your time on site.
- Treating twilight shots as a quick extra. They mean a return visit around sunset or a long wait at the property. Our template adds $125 for twilight shots in the US.
- Pricing virtual staging like a quick edit. It takes real time, or costs you per image if you send it out. Our template charges $30 per staged photo in the US.
Not sure what your time is worth? Work out your hourly rate with the pricing calculator, then check your job prices cover it.
Questions
- Should I charge by property size or by the number of photos?
- Size bands are simplest for agents, because they already know the floor area or the bedroom count. A photo count suits small jobs, as long as your minimum price still pays for the trip.
- How much should I charge for drone photos?
- Price them as a separate add-on, since they need extra gear, extra time on site and good weather. Our template adds $125 for drone photos in the US. Check the rules for commercial drone flights where you work before you offer them.
- When should agents pay for listing photos?
- Many real estate photographers ask for payment before they release the full-size photos. For agencies you trust, a short invoice term works, as long as it's agreed before the first shoot.
- Should I charge agents for travel?
- Price your usual area into the package, and add a travel fee for listings further out. A flat fee for each zone is often easier for agents to accept than a charge per mile or kilometre.
- How do I put my real estate photography prices online?
- Give agents a quote form they can use for every listing. Each request arrives with the property size, the add-ons and the price they saw, so you can confirm the shoot without a phone call. Start from our real estate photography template and swap in your own rates.