How to Choose the Right Real Estate Photographer: 6 Key Questions to Ask

Introduction: Why Choosing the Right Photographer Matters

Finding the right real estate photographer is about more than just booking a service—it's about building a partnership with someone who understands your workflow, respects your time, and contributes to the success of your listing strategy. From scheduling logistics to legal compliance and post-production, the photographer you choose plays a direct role in how smoothly your listing process runs.

Before you book your next shoot, here are six key questions to ask that will help you find a reliable, professional, and supportive media partner.

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1️⃣ What Photography Style Do You Specialize In?

Different homes benefit from different photographic approaches. Some photographers specialize in HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, balancing window views and interiors, while others use Flambient techniques for crisp, clean, color-accurate images.

✔ Ask about their primary shooting style and techniques. 

✔ Make sure their approach aligns with the property's value, your brand, and your clients' expectations.

Flambient

HDR

💡 Pro Insight: At Common Crew Media, we combine HDR and Flambient styles to bring out the best lighting, colors, and details in every property we shoot.

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2️⃣ Are You a Full-Service Real Estate Photographer?

When we say full service, it should mean more than just photos. A true full-service real estate photographer should provide a complete suite of marketing media designed to help agents succeed. This includes drone photography, video walkthroughs, twilight photography, virtual staging, floor plans, property websites, and more.

✔ Working with a full-service media partner means you don’t have to coordinate multiple vendors for your listing’s visuals. 

✔ A consistent media style across all formats strengthens your marketing and simplifies your workflow.

💡 Pro Insight: Common Crew Media is proud to offer a full range of real estate media services—providing everything agents need to professionally market properties from listing day to closing.

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3️⃣ Are You FAA Part 107 Certified for Drone Media?

Drone photography and videography are incredibly powerful tools—but they must be handled legally. Any commercial drone operator must have a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification issued by the FAA. Without it, commercial drone flights are illegal and could create liability issues for both the photographer and the listing agent.

✔ Always confirm FAA certification for anyone offering aerial services. 

✔ Certified pilots know how to navigate airspace restrictions, obtain necessary approvals, and fly safely around homes and neighborhoods.

💡 Pro Insight: Common Crew Media operates exclusively with FAA-certified drone pilots, ensuring every aerial shoot is compliant, professional, and safe.

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4️⃣ What Do You Prioritize During Your Photoshoot While on the Property?

Capturing a home properly starts before editing ever begins. A great photographer should prioritize lighting, composition, flow, and property presentation during the shoot itself.

✔ Look for someone who pays attention to straight lines, natural light, clean spaces, and showcasing key selling features. 

✔ A professional photographer should also understand how to capture a home's layout and scale so buyers can visualize themselves in the space.

💡 Pro Insight: At Common Crew Media, we focus on highlighting natural light, preserving clean perspectives, and capturing the layout’s natural flow during every session.

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5️⃣ What Do You Prioritize During Your Editing?

Editing isn’t just touching up a photo—it’s half the work behind creating a truly great image. While shooting captures the raw material, editing is what transforms good photos into professional listing visuals.

✔ A real estate photographer should prioritize natural colors, balanced exposures, clean window views, and accurate architectural representation during editing. 

✔ Over-editing (fake blue skies, heavy filters, distorted colors) can make listings look artificial and hurt credibility.

💡 Pro Insight: At Common Crew Media, we treat editing as an essential craft. Our edits are designed to maintain true-to-life colors, clean perspectives, and inviting lighting to maximize a property’s appeal without misleading buyers.

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6️⃣ How Can I Access My Media?

A smooth delivery process is just as important as beautiful photos. You should always know where your media will be stored, how you’ll receive it, and what tools come with it.

✔ With Common Crew Media, all completed media is uploaded to our booking and hosting platform through Spiro. 

✔ Once your listing is ready, you’ll receive an email with secure links to easily download all your photos, videos, floor plans, and marketing materials. 

✔ Every listing package includes a complimentary customizable property website and flyer template, hosted free for one year—giving agents powerful tools to promote their listings.

💡 Pro Insight: Having fast, organized access to your media saves you time and helps you launch your marketing quickly and confidently.

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Bonus: Do You Offer Promotions for new Agents?

Trying a new media company can feel like a leap—but it doesn't have to; many photographers will offer promotions to their first time agents.

✔ Common Crew Media offers 50% off your first booking for agents working with us for the first time. 

✔ We’re confident that once you see the results, you’ll want to work with us for every listing.

💡 Pro Insight: Our first-time discount is our way of making it easy for you to experience professional, high-quality real estate media without risk.

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Final Thoughts: Find a Photographer Who’s a True Partner

Choosing the right real estate photographer isn’t just about picking someone with a nice camera—it’s about finding a professional partner who can consistently deliver quality, creativity, legal compliance, and service.

By asking these six questions before hiring a photographer, you’ll ensure that your listings stand out, your marketing process runs smoothly, and your clients are impressed from the first click.

Ready to elevate your listings with a team that understands your market, your needs, and your brand? Let’s connect and bring your properties to life.