Lesson Objective:

Learn how to professionally approach, capture, and deliver drone content for both residential and commercial properties, ensuring you meet client needs and legal standards—while maximizing visual impact.

Lesson Overview:

Real estate is not one-size-fits-all. Shooting a cozy single-family home is very different from filming a shopping center or industrial facility. In this lesson, you’ll learn best practices for preparation, composition, safety, and communication for both types of shoots.

LESSON

Part 1: Residential Property – Best Practices

Preparation:

Confirm shoot time for optimal lighting (golden hour = best for homes)
Check weather/wind forecasts and battery levels
Review property layout (agent’s notes or Google Earth)
Notify neighbors if flying low or near adjacent lots

Shot Composition:

Focus on curb appeal and flow
Capture front, sides, back, and angled perspectives
Use low-altitude passes to emphasize landscaping and details
Include neighborhood context (schools, parks, water views)

Part 2: Commercial Property – Best Practices

Preparation:

Conduct airspace check—many commercial zones are near airports or helipads
Ensure proper insurance and waivers if required
Request site map or access details from client
Schedule during off-hours (to avoid parking lots full of cars)

Shot Composition:

Capture building footprint, parking, and access roads
Include surrounding businesses, signage, and traffic patterns
Use top-down shots for layout and scale
Fly wide to emphasize the property’s size and environment

Tips:

Consider HDR brackets for reflective glass and harsh light
Use height to show traffic flow and access routes
Adjust framing for horizontal or vertical ad usage

Flying wide to emphasize the property’s size and environment

Part 3: Differences Between Residential vs. Commercial

Feature	Residential	Commercial
Focus	Beauty, emotion, lifestyle	Scale, utility, investment
Composition	Lower, intimate, cinematic	Higher, wide, informative
Clients	Realtors, homeowners	Developers, brokers, businesses
Extras	Pool, garden, neighborhood vibe	Foot traffic, logistics, signage

Tailor your shots and edit style based on what sells that specific property.

Part 4: On-Site Shooting Workflow

Walk the property first, mentally plan your shots

Start with static photos before video (light changes fast)

Fly lowest-altitude shots first, then go higher

Recheck footage onsite to avoid missing key angles

Note anything extra the client requested (e.g., sign close-up)

Walking property first to mentally plan your shots

Part 5: Delivery Notes (Same for Both)

Organize files: Photos / Video / Vertical Clips / License / Invoice
Format video for social (9:16) and web (16:9)
Include branded and unbranded versions if requested
Add a short thank-you and usage note

Key Takeaways:

Residential = emotional storytelling. Commercial = functional presentation.
Understand your client’s goals before filming
Shoot smooth, consistent, and well-lit shots
Always prepare for lighting, airspace, and client expectations
Great drone visuals start before takeoff and end after delivery

Best Practices for Shooting Residential and Commercial Properties

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