How Long does Real Estate Photography Take?

You’ve probably wondered, “How long does real estate photography take?” It’s a fair question, and the answer depends on a few key factors like the size of your property, the types of shots you need, and how much editing is involved.

Whether you’re a homeowner prepping to sell or an agent juggling listings, knowing the time involved helps you plan. Spoiler: it can range from 30 minutes for a small apartment to a full day or more for a sprawling estate with all the bells and whistles like drone shots or virtual staging. Let’s break it down so you can get a clear picture.

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What Goes Into Real Estate Photography?

Real estate photography isn’t just snapping a few pics and calling it a day. It’s a process that includes shooting the property and editing the photos to make them pop. The time it takes hinges on a few things: the size of the house, the number and type of shots, the photographer’s experience, and how much polish you want in post-production. Each piece adds to the total timeline, so let’s look at what’s involved.

Shooting: How Long Does It Take to Photograph a Property?

The actual photoshoot is the first big chunk of time. Here’s how it typically shakes out based on property size and what you’re aiming for:

• Small Properties (1-2 bedrooms): Think condos or cozy apartments. These usually take 30 minutes to an hour. A photographer can zip through a smaller space, capturing key areas like the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and maybe an exterior shot or two.
• Medium Properties (3-4 bedrooms): Your standard family home falls here. Expect 1 to 2.5 hours. There are more rooms to cover, plus extras like a backyard or garage that might need attention.
• Large Properties (5+ bedrooms or estates): Big homes with sprawling layouts or unique features like home theaters or pools can take 2 to 4 hours, sometimes more. The photographer needs time to get every angle just right.

Want something fancy like twilight shots, where the house glows against a dusk sky? Add 1 to 2 hours, since the photographer has to wait for the perfect light. Drone photography for aerial views? That’s another 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how many angles you want and how tricky the property is to navigate.

The photographer’s experience matters too. A pro who’s shot hundreds of homes might knock out a standard house in under an hour, while someone newer might take closer to 2 hours to get the same shots.

Equipment plays a role as well – some photographers use natural light and move quickly, while others set up multiple flashes or tripods, which adds time.

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Quick Guide to Real Estate Photography Time

• Small properties (1-2 bedrooms): 30 minutes to 1 hour for shooting.
• Medium properties (3-4 bedrooms): 1 to 2.5 hours for shooting.
• Large properties (5+ bedrooms): 2 to 4 hours for shooting.
• Twilight shots: Add 1-2 hours.
• Drone photography: Add 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Editing: 2-5 hours for basic edits, 10-30 hours for premium edits like virtual staging.
• Total turnaround: Usually 24-48 hours, faster with rush fees.

Editing: The Hidden Time Sink

Once the shoot’s done, editing is where the magic happens – and where the clock keeps ticking. Editing can take as long as, or longer than, the shoot itself. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Basic Editing: This covers tweaks like adjusting brightness, fixing colors, and smoothing out shadows. Expect 5-10 minutes per photo. For a typical shoot with 20-30 photos, that’s 2-5 hours.
• Advanced Editing: If the photographer uses HDR (high dynamic range) to blend multiple exposures or does detailed retouching, each photo might take 15-30 minutes. For 20-30 photos, you’re looking at 5-15 hours.
• Premium Editing: Want virtual staging to show what an empty room could look like with furniture? That’s 30-60 minutes per photo, sometimes more. For a full set of 20-30 images, premium edits can take 10-30 hours, especially if you’re adding complex touches like perspective corrections or sky replacements.

If the photographer’s handling a bunch of photos at once (called batch editing), they might save some time, cutting basic edits to 2-4 hours for 10-20 images. Drone photos, which often need stitching or extra color work, can add 30-40 minutes per image.

Total Time: From Shoot to Delivery

So, how long does it all take? Add up the shoot and editing, and you’re looking at anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days.

• For a small apartment with basic edits, the whole process might wrap in 2.5-5.5 hours, with photos delivered in 24-48 hours.
• A large estate with twilight shots, drone photography, and premium editing? That could stretch to 4 hours of shooting plus 10-30 hours of editing, potentially taking over a day, especially if the photographer’s juggling multiple projects.

Most pros aim for a 24-48 hour turnaround from shoot to final delivery. Need it faster? Some offer rush services (think 12-hour delivery) for an extra fee, which is handy if you’re racing to get a listing live.

Here’s a quick table to sum up typical shooting times:

Property Type	Shooting Time
Small (1-2 bedrooms)	30 min – 1 hr
Medium (3-4 bedrooms)	1 – 2.5 hrs
Large (5+ bedrooms)	2 – 4 hrs
Twilight Shots	+1 – 2 hrs
Drone Photography	+30 min – 1 hr

Tips to Speed Things Up

You can help keep things moving smoothly and maybe even shave off some time with a little prep. Here’s what you can do:

• Clear the Clutter: Tidy up before the photographer arrives. Stash personal items, clean surfaces, and make the space look inviting. Less mess means less editing later.
• Let in the Light: Open all curtains and blinds to flood the place with natural light. This can cut down on the need for extra lighting setups, saving time during the shoot.
• Give Full Access: Make sure the photographer can get into every room, backyard, or garage you want photographed. No one wants to waste time waiting for a key or moving obstacles.
• Be Clear About What You Want: Tell the photographer upfront if you need specific shots, like drone views or twilight photos. This helps them plan their time and avoid backtracking.

These steps can make the shoot more efficient, which is a win for everyone, especially if you’re on a tight schedule.

Why Does Time Matter?

Knowing how long real estate photography takes helps you set realistic expectations. If you’re an agent, you need those photos pronto to get listings online. If you’re a homeowner, you want to show off your property without delays.

Understanding the timeline also helps you pick the right photographer – someone who balances speed with quality. A rushed job might save time but look sloppy, while a perfectionist might take longer but deliver stunning results.

Wrapping It Up

So, how long does real estate photography take? It depends, but now you’ve got a solid sense of what to expect. A small place might be done in 30 minutes to an hour, while a big estate with all the extras could take half a day or more to shoot, plus editing that ranges from a few hours to a full day.

Factor in 24-48 hours for delivery, and you’re set. Prep your space, communicate your needs, and choose a photographer who fits your timeline and budget. That way, you’ll get photos that make your property shine without wasting time.

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More Real Estate Photography Tips

• How to Fix Common Real Estate Photo Mistakes with Presets
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