Most developers brief photography as a list of shots. The better question is which assets sell each plot at each stage of the sale, and which of them can share a single visit.
Why stills alone no longer cover it
Property photographers are moving from stills to bundles of stills, video, drone and 3D. One US trade piece from Fstoppers (March 2026) reported 3D tours rising from 6.7% to 11% of add-on orders between 2024 and 2025, and 71% of property photographers already using AI tools for editing and staging. That is US data, so treat it as a direction of travel rather than a UK benchmark.
The five assets and what each one does
Photoplan's July 2026 guide ranks the media stack in this order. First, photography: 15 to 25 images covering every room, the exterior and the garden, led by the strongest exterior or hero room. Second, a floor plan, ideally professionally measured. Third, a 360 virtual tour, most useful for distant buyers and relocations. Fourth, video, either a 15 to 30 second vertical cut for social or a 60 to 90 second film for premium homes. Fifth, aerial stills, where land, position or setting is part of the sale.
For a development, the floor plan matters more than it looks. Photoplan says stated floor area is material information and has to be right, so measure it once and use the same figures on every portal and brochure.
Typical UK prices
Photoplan's guide gives typical prices for single resale homes: photography £100 to £200, a 2D floor plan £30 to £60, a 360 tour £100 to £250, a 60 to 90 second video with a vertical cut £250 to £600, and aerial stills £100 to £250. Impact Aerial quotes £150 to £600 per drone project. These are vendor figures with no independent source, and they cover one home. A multi-plot development with show homes, landscaping and a weather-dependent schedule will cost more, so ask for a day rate and a per-asset rate.
Sequence the package by sales stage
Before completion there is nothing to photograph, so CGI carries the sale. Once the show home is dressed, shoot the whole package in one visit: stills, floor plans, video and a tour. At completion, add aerial work to show the plot and its surroundings, and refresh the exterior stills with finished landscaping. Buyers will compare the CGI with the finished home, so keep finishes, planting and street furniture consistent between the two.
What to put in the brief
Tie the shot list to the selling points of each house type, not to a generic room checklist. Ask for every asset from one visit, in web and print sizes, with a licence that covers marketing on all portals and in print. Leave drone permissions to the operator. Impact Aerial says a camera drone needs an Operator ID and Flyer ID and that commercial operators need a CAA qualification such as the GVC, but check the CAA directly because that page is a vendor's marketing guide.
Quick answers
What should a property developer commission first?
Exterior and hero-room photography plus an accurate floor plan. Add video, a tour and drone work where the plot, setting or buyer location justifies them.
How much does a property photography package cost in the UK?
Photoplan's July 2026 guide lists £100 to £200 for photography, £30 to £60 for a floor plan and £250 to £600 for video, for single resale homes. Developments cost more.
Do I still need CGI if I commission photography?
Yes, before completion. Photography needs a finished building, so off-plan sales rely on CGI until the show home exists.
Does a drone operator need CAA permission for property photography?
Impact Aerial says camera drones need an Operator ID and Flyer ID, and commercial operators need a CAA-recognised qualification. Check the CAA for current rules.
