Compare
Hiring a professional vs the cheapest option.
The short answer
Cheaper shooters exist in every market, but the gap shows up in three places: consistency across shoots, turnaround reliability, and post-production quality. The savings on a $150 shoot evaporate the first time a slow turnaround costs you a Monday MLS launch, or low-quality photos cost you a listing presentation. For a one-off, cheap can work; for a business built on the next hundred listings, reliability is the product.
Side by side
What each one actually gives you.
Professional team (Aerial Shots Media)
A production team with a delivery system, not a solo shooter juggling every job alone.
Strengths
- Consistent look and quality across every shoot, not shoot-to-shoot lottery
- Next business day by 5 PM delivery you can build a Monday launch around
- FAA Part 107 licensed and Zillow Showcase Certified, with 900+ Central Florida shoots delivered
- A full catalog in one booking: photo, video, drone, twilight, 3D, floor plans
- A team behind the calendar, so one person being sick does not sink your launch
Limits
- Not the cheapest line item on the listing
- Books out in peak weeks, so Friday and Monday need a little lead time
Cheapest shooter or DIY
The $150 Craigslist shooter or your own phone and an afternoon. Lowest cost, highest variance.
Strengths
- Lowest upfront cost
- Fine for a one-off where the listing will sell regardless
- Full control if you do it yourself
Limits
- Quality varies shoot to shoot, so your brand looks different every listing
- Turnaround is often "soon" or "by end of week," not a time you can plan a launch around
- Usually a solo operator, so a sick day or double-booking becomes your problem
- Rarely licensed for drone, which is an FAA and MLS compliance risk
- Post-production is thin or inconsistent, which is where cheap shows most
Head to head
The differences that matter.
| Professional team (Aerial Shots Media) | Cheapest shooter or DIY | |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency across listings | High, team standard | Varies per shoot |
| Turnaround you can plan on | Next business day by 5 PM | Often loose |
| Licensed drone | Yes, Part 107 | Often no |
| Backup when someone is out | Full team | Usually none |
| Full media in one booking | Yes | Rarely |
| Upfront cost | Higher | Lowest |
The honest exception
When the cheap option is the right one.
A single wholesale flip, a rental you are listing once, or a favor for a friend where the home will move no matter what the photos look like. If there is no repeat business riding on it and the listing is not competing on imagery, paying for reliability you do not need is its own kind of waste.
Our take
For a one-off, cheap can be the correct call. For an agent building a business, the question is not the cheapest option on this listing, it is who you can rely on for the next hundred. That is where consistency, turnaround, and a team behind the calendar stop being nice-to-haves and start being the whole point.
Questions
Still deciding?
- How much does professional real estate photography cost in Central Florida?
- A photo-only shoot starts at $175, and most agents budget $250 to $450 per listing once they add video and drone. Pricing scales with square footage and the number of deliverables, which is why we run tiers instead of one flat rate.
- What do I actually lose by hiring the cheapest shooter?
- Usually predictability. The photo quality might be acceptable on a good day, but the turnaround, the consistency between listings, and the drone licensing are where cheap shows. One missed Monday launch or one weak listing presentation tends to cost more than the difference in price.
Reviews
What agents say after the first shoot.
★★★★★5.0from 27 Google reviews
- ★★★★★
I can't say enough about Aerial Shots Media. From the very beginning, their customer service has been absolutely top notch, whether it's their flexibility with scheduling or their fair and transparent pricing, they make the entire process seamless. As a local realtor working alongside a partner, we rely heavily on high-quality marketing, and Aerial Shots Media has exceeded our expectations. Not only are we impressed with their work, but we've actually gained new business directly from the videos and content they've created for us. They truly are a one stop shop, offering everything from stunning professional photography and drone footage to customized social media videos. And I have to emphasize just how AMAZING they are when it comes to social media. They don't just produce content, they collaborate with you. They help script, bring creative vision to life, and deliver beautifully polished final products that stand out. If you're looking for a unique and highly effective way to market your listings and drive real results, I highly recommend Aerial Shots Media!
Juls Sanchez · Google - ★★★★★
I had an amazing experience working with Aerial Shots Media. From start to finish, everything was incredibly professional and smooth. Before I even met Alex, Ramon set us up in a group chat and invited me to send inspiration videos since I chose a package that included a social media reel, something I had never done before. That alone made me feel supported and confident going into the shoot. The photos were absolutely incredible. I used them for my Zillow Showcase listing, and I've honestly never received that many high-quality photos for a single listing before. The attention to detail was next level. Alex also went above and beyond by helping me refine my script for the social media reel. He had amazing creative ideas and really understood the style and vibe I was going for, which made the whole process fun and stress-free. I will 100% be using Aerial Shots Media again and highly recommend them to any agent or business looking to elevate their marketing.
Wynee Hessler · Google - ★★★★★
Ramon is truly top-notch when it comes to real estate photography and video!! His professionalism, creative eye, and attention to detail consistently elevate my listings and make them stand out. Every time we work together, I'm blown away, each home somehow looks better than the last! What I really appreciate is that Ramon doesn't just show up and shoot, he brings ideas, helps shape my creative vision, and even contributes to scripting and content planning! He has a way of making the whole process smooth, fun, and inspiring. His hard work and consistency speak for themselves, and I'm so thankful to have his talent and partnership behind every listing.
CarLee Marchetti · Google
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