| Professional photography | Phone photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | Rectilinear wide-angle lens that keeps walls and door frames straight | Ultra-wide phone lens that can bend lines near the edges of the frame |
| Windows and light | Bracketed exposures blended so the room and the view outside are both visible | Automatic HDR that often blows out windows or flattens the room |
| Color | Flash and color correction for clean whites and consistent color | Mixed daylight and bulbs can leave rooms looking yellow or blue |
| Angles | Tripod at a consistent height with vertical lines corrected | Handheld, so height and tilt change from shot to shot |
| Image set | About 30–40 edited, MLS-ready images for a home under 2,000 sq ft | Whatever was captured, edited one at a time |
| Extras | Floorplan included; 3D tour, drone, video and twilight available | Photos only |
| Cost | Photography from $290; Silver package with floorplan from $494 | Your time |
Can you take listing photos with a phone?
Yes, and for some listings a careful phone set is enough: a quick rental, a small condo, or a home that will sell on location alone. The trade-offs show up in rooms with big windows, small rooms that need a wide view, and mixed lighting, which are exactly the shots buyers scroll through first.
Why do professional listing photos look different?
The difference is technique more than the camera body. A professional uses a lens that captures a wide room without curving the walls, shoots several exposures of each room so the windows and the interior are both correctly exposed, adds flash to correct color, and keeps every shot level and at the same height. Editing then makes the whole set consistent, so the listing reads as one home rather than a collection of snapshots.
What about drone photos?
Flying a drone to market a listing is a commercial operation. Under the FAA's Part 107 rules, the pilot needs a Remote Pilot Certificate and must get authorization to fly in controlled airspace near airports. Sparks Media Group's drone pilots are FAA Part 107 certified and insured, and aerial photography starts at $250.
Can AI photo apps fix phone photos?
Apps can brighten and straighten a photo, and those routine edits are fine. Edits that change how the property looks, such as removing power lines, replacing a lawn or adding furniture, are different: since January 1, 2026, California's AB 723 has required real estate licensees to disclose digitally altered images and give buyers access to the original. That applies to professional edits too, so ask what has been changed in any photo you post.
When is professional photography worth it?
Professional photos pay off whenever the online first impression decides who books a showing.
- Homes with large windows, views or dark rooms
- Vacant homes, where empty rooms are hard to read in photos
- Higher-priced listings competing with professionally shot homes
- Listings that also need a floorplan, 3D tour, drone or twilight images
Frequently asked questions
How much does professional real estate photography cost?
With Sparks Media Group, photography starts at $290. The Silver package, with photos, a floorplan and a social teaser reel, starts at $494 for homes under 2,000 sq ft. Prices scale with square footage and exclude tax.
How many photos does a listing need?
Our packages include about 30–40 images for homes under 2,000 sq ft, rising to about 80 or more for homes over 5,000 sq ft, which covers every main room plus exteriors.
How fast are professional listing photos delivered?
Within 24 hours of the shoot, often the same evening. Same-day rush delivery is available for an additional fee.
Do I need a licensed pilot for drone photos of my listing?
Yes. Drone photos used to market a property are commercial work, which requires an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Our drone pilots are Part 107 certified and insured.
Ready to book?
Order online any time, or call and we'll help you choose.