How to choose a real estate photographer in New Jersey

Your listing photos are the first showing. Most buyers decide whether to book a visit from what they see online, and your seller judges you by them too. Portfolios all look good, because every company shows only its best work. The questions below tell you more about who you're hiring than the portfolio does.

1. Is the drone pilot FAA-certified?

Flying a drone for a listing is a commercial flight, and the FAA requires the pilot to hold a Part 107 remote pilot certificate. Much of northern and central New Jersey also sits near airports, where a flight needs an FAA authorization first. Ask whether the pilot is certified, and whether they check the airspace for your address before the shoot. If the answer is vague, look elsewhere. More in drone photos for New Jersey listings.

2. Who shoots and edits the photos?

Some companies send whichever contractor is free and send the editing overseas. That isn't always bad, but it makes results less consistent from one listing to the next. Ask who will be at the house, and who edits the photos afterward.

3. How fast will I get everything?

Photos are often what's holding up the listing going live. Ask for delivery times in writing, separately for photos and for video, since video takes longer to edit. "Fast" isn't an answer; "same day or next day" is.

4. Can I see the price before I book?

Many companies quote by email after a back-and-forth. Ask how pricing works (most price by square footage) and what can be added on top: extra photos, twilight, rush delivery. You should know the total before the shoot, not when the invoice arrives.

5. What formats will I get?

You'll want photos sized for the MLS and full-resolution files for print. For video, ask whether it's vertical for Instagram and Facebook, horizontal for the MLS and your website, or your choice. A video in the wrong shape for where you'll post it is half as useful.

6. How do you handle virtual staging and editing?

Editing should fix light and color, not change the property. Ask how they handle virtual staging: furniture only, never new floors, finishes or views, and clearly labeled as staged. An edit that misleads buyers becomes your problem at the showing, not the photographer's. More in is virtual staging allowed in listing photos?

7. Can you shoot everything in one visit?

Photos, video, drone, a 3D tour and a floor plan from one company means one appointment for your seller, one invoice and a consistent look. Ask what they can do in a single visit, and what needs a second one; real twilight photos usually do.

8. What's the cancellation and weather policy?

Closings move and sellers change their minds. Ask how much notice you need to give to cancel without a charge, what happens with a no-show, and what happens if it rains on shoot day. A clear policy up front is a good sign. For timing the shoot around the weather and your list date, see when to schedule listing photos.

9. How do I book?

If booking takes three emails and a phone call, rebooking for your next listing will too. Ask whether you can pick a date and see availability online, and how quickly a request is confirmed.

How AdReach answers these

We wrote this guide, so here are our own answers. Hold us to them.

• Drone: flown under an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate, with the airspace checked for every address before the shoot.
• Who shoots: every listing is shot and edited by our own team.
• Delivery: photos usually the same day or the next day; videos in two to three days.
• Price: listings are priced by square footage, and you see the exact price on our booking page as you choose your services, before anything is booked.
• Formats: photos in both print and MLS formats. Our listing video is a vertical reel with you on camera; our cinematic film comes in the orientation you choose.
• Editing: virtual staging adds furniture only, on photos from our own shoot, and is delivered with the rest of your photos.
• One visit: photos, video, drone, a 3D tour and a 2D floor plan, booked together. Real twilight is shot on site at dusk; digital twilight is edited from your daytime photos with no second visit.
• Cancellation: cancel up to 24 hours before your shoot time at no charge. The full policy is on the booking page, and you agree to it before you book, so there are no surprises.
• Booking: online, Monday to Saturday, at least 3 days ahead. We approve or decline every request within 1 business day.