Real estate & development aerials

Real estate drone photography in Detroit

Aerial photos and video that show what a floor plan cannot: the river, the skyline, the walk to the park. For developers, leasing teams, brokers and luxury listings.

The Residences at Water SquareAerial and interior tour of a new Detroit riverfront tower
52%Of Realtors use drone photo or video, per NAR’s 2025 technology survey
Air + groundAerials, interiors and amenities in one visit
TwilightShoots timed for the light that sells
9:16Vertical cuts for leasing and social

What we do

What’s included

Every project is scoped to what you need. These are the pieces we deliver most often.

Development launches

Hero aerials, amenity tours and neighborhood context for new towers and mixed-use projects.

Apartment and condo leasing

Short property films and vertical cuts that leasing teams can post every week.

Commercial property

Office, retail and industrial aerials that show access, parking, frontage and surroundings.

Luxury listings

Aerial stills and a cinematic edit for homes where setting is the selling point.

Interiors and amenities

Ground photography and video of units, lobbies, pools and gyms, matched to the aerial look.

Neighborhood context

The park, the river, the restaurants within walking distance. The things renters and buyers actually ask about.

Sell the location, not just the unit

Renters and buyers can see a floor plan anywhere. What they cannot see from a listing is how the building sits: that the river is across the street, that the park is a two-minute walk, that the skyline fills the balcony. Aerials answer those questions before a tour is ever booked. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2025 technology survey, 52% of Realtors now use drone photo or video, which also means buyers expect it.

Our work on The Residences at Water Square is a good example. The film opens high over the river, establishes the tower against downtown and then moves inside to the lobby, units and amenities. One shoot, one look, and a set of vertical cuts the leasing team can use for months.

Built for developers and leasing teams

Developments have a longer marketing life than a single listing. We plan for that:

  • Before completion, aerials of the site and neighborhood support pre-leasing and investor updates. See construction progress aerials.
  • At launch, the hero film, amenity tour and neighborhood content.
  • During lease-up, a steady supply of short vertical clips so the leasing team is not recycling the same three photos.

Our development marketing timeline walks through what to shoot at each phase.

Getting the property ready

A drone sees everything: the dumpster by the loading dock, the car parked across the entrance, the patio furniture stacked in a corner. We send a prep checklist before every shoot, and our property prep guide covers it in detail. Lights on, lots cleared and blinds set make more difference than any camera.

Ready to schedule?

Send the address, the date window and how you plan to use the images. We will check the airspace and access, suggest the right time of day and send a fixed quote. Get a quote.

Selected work

Recent projects

A few of the projects behind this service. See all work

The Residences at Water SquareAerial and interior tour of a new Detroit riverfront tower
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial ParkAerial preview of the 22-acre riverfront park before opening

Process

How a project runs

No surprises. You know who is on your project, what it costs and when you get files.

Shot list and timing

We walk through the property goals and pick the time of day: morning for east-facing glass, late afternoon or twilight for the skyline.

Airspace and access

Airspace, game-day restrictions, roof and lot access and any permits for launching from public land.

Shoot

Aerials, exteriors and interiors in one visit, with a staging checklist sent in advance.

Delivery

MLS-ready stills, a property film, vertical cuts and web versions, organized by use.

Pricing

What it costs

Starting prices for common property shoots. Larger developments are quoted by scope.

Listing aerials

From $450

15 to 25 aerial stills, edited and sized for MLS and web.

Property film

From $1,800

Aerial and interior video, 60 to 90 second edit plus vertical cuts.

Development launch

From $4,500

Aerial, interiors, amenities and neighborhood, multiple edits.

Twilight sessions, extra edits and rush delivery are quoted separately.

FAQ

Questions we get asked

How much does real estate drone photography cost in Detroit?
Listing aerial packages start at $450 with us. Property films that combine aerial and interior video start at $1,800, and development launch packages at $4,500. Market rates for simple listing aerials in Metro Detroit are lower, and you are paying for timing, editing and the interior coverage that goes with it.
Can you shoot the interior and aerials the same day?
Yes, and we recommend it. One visit keeps the look consistent and saves you a second day of staging.
When is the best time of day for aerial property photos?
It depends on which way the building faces. Early morning suits east-facing glass, and the hour before sunset or twilight suits west-facing buildings and skyline views. We plan the shoot around the orientation.
How fast do we get the photos?
Edited stills are typically delivered within two to three business days and video within about a week. Rush delivery is available.
Do you need the property owner’s permission?
We need permission from whoever controls the launch and landing site, and we coordinate with property management for roof or lot access. Launching from public land such as the Riverwalk or Belle Isle needs its own permit.

Have a project in mind?

Tell us what you are working on. We reply within one business day with next steps, a rough budget range and the right people for the job.

Start a project