How to Prepare Your Property for an Aerial Drone Shoot

Aerial photography captures a wide view of the property and its surroundings. That’s the point — but it also means things that might be easy to crop out of a ground-level photo are visible from above.

A little preparation before shoot day goes a long way toward making sure the final images show the property at its best.

This checklist applies to most residential listings. Share it with your sellers before the shoot.

Key Takeaways

• Moving vehicles off the driveway is the single most impactful prep step — it’s the most common issue in aerial photos

• Mow the lawn and remove visible yard clutter — everything is clearly visible from altitude

• No interior access is needed and you don’t have to be present during the shoot

• A morning session with good light and a clean yard produces the best results

Exterior and yard

Move all vehicles. Cars and trucks in the driveway are one of the most common things that appear in aerial photos and immediately date or clutter an image. Move all vehicles off the driveway and, if possible, off the street directly in front of the property.

Clear the driveway and walkways. Remove trash cans, yard tools, garden hoses, sports equipment, or anything that doesn’t belong in a listing photo. A clear driveway reads as clean and well-maintained from the air.

Tidy the yard. Mow the lawn before the shoot if possible — brown, overgrown, or patchy grass is clearly visible from above. Pick up debris, leaves, kids’ toys, or anything that looks out of place.

Put away outdoor clutter. Pool covers that aren’t fitted, scattered patio furniture, or yard chemicals stored against the house are all visible from above. A clean patio shows a usable outdoor space.

Close or stow large umbrellas and awnings. These can cast odd shadows and visually disrupt the composition.

Vehicles and equipment

Farm equipment, trailers, or RVs near the property should be moved if possible. For land listings especially, large equipment visible in the foreground changes the read of the images.

Contractors or maintenance crews — if work is being done on the property, coordinate timing so vehicles and crew aren’t on-site during the shoot.

Pets

If you have dogs that run loose on the property, contain them before we arrive. This is as much for their safety around the drone as it is for image quality.

What you don’t need to do

You don’t need to be present for the shoot. APEX Drone Co can coordinate access through a lockbox, a showing app, or the seller directly. All aerial work is conducted from outside the home — no interior access is required.

You don’t need to do anything with the interior of the home for an aerial-only session. Aerial photos focus on the exterior, lot, and surrounding area.

On the day of the shoot

Weather is the one factor neither you nor we control. APEX Drone Co monitors conditions around every scheduled shoot and will contact you proactively if a reschedule is needed due to wind, rain, or poor light. Clear to partly cloudy with light wind produces the best images.

If the shoot goes as planned, expect the session to run 30–60 minutes on-site. Edited images are delivered within 48 hours.

A note on timing

Aerial photography looks best in good light — morning or late afternoon windows are ideal. If your listing timeline allows, coordinate the aerial shoot for a morning when the yard is clean and the light is favorable. It’s worth building this into the pre-listing photography workflow rather than scheduling it as an afterthought.

APEX Drone Co serves Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Columbia, and all of Middle Tennessee. FAA certified. Fully insured. 48-hour delivery.

FAQs

What if it rains on shoot day? 

APEX Drone Co monitors weather closely before every session and will contact you proactively if a reschedule is needed. Rescheduling due to weather is always handled at no cost.

Does the interior of the home need to be cleaned or staged for an aerial shoot? 

No — aerial photography covers only the exterior, lot, and surrounding area. The interior of the home is not visible or relevant for a drone session.

How long will the shoot take? 

Most residential aerial sessions run 30–60 minutes on-site. Larger lots or properties with more complex features may take slightly longer.

Can you still shoot if there are contractors or workers on the property? 

It’s best to coordinate timing so vehicles and crew aren’t on-site during the shoot. If scheduling around that isn’t possible, contact us and we’ll work through it together.

Schedule your shoot at apexdroneco.com or call 615-997-0633.