Ready Set Sold Media – Real Estate Photography and Media

Resources

Real Estate Media Guides & Checklists

Practical, no-fluff guides for Lower Mainland realtors and sellers. Use them on your next listing — and feel free to share or link to any of them.

Guide

Real Estate Media Checklist for Realtors

Everything to line up before, during, and after a listing shoot so the media works as hard as the marketing.

Before the shoot

  • Confirm shoot window and access (lockbox / on-site).
  • Choose deliverables: photos, video, drone, 2D or 3D floor plan, Matterport, virtual staging, twilight.
  • Send the seller our prep guide 48 hours ahead.
  • Decide on twilight or virtual twilight if golden-hour exterior matters.
  • Block 60–90 minutes per 1,500 sq ft for a full media package.

On site

  • Walk the property first; identify hero rooms and view angles.
  • Lights on, blinds open uniformly, all interior doors styled the same way.
  • Hide pet bowls, cords, personal photos, and bathroom toiletries.
  • Stage the kitchen counter to two or three intentional objects.
  • We check the address before booking and confirm whether aerial capture is possible under Basic RPAS rules.

After delivery

  • Upload MLS photos in the documented order (exterior → living → kitchen → primary → secondary → exterior amenities).
  • Embed the Matterport tour and video in the MLS virtual tour field.
  • Push the listing video to Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook on launch day.
  • Send a media-ready link to the seller — they will share with their network.
  • Schedule the open-house promo using the same media within 7 days.
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Guide

Listing Launch Checklist

A 7-day countdown to a launch day where your media, MLS, and social all hit at the same time.

Day 7 — booking

  • Book photo / video / drone with us; confirm the package on /pricing.
  • Send seller-prep instructions.
  • Draft MLS remarks and social captions.

Day 3 — shoot

  • Final styling pass with the seller.
  • Capture all media in one visit when possible.
  • Take phone reference shots for social teasers.

Day 1 — pre-launch

  • Listing photos delivered within 12 hours of the completed shoot. Other media delivery timing confirmed when you book.
  • Video edit reviewed and approved.
  • Schedule MLS go-live time and email blast.

Launch day

  • MLS live with full media at 9am local.
  • Reel + carousel posted to Instagram by 11am.
  • YouTube listing video published with city in the title.
  • Email blast to broker network and past clients.
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Guide

Floor Plan Guide for Realtors

When to choose a 2D vs 3D floor plan, what to label, and how floor plans actually move buyers.

Why floor plans matter

  • Listings with floor plans get more time-on-page and stronger inquiries.
  • Out-of-town buyers (a huge slice of Lower Mainland traffic) rely on plans to qualify.
  • Floor plans reduce wasted showings — buyers self-filter for layout fit.

2D vs 3D

  • 2D: clean, fast, MLS-friendly, ideal for most single-family and condos.
  • 3D: better for unique layouts, multi-level homes, character properties.
  • Order both for luxury or architecturally distinct homes.

What to label

  • Room name, dimensions, and total square footage per level.
  • North arrow for orientation.
  • Garage, storage, and outdoor measured spaces (where applicable).
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Guide

Drone Photography Guide for Listings

How to use aerial photo and video legally and effectively across the Lower Mainland.

When drone wins

  • Acreage, waterfront, and view properties — context the ground can't show.
  • Establishing shots for proximity to schools, parks, transit.
  • Roof and gutter condition documentation for premium homes.

Airspace & rules in BC

  • Operate under Transport Canada rules; the operator must hold a valid drone pilot certificate.
  • Some addresses near YVR or Boundary Bay are in controlled airspace; aerial capture is subject to address-by-address feasibility checks.
  • Maintain visual line of sight and respect privacy of neighbouring properties.

Deliverables that perform

  • 1 hero aerial photo for the MLS lead image when ground exteriors are weak.
  • 15–30 second aerial b-roll integrated into the listing video.
  • Optional: a parallax orbit shot — strong on Instagram Reels.
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Guide

Real Estate Photography Prep Guide for Sellers

Share this with sellers 48 hours before the shoot. Better-prepped homes photograph faster and present far better online.

Universal prep

  • Deep clean the kitchen and bathrooms — they show every smudge.
  • Remove personal photos, religious items, and most fridge magnets.
  • Hide cords, chargers, remotes, and visible electronics.
  • Replace burnt-out bulbs; aim for matching colour temperatures.

Room by room

  • Living: pillows fluffed, throws folded, TV off.
  • Kitchen: counters cleared to 2–3 styled objects, dish soap hidden.
  • Primary bedroom: bed made hotel-style, nightstands minimal.
  • Bathrooms: toilet seats down, towels hung neatly, no toothbrushes.
  • Exterior: cars off the driveway, trash bins out of view, hose coiled.

Pets, plants, people

  • Pets and bowls out of the way — ideally off-site for the shoot window.
  • Water plants the day before, not the morning of.
  • Plan to be out for 60–90 minutes per 1,500 sq ft.
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Guide

Airbnb Photography Prep Guide

Short-term rental photos are conversion media — guests scroll fast. Get the first 5 frames right.

Lead image

  • Pick the most distinctive room or view — not necessarily the living room.
  • Daylight or twilight; avoid heavy interior lamps in the hero frame.
  • Crop to show scale: a corner of furniture for context, not a flat wall.

Must-have shots

  • Every sleeping space (with bed made and linen visible).
  • Coffee / kitchen station styled with the basics guests will use.
  • Bathroom shower head, towels, and amenities tray.
  • Workspace if marketed to remote workers.
  • Outdoor / amenity space (BBQ, patio, hot tub) clean and ready.

Listing copy assist

  • Caption each photo with a benefit, not just a room name.
  • Mirror the photo order in the description — guests skim both.
  • Refresh photos seasonally; Airbnb favours active hosts.
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Guide

Lower Mainland Real Estate Media Service Area Guide

Where we shoot, what's typical for each market, and how to plan media around city character.

Surrey, Cloverdale, South Surrey, White Rock

  • Mix of detached, townhomes, and waterfront — drone adds significant context for waterfront and acreage.
  • Newer builds photograph well at midday; character homes shine at twilight.

Vancouver, Burnaby, North & West Vancouver

  • Condo-heavy market — wide lens discipline and view-window exposure are critical.
  • YVR-adjacent locations need a feasibility check before aerial media is booked.
  • Mountain and water view shots warrant a dedicated golden-hour return when possible.

Richmond, Delta, Tsawwassen, Ladner

  • Flat geography is friendly to drone elevation shots.
  • Lots of ground-oriented homes — floor plans are a strong differentiator.

Langley, Walnut Grove, Fort Langley, Brookswood, Willoughby, Aldergrove

  • Acreage and large-lot homes benefit from drone + 3D floor plans.
  • Equestrian and hobby farms: consider extended exterior coverage.

Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, New Westminster, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge

  • Tree-lined streets and uneven sun — schedule mid-morning to early afternoon for consistent exteriors.
  • Newer Burke Mountain and Silver Valley builds present extremely well with cinematic video.

Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Sardis, Yarrow

  • Larger lots, longer drives — bundle drone, video, and Matterport in one visit.
  • Great fit for full-service packages where the agent only wants one shoot.
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