What Real Estate Photography Costs in North Texas
Most agents asking this question are really asking two things at once: what is the going rate, and what am I actually paying for. The going rate is easy to look up. The second part is where listings get won or lost — and where two quotes that look $150 apart turn out to be completely different products.
Here is how pricing works in the North Texas market, what moves the number up or down, and what our own packages cost.
Three kinds of providers, three different price structures
Across North Dallas you will generally be quoting one of three types of vendor, and their pricing behaves differently.
The solo photographer. Usually the lowest sticker price. One person, one calendar. You are buying their personal availability, which means a Friday listing deadline competes with every other agent who booked them first. Quality is often excellent — until they are sick, on vacation, or double-booked.
The national platform. Predictable pricing, app-based booking, and a rotating pool of contractors. Consistency varies shoot to shoot because the person showing up changes. Add-ons are frequently priced per item, and the total climbs quickly.
The local media team. A small team with a shared editing standard and a defined delivery window. Priced between the two above. You are buying reliability more than you are buying a single photographer’s eye.
None of these is automatically right. If you list two homes a year, a solo photographer you trust is fine. If you are running six to ten listings at a time across McKinney, Frisco and Prosper, the failure mode that costs you money is not a slightly less artistic photo — it is media that arrives after your listing was supposed to go live.
What actually drives the price
Four things move a real estate photography quote, and everything else is noise.
Square footage. More house means more rooms, more setups, more editing. Every serious provider in this market prices in square-footage tiers. A 2,400 sq ft home in Allen and a 5,200 sq ft home in Prosper are not the same job.
Photo count. A 25-image set covers a starter home. A large custom home needs 50 or more to avoid skipping rooms buyers care about.
What is bundled. Drone, twilight, floor plans, 3D tours and video are the real variables. A $199 quote with everything charged separately can land above a $499 bundle by the time you have added aerials and a floor plan.
Turnaround. Next-day photo delivery is a workflow commitment, not a favor. Providers who cannot commit to it are usually cheaper for a reason.
Our North Texas pricing
These are our published rates. Everything is billed after delivery — there is no deposit and no card required to book.
Photography only
Starts at $169. Photo count and price scale with the size of the property. This is the right choice when the listing is straightforward and you only need stills.
Bundles
| Package | Up to 3,500 sq ft | 3,501–4,500 | 4,501–5,500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Media | $259 | $329 | $399 |
| Cinematic Pro | $499 | $599 | $699 |
| The Ultimate Suite | $799 | $899 | $999 |
Essential Media — 35 / 45 / 60 HDR photos by size, 2 digital twilight photos, 5 drone photos, sky replacements, next-day delivery.
Cinematic Pro — 45 / 55 / 65 HDR photos, 2 digital twilight photos, full aerial coverage, a 2–3 minute cinematic walkthrough, professional color grading.
The Ultimate Suite — 50 / 60 / 70 HDR photos, 2 digital twilight photos, Zillow 3D Home tour and 2D floor plan, cinematic walkthrough, 10 drone photos plus aerial video, and a vertical social reel.
Properties above 5,500 sq ft, multiple structures, and non-standard scope are quoted individually.
Add-ons
| Add-on | Price |
|---|---|
| 2D floor plan | from $79 |
| Zillow 3D Home tour (includes 2D floor plan) | $159 |
| Virtual staging | $25 / photo |
| Digital twilight | $25 / photo |
| Twilight session (add-on to a scheduled shoot) | $125 |
| Twilight session (standalone) | $199 |
| 5 aerial drone photos | $89 |
| Lot Essentials (dedicated vacant-land aerial photo package) | $199 |
| Lot Showcase (vacant-land aerial photo + video package) | $269 |
| Neighborhood B-roll (up to two nearby locations) | $129 |
| Community amenities (same-community add-on) | $79 |
| Marketing graphics | $89 |
| Add 10 images | $39 |
Every shoot includes HDR processing, sky replacement, lawn and curb cleanup, true-vertical correction, TV and fireplace screen replacement, and MLS-ready export — not as upsells, as the standard.
The costs nobody quotes you
Travel. We do not charge travel inside 30 miles of McKinney, which covers most of North Dallas. Beyond that, it is a flat $50. Ask any provider where their free radius ends before you book a listing in Celina or Bartonville.
Sales tax. Texas sales tax of 8.25% is added at checkout. Quotes that look lower sometimes just exclude it.
Weather. Cloudy-day shoots get free sky replacement. If wind or rain makes drone flight or exterior work unsafe, we reschedule at no cost. A provider who charges a re-shoot fee for Texas spring weather is transferring their risk to you.
Cancellations. Free to cancel or reschedule more than four hours before the shoot. Inside four hours, there is a $75 fee, because the slot is gone.
How to compare two quotes properly
Put both quotes side by side and ask five questions:
- How many finished images, at this square footage?
- Is drone included, or added later?
- When exactly do photos land in my inbox — and is that a commitment or an estimate?
- What is the total with floor plan and 3D tour, if I need them?
- Do I pay before or after I see the work?
The last one matters more than agents expect. Paying after delivery means the provider carries the risk of getting it right the first time, not you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a real estate photographer charge in North Dallas?
It depends on square footage and what is bundled. Photo-only work in this market typically starts under $200 for a standard home, while a full package with drone, video, floor plan and a 3D tour runs several hundred dollars. Our own photo-only work starts at $169 and our full media bundles start at $259.
Is drone photography included or extra?
With us it is included from the Essential package up, flown by FAA-licensed pilots. Many providers price it as an add-on, so check before comparing totals.
How fast will I get the photos?
Photos, video and floor plans are delivered next day, including weekends. Zillow 3D Home tours take 48–72 hours.
Do I need to pay upfront?
No. There is no deposit and no card required to book. You review the finished media, then pay.
Which package should I choose?
Choose photo-only coverage for still photography, Essential Media for photos with drone stills, or Cinematic Pro to add a walkthrough and full aerial coverage. The Ultimate Suite also includes Zillow 3D, a floor plan and a vertical social reel. Match the scope to the property and your marketing plan.
Ready to book? See full North Texas pricing or book a shoot online — no card required.
