How quickly will I receive my photos after the shoot?

We guarantee 24-hour delivery on all standard photography packages, measured from shoot completion to gallery delivery. Photos are delivered via a private online gallery with high-resolution downloads — ready for MLS upload, Zillow, Realtor.com, and social media. Rush same-day delivery is available for time-sensitive listings for an additional fee. In practice, over 85% of galleries are delivered within 16 hours of shoot completion.

Are you FAA certified for drone photography in South Florida?

Yes. All Estate Shutter Florida drone pilots hold FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates, which is legally required for all commercial drone photography in Florida. We carry full liability insurance and obtain the required FAA LAANC authorizations for controlled airspace near Miami International (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL), and Palm Beach International (PBI) airports before every flight.

What areas of South Florida do you serve?

We serve all of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties with no travel fees. Primary markets include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Coral Gables, Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Hollywood, Doral, Pompano Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Weston, and 20+ additional cities. Travel to the Florida Keys and Naples area is available upon request.

Do I need to be present during the real estate photo shoot?

No — many of our shoots are coordinated directly with property managers or lockbox access. We recommend having someone present to handle access issues and highlight features the agent wants emphasized. We send a preparation checklist 24 hours before every shoot so sellers know exactly how to stage and prepare the property for optimal results.

Best Time for Real Estate Photos in Key West

Florida Real Estate Photography — Miami, Orlando, Tampa & Fort Lauderdale

Estate Shutter Florida delivers professional HDR real estate photography, FAA-certified drone aerials, Zillow 3D virtual tours, AI virtual staging, and twilight photography for agents, brokers, and developers across South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach) and Central Florida (Orange, Hillsborough, Osceola counties). Founded by Mike Brun — FAA Part 107 certified drone pilot, 6+ years experience, 2,000+ MLS listings photographed. Photos starting at $199 with guaranteed 24-hour delivery.

Real Estate Photography Services

HDR Real Estate Photography — from $199

Professional interior and exterior photography with 24-hour delivery. 25–50 fully edited photos. Sky replacement, color correction, object removal, and MLS-ready files included. Serving all of Florida.

FAA-Certified Drone Photography — from $199

Aerial photography and 4K video by FAA Part 107 certified pilots. Captures waterfront access, lot size, neighborhood context, and community amenities. Required airspace authorizations obtained before every flight.

Zillow 3D Virtual Tours — from $199

Interactive 3D walkthroughs for Zillow, Realtor.com, and MLS. Listings with Zillow 3D tours generate 40% more inquiries and earn the Zillow "3D Home" badge. Ideal for international and remote buyers.

AI Virtual Staging — from $7/photo

Transform empty rooms into furnished spaces using AI. 12 styles, results in ~15 minutes. Order online anytime without scheduling. Volume pricing: 1–5 photos $20, 6–10 photos $15, 11–15 photos $10, 16+ photos $7.

Twilight & Blue Hour Photography

Dramatic dusk exterior photography for luxury and waterfront listings. Particularly effective for oceanfront condos, Intracoastal estates, and high-rise penthouses with Miami or Fort Lauderdale skyline views.

Commercial Photography

Architectural, office, retail, and construction progress photography for developers, architects, and commercial brokers. Serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Naples, and Tampa.

Packages & Pricing

Transparent pricing — no hidden fees. 10% off for new clients. Pay only after approving your gallery.

Package	Price	Includes
Basic Photography	from $199	25–35 HDR photos, 24-hr delivery, sky replacement, object removal
Standard Package	from $349	Photos + drone aerials, 30–50 images, 4K drone stills & video
Pro Package	from $599	Photos + drone + Zillow 3D tour + twilight + floor plan
AI Virtual Staging	from $7/photo	Online ordering, 12 furniture styles, results in ~15 min, volume discounts

Package

Price

Includes

Basic Photography

from $199

25–35 HDR photos, 24-hr delivery, sky replacement, object removal

Standard Package

from $349

Photos + drone aerials, 30–50 images, 4K drone stills & video

Pro Package

from $599

Photos + drone + Zillow 3D tour + twilight + floor plan

AI Virtual Staging

from $7/photo

Online ordering, 12 furniture styles, results in ~15 min, volume discounts

Real Estate Photography FAQ — Florida

How much does real estate photography cost in Miami?

Packages start at $199 for 25–35 HDR photos with 24-hour delivery. Standard package (photos + drone) from $349. Pro package (photos + drone + Zillow 3D + twilight + floor plan) from $599. New clients get 10% off. Pay only after gallery approval.

How quickly will I receive my real estate photos?

We guarantee 24-hour delivery. Over 85% of galleries are delivered within 16 hours. Photos arrive via private online gallery with MLS-ready and high-resolution downloads. Rush same-day delivery available.

Are you FAA certified for drone photography in Florida?

Yes. All drone pilots hold FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates — legally required for commercial drone photography in Florida. We carry full liability insurance and obtain FAA airspace authorizations near all major Florida airports (MIA, FLL, PBI, MCO, TPA) before every flight.

What areas of Florida do you serve?

All of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties in South Florida, plus the Orlando metro (Orange, Osceola, Seminole counties) and Tampa Bay (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco counties) in Central Florida — 50+ cities statewide including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Orlando, Tampa, Windermere, Winter Park, and Lake Nona. No travel fees within each region.

What is a Zillow 3D virtual tour and why does it matter for Florida listings?

Zillow 3D creates a fully navigable 3D digital twin buyers can explore online from any device. It earns the Zillow "3D Home" badge and generates 40% more inquiries. Essential for Florida's international and remote buyers — particularly in South Florida's luxury markets and Central Florida's high-volume relocation markets.

About Estate Shutter Florida

Founded by Mike Brun, Estate Shutter Florida is Florida's premier real estate photography service, trusted by 1,300+ active realtors across South Florida and Central Florida. Mike holds an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, is a member of the Professional Real Estate Photographers Association (PREA), and is a Zillow Premier Partner. 6+ years of South Florida experience · 2,000+ MLS listings photographed.

Equipment: Sony α7R V · DJI Mavic 3 Pro (Hasselblad lens) · Zillow 3D Pro3 · Profoto B10X. Learn more →

''' The best time of day to photograph a property in Key West depends entirely on its orientation and unique features. As a rule, the hours just after sunrise and before sunset—the "golden hours"—produce the most flattering light, while midday should be avoided. For the right property, a twilight shoot after sunset can deliver the scroll-stopping images that make a listing pop.

I get this question constantly from agents. The truth is, treating the photoshoot time as a minor detail is a major mistake, especially in South Florida where the light is so intense. The wrong time can add harsh shadows, wash out colors, and generally make a beautiful home look flat and uninviting. After shooting over 2,000 listings here, I’ve built my entire scheduling process around the movement of the sun.

The Problem with Paradise: Key West's Midday Sun

Agents often want to book a shoot for noon or 1 p.m. It feels convenient—right in the middle of the workday. But in Key West, from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the sun is directly overhead and absolutely brutal. It’s the worst possible time for professional real estate photography.

This high-angle sun creates deep, sharp shadows under eaves, porches, and balconies. Instead of a welcoming facade, you get dark, cavernous voids. Palm trees, a Key West staple, cast long, distracting zebra stripes across the driveway and lawn. Any texture on the home’s exterior—stucco, wood siding on a historic conch house—gets flattened into a one-dimensional surface. Highlights get "blown out," meaning the camera can’t even capture the detail in the brightest areas, turning them into patches of pure white.

I was on a shoot last year for a beautiful historic home in Old Town Key West, and the agent had insisted on a 1 p.m. slot against my advice. The front porch, with its intricate gingerbread trim, was completely lost in a deep, dark shadow. We had to reschedule for the morning. It’s a lesson I try to save my clients from learning the hard way.

Master the Light: A Key West Property Orientation Guide

So, if not midday, then when? The answer is all about the property’s orientation. You want the sun shining onto the front of the home, which we call the "hero shot." This is the main exterior photo that will be the thumbnail on the MLS and Zillow.

Here’s a simple breakdown I use every day:

Property Facing	Best Time for Exteriors	Why It Works	Ideal For...
East	Morning (Sunrise to 10 AM)	The front of the home is bathed in soft, warm, direct morning light.	Waterfront homes in the Casa Marina area, properties with an Atlantic view.
West	Afternoon (4 PM to Sunset)	Captures that iconic golden hour glow; the sun is low and lights up the facade beautifully.	Homes in Truman Annex, properties with a sunset view over the Gulf.
North	Flexible (Mid-morning or Afternoon)	Never gets direct, harsh sunlight, so the light is consistent and soft all day.	Good for overcast days. Avoids harsh shadows but lacks a "wow" golden glow.
South	Tricky (Early Morning or Late Afternoon)	Gets direct sun all day long, making midday the worst. The low sun of morning/afternoon is essential.	Requires careful timing to avoid the high-angle sun from washing out the facade.

For those stunning waterfront properties, timing is everything. Using my DJI Mavic 3 Pro, I can capture incredible aerial shots. For an east-facing home on the water, a sunrise shoot with our drone photography services can show the home, the water, and the rising sun in one breathtaking frame. Nothing says "paradise" like that.

What About Interiors? It's All About Balance.

While exterior timing is rigid, we have more flexibility with interiors. However, the time of day still matters. The goal for interior photography is to create a bright, airy, and balanced look. You want to see the beautiful view out the window without the interior looking like a cave.

This is where professional gear and technique are non-negotiable. An iPhone or an amateur photographer will struggle. They’ll either expose for the bright window, making the room dark, or expose for the room, making the window a sheet of pure white. I solve this by using a technique called "flambient." I blend multiple exposures—one using the natural ambient light and another using my off-camera Profoto B10X flashes to light the room perfectly.

My Sony α7R V captures a massive amount of detail, allowing me to merge these layers into a single, flawless image. The result looks natural, vibrant, and true-to-life. You can clearly see the swaying palms outside the window of a Key West living room without sacrificing any detail inside.

Because I can control the light, I typically schedule interior shots during the "off-peak" hours for the exterior. For a west-facing house, we’ll arrive in the early afternoon to shoot the interiors first, then move outside as the golden hour approaches. It’s about working efficiently to maximize our time on site.

The Twilight Question: Is It Worth It for Your Listing?

Twilight photography, that magical 20-30 minute window after the sun sets, is one of the most powerful tools in my arsenal. This is when the sky turns a rich, deep blue, and the landscape lighting, pool lights, and interior lights of a home begin to glow. It creates a feeling of luxury, drama, and warmth that is impossible to replicate at any other time of day.

But let’s be blunt: it’s not for every property. Twilight is an add-on to most photography packages, and you need to see a return on that investment.

Twilight is a must for:

Luxury & Waterfront Estates: For a multi-million dollar property in a neighborhood like the Key West Golf Club or a waterfront estate, twilight shots are expected. They scream "premium listing."
Properties with Great Lighting: If the home has professional landscape lighting, a pool with lights, or a fire pit, twilight is the only way to showcase those features.
High-Rise Condos: A condo in a building like the Truman Waterfront with city and water views looks spectacular at twilight, showing the vibrant life of the island.

It’s less impactful for a small bungalow with no exterior lighting on a dimly lit street. The effect would be lost. On the right property, however, a twilight hero shot is the image that will stop a buyer mid-scroll on their phone. It works so well when combined with our other premium offerings, like cinematic video walkthrough services, to build a complete high-end marketing package.

My Blueprint for a Key West Shoot

To put it all together, here’s how I’d plan a shoot for a hypothetical listing: a 3-bedroom, west-facing home with a pool in the back, located in The Meadows.

2:30 PM: Arrival & Staging. I arrive, walk the property with the agent, and make final staging adjustments. I set up my gear.
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Interiors & 3D Tour. The sun is still high and to the south/west. I’ll start with interior rooms, using my flashes to balance the light. This is also when I’d use my Matterport Pro3 camera to create a seamless 3D virtual tour, allowing buyers from anywhere in the world to walk through the home.
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM: East-Facing Elements. I’ll photograph the front of the house and any other east-facing features. The light isn’t direct, so it will be soft and clean.
5:15 PM - Sunset (approx. 6:00 PM): The Money Shots. As the sun gets low in the west, I move to the backyard. I’ll capture the pool, patio, and back of the home bathed in that perfect golden hour light. I’ll launch the drone for a few stunning aerials of the property glowing in the sunset.
Post-Sunset (approx. 6:10 PM - 6:30 PM): Twilight Session. All the lights in the house are on. The pool light is on. The sky is turning a deep blue. I’ll spend this critical 20-minute window capturing the dramatic twilight exterior that will lead the marketing campaign.

This kind of strategic planning is the difference between a decent photo gallery and a stunning one. It’s about telling the story of the property through light.

Ultimately, the best time to photograph your Key West listing is a critical decision we should make together. Getting the light right isn’t just a technical detail; it’s the core of creating images that connect with buyers and get you to the closing table faster.

Ready to make your Key West listing shine? You can see examples of my work and learn more about my professional real estate photography services. If you’re ready to get started, you can book a shoot online or call me directly at (786) 604-0823 to plan the perfect shoot for your property. '''

Frequently Asked Questions

What is "golden hour" in photography?

Golden hour is the period shortly after sunrise and before sunset, where the daylight is redder and softer than when the sun is higher in the sky. This light is ideal for real estate exteriors.

How long does a real estate photo shoot take?

It varies, but a standard shoot for an average-sized home takes 1.5-2 hours. Larger properties or those including drone, video, and twilight shots can take 3-4 hours or more.

Is it okay to shoot on a cloudy day?

Yes. An overcast sky provides soft, diffused light, which can be excellent for photography. It eliminates harsh shadows, though you won't get the dramatic golden glow or deep blue skies of a sunny day.

Why are my rooms dark in photos when the windows are bright?

This is a challenge of dynamic range. A professional photographer uses techniques like flash blending (flambient) or HDR to balance the bright exterior with the darker interior, creating a natural, well-lit image.